Sexual Health Reproductive Health Issues Hormone Blood Tests for Women By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Lindsey Waldman, MD, RD on November 08, 2019 linkedin Lindsey Waldman, MD, RD, is a board-certified pediatrician and pediatric endocrinologist. Learn about our Medical Review Board Lindsey Waldman, MD, RD Updated on December 08, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Estrogen Progesterone FSH Testosterone/DHEA Thyroid Hormones Hormone blood tests can reveal an abundance of important information about a woman's health. Levels of estrogen can reveal where a woman is in her menstrual cycle, for example, which can help pinpoint the cause of fertility problems or signal the onset of menopause. Franz Aberham Collection / Getty Images Blood tests to measure female hormone levels also can play a role in diagnosing medical conditions such as thyroid disease or diabetes, and they can help evaluate how well a medication is working. The female hormones typically evaluated—often as part of a comprehensive hormone panel in which more than one hormone is tested—are: EstrogenProgesteroneFollicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)Testosterone/DHEAThyroid hormones What the results of testing these hormones mean will depend on whether the levels are higher than normal or lower than normal. Estrogen Estrogen is not a single hormone, but rather a group of three hormones: Estradiol (E2) Estriol (E3)Estrone (E1) Of these, estradiol is the major sex hormone responsible for, among other things, sexual functioning, healthy bones, and female characteristics. In premenopausal women, estradiol is produced mainly by the ovaries. Estradiol levels vary throughout the menstrual cycle and are highest at ovulation and lowest at menstruation. They decrease slowly with age; the largest drop occurs at menopause when the ovaries "switch off." Low estrogen levels may be a sign of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), decreased pituitary function (hypopituitarism), low testosterone (hypogonadism), anorexia nervosa, or low body fat. Certain medications, such as Clomid (clomiphene), also can cause a decline in estrogen levels. High estrogen levels may occur with conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure. Certain medications, including steroid hormones, phenothiazines, tetracycline antibiotics, and ampicillin, also are known to increase estrogen levels. The Role of Estrogen in Breast Cancer Progesterone Progesterone is produced by the ovaries during ovulation. Its function is to help prepare the uterus to receive a fertilized egg. When an egg is released from an ovary during ovulation, the remnants of the ovarian follicle (the corpus luteum) release progesterone along with small amounts of estradiol. If the egg isn't fertilized, the corpus luteum breaks down, progesterone levels plummet, and a new menstrual cycle begins. If the egg is fertilized, progesterone stimulates the growth of blood vessels that supply the endometrium (the lining of the womb). At the same time, it stimulates glands in the endometrium to secrete nutrients to nourish the developing embryo. High progesterone levels are of little medical consequence unless they're persistent, which may indicate an increased risk of breast cancer. Low progesterone levels during pregnancy often foreshadow miscarriage and premature labor. Expectant women at risk of preterm birth may be given a synthetic form of progesterone to prevent the early onset of labor. Progesterone levels may be measured to help pinpoint the cause of infertility or assess the risk of miscarriage. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is produced by the pituitary gland. It stimulates the growth of an egg (follicle) in the ovary to get it ready for fertilization. As estrogen and other hormone levels begin to decline—during menopause or diminished ovarian reserves (when the ovaries lose their reproductive potential)—the pituitary gland will produce more FSH to compensate for this loss. The FSH test may be used to evaluate conditions such as abnormal menstrual bleeding, infertility, menopause, PCOS, pituitary gland tumors, and ovarian cysts. If FSH levels are too high, it's usually because the ovaries are malfunctioning; the problem rarely lies with the pituitary gland. On the other hand, low FSH levels are often caused by a disease or congenital defect of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, or the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Besides with blood tests, FSH levels can be measured with urine tests that evaluate either a single sample or, in order to detect fluctuations in FSH, several samples taken over 24 hours. Testosterone/DHEA Although testosterone typically is regarded as the "male sex hormone," women also produce it. In fact, testosterone is the precursor of estradiol: Most of the testosterone produced in a woman's ovaries and adrenal glands is converted to estradiol with the help of an enzyme called aromatase. High testosterone levels may result in irregular or missed menstrual periods, weight gain, acne, and infertility, as well as what's known as virilization: the development of secondary male traits such as excess body hair, deepened voice, and male-pattern hair loss. PCOS is a common cause of high testosterone levels in women as is ovarian cancer and anabolic steroid abuse. Low testosterone may occur during menopause and result in a significantly decreased sex drive (libido). Like testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), is classified as an androgen. An elevated DHEA level may occur with conditions such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia or cancer of the adrenal gland. Testosterone Function in Women and Men Thyroid Hormones Thyroid function is measured and characterized by a group of hormones produced by the pituitary gland or the thyroid gland itself. The three main ones are: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), a pituitary hormone that signals the thyroid gland to produce more or less hormoneThyroxine (T4), a "storage" hormone that needs to be converted to an active stateTriiodothyronine (T3), the "active" thyroid hormone created from the conversion of thyroxine Thyroid function is often included in a hormone panel because thyroid diseases are more common in women than men. It may also be included to assess the impact of thyroid function on fertility and pregnancy. Elevated thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism) may cause weight loss, goiter, hyperactivity, and irregular and/or light menstrual periods. By contrast, low thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) during pregnancy can lead to preeclampsia, placental abruption, miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth weight, and congenital thyroid problems. Thyroid Disease and Women's Health Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Khattar D, Sodhi C, Parmod J, Dutta A. 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