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Testing female sex hormones is a blood test that allows you to check whether the levels of individual sex hormones are normal. These types of hormonal tests in women are performed, among others, in the diagnosis of infertility, as they allow to answer the question whether hormonal disorders are the cause of difficulties in getting pregnant. What are the norms for female sex hormones and when to do this type of test?

Research on sex hormones in womenallows to answer the question whether the levels of these hormones in particular periods of the menstrual cycle are correct. Therefore, they are performed in the diagnosis of hormonal disorders, including in abnormal menstruation, in determining the causes of infertility, as well as in the period before menopause.

Women's hormone tests - how do hormones work?

The cycle is divided into two phases: follicular and luteal, between which (more or less in the middle of the cycle) there is ovulation - the release of the egg from the Graff's follicle. The beginning of the follicular phase is the first day of the cycle, i.e. the first day of menstrual bleeding. Then the pituitary gland increases the production of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates the growth and maturation of Graff's follicles and stimulates the secretion of estrogens by the ovaries (the most important of which is estradiol). When the level of the latter is very high, ovulation occurs, i.e. the release of the egg from the Graff follicle. Along with the increase in estrogen levels, the level of prolactin also increases slightly. This phase also increases the level of another hormone secreted by the pituitary gland-luteotropic hormone (lutropin), which is also necessary for the onset of ovulation.

In the luteal phase, the concentration of produced in the ovaries of progesterone increases, which prepares the uterus for implantation and is then responsible for maintaining pregnancy. The concentration of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone decrease, while estrogens remain quite high and the level of prolactin decreases. If fertilization is not achieved, the amount of sex hormones drops significantly towards the end of the cycle. Then your period comes and the cycle repeats itself.

Hormones in women - norms. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

  • follicular phase: 2.8-11.3 mlU / ml
  • ovulation 5.8-21.0 mlU / ml
  • luteal phase: 1.2-9.0 mlU / ml
  • menopause: 21.7-153 mlU / ml

A reduction in concentration may indicate hypopituitarism or hypothalamus, and an increase may indicate primary ovarian failure or inhibition of ovulation stimulation.

Hormonal tests - norms for women. Lutropin (LH)

  • follicular phase: 1.1-11.6 mlU / ml
  • ovulation: 17-77 mlU / ml
  • luteal phase: 0-14.7 mlU / ml
  • menopause: 11.3-39.8mLU / mL

Lowering the concentration suggests hypopituitarism, hypothalamus. In turn, ovarian failure increases.

Important

Testing female sex hormones - when to perform?

The level of sex hormones in women varies depending on the day of the menstrual cycle. Accordingly, tests should be performed in each phase of the cycle. Such determinations give a complete picture of hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle.

The first tests, i.e. those in the follicular phase, are best performed between the 3rd and 5th day of the cycle, and the next ones, which fall during ovulation, between the 12-14th day of the cycle (with a 28-day cycle) or at the 12th day of the cycle. -14 days before the expected menstruation (in other cases). Luteal phase determinations are usually performed around the 21st day of the cycle.

Hormonal tests - norms. Estrogens

  • follicular phase - 0-587 pmol / l
  • ovulation - 124-1468 pmol / l
  • luteal phase - 101-110 pmol / l
  • menopause - 0-110 pmol / l.

Increased levels may indicate cancer of the ovaries or adrenal glands, the presence of tumors that secrete estrogens, as well as concomitant liver disease and hyperthyroidism. The level of this hormone also rises in women who take birth control pills that contain oestrogens. In girls, it is a sign of premature puberty.

Reduced estrogen levels are observed in the course of Turner syndrome, hypogonadism (hypogonadism), polycystic ovary syndrome, and hypopituitarism. The level of this hormone also decreases in anorexics as a result of malnutrition.

Hormonal tests - norms. Prolactin

  • 1.9- 25 ng / ml

over 25 ng / ml - the cause may be irregular periods and anovulatory cycles; over 50 ng / ml - menstruation may stop completely; over 100 ng / ml - possibly a pituitary tumor;

Values ​​below normal may indicate hypopituitarism.

Researchhormonal - norms. Progesterone

  • follicular phase<0,6 - 3,6 nmol/l
  • ovulation 1.5 - 5.5 nmol / l
  • luteal phase 3.0-68.0 nmol / l
  • menopause<0,6 - 3,2 nmol/l

Hormonal tests - norms. Androgens

Other hormonal tests are the determination of androgens, i.e.

  • testosterone - 0.69-2.77 nmol / l. Values ​​below the norm may indicate osteoporosis, diabetes, decreased libido, metabolic syndrome;
  • androstenedione - 2.7-5.8 nmol / l;
  • dehydroepiandrostenedione - 2.7-5.8 nmol / l;

The levels of these hormones change slightly in the course of the menstrual cycle and can be determined regardless of the phase of the cycle.

It should be noted that the standards may differ depending on the laboratory where the test was performed. Therefore, the test results should be interpreted on the basis of the standard results listed next to them. Only approximate values ​​for the determination of hormones are presented above.

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