Estradiol Test

What is the Estradiol (E2) test?

An estradiol (E2) test measures the levels of the hormone estradiol in your blood. It is primarily a female sex hormone that is produced by the ovaries, breasts, and adrenal glands. Usually, healthcare providers might recommend the E2 test in relation to a female's fertility, puberty, and menopause. It is during their reproductive years that women usually have their highest levels of estradiol. This hormone is considered to be one of the best markers for ovarian function.

What are the other names for the Estradiol (E2) test? 

The other names are serum E2 and estrogen.

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What are the test parameters included in the Estradiol (E2) test?

There is only one parameter.

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What does the Estradiol (E2) test measure?

An estradiol (E2) test analyses the levels of estradiol in the blood. Estradiol(E2) is a form of estrogen hormone that plays an important role in the function and development of reproductive organs and in the formation of secondary sex characteristics in females. It controls the menstrual cycle in women along with progesterone. Other functions of estrogen, along with progesterone, include the growth of breasts and the uterus. Estrogen hormone is also found in men. It controls growth and metabolism in both males and females. In men, estradiol is produced in the testicles, while in premenopausal women it is produced in the ovaries. In postmenopausal women, estradiol (E2) is converted into estrone. Estradiol (E2) is present at high levels in non-pregnant and premenopausal women. It is depending upon the age of the woman and her reproductive status, the values of estradiol vary. It is also considered to be one of the good markers as regards to ovarian function.

At birth, the levels of estradiol(E2) are high, but the levels will fall within a few days and become minimal during early childhood. As puberty approaches, the amount of estradiol rises. During the menstrual cycle, levels will vary depending on the ongoing menstrual cycle phase. During menopause, levels of estradiol fall as the production by the ovaries decreases.

What's the normal range of Estradiol (E2) test?

Who should get an Estradiol (E2) test? 

Estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1) testing in girls and women might be recommended if: 

• Girls' sex organs develop earlier or later than normally expected.

• A woman has symptoms such as abnormal vaginal bleeding after menopause or an abnormal lack of menstrual cycles.

• A woman is experiencing infertility. A series of estradiol measurements over the course of a woman’s menstrual cycle might be done to monitor follicle development prior to in-vitro fertilisation techniques.

• A woman is having symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and irregular or absent menstrual periods.

• A menopausal woman is taking hormone replacement therapy; her health practitioner might periodically order estrone levels to monitor treatment.

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Estriol (E3) testing in women can be recommended:

• During pregnancy, a healthcare practitioner might order serial estriol samples to look for a trend, whether there is an increase or fall in the estriol level over time.

• Unconjugated estriol is often analysed in the 15th to 20th week of gestation as part of the triple/quad screen.

Estradiol (E2) and estrone(E1) testing in boys and men might be recommended when: 

• A boy has delayed puberty, characterised by delayed development of muscle mass, lack of deepening of the voice or growth of body hair, and slow or delayed growth of testicles and penis.

• A man shows signs of feminisation, such as enlargement of the breasts.

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Is there any preparation needed for the Estradiol (E2) test?

No special preparation is required. Fasting is not required.

What is the cost of the Estradiol (E2) test?

What is the type of sample required? 

This test requires a blood sample.

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Who will perform the Estradiol (E2) test?

A healthcare provider, who is also called a phlebotomist, usually performs blood draws, including those for estradiol (E2) tests, but any healthcare provider trained in drawing blood can perform this task. These samples are sent to a lab where a medical laboratory scientist prepares the samples and performs the tests on analysers or manually.

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What should I expect during my Estradiol (E2) test?

You may expect to experience the following during the blood test or a blood draw:

• You have to sit comfortably on the chair, and a healthcare provider will check your arms for an easily accessible vein. It is the inner part of your arm on the other side of your elbow.

• Once the phlebotomist has located a vein, they will clean and disinfect the area with an alcohol swab.

• They will insert a needle into your vein to draw a blood sample. They may feel like a small pinch.

• After they insert the needle, the required amount of blood is drawn into a test tube.

• When they have drawn enough blood for the test, they’ll remove the needle and hold a cotton ball or gauze on the pricked site to stop any bleeding.

• They apply a band-aid over the pricked site, and the blood collection is finished.

This process takes less than five minutes. 

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What should I expect after my Estradiol (E2) test?

Once the phlebotomist has collected the blood sample then it will be sent to the laboratory for processing. When the reports are ready, your healthcare provider will share the results with you.

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What is the risk of the Estradiol (E2) test?

These blood tests are very common, and they don’t carry any significant risks. You can have a slight pain like an ant bite when the needle gets inserted, and a small bruise might develop there.

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When can I expect my Estradiol (E2) test results?

This report is available via email or WhatsApp within 6 hours after the collection of the blood sample.

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What do the results of the Estradiol (E2) test mean?

Interpreting test results

Normal Estradiol (E2) results depend upon the sex and age of the person being tested. In women, it also depends upon their menstrual cycle or whether they are pregnant or not. Reference ranges will vary between laboratories, both in normal values listed and in units used.

Increased or decreased levels of estradiol (E2) are seen in many metabolic conditions. Care must be used in the interpretation of estrone, estradiol (E2), and estriol results because the levels vary on a day-to-day basis and throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle.

A healthcare practitioner who is monitoring a woman’s hormones will be looking at trends in levels, rising or lowering over time in conjunction with the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, rather than evaluating single values.

Below are conditions in which one might see an increase or decrease in estradiol (E2) levels.

Increased levels of estradiol (E30 or estrone (E1) are seen in: 

Girls and Women:

• Early puberty

• Tumours of the ovary or adrenal glands

Boys and Men:

• Enlarged breasts (gynecomastia)

• Tumours of the testicles (testicular cancer) or adrenal glands

• Delayed puberty

Both Women and Men:

• Hyperthyroidism

• Cirrohosis

In women, decreased levels of estradiol (E2) are seen in

• Turner syndrome: an inherited condition in women caused by a missing or abnormal X chromosome and characterised by underdeveloped female sex characteristics.

• Low levels of pituitary hormones (hypopituitarism)

• Dysfunction of the ovaries (female hypogonadism)

• Failing pregnancy (estriol)

• Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa

• After menopause (estradiol)

• A polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS, also called stein-Levanthal syndrome)

• Extreme endurance exercise

What are normal Estradiol (E2) test results?

Normal ranges might vary slightly among different laboratories. Some of the labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Speak to the doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What other tests might I have along with this test?

FSH, LH, prolactin, and TSH

How do I book an Estradiol (E2) test at home?

Log on to www.orangehealth.in and submit your details. Our highly trained, professional, and vaccinated eMedics will be at your doorstep within 60 minutes or at the time booked by you.