Estrogen Total

An oestrogen test may be performed on the basis of based on the age and gender of the individual.

In men, this test is done in cases of abnormal enlargement of breast. This is more common in boys of pubertal age (10-15 years) than adult men.

In women, oestrogen test is performed for various reasons:

• Delayed puberty, ie if there is no breast enlargement over the age of 13 years or no menstruation above the age of 15 years
• Early (precocious) puberty seen in girls below the age of 8 years. It can also be seen in boys in the form of development of facial hair and a drastic increase in the growth of reproductive organs prior to 9 years of age.
• Difficulties in getting pregnant
• Irregular menstruation
• Menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, irregular bleeding and vaginal dryness (Read more: Menopause management)

It is also used to detect tumours that may secrete oestrogen and check the effectiveness of various hormonal treatments.

No special preparation is required prior to this test.

An oestrogen test can be performed using either a blood, urine or saliva sample.

For a blood sample, a needle is inserted into a vein, and a small quantity of blood is withdrawn into a syringe and stored in a container.

For a urine analysis, a 24-hour sample is required. The individual will be provided with a sample container. The first urine of the day passed immediately after the night’s sleep must be discarded and the time must be noted. Thereafter, every time urine is passed, it must be collected over the next 24 hours in a sample container and stored in a refrigerator.

For a saliva sample, a kit is provided to the individual, and he or she will be explained how to store the sample and provide it for testing.

Normal results:

• Estradiol

  • Males: 10-40 picograms per millilitre (pg/mL)
  • Premenopausal females: 15-350 pg/mL (levels vary through the menstrual cycle)
  • Postmenopausal females: <10 pg/mL
• Estrone
  • Males: 10-60 pg/mL
  • Premenopausal females: 17-200 pg/mL(levels vary through the menstrual cycle)
  • Postmenopausal females: 7-40 pg/mL[20]

Normal results indicate proper functioning of this hormone However, the results must be interpreted with caution as many factors are involved with sex hormones, such as the functioning of hypothalamus and pituitary gland.

Abnormal results: Higher than normal levels of estradiol or estrone will be seen in case of tumours of ovaries, testicles or adrenal gland; cirrhosis; early puberty in girls; or delayed puberty in boys.

Lower than normal levels of these two hormones could be an indication of the following conditions:

• Primary ovarian insufficiency, which causes early menopause before the age of 40 years. It is associated with absence of periods for more than 3-6 months.
• Turner syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality of the X chromosome, may also show ovarian insufficiency.
• Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which an individual restricts food intake to an extent that it affects the development and maintenance of the body.
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a highly prevalent condition in women of child-bearing age, which can lead to infertility. In this condition, insulin abnormalities and obesity are also commonly observed. Symptoms of PCOS are observed after the onset of the menstrual cycle in a girl’s life and may be more pronounced later in life. PCOS is diagnosed using an ultrasound that shows multiple cysts in ovaries.

Estriol levels usually rise to higher than normal levels during pregnancy, and a lower than normal value indicates Trisomy 21 or Down’s Syndrome in the foetus.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational perspective and is in no way a substitute for medical advice from a qualified doctor.