Estrogen Levels Test

What is estrogen?

You're not alone if you've thought estrogen is a single hormone! Most of us are unaware of the fact that estrogens¹ are, in fact, a group of sex hormones released by the ovaries and adrenal glands. Estrogen testing mainly looks at three forms of estrogens that play a crucial role in female sexual and reproductive health:

Type of estrogen	Function
Estrone (E1)	Primary hormone in the body after menopause
Estradiol (E2)	Main hormone during reproductive years Levels may fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle—highest at ovulation and lowest during periods Decreases significantly after menopause
Estriol (E3)	Most significant hormone during pregnancy Increases steadily every trimester to support fetal health

Who needs an estrogen levels test?

If you have an estrogen imbalance, you may face various symptoms or challenges at different life stages, indicating the need for estrogen testing.

Estradiol (E2) is the most common type of estrogen tested, and here are some situations when you may need it:

• Your puberty is early (<8 years) or delayed (>17 years)

• You are having trouble conceiving

• You are having menopause symptoms such as irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and vaginal dryness

• You are undergoing infertility treatment or hormone replacement therapy for menopause, and need routine monitoring

• You are facing symptoms of high estrogen such as breast tenderness, breast lumps, mood swings, worsening PMS, headaches, unexplained weight gain, fatigue, and low sexual desire

Estriol (E3) blood test is generally conducted during pregnancy, if:

• You have a high-risk pregnancy and need continuous monitoring

• Your doctor wants to assess the risk of certain birth defects

What is the normal estrogen range?

The normal minimum-maximum range of estradiol (E2) levels during the reproductive years is 30-500 pg/mL.²

Note: Estradiol (E2) levels rise and fall throughout the menstrual cycle. It’s highest around ovulation and lowest during the menstrual phase. When interpreting results, it’s crucial to consider where you were in your menstrual cycle during estrogen testing.

What do the estrogen test results mean?

If estrogen hormone levels are lower or higher than the normal range, they can reveal crucial information about your health.

What low levels of estrogen may mean	What high levels of estrogen may mean
Eating disorders Menopause Premature or early menopause Pituitary or hypothalamic dysfunction	Hyperthyroidism Liver problems Increased risk of certain cancers Fibroids or endometriosis Insulin resistance

How much does an estrogen test cost?

In India, the price of an Estradiol (E2) test ranges between ₹500 and ₹1,053.

Note: The price of the test may vary depending on your location and the lab you choose.

References

1. What does estrogen do? Endocrine Society.

2. Qureshi R, Picon-Ruiz M, Aurrekoetxea-Rodriguez I, de Paiva VN, D’Amico M, Yoon H, Radhakrishnan R, Morata-Tarifa C, Ince T, Lippman ME, Thaller SR. The major pre-and postmenopausal estrogens play opposing roles in obesity-driven mammary inflammation and breast cancer development. Cell metabolism. 2020 Jun 2;31(6):1154-72.