The test of estradiol is an examination done by means of the analysis of a blood sample that has as objective to verify the concentrations of the hormone estradiol in the body and therefore it is very used to verify the development and the operation of the ovaries in the women, and of the testes, in man, especially in cases of infertility.
Estradiol is a very important form of the hormone estrogen in the body, which has the role of influencing the sexual development of the girls, but which, when it is high can hinder the development of the boys. In addition, this hormone allows the woman to become pregnant and, when it is in low concentrations in the blood, may be responsible for the infertility in the woman. See what diseases can cause infertility in men and women.
Thus, levels of this hormone should be kept higher in women than in men, especially during childhood. Already in adulthood, the values can vary in the woman, according to the phase of the menstrual cycle.
What is it for
The test of estradiol is one of the tests that can be requested by the doctor to evaluate the fertility, however, also can be used to:
- Evaluate the success of treatment for infertility;
- Identify if a girl has entered puberty;
- Assess the presence of problems in the ovaries, testes or adrenal glands;
- Detect estrogen-producing tumors.
Another very common use of this test is to investigate abnormal symptoms in the woman such as vaginal bleeding or absence of menstruation.
In men, the evaluation of estradiol levels may also help to identify the cause of changes in libido, since this hormone is also responsible for the sexual appetite.
See other exams that can be used to evaluate infertility.
How to prepare for the exam
Generally, no special preparation is required for the estradiol test. However, there are some medications that can change your body levels so your doctor may recommend that you avoid taking some antibiotics, birth control pills, or steroid medicines before the test.
In addition, there are some health problems that may alter the values of the exam and that therefore should be informed to the doctor, such as having anemia, high blood pressure, kidney disease or problems in the liver.
What the test results mean
The result of the estradiol test should always be evaluated by a physician, since the values may vary due to several factors, such as age, sex or history of diseases. However, in most cases the associated problems are:
High estradiol
- Beginning of puberty in girls;
- Delay of puberty in boys;
- Tumors in the ovaries, testes or adrenal glands;
- Breast augmentation in boys, known as gynecomastia.
Low estradiol
- Turner syndrome;
- Decreased pituitary function;
- Problems in the functioning of the ovaries;
- Menopause;
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome.
The decrease in estradiol levels is usually only important in the case of women, since in men it is common that the levels are always very low.
