The main female sex hormone, oestradiol, is made mainly in the maturing egg cells in the ovaries, the follicles, according to the NVKC. According to the NVKC, together with progesterone oestradiol develops and matures the lining of the womb in every cycle, so that a fertilised egg can implant.
With early failure of the ovaries and in women during and after menopause, oestradiol can be low according to the NVKC, and in pregnancy or with hormone treatment for IVF it can be raised. Only a blood test shows the level of oestradiol.
For women older than 14, Unilabs uses 70 to 950 pmol/l in the follicular phase, 140 to 2400 pmol/l mid-cycle and 80 to 1150 pmol/l in the luteal phase.
Doctor's Assessment Included
Oestradiol is the main female sex hormone; it is made mainly in the ovaries and is needed for strong bones in women and men. According to the NVKC, the result depends on sex, age, cycle phase, pregnancy and measuring method.
Reference ranges may vary between laboratories. When you order a test, a BIG-registered doctor assesses your personal results in context. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
Check your own value| Laboratory | Group | Reference value (pmol/l) | Relative scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star-shl | · Female · follicular phase | 45.4–854.0 pmol/l |
45.4 854
|
| Star-shl | · Female · ovulatory phase | 151–1461 pmol/l |
151 1461
|
| Star-shl | · Female · luteal phase | 81.9–1251.0 pmol/l |
81.9 1251
|
| Star-shl | · Female · after menopause | 18.4–505.0 pmol/l |
18.4 505
|
| Unilabs | · Female · 14 years and older · follicular phase | 70–950 pmol/l |
70 950
|
| Unilabs | · Female · 14 years and older · mid-cycle | 140–2400 pmol/l |
140 2400
|
| Unilabs | · Female · 14 years and older · luteal phase | 80–1150 pmol/l |
80 1150
|
| Unilabs | · Female · 14 years and older · after menopause | 0–125 pmol/l |
0 125
|
| Certe | · Female · a limit, not a range · follicular phase | < 854 pmol/L |
854
|
| Certe | · Female · ovulation peak | 151–1461 pmol/L |
151 1461
|
| Certe | · Female · a limit, not a range · luteal phase | < 1251 pmol/L |
1251
|
| Certe | · Female · a limit, not a range · after menopause | < 505 pmol/L |
505
|
| Diagnostiek voor U | · Female · follicular phase | 72–529 pmol/L |
72 529
|
| Diagnostiek voor U | · Female · mid-cycle | 235–1309 pmol/L |
235 1309
|
| Diagnostiek voor U | · Female · luteal phase | 205–786 pmol/L |
205 786
|
| Diagnostiek voor U | · Female · a limit, not a range · after menopause | < 118 pmol/L |
118
|
Source: Star-shl
Source: Unilabs
Source: Certe
Source: Diagnostiek voor U
Each value as the laboratory itself publishes it, retrieved in 2026.
An oestradiol test gives, in picomoles per litre (pmol/l), how much oestradiol is in the blood, and in a woman that result depends on the moment in the menstrual cycle, according to the NVKC; Certe gives limits for the follicular phase (day 1 to 12, below 854 pmol/l), the ovulation peak (day 13 to 15, 151 to 1461 pmol/l) and the luteal phase (day 16 to 28, below 1251 pmol/l).
According to the NVKC, oestradiol is measured when a shortage or excess is suspected, among others in women who seem to be entering menopause too early or who have symptoms of an irregular menstrual cycle. According to Thuisarts, an early menopause, before age 40, occurs in 1 in 100 women, and it is usually unclear what causes it.
Do you have a cycle? Pick the right day
RequiredIf you have a menstrual cycle, count the first day of your period as day 1 and have the draw on day 2 to 5. On hormonal contraception, or without a cycle, any day works.
According to Thuisarts, an oestradiol test makes no sense for finding out whether a woman is in menopause, because that number is not reliable. According to the NVKC, oestradiol can be measured in women with many menopausal symptoms and in women receiving hormone treatment for IVF, when a shortage or excess is suspected.
In women during and after menopause, a low oestradiol occurs according to the NVKC. According to Thuisarts, menopause can begin between the ages of 40 and 60, when the egg cells have run out or no longer mature. According to the NVKC, a low oestradiol also occurs with early failure of the ovaries from chemotherapy, radiation or antibodies against the ovaries.
According to the NVKC, oestradiol is raised during pregnancy: Star-SHL gives 563 to 11902 pmol/l for the first trimester and 5729 to 78098 pmol/l for the second trimester. According to the NVKC, with hormone treatment for IVF the large number of follicles maturing at the same time forms a lot of oestradiol, with a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
Menopause
A low oestradiol occurs in women during and after menopause.
Severe underweight, as from heavy training
Anorexia nervosa and other causes of severe underweight, such as heavy physical training, go with a low oestradiol.
Damage to the pituitary or hypothalamus
Damage to the pituitary or the hypothalamus can give a low oestradiol.
Early failure of the ovaries
Early failure of the ovaries from chemotherapy, radiation or antibodies against the ovaries gives a low oestradiol.
Oestrogen-blocking breast cancer treatment
Oestrogen-blocking treatment of oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer can lower oestradiol.
Pregnancy
Oestradiol is raised during pregnancy.
Obesity
With obesity, oestradiol can be raised through conversion of androgens in fat tissue, and oestrone is then often raised as well.
Hormone treatment for IVF
With hormone treatment for IVF, many follicles mature at once and a lot of oestradiol is formed, with a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
Tumour of the ovaries, testes or adrenal glands
A tumour of the ovaries, the testes or the adrenal glands can give a raised oestradiol.
Fulvestrant (measurement error)
The medicine fulvestrant (Faslodex) cross-reacts in the oestradiol test, which may produce falsely raised results.
With an abnormal oestradiol result, tell the GP the day of the cycle on which the blood was drawn as well. According to the NVKC, with many menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, night sweats and insomnia, hormone replacement therapy can be prescribed, as pills or patches with oestrogens; according to the NVKC, this now happens only short-term, for severe menopausal symptoms or an early menopause, because long-term treatment seems to come with a higher risk of breast cancer.
According to Thuisarts, hot flushes in menopause, when the brain's warmth centre has to get used to less oestrogen, the hormone group oestradiol belongs to according to the NVKC, occur in 8 in 10 women.
Outside pregnancy, the laboratories give the highest upper limit for oestradiol in the middle of the cycle: Certe gives 151 to 1461 pmol/l for the ovulation peak (day 13 to 15) and Diagnostiek voor U 235 to 1309 pmol/L for the mid-cycle phase.
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This marker is included in the following test panels.
An estrogen test with one blood value: estradiol (E2), the main form of estrogen. No referral needed.
Ovarian reserve panel with AMH, FSH, LH, and Estradiol.
FSH and estradiol when early menopause is suspected, plus TSH and free T4 for your thyroid.
A hormone test for women measures FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone and prolactin. Together these five values make a hormonal imbalance visible.
Articles that explain this value in context.
Medical reviewer
Dr. Naimi oversees the medical standards behind our content and assessments.
Medical policyDoctor's Assessment Included
Every result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
Estradiol (E2)
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