Buy a female hormone test: FSH, LH, estradiol and more

Your female hormones work together in a finely tuned rhythm. When that rhythm is disrupted, you can notice it in all sorts of ways. This test can give insight into the hormones that together steer your cycle and your fertility.

Having your hormones tested can help connect vague symptoms to measurable values. It does not provide a diagnosis, but it does give a factual starting point that you can discuss further with your GP.

This test can be useful if you notice your cycle changing, if you have symptoms you cannot quite place, or if you simply want to know more about your hormonal health.

Think of women with an irregular or absent period, women with a wish to conceive, or women who have questions around the menopause. If you feel that your hormones may be out of balance, this test can give you a little more to hold on to on a subject that otherwise stays abstract.

This test measures five hormones that together say a lot about your female hormone balance:

• FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone): stimulates the growth of follicles in your ovaries and plays a central role in your cycle.
• LH (Luteinizing Hormone): gives the signal for ovulation around the middle of your cycle.
• Estradiol (E2): the main form of oestrogen, which influences your cycle and the lining of your womb, among other things.
• Progesterone: rises after ovulation and prepares your body for a possible pregnancy.
• Prolactin: a hormone that can affect your cycle when raised, which is why a prolactin test is often included.

Together, these values can give an impression of how your hormones relate to one another. FSH and LH say something about the signals coming from your brain, while estradiol and progesterone show how your ovaries respond.

A blood test looking at female hormones can help make patterns visible, for example around your cycle, your fertility or changes during the menopause. The values form a snapshot in time and say nothing about a cause on their own; that interpretation always happens together with a doctor.

This hormone blood test requires a small blood draw at a certified sample point. In the Netherlands you can choose from more than 750 locations.

After ordering, you pick a location near you and schedule a moment that suits you. The draw itself usually takes only a few minutes, and you do not need a referral from your GP.

The moment in your cycle can influence your hormone values. FSH, LH and estradiol are therefore often measured in the first days of your cycle, while progesterone says more in the second half, around a week after your expected ovulation.

If you do not have a regular cycle, for example around the menopause or with an irregular pattern, blood can be drawn at another time. In your result, the doctor takes into account where you are in your cycle.

Your result shows each hormone value with a reference range and a short explanation. What counts as usual varies by laboratory and depends strongly on your cycle phase and your age.

A value that falls outside the range can mean different things and is not a diagnosis on its own. The balance between the hormones is often just as telling as the individual values. The doctor helps you place your results in the right context.

For this test you usually do not need to fast. It is helpful to know which day of your cycle you are testing on, as that helps with interpreting your values.

Prolactin can temporarily rise due to stress, exertion or just after waking. It is therefore nice to have your blood drawn calmly and at a normal time. If you use medication or hormones, such as the pill, mention this at your appointment.

Your result is usually available online within a few working days. Each value is shown clearly with a reference range and an explanation, so you understand what you see.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.