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Women's
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Estrogen Test |
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How is it used?
Estrone tests may
be done to aid in the diagnosis of an ovarian tumor, Turner’s
syndrome, and hypopituitarism. In males, it may help in the
diagnosis of gynecomastia or in the detection of estrogen-producing
tumors.
Estradiol levels are used to help evaluate ovarian function. Estradiol helps diagnose the cause of precocious puberty in girls and gynecomastia in men. Its main use has been in the differential diagnosis of amenorrhea (for example, to determine whether the cause is menopause, pregnancy, or a medical problem). In assisted reproductive technology (ART), serial measurements are used to monitor follicle development in the ovary in the days prior to in-vitro fertilization. Estradiol is also sometimes used to monitor menopausal hormone replacement therapy. Estriol, along with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP maternal), human chronic gonadotropin (hCG), and inhibin-A (an ovarian and placental hormone) tests, are used to assess the risk of carrying a fetus with certain abnormalities, such as Down syndrome. When is it ordered?
Your doctor may
order an estrone or estradiol (along with other tests) if you have
symptoms such as pelvic heaviness, abnormal vaginal bleeding,
abnormal menstrual cycles, or if your sex organs (men’s and women’s)
are developing earlier or later than normally expected. They may
also order estrone and/or estradiol if you are having hot flashes,
night sweats, insomnia, and/or amenorrhea, symptoms of menopause. If
you are on hormone replacement therapy, your doctor may use estrone
levels to monitor your treatment.
If you are having fertility problems, your doctor may use estradiol measurements over the course of your menstrual cycle to monitor follicle development prior to in vitro fertilization techniques (timed with a surge in your estradiol level). If you are pregnant, your doctor may order serial (multiple) samples to look for a trend, a rise or fall in the estriol level over time. Unconjugated estriol (estriol not bound to sex hormone binding globulin) is often measured in the 15th to 20th week of gestation as part of the triple screen.
What does the test result mean?
NOTE: A standard reference range is not available for this test. Because reference values are dependent on many factors, including patient age, gender, sample population, and test method, numeric test results have different meanings in different labs. Your lab report should include the specific reference range for your test. Lab Tests Online strongly recommends that you discuss your test results with your doctor.
Increased or
decreased levels of estrogen are seen in many metabolic conditions.
Care must be used in the interpretation of estrone, estradiol, and
estriol levels because their levels will vary on a day-to-day basis
and throughout the menstrual cycle. If your doctor is monitoring
your
hormone
levels, s/he often will be looking at trends in your levels, rising
or lowering over time, rather than at single values. Below are
conditions where one might see an increase or decrease of estrogen
levels. It must be remembered that a diagnosis cannot be made solely
based on one test result.
Increased levels of estrogen Decreased levels of estrogen are seen in: are seen in: Normal pregnancy Turner syndrome Precocious puberty Hypopituitarism Tumors of the ovary, testes, or adrenal Hypogonadism Cirrhosis After menopause (estradiol) Failing pregnancy (estriol) Stein-Levanthal syndrome (polycystic ovary syndrome) Anorexia nervosa Extreme endurance exercise
Is there anything else I should know?
Blood, urine, and
saliva results are not interchangeable. Your doctor will choose
which estrogen and sample type to test for based upon what they are
looking for.
Beyond daily and cycle variations, illnesses such as hypertension (high blood pressure), anemia, and impaired liver and kidney function can affect estrogen levels in the body. Some drugs, such as adrenocorticosteroids, ampicillin, estrogen-containing drugs, phenothiazines, and tetracyclines can increase estrogen levels, as can glucose in the urine and urinary tract infections. Drugs that may decrease levels include clomiphene.
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Definitions
premenstrual syndrome
n. Abbr. PMS
A varied group of physical and psychological symptoms, including abdominal
bloating, breast tenderness, headache, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and
depression, that occur from 2 to 7 days before the onset of menstruation and
cease shortly after menses begins.
premenstrual syndrome
n : a syndrome that occurs in many women from 2 to 14 days before the
onset of menstruation [syn: PMS]
men·o·pause
n : the time in a woman's life in which the menstrual cycle ends [syn:
climacteric, change of life]
[New Latin m
nopausis :
meno- + Greek pausis, pause; see pause.]
\Men"o*pause\, n. [Gr. ? month + ? to cause to cease. See Menses.] (Med.)
The period of natural cessation of menstruation. See Change of life.
01/07/04