02 Jan What Does a Female Hormone Test Include?

A blood test for female hormones can provide a lot of insight regarding your health. These tests are powerful tools that medical professionals can use to diagnose serious medical conditions and provide effective treatment. They also play a role in monitoring treatment and determining its effectiveness.

Today, we will provide insight into what you can expect with a female hormone test, how it works, what can be detected, and what treatments are available if your tests show an imbalance.

At the outset, we want to make you aware that we will use the terms “male” and “female” multiple times during our explanation. These are used exclusively about sex as opposed to gender.

Let’s explain female hormone tests and how they might benefit your situation.

Understanding female hormone tests

There are multiple kinds of estrogen hormones. To get the most precise picture of your hormone profile, female hormone tests evaluate several different types of estrogen within the body.

Female hormone panels are conducted by taking a blood sample and having them tested by a lab for a series of key female hormones, including:

• Estrogen¹
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
• Progesterone²

• Testosterone or DHEA
• Thyroid-produced hormones like T3 and T4

These tests may provide information on the causes of a host of negative symptoms you may be experiencing due to hormones that are either above or below the normal range.

Some common symptoms of hormone levels that are either above or below the normal range may include:

• Dry skin
• Weak, brittle bones
• Tenderness in one or both breasts
• Mood swings and irritability
• Vaginal dryness

• Hot flashes or night sweats
• Irregular periods
• Weight gain
• Fatigue

If you are experiencing a combination of any of these symptoms, it may indicate a hormone imbalance. In this case, it may be best to consider getting a female hormone panel.

How does a female hormone test work?

During a female hormone blood test, a medical professional will draw a blood sample using a needle inserted into a vein on your arm. A sample consists of a tube or vial of blood. The number of vials will vary depending on if you are having any additional tests done besides a standard hormone test for women.

You can also test female hormone levels using a urine test or a DIY at-home saliva test kit. While the latter will give you a general idea of your hormone levels, factors such as age, menstrual cycles, underlying conditions, pregnancy, and medications may affect the accuracy of results. For a doctor to make a diagnosis and recommend a course of treatment, you will generally need a professional female hormone blood test.

Working with a medical professional will provide you with the most accurate results as they will take into account your current health, medical history, and medications.

What treatments are available for a female hormone imbalance?

Discovering that your hormone levels are not where they should be can be disheartening. The good news is that treatments are available to address abnormal hormone levels.

Many of these treatments have the added benefit of alleviating symptoms as well.

Treatment options include:

• Vaginal estrogen: This can come from creams, tablets, and rings. Vaginal estrogen addresses your hormone levels while relieving vaginal dryness, a common symptom.
• Hormone replacement medications: These help temporarily alleviate severe symptoms connected to menopause, like hot flashes.
• Eflornithine (Vaniqa): A prescription cream that can slow excessive hair growth in women.
• Anti-androgen medication: These operate as a blocker for androgen, a male sex hormone. It can help reduce severe acne as well as excessive hair growth or loss.
• Hormone or birth control: If you aren’t actively trying to get pregnant, these medications contain forms of estrogen and progesterone that can help regulate irregular menstrual cycles.
• Clomiphene (Clomid) and Letrozole (Femara): These may help stimulate ovulation in patients that suffer from PCOS and are trying to become pregnant.
• IVF: May help those with PCOS complications related to becoming pregnant.

Additional medications, natural remedies, and dietary supplements may also help address female hormone imbalances or symptoms. Lifestyle changes such as increased water intake, proper rest and nutrition, and physical activity can also tremendously impact your hormone levels.

You may feel overwhelmed by the entire prospect of treatment and hold off on working towards a solution. However, prolonged female hormone balances can result in severe issues like infertility and diabetes. It is best to tackle hormone imbalances as early as possible.

Final Thoughts

The good news is that you don’t have to figure out how to correct hormone imbalances alone. Determining your hormone health status with a medical professional ensures you receive the optimal care to address your situation.

A doctor can take note of your current health, medical history, and any medications you are taking to determine if a female hormone test is right for you. Once your results are in, they can interpret the results and guide you toward a treatment plan that will be most effective.

If you are experiencing symptoms of a hormone imbalance, we encourage you to reach out to a medical professional as soon as possible.

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