Female Hormone Blood Test
A female hormone blood test assesses key hormones to give your GP a clear picture of their present levels. This test helps detect imbalances that may affect overall health.
The hormone levels offer insights into various aspects, including fertility, unexpected weight changes, and fatigue. Undergoing this test can as well assist in the early detection of potential health concerns. It is especially crucial for women over 40, as significant hormonal shifts begin to occur at this stage.
Generally, a female hormone blood test measures levels of the following:
- Oestrogen
- Luteinising hormone (LH)
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Prolactin
- Oestradiol
Why Should You Get a Female Hormone Blood Test?
Female hormone blood test serves multiple purposes, including diagnosis, monitoring, and screening.
- Diagnosis
Hormone-level testing helps determine the cause of certain symptoms. It can assist in diagnosing conditions such as delayed development, menopause, infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and specific kinds of tumours.
- Monitoring
Once a diagnosis is made, follow-up hormone blood tests can track health changes and determine if treatments are working. Women undergoing fertility or cancer treatments may need hormone level monitoring. Additionally, transgender women receiving gender-affirming care may have regular tests in order to assess their hormone levels.
- Screening
Hormone testing can detect potential health concerns before symptoms appear. For instance, pregnancy-related hormone tests help screen for foetal health conditions. They may also be conducted before hospital admission, surgery, or incarceration to confirm pregnancy status.
What Does a Female Hormone Blood Test Involve?
- During the test, you will be asked to expose one of your arms to enable the location of a vein.
- A strap will be tied around your upper arm so as to make the veins more visible.
- A needle will then be inserted into the vein, and a small amount of blood will be drawn into collection tubes.
- After blood withdrawal, a small plaster will be applied to the site, which you can remove after a few minutes or hours.
How to Prepare
Because the test requires access to your arm, wearing loose-fitting clothing is recommended to make the process easier. This test is usually conducted on days 2-3 of your menstrual cycle for optimal results.