When are female hormone tests done?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Pham Thi Yen - Obstetrician - Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
The hormone test is one of the familiar reproductive health checks for women. However, not everyone knows exactly when to have female hormone tests.

1. What is a female hormone test?

A female hormone test is a series of small tests to evaluate and monitor the function, functioning, and storage capacity of the ovaries.
Based on the results of these tests, the doctor can know a woman's reproductive health status and detect hormonal disorders early (if any).

2. What does the female hormone test include?

Female hormone test includes 7 small tests, namely Testosterone, Estrogen, Progesterone, FSH, AMH, LH and Prolactin.
Testosterone Index Testosterone is an indispensable hormone in men, but it also has a certain small amount in the female body. This hormone plays a role in stimulating and increasing sex drive in both men and women.
The normal range of Testosterone is between 15 - 70mg/dL.
Too much Testosterone can be a sign of rare tumors or polycystic ovary syndrome.
Estrogen Index Estrogen is a hormone that plays a role in regulating physical features in a woman, such as voice, body curves or smooth skin, and fertility-related problems. such as the elasticity and wetness of the intimate area or the menstrual cycle,...
Estrogen has 3 forms, but in which E2 (or Estradiol) is the most common form. The level of estradiol is considered normal if it is between 70 – 220 pmol/L or 20 – 60 pg/mL.

Progesterone Index Progesterone plays an important role in reproductive function in women because it has the ability to stimulate the development of mammary glands and uterine lining. In particular, for pregnant women, progesterone needs to be maintained at a high level to protect the fetus. However, for normal women, progesterone levels should only be maintained between 5 and 20 ng/mL. The excess of Progesterone in the body can lead to many negative symptoms such as depression, body weakness, chest tightness, decreased libido, menstrual disorders,...
FSH index FSH test is often Indicated for diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome in women.
A high measured FSH level means that the ovarian reserve is low.
FSH test results are normal if the measured FSH level in the body is between 1.4 - 9.6 IU/L.

AMH index The AMH test is one of the most important procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility because it assesses the fertility of the ovaries most accurately.
A safe concentration of AMH is between 2 and 6.8 ng/ml. AMH that is too high or too low is not good. Specifically:
Too high AMH levels: increases the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation, leading to infertility. Too low AMH level: reduces the ability to respond to drugs during IVF. LH Index The LH hormone is required for oocyte maturation and egg release. LH turns the oocyte into the corpus luteum after ovulation. The corpus luteum then secretes progesterone.
The LH test is normal if the LH level is between 0.8 and 26 IU/L.
Ovulation and menstrual cycle can be affected, causing disturbances if the level of LH in the body is too high. There is also an increased risk of polycystic ovary syndrome.
Prolactin Index Prolactin hormone in high concentration can be considered as a natural method of contraception for women who are breastfeeding. However, for normal women, high levels of the hormone Prolactin can lead to infertility.
The safe concentration of Prolactin is between 127 – 637 μU/mL.

3. When to do female hormone test?

Women are recommended to go for regular female hormone tests 1-2 times a year so that they can check their reproductive health and detect any problems in time.
Besides, some specific cases should do hormone tests such as:
Menstrual cycle disorder People who do not menstruate (primary amenorrhea) or have amenorrhea for more than 3 months (secondary amenorrhea). ) Women over 35 years of age Suspected polycystic ovary syndrome The body is often tired, weak, and sleepless Excessive sweating, hair loss Uncontrollable weight gain Prepare to use supportive measures reproduction like IVF.

4. When are female hormone tests done?

When to test female hormones? Levels of female hormones can vary depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle. Some specific tests need to be done at certain intervals to ensure accurate results, be it after the menstrual cycle, or before the menstrual cycle:
LH and FSH tests: within from the 2nd to 4th day of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone test: from the 21st to the 28th day of the menstrual cycle. Tests for AMH, Testosterone, Estrogen, and Prolactin are fairly stable and can be performed at any time. Doctor Pham Thi Yen has 11 years of experience in examination and treatment in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Doctor with strengths and deep understanding in:
Examination and consultation of normal pregnancies, pathological pregnancies, high-risk pregnancies Examination and treatment of gynecological diseases: cervicitis, cervical ectropion Surgery Laparoscopic surgery for gynecological diseases: ectopic pregnancy, uterine tumor, ovarian tumor Surgery for breast, vulvar, vaginal, cervical tumors Obstetric surgery: cesarean section, examination and treatment of women's endocrine disorders at all ages: puberty, reproductive age; perimenopausal age. To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact Vinmec Health System nationwide, or register online HERE.