Finding the right tests…
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Finding the right tests…
Hormonal
Estradiol, or E2, is the main form of estrogen your body makes, mostly by the ovaries in women and in smaller amounts by the testes and adrenal glands in men. This blood test checks how much is circulating, which helps your doctor judge how well your ovaries, or in men, testes and adrenal glands, are working. It's used to look into irregular or absent periods, unexplained breast growth in men, early puberty in children, and to track follicle growth during fertility treatment. Levels shift naturally through the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, so your doctor reads the result against your age, sex, and cycle stage.
The test measures estradiol (E2) circulating in your blood, in picograms per millilitre (pg/mL). In women with regular cycles, levels rise and fall through the month, peaking just before ovulation. During fertility treatment, doctors track estradiol with repeated blood draws to see how the ovaries are responding to stimulation medicines. In men, a single reading is usually enough to check for a hormonal imbalance.
Estradiol (E2) is the most potent form of estrogen. In women, it's made mainly by the ovaries and helps drive the menstrual cycle and egg development, while also supporting bone and heart health. In men, smaller amounts come from the testes and adrenal glands.
- Irregular, heavy, or absent periods - Signs of early puberty in a child - Symptoms of menopause or perimenopause - Investigating infertility, alongside FSH and LH - Tracking follicle growth during IVF or other fertility treatment - Unexplained breast enlargement in men (gynecomastia) - Suspected tumor of the ovary, testis, or adrenal gland
Estradiol levels are not fixed. They depend on your age, sex, and, in women, where you are in your menstrual cycle. A single number rarely tells the whole story on its own. Your doctor typically looks at estradiol together with FSH and LH to build a fuller picture of what's happening with your reproductive hormones, rather than reading estradiol in isolation.
Certain medicines, including birth control pills, hormone therapy, and some steroid medications, can change your result, so let your doctor know what you're taking before the test.
Normal ranges depend on age, sex, and where a woman is in her menstrual cycle. As a general guide, MedlinePlus lists roughly 10 to 50 pg/mL in men, 30 to 400 pg/mL in premenopausal women, and under 30 pg/mL after menopause, though exact ranges vary by lab.
No fasting is usually required, but it's best to confirm with your doctor or the centre when you book. Certain medicines can affect the result, so mention anything you're taking beforehand.
For a baseline hormone check, doctors often prefer testing early in your cycle, but the right day depends on why the test is being done. Ask your doctor which day works best for your situation.
Yes. Hormonal contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, and some other medicines can raise or lower your estradiol reading. Tell your doctor about every medicine and supplement you're using before the test.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
In men, this test can help investigate unexplained breast enlargement, low sex drive, or a suspected hormone-producing tumor of the testis or adrenal gland. Your doctor will interpret it alongside testosterone and other hormone levels.
Not always. It can be a normal finding after menopause or in a particular phase of a menstrual cycle. Your doctor considers your age, symptoms, and other hormone results before deciding if it needs attention.
During fertility treatment, doctors track estradiol every few days to see how your ovaries are responding to stimulation medicines and to help time procedures like egg retrieval. A single test isn't enough for this purpose.