Hormone tests: what, when and how to take them correctly?

What tests need to be taken?

The balance of hormones is responsible for the functioning of the body. When it is violated, the development of various diseases is observed.

Blood tests for sex hormones

It is considered justified to conduct hormone tests for women:

• luteinizing;
• follicle-stimulating;
• atymüllerian;
• progesterone;
• prolactin;
• estradiol;
• testosterone.

Blood tests for thyroid hormones

Thyroid panel hormones are:

• thyroid-stimulating;
• triiodothyronine;
• thyroxine.

general information

Sex hormones are usually divided into three large groups:

• androgens,
• estrogens,
• progestins.

Androgens are male sex hormones; they circulate in the female body in small quantities, while estrogens, on the contrary, predominate in women. Progestins, or gestagens, are considered hormones responsible for the course of pregnancy. In addition, prolactin, follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormone regulate the functioning of the reproductive system. The concentration of these substances is recommended to be checked together with an analysis for estrogens, androgens and gestagens.

How to get tested correctly

When submitting biological material, it is necessary to indicate the day of the cycle, the duration of pregnancy or the moment of menopause. If a woman is undergoing a course of antibacterial or hormonal therapy, this nuance must be reported to the laboratory assistant.

Before taking the tests, it is recommended:

• avoid sexual intercourse the day before the examination;
• do not take a hot bath;
• do not visit the sauna and steam bath;
• no smoking;
• do not overload yourself physically.

Expert opinion

Litvinov Vladimir Valentinovich

Reproductologist, obstetrician-gynecologist, Ph.D.
For greater information, it is recommended to check the concentration of several biologically active substances at the same time, rather than just one hormone. In addition, in some cases, the doctor may recommend testing at intervals of several menstrual cycles. In this case, the doctor can not only more adequately assess the dynamics of the disease, but also make a correct prognosis for the patient’s health. If the patient is taking any medications, be sure to inform the doctor before taking blood.

Calculate dates suitable for taking tests

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Clear results

Why do you need a blood test for hormones?

Hormonal imbalance is considered a normal variant during pregnancy, the postpartum period or menopause. However, even in such situations it is necessary to monitor his condition. Hormone analysis is most often prescribed for:

• gaining excess weight;
• inability to conceive a child;
• often recurrent acne;
• diagnosing breast tumors;
• decreased libido;
• problems with pregnancy;
• susceptibility to genetic diseases;
• disruption of the functioning of the digestive tract;
• ovarian neoplasms;
• pregnancy diagnosis;
• hirsutism.

Testing for hormones

Hormones, entering the bloodstream, are responsible for metabolic and biochemical processes. Thanks to the analysis, it is possible to diagnose hormonal imbalance, determine its cause and carry out therapy.

When to take it

It is recommended to be examined for:

• estradiol - on days 2-4 of the cycle, if necessary, to establish the time of ovulation - in the middle of the cycle;
• progesterone - on the 22nd day of the cycle, with scanty discharge - in the middle of the cycle;
• follicle-stimulating and luteinizing - on days 2-4 of the cycle or from 8 to 18 as recommended by a doctor;
• prolactin - regardless of the day of the cycle.

How to donate blood for hormones

The material being studied is venous blood. The analysis is carried out on the recommendation of a doctor, regardless of age. When undergoing a course of treatment, you need to stop taking medications, and if this is not possible, tell your doctor.

For each specific case, the optimal period for conducting the examination is determined. In addition, it is recommended:

• at least two days before the analysis, avoid physical and psychological stress;
• on the eve of the examination, avoid drinking alcohol, fatty and spicy foods;
• do not have sexual intercourse for at least three days before the examination;
• Do not smoke several hours before the procedure.

It is better to take a hormone test on an empty stomach in the morning.

What is the price

The study can be free if the patient has a referral and applies to a public medical institution.

In a private clinic the price will be about 600 rubles, it all depends on the type of analysis. Additionally, you will need to pay 200 rubles for collecting the test material.

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Normal sex hormones in women

Normal indicators vary depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle.

Ratio of FSH and LH

Before puberty, the normal ratio between FSH and LH is 1:1. With age, this proportion changes and becomes 1:1.5. The indicated value is considered the norm before the onset of menopause.

Hormone progesterone

Normal indicator:

• 0.3-2.2 nmol/l - in the follicular phase;
• 0.5-9.4 nmol/l - during ovulation;
• 7.0-56.6 nmol/l - at the luteal stage;
• less than 0.6 nmol/l - during menopause.

During pregnancy, this indicator will depend on the trimester.

Estradiol

At the onset of menopause, the normal value is 19.7-82 pg/ml, and during pregnancy it ranges from 210 to 26960 pg/ml.

Testosterone levels in women

Testosterone is divided into two types:

1. Free - determines only free testosterone, depends on age (up to 20 years - 0.13-3.09 pg / ml, from 20 to 39 - 0.14-2.6 pg / ml, over 60 - 0.14-1 .8 pg/ml).
2. Total - indicates the total amount of the hormone, regardless of whether it is associated with protein transport. The norm is 0.26-1.3 ng/ml.

How to properly prepare for a laboratory test

13211 10 October

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment.
In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should be prescribed only by the attending physician. To make a diagnosis and properly prescribe treatment, you should contact your doctor. See also other conditions for preparation for analysis.

Dear patients! Please note that it is recommended to donate blood for laboratory tests in the morning on an empty stomach, after an 8-12 hour overnight fasting period. If the patient is unable to come to the laboratory in the morning, blood should be donated after 6 hours of fasting, eliminating fats in the morning meal.

Timely and accurate diagnosis of various diseases is impossible without laboratory tests. There are no manifestations of the disease yet, but blood counts are already “signaling”: “Attention! Anxiety!". According to the World Health Organization (WHO), laboratory tests provide 60–80% of diagnostic information about a patient. Of course, a diagnosis is not made based on just one laboratory analysis; it is compared with the clinical picture, with data from other studies and observations. Laboratory analysis suggests the direction for further search. Therefore, regular preventive examinations are the key to timely initiation of treatment, and proper preparation for tests in a modern laboratory is an accurate diagnosis.

Laboratory doctors of the INVITRO Independent Laboratory have prepared a number of recommendations, compliance with which will allow you to obtain the most accurate results.

• How to prepare for blood tests
• How to prepare for a urine test
• Rules for collecting stool for dysbacteriosis

Preparing the patient for the blood donation procedure

1. A number of tests are done on an empty stomach. For example, biochemical (glucose, cholesterol, bilirubin, etc.) and serological tests (syphilis, hepatitis B), hormones (TSH, parathyroid hormone), etc. “Fasting” is when at least 8 hours pass between the last meal and taking blood (preferably at least 12 hours). Juice, tea, coffee, especially with sugar, are also food, so you will have to be patient. You can drink water.
2. Strictly on an empty stomach (after a 12-hour fast) you should donate blood to determine lipid profile parameters: cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides.
3. If you have to take a general blood test, your last meal should be no later than 1 hour before donating blood. Breakfast may consist of unsweetened tea, unsweetened porridge without butter and milk, and an apple.
4. It is advisable to exclude fatty, fried and alcohol from the diet 1 - 2 days before the examination. If there was a feast the day before, reschedule the laboratory test for 1-2 days. Avoid smoking an hour before blood collection.
5. The content of many blood tests is subject to daily fluctuations, so for some studies blood should be taken strictly at a certain time of day. So, blood tests for some hormones (TSH and parathyroid hormone), as well as for iron, are given only before 10 am.
6. When donating venous blood, it is necessary to exclude factors that influence the research results: physical stress (running, climbing stairs), emotional arousal. Therefore, before the procedure you should rest for 10-15 minutes in the waiting room and calm down.
7. It happens that the doctor ordered a test, but for various reasons it is difficult for the patient to come to the medical office (illness, pregnancy, lack of time, etc.) In this case, it is enough to call the INVITRO Laboratory Emergency Service by calling tel. , and our procedural team will arrive at a place and time convenient for you.
8. Blood is taken for analysis before starting to take medications (for example, antibacterial and chemotherapy) or no earlier than 10 to 14 days after their discontinuation. The exception is when they want to study the concentration of drugs in the blood (for example, valproic acid, anticonvulsants). If you are taking medications, be sure to tell your doctor about this.
9. Blood should not be donated after X-rays, rectal examinations, or physical therapy procedures.
10. During hormonal studies in women of reproductive age (from approximately 12 to 13 years of age and before the onset of menopause), the results are influenced by physiological factors associated with the stage of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, when preparing for examination for the hormones FSH, LH, prolactin, estriol, estradiol, progesterone, the phase of the cycle should be indicated. When conducting a test for sex hormones, strictly adhere to the recommendations of your doctor about the day of the menstrual cycle on which you need to donate blood.
11. When performing tests for the presence of infections, it should be taken into account that depending on the period of infection and the state of the immune system, any patient may have a negative result. But, nevertheless, a negative result does not completely exclude infection. In doubtful cases, re-analysis is recommended.
12. Different laboratories may use different research methods and units of measurement. To ensure that the assessment of your results is correct and the results are acceptable, do the tests in the same laboratory, at the same time. Comparison of such studies will be more correct.

Preparing the patient for the urine donation procedure Collecting urine for general analysis in a container with a preservative

1. From the medical laboratory office, obtain a container with a white cap and a test tube with an adapter.
2. On the eve of the test, it is recommended not to eat vegetables and fruits that can change the color of urine (beets, carrots, etc.), and not to take diuretics. Before collecting urine, it is necessary to perform a thorough hygienic toilet of the genitals. Women are not recommended to take a urine test during menstruation.
3. Collect approximately 50 ml of morning urine in a container (with a white lid). To properly conduct the study, during the first morning urination, release a small amount of urine (the first 1 - 2 seconds) into the toilet, and then, without interrupting urination, place a urine collection container into which to collect approximately 50 ml of urine.
4. Immediately after collecting urine, close the container tightly with a screw cap.
5. Insert the adapter into the container, pressing its sharp end into the recess on the container (Fig. No. 1).
6. Place the test tube downwards with the rubber stopper into the recess on the wide part of the adapter, and the test tube will begin to fill with urine. After urine stops flowing into the test tube, remove the test tube from the adapter (Fig. No. 2, No. 3).
7. Invert the tube several times to better mix the urine with the preservative (Fig. No. 4).
8. Deliver the test tube with urine to the laboratory during the day (according to the blood test schedule). If it is not possible to immediately deliver urine to the medical office of the laboratory, then the test tube with urine should be stored at a temperature of +2...+8°C.

Collection of 24-hour urine for biochemical analysis
24-hour urine is collected. The first portion of urine in the morning is removed. All subsequent portions of urine excreted during the day, night and the morning portion of the next day are collected in one container, which is stored in the refrigerator (+4...+8°C) during the entire collection time (this is a necessary condition, since at room temperature it is significantly glucose levels decrease). After completing urine collection, accurately measure the contents of the container, be sure to mix it and immediately pour it into a small jar (no more than 5 ml). Bring this jar to the laboratory for testing. You don't need to bring all the urine. On the referral form you need to indicate the daily volume of urine (diuresis) in milliliters, for example: “Diuresis 1250 ml”, also write down the patient’s height and weight.

Before 10 am (1st or 2nd morning urine sample), a urine sample is taken to determine DPID.

Collection of urine for the analysis “Catecholamines in urine”

To conduct the study, you must obtain preservative powder and a urine container from any INVITRO medical office. Before routine urine collection to determine catecholamines, for 3 days you should not use drugs containing rauwolfia, theophylline, nitroglycerin, caffeine, ethanol, if possible, do not take other medications, as well as food products containing serotonin (chocolate, cheeses and other dairy products , bananas), do not drink alcohol. Avoid physical activity, stress, smoking, pain, which causes a physiological rise in catecholamines. First, a preservative powder from a test tube obtained in the laboratory is poured into the bottom of a clean container into which urine will be collected. The bladder is emptied (this portion is poured out), the time is noted and urine is collected in a container with a preservative exactly for 24 hours; the last urination into the container should be 24 hours from the time recorded (for example, from 8.00 am to 8.00 am the next day). It is possible to collect urine over 12, 6, 3 hours or a single portion, preferably during the daytime. At the end of the collection period, measure the total volume of urine excreted per day, mix it, pour some into a specially issued container and immediately bring it for examination. When submitting material, be sure to note the time of collection and the total volume of urine.

Remember that only the attending physician, who has the opportunity to observe the patient’s condition and explain the need to prescribe certain tests, can draw up an optimal laboratory examination program and evaluate the test results.

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should be prescribed only by the attending physician. To make a diagnosis and properly prescribe treatment, you should contact your doctor.

Decoding indicators

The results of the tests are quite important, because after assessing them, the doctor, together with other examinations, will be able to establish the cause, type of pathology and determine tactics to combat it.

Promotion

An increase in the amount of hormones indicates certain dysfunctions of the body. Estradiol can increase when:

• neoplasms of the genital organs;
• hyperfunction of the thyroid gland;
• consuming excessive amounts of estrogen-based drugs.

An increase in progesterone may indicate:

• ovarian cyst;
• dysfunction of hormone excretion;
• overdose of progestin drugs.

The increase in FSH is inherent to:

• menopause;
• neoplasms of the ovary, pituitary gland;
• autoimmune diseases;
• infectious diseases.

Luteinizing hormone can increase when:

• hereditary pathologies;
• tumors;
• inflammation of the meninges;
• hypofunction of the thyroid gland;
• performing operations on the pelvic organs;
• injuries.