Skip to main navigation

Skip to footer

For Individuals & Families:

For Individuals & Families For Individuals & Families

Shop for Plans

Member Guide Member Guide

Find a Doctor Find a Doctor

Estrogen Test

Female reproductive system, Opens dialog

Testicle, Opens dialog

Adrenal glands, Opens dialog

Test Overview

An estrogen test measures the level of the most important estrogen hormoneshormones in a blood or urine sample. It measures estradiol, estriol, and estrone.

Estradiol is the most common type of estrogen measured for nonpregnant women. The amount of estradiol in a woman's blood varies throughout her menstrual cyclemenstrual cycle. After menopausemenopause, it drops to a very low but constant level.

Estriol levels are most often measured only during pregnancy. Estriol is produced in large amounts by the placentaplacenta. This is the tissue that links the fetus to the mother. Estriol can be found as early as the 9th week of pregnancy. The levels keep rising until delivery. Estriol can also be measured in urine.

Estrone may be measured in women who have gone through menopause. It's done to find out their estrogen levels. It also may be measured in men or women who might have cancer of the ovariesovaries, testiclestesticles, or adrenal glandsadrenal glands.

Both men and women make estrogen hormones. Estrogens are responsible for female sexual development and function, such as breast development and the menstrual cycle. In women, estrogens are made mainly in the ovaries and in the placenta during pregnancy. Small amounts are also made by the adrenal glands. In men, small amounts of estrogens are made by the adrenal glands and testicles.

Small amounts of estrone are made throughout the body in most tissues, especially fat and muscle. This is the major source of estrogen in women who have gone through menopause.

For pregnant women, the level of estriol in the blood is used in a serum quad screening test. In most cases, this test is done between 15 and 22 weeks of pregnancy. It checks the levels of four substances in a pregnant woman's blood. They are the hormone inhibin A, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and a type of estrogen (unconjugated estriol, or uE3). The levels of these substances—along with a woman's age and other factors—help the doctor figure out the chance that the baby may have certain problems or birth defects.

Why It Is Done

A test for estrogen is done to:

Help find fetal birth defects (especially Down syndromeDown syndrome) during pregnancy. When the test for estriol is done with hormone inhibin A, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), it is called a quad screen test. Other blood tests and fetal ultrasound may be done as well.
Check for estrogen-producing tumors of the ovaries in girls before menstruation starts and in women after menopause.
Help explain enlargement of breast tissue in men (gynecomastia). This test can also help find out if there are estrogen-producing tumors growing in the testicles.
Monitor treatment with fertility medicines.

How To Prepare

How It Is Done

How It Feels

Risks

Results

Results are usually available within 24 hours.

Normal

For girls and women between puberty and menopause, estrogen levels vary throughout the menstrual cyclemenstrual cycle.

Each lab has a different range for what's normal. Your lab report should show the range that your lab uses for each test. The normal range is just a guide. Your doctor will also look at your results based on your age, health, and other factors. A value that isn't in the normal range may still be normal for you.

Many conditions can change estrogen levels. Your doctor will talk with you about any important abnormal results as they relate to your symptoms and past health.

High values

High values may be caused by:

Ovarian stimulation used to treat infertility (for example, before in vitro fertilizationin vitro fertilization).
Cancer, such as cancer of the ovariesovaries, testiclestesticles, or adrenal glandsadrenal glands.
Serious liver disease (cirrhosiscirrhosis).
A pregnancy with more than one fetus, such as twins or triplets.
Early puberty.

Low values

Low values may be caused by:

Problems with ovarian function. This can be caused by a failure of an ovary to develop properly (Turner's syndromeTurner's syndrome) or because of a drop in pituitary glandpituitary gland activity.
Anorexia nervosaAnorexia nervosa.
Menopause.
A problem with the fetus or placenta during pregnancy.

Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC StaffIgnite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review BoardClinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of UseTerms of Use. Learn how we develop our contenthow we develop our content.

To learn more about Ignite Healthwise, LLC, visit webmdignite.comwebmdignite.com.

Page Footer

I want to...

Audiences

Secure Member Sites

The Cigna Group Information

Disclaimer

Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT); (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA); or (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. The Cigna name, logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA and NYLGICNY are not affiliates of Cigna.

All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna website. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Details Details