Medically examined byNeka Miller, PhDon April 13, 2020. Written byLibby Pellegrini.In order to provide you with technically correct, evidence-based information, the content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by recognized professionals with expertise in the fields of medicine and life sciences.
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What are normal hormone levels for a woman?|What is a normal estradiol level in women?|What is considered high estradiol?|What Causes Low Estrogen Levels?|Can Low Estrogen Levels Affect Pregnancy?|How can I find out more about my hormone levels?
There are many hormones at play when it comes to a woman's menstrual cycle, ovulation, and ability to conceive. One of the most important hormones is known as estradiol. Estradiol (E2) is the main form of estrogen in non-pregnant women.
As one of the key hormones responsible for ovulation, estradiol is particularly important to a woman's reproductive health. Normal levels of estradiol in women are also critical to the health and function of the reproductive organs (breast, vagina and uterus) and affect other important health markers, including bone strength.
Read on to learn about normal estradiol levels in women at different stages of life, estradiol and fertility, and more.
You can check your estradiol levels at home with a simple test like the EverlywellFemale fertility testorwomen health test. With these tests, you can check your hormone levels in the comfort of your own home, so you can skip a trip to a lab or healthcare provider's office and avoid an inconvenient blood draw.
What are normal hormone levels for a woman?
hormone levels before puberty
A woman's hormone levels are typically related to her age. Before puberty, women have low levels of sex hormones, which means they have low serum (blood) estradiol and low serum testosterone.
hormone levels after puberty
After puberty, a woman enters a premenopausal phase (which lasts until perimenopause, or the transition to menopause). This is considered a peakfertility age, and hormone levels fluctuate depending on where a woman is in her menstrual cycle. During the menstrual cycle, hormone levels (including estradiol) fluctuate in the following ways:
The follicular phase (days 1 to 14 of an average 28-day cycle, beginning with menstruation and ending with ovulation).This phase represents the development of the follicle (which houses the ovum) prior to the release of an ovum. The follicle is stimulated by rising levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).
- At the beginning of this phase, estradiol levels are low.
- Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) plays a role in deciding which follicle will become the dominant follicle that will release an egg at ovulation.
- The dominant follicle starts producing estradiol. Estradiol levels increase gradually at first, and then rise sharply two to three days before ovulation.
- Estradiol levels peak just before a surge in two other key hormones — luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) — triggers ovulation.
Ovulation.This phase begins with a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which triggers the release of an ovum from the dominant follicle.
- Estradiol levels drop during the ovulation phase, which lasts about 16 to 32 hours.
The luteal phase (days 14 to 28 of an average 28 day cycle).After ovulation, the luteal phase begins.
- A specialized group of cells develops from the ruptured follicle, which secretes the hormone progesterone to prepare the uterus for the possible implantation of a fertilized egg.
- After their decline during ovulation, estradiol levels gradually begin to rise again during the luteal phase, peaking and then falling to another nadir before the onset of the next menstrual cycle.
- When estradiol levels drop, so does progesterone (another important hormone).
- FSH levels begin to rise again at the end of the luteal phase, preparing to stimulate another ovarian follicle and begin the menstrual cycle again.
Check hormones with the At-Home Women's Health Test
Estradiol tests can be used to determine when you are ovulating - the point in the menstrual cycle when conception is most likely. During the menstrual cycle, estradiol levels gradually increase and reach a peak just before ovulation. To track the rise and fall in blood estrogen levels during the menstrual cycle, blood samples need to be taken on different days. This helps determine a woman's normal baseline and peak estradiol levels.
To see your own estradiol levels rise and fall, take Everlywell at homeFemale fertility test. It's easy to use and understand—and includes everything you need to collect your samples from the comfort of your home and send them to the lab for testing.
hormone levels during pregnancy
When an egg cell is successfully fertilized during the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle and implants successfully in the uterus, pregnancy occurs. Estriol is the main estrogen hormone during pregnancy. This hormone is sometimes tested during the second trimester of pregnancy to look for genetic birth defects such as Down syndrome.
Low estriol levels during pregnancy can indicate a lower chance of a successful pregnancy or a birth defect. Estriol levels increase during pregnancy about four weeks before birth. (Related:How do you increase fertility?)
hormone levels during menopause
When a woman reaches menopause, her hormone levels change again, potentially leading to menopausal symptoms. As theyovarielle Reserve(the number of oocytes available for release and possible fertilization) is depleted, their ovarian function is reduced, resulting in decreased serum estradiol levels. (Related: Female fertility and age: knowing what to expect)
On the other hand, levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) increase in a woman going through menopause, since an FSH increase represents the body's last attempt to stimulate the ovaries to act. A sustained increase in FSH levels generally signals the onset of menopause. Typically, an elevated FSH level lasting more than 12 months indicates a transition to menopause.
What are normal estradiol levels in women?
It is first important to understand that there are other methods that can be used to maintain estradiol levels; B. by a prick in the finger (dried blood stain) and also by saliva. For venipuncture samples, e.g. B. during blood draws in a doctor's office, the normal estradiol levels in adult women with regular menstrual cycles (premenopause) are between 15 and 350 picograms per milliliter (pg/ml). Estradiol levels in women vary based on factors such as age, pregnancy, and menstrual cycle phases. For venous samples, levels can vary significantly throughout the menstrual cycle, reaching as high as 800 pg/mL and still be considered normal.
During pregnancy, normal estradiol levels can reach 20,000 pg/mL. After menopause (postmenopause), venipuncture estradiol levels in women who are not receiving estrogen therapy are typically below 10 pg/mL.
When it comes to normal values, one thing to keep in mind is that estradiol reference ranges can vary depending on the sample type, day of collection, and the laboratory performing the test.Each laboratory must define its ownreference rangefor any type of test as collection kit materials, chemicals used to perform the tests, laboratory instruments and more may vary from lab to lab. This is a normal part of the laboratory testing process - so it's best to interpret your estradiol test results using the reference ranges provided by the laboratory used for testing.
Check hormones with the At-Home Women's Health Test
What is considered high estradiol?
Elevated levels of estradiol — typically above 350 picograms per milliliter in venous samples in adult women with regular menstrual cycles — can occur in certain medical conditions that lead to overproduction of the estrogen hormone. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in which many ovarian follicles produce estradiol at the same time, is an example of how high estrogen levels can develop. Elevated levels of estradiol can also be the result of certain hormonal drugs, liver disease, or elevated levels of androgens (such as testosterone or progesterone).
What Causes Low Estrogen Levels?
There are several possible reasons why a woman experiences low estrogen production or levels.
First, when low estradiol levels are present in conjunction with high FSH and high LH levels, it can indicate a condition known as premature ovarian failure or primary ovarian failure. This means that even with proper hormonal stimulation, the ovaries are unable to produce a normal amount of estradiol. This can sometimes be due to a genetic condition like Turner syndrome, an autoimmune condition, or exposure to certain toxins.
Second, when low estradiol levels are present in conjunction with normal or low FSH and LH levels, it may be due to a condition known as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. This condition can occur due to severe stress, excessive alcohol consumption, excessive exercise, or a problem with the pituitary gland in the brain, which stimulates the production of FSH and LH hormones.
Can Low Estrogen Levels Affect Pregnancy?
Certain conditions associated with low estrogen levels can make it more difficult to conceive. A condition known as primary ovarian failure occurs when ovarian function decreases even though a woman has not yet entered menopause. Sometimes this is due to a genetic condition, but it is believed that up to 90% of women with primary ovarian failure have no identified cause.
Women with cancer who have received chemotherapy are at risk of primary ovarian failure because chemotherapy drugs can kill eggs needed for conception.
How can I find out more about my hormone levels?
If you are planning a pregnancy or just curious about your hormone levels, you can use the Everlywell at homeFemale fertility testto test your hormone levels in the comfort of your own home.
With just a small blood sample (taken with a simple finger prick) you can check your levels of 5 different fertility hormones: estradiol, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, total testosterone and thyroid stimulating hormone. And you get your results securely online - so you can easily access insights into your hormone balance at any time.
For an even more comprehensive look at your hormone levels, try the at-home testwomen health test. By measuring 10 key hormones that play an important role in a woman's health, the test can reveal potential hormonal imbalances that may be preventing you from feeling your best.
Check hormones with the At-Home Women's Health Test
Related Content
How do you increase fertility?
Female fertility and age: knowing what to expect
What are the signs of infertility in women?
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references
Shirtcliff EA, Dahl RE, Pollak SD. Puberty development: correspondence between hormonal and physical development. Child Developer 2009;80(2):327-337. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01263.x
The normal menstrual cycle and ovulation control. endotext.URL. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
(Video) How To Reduce Estrogen Levels Naturally | Expert TipsSu HW, Yi YC, Wei TY, et al. Detection of ovulation, an overview of currently available methods. Bioeng. translation Med. 2017;2(3):238-246. doi:10.1002/btm2.10058
Estrogen Level Test. Medline Plus.URL. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
menopause, perimenopause and postmenopause. Cleveland Clinic.URL. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) test. Medline Plus.URL. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
Estradiol, Serum. Labore der Mayo-Klinik.URL. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
Stanczyk FZ, Clarke NJ. Measurement of estradiol - challenges ahead. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(1):56-58. doi:10.1210/jc.2013-2905
Laven JS, Imani B, Eijkemans MJ, et al. New approach to polycystic ovary syndrome and other forms of anovulatory infertility. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2002;57(11):755-767. doi:10.1097/00006254-200211000-00022
Primary ovarian failure. Mayo Clinic.URL. Retrieved April 13, 2020.>
Viswanathan V, Eugster EA. Etiology and treatment of hypogonadism in adolescents. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2009;38(4):719-738. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2009.08.004
Bedoschi G, Navarro PA, Oktay K. Chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage: mechanisms and clinical implications. Future Oncol. 2016;12(20):2333-2344. doi:10.2217/fon-2016-0176
FAQs
What is a good estradiol level for a woman? ›
Results are given in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). Normal levels for estradiol are: 30 to 400 pg/mL for premenopausal women. 0 to 30 pg/mL for postmenopausal women.
How do I read my estradiol test results? ›- Male - 10 to 50 pg/mL (36.7 to 183.6 pmol/L)
- Female (premenopausal) - 30 to 400 pg/mL (110 to 1468.4 pmol/L)
- Female (postmenopausal) - 0 to 30 pg/mL (0 to 110 pmol/L)
According to Mayo Medical Laboratories, normal levels of estradiol (E2) for menstruating women range from 15 to 350 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). For postmenopausal women, normal levels should be lower than 10 pg/mL.
What is the normal range for estradiol levels by age? ›| Tanner Stages# | Mean Age | Reference Range |
|---|---|---|
| Stage I (>14 days and prepubertal) | 7.1 years | Undetectable-20 pg/mL |
| Stage II | 10.5 years | Undetectable-24 pg/mL |
| Stage III | 11.6 years | Undetectable-60 pg/mL |
| Stage IV | 12.3 years | 15-85 pg/mL |
Adults—At first, 4 micrograms (mcg) or one insert into the vagina once a day for 2 weeks, followed by one insert 2 times a week (every 3 to 4 days). Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. Children—Use is not recommended.
What estradiol level indicates menopause? ›Estradiol levels.
Estradiol is the main form of estrogen found in premenopausal women. A normal level is 30-400 picograms per millileter (pg/mL), but after menopause, it falls below 30 pg/mL.
- Dry skin.
- Tender breasts.
- Weak or brittle bones.
- Trouble concentrating.
- Moodiness and irritability.
- Vaginal dryness or atrophy.
- Hot flashes and night sweats.
- Irregular periods or no periods (amenorrhea).
What's considered “high”? In terms of the Modern Fertility Hormone Test, levels of estradiol (an estrogen) in premenopausal people with ovaries on day 3 of their cycle are “high” if they're above 115 pg/mL. Symptoms of high estrogen levels include: Heavier periods or increased frequency of periods.
How high is too high for estradiol? ›What's considered a high estradiol level? Elevated estradiol levels—typically beyond 350 picograms per milliliter in venous samples in adult women who have regular menstrual cycles—can occur with certain medical conditions that lead to overproduction of the estrogen hormone.
What happens if estradiol is too low? ›Low estrogen levels can interfere with sexual development and sexual functions. They can also increase your risk for obesity, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. Treatments have evolved over the years and become more effective.
How do I know if my estrogen is too high or too low? ›
If your doctor suspects that you might have high estrogen, they'll likely order a blood test to check your hormone levels. A trained professional will collect a sample of your blood to be tested in a laboratory. The results will indicate if your estrogen levels are too low or too high.