If your doctor suspects you may have a hormonal imbalance, they may test for various hormones depending on your symptoms.
Sex hormones and thyroid hormones play a particularly important role in fertility. These can be easily detected in the blood or saliva. To do this, your doctor will take samples from you and have them analyzed in an endocrinology lab.
You can have your hormone levels tested in more detail with a blood test © Alexander Raths / Fotolia
For women, hormone levels are typically tested for:
- FSH
- LH
- Prolactin
- progesterone, and
- Estradiol
FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) is produced in the pituitary gland in the brain and stimulates the maturation of the egg in the ovary.
Luteinizing hormone (LH), on the other hand, promotes ovulation and the formation of the corpus luteum. Like follicle-stimulating hormone, it regulates reproduction in women.
The hormone prolactin is also produced in a part of the brain. It stimulates the growth of the mammary glands and ensures an adequate milk supply during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The two sex hormones, estradiol and progesterone, play a crucial role in the female cycle.
Various hormones can also be measured in the blood of men. The most important male sex hormone is testosterone. Among other things, it promotes muscle growth and the production of sperm in the testicles.
In addition, the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, as well as the TSH level, can be measured in the blood. These provide information about thyroid function and are used to diagnose hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
The hormones progesterone, estradiol, testosterone, and the stress hormone cortisol can also be detected using a saliva test.
To do this, the patient spits into a tube. An endocrinology laboratory can analyze the saliva sample obtained in this way just as it would a blood sample.
Hormone testing is always advisable when symptoms and complaints indicate a hormonal imbalance. For example, hormone testing can determine whether a woman is already going through menopause. If you are having difficulty conceiving, hormone testing can also help identify the underlying causes.
Other indications for hormone testing include:
- Suspected polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- If you suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Galactorrhea: milk secretion from the breasts outside of pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Male-pattern hair growth
- Suspected hypothyroidism with symptoms such as fatigue, lethargy, weight gain, and constipation
- Signs of hyperthyroidism, including weight loss, diarrhea, nervousness, or hair loss
- Part of cancer screening
Whether health insurance covers the cost of a hormone test depends on the specific symptoms present. For example, in certain cases of fertility issues, health insurance covers the cost of hormone testing.
The insurance also covers hormone testing for severe symptoms associated with menopause. You should discuss with your treating physician whether costs will be incurred and, if so, what they will be. Statutory health insurance generally does not cover saliva tests for hormone testing.
If you notice symptoms that suggest a hormonal imbalance, talk to your doctor about it. Blood and saliva samples are quick to collect and provide you and your doctor with further information about your body’s functions.
Hormone testing is particularly important when trying to conceive but facing difficulties, as it helps narrow down the possible causes.
