Evidence-Based Supplement & Herb Guides

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Test in Women: Fertility, Menopause, and Results

Learn how an FSH test is used for fertility, ovarian reserve, absent periods, menopause, and premature ovarian insufficiency, including high and low result patterns.

A follicle-stimulating hormone test measures FSH, a pituitary hormone that helps ovarian follicles develop and supports estrogen production. In women, the result is used...

Free Testosterone Test in Women: High Levels, Acne, Hair Growth, and Results

Learn how free testosterone is tested in women, why high levels can cause acne and hair growth, how SHBG changes results, and which follow-up tests identify the cause.

A free testosterone test estimates the small portion of testosterone that is not tightly bound to sex hormone-binding globulin, or SHBG. This fraction is...

Hirsutism Hormone Test Panel: Testosterone, DHEA-S, Androstenedione, and Results

Learn how testosterone, DHEA-S, and androstenedione tests evaluate hirsutism, what result patterns suggest, and when rapid hair growth needs urgent endocrine assessment.

A hirsutism hormone panel measures androgens that can drive coarse, dark hair growth in areas such as the face, chest, abdomen, back, or thighs....

Hormone Replacement Therapy Monitoring Test: Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, and Results

Learn how estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone are monitored during HRT, when blood tests help, how results are interpreted, and which warning signs need follow-up.

Hormone replacement therapy monitoring is mainly a clinical review, not a search for one perfect hormone number. Estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone tests can help...

Inhibin A Test in Women: Ovarian Function, Pregnancy Screening, and Results

Learn what an inhibin A test measures, how it is used in quad screening and ovarian tumor assessment, and what high, low, or abnormal results can mean.

An inhibin A test measures a reproductive hormone made mainly by ovarian granulosa cells and, during pregnancy, by the placenta. The result has very...

Inhibin B Test in Women: Ovarian Reserve, Follicle Function, and Results

Learn how an inhibin B test reflects follicle activity and ovarian reserve, what high or low results may mean, and why timing and other fertility tests matter.

An inhibin B test measures a hormone released mainly by small, developing ovarian follicles. Because inhibin B reflects activity in the follicle pool, it...

Irregular Period Hormone Test Panel: TSH, Prolactin, FSH, LH, Estradiol, and Results

Understand how TSH, prolactin, FSH, LH, and estradiol help evaluate irregular periods, what common result patterns mean, and which follow-up tests may be needed.

An irregular period hormone panel helps identify endocrine causes of cycles that are unusually long, short, unpredictable, or absent. TSH checks for thyroid dysfunction,...

Luteal Phase Defect Hormone Test: Progesterone Levels, Ovulation, and Results

Understand luteal phase defect testing, when to check progesterone after ovulation, what results may mean, and which follow-up tests and treatments are useful.

A luteal phase defect hormone test usually centers on progesterone, but one blood result cannot prove whether the luteal phase is “good” or “bad.”...

Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Test in Women: Ovulation, PCOS, and Results

Learn how an LH test is used for ovulation, fertility, PCOS, and menopause, including blood and urine testing, timing, result patterns, and follow-up.

A luteinizing hormone test measures LH in blood or urine to help evaluate ovulation, menstrual changes, fertility, menopause, and pituitary or ovarian function. LH...

Oral Contraceptive Hormone Testing: SHBG, Estrogen, Androgens, and Results

Understand how oral contraceptives affect SHBG, estrogen, testosterone, FSH, LH, and progesterone tests, and when off-pill hormone testing is useful.

Hormone tests taken while using an oral contraceptive usually show the effect of the medication, not an untreated picture of natural ovarian function. Combined...

PCOS Blood Test Panel: Testosterone, DHEA-S, LH/FSH Ratio, Insulin, and Results

Understand a PCOS blood test panel, including testosterone, DHEA-S, SHBG, LH/FSH ratio, glucose, insulin, preparation, result patterns, and next steps.

A PCOS blood test panel helps document androgen excess, exclude conditions that resemble polycystic ovary syndrome, and assess metabolic risks, but no single result...

Perimenopause Hormone Test Panel: FSH, Estradiol, Progesterone, Irregular Periods, and Results

Understand when perimenopause hormone testing is useful, how FSH, estradiol, and progesterone fluctuate, and which irregular bleeding results need follow-up.

A perimenopause hormone test panel can help in selected situations, but most healthy women age 45 or older do not need FSH, estradiol, or...

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency Blood Test Panel: FSH, Estradiol, AMH, and Results

Understand POI blood testing with FSH, estradiol, and AMH, including diagnostic criteria, medication effects, cause testing, fertility implications, and treatment follow-up.

A primary ovarian insufficiency blood test panel is used when ovarian activity may be reduced before age 40. The central finding is disordered or...

Progesterone Test in Women: Ovulation, Luteal Phase, Pregnancy, and Results

Understand progesterone testing for ovulation, luteal timing, fertility, and pregnancy, including result cutoffs, units, medication effects, limitations, and follow-up.

A progesterone test measures the hormone that rises after ovulation and supports the uterine lining in early pregnancy. The result is useful only when...

Prolactin Test in Women: High Levels, Period Changes, Fertility, and Results

Understand prolactin testing in women, including high and low results, period and fertility effects, repeat-test preparation, medication causes, macroprolactin, MRI, and treatment.

A prolactin blood test measures a pituitary hormone best known for starting and maintaining breast milk production. Outside pregnancy and breastfeeding, prolactin usually stays...

Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) Test in Women: High, Low, PCOS, and Results

Understand SHBG testing in women, including high and low causes, PCOS patterns, total versus free testosterone, birth control effects, preparation, calculations, and follow-up.

Sex hormone-binding globulin, or SHBG, is a protein made mainly by the liver that carries testosterone, estradiol, and other sex hormones through the bloodstream....

Testosterone Test in Women: High Levels, PCOS, Hair Growth, and Results

Understand testosterone testing in women, including high levels, PCOS and hair-growth patterns, total versus free results, SHBG, accurate testing, causes, and treatment.

A testosterone test in women is mainly used to investigate signs of androgen excess, including new facial or body hair, persistent acne, scalp hair...

11-Deoxycortisol Test: Adrenal Enzyme Deficiency and Results

Understand why an 11-deoxycortisol test is ordered, how baseline and metyrapone results differ, and what high or low levels may mean for adrenal enzyme function.

An 11-deoxycortisol test measures a steroid made one step before cortisol in the adrenal hormone pathway. Doctors use it mainly when they suspect a...

17-Hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) Test: Adrenal Hyperplasia, High Levels, and Results

Learn how the 17-hydroxyprogesterone test screens for congenital adrenal hyperplasia, why levels rise, when ACTH stimulation is used, and how results are confirmed.

The 17-hydroxyprogesterone test measures a steroid precursor used to detect congenital adrenal hyperplasia, especially the common form caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency. The name is...

24-Hour Urine Free Cortisol Test: Cushing Syndrome Screening and Results

Learn how to collect a 24-hour urine free cortisol sample, what high or normal results mean, and how the test fits into accurate Cushing syndrome screening.

A 24-hour urine free cortisol test measures the unbound cortisol filtered into urine over a complete day. It is one of the standard first-line...