Evidence-Based Supplement & Herb Guides

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...

24-Hour Urine Metanephrines Test: Pheochromocytoma Screening and Results

Learn how a 24-hour urine metanephrines test screens for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, how to collect it correctly, and what high or borderline results mean.

A 24-hour urine metanephrines test measures breakdown products of adrenaline and noradrenaline across a full day. It is a recommended biochemical test for pheochromocytomas...

ACTH Blood Test: High, Low, Normal Range, Pituitary, and Adrenal Results

Understand the ACTH blood test, including why ACTH and cortisol are paired, what high or low patterns suggest, and how pituitary and adrenal causes are confirmed.

An ACTH blood test measures adrenocorticotropic hormone, the pituitary signal that tells the adrenal glands to make cortisol. Its value is not whether ACTH...

ACTH Stimulation Test: Adrenal Insufficiency, Cortisol Response, and Results

Learn how the ACTH stimulation test measures cortisol reserve, why modern assay cutoffs differ, what abnormal results mean, and when a normal response may be misleading.

The ACTH stimulation test checks whether the adrenal cortex can produce enough cortisol after an injection of synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone. The medicine is called...

Adrenal Fatigue Test: Cortisol Testing, Symptoms, Limitations, and What Results Mean

Learn why no validated adrenal fatigue test exists, which cortisol tests diagnose real adrenal insufficiency, and how to investigate fatigue safely without risky hormone products.

There is no validated test for “adrenal fatigue,” and major endocrine organizations do not recognize it as a medical diagnosis. The term is used...

Adrenal Hormone Test Panel: Cortisol, ACTH, Aldosterone, Renin, DHEA-S, and Results

Understand an adrenal hormone panel covering cortisol, ACTH, aldosterone, renin, and DHEA-S, including preparation, result patterns, and confirmatory testing.

An adrenal hormone panel combines tests that answer different questions about the adrenal cortex and its control systems. Cortisol and ACTH assess the stress-hormone...

Adrenal Insufficiency Test Panel: Cortisol, ACTH, Renin, Aldosterone, and Results

Learn how cortisol, ACTH, renin, aldosterone, electrolytes, and cosyntropin results distinguish primary from central adrenal insufficiency and guide urgent care.

An adrenal insufficiency test panel looks for inadequate cortisol and then determines whether the problem begins in the adrenal glands or in the pituitary-hypothalamic...

Aldosterone Blood Test: High, Low, Normal Range, Blood Pressure, and Results

Learn what an aldosterone blood test shows, why renin must be measured with it, how high and low patterns affect blood pressure, and which follow-up tests confirm the cause.

An aldosterone blood test measures the adrenal hormone that helps the kidneys retain sodium and excrete potassium. Clinicians use it with renin to investigate...