Evidence-Based Supplement & Herb Guides

17-Hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) Test in Women: PCOS, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, and Results

Learn how the 17-OHP test helps distinguish PCOS-like symptoms from nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, including timing, ranges, ACTH testing, and next steps.

A 17-hydroxyprogesterone test measures a steroid made mainly in the adrenal glands as the body produces cortisol. In women, the test is most often...

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

Understand an amenorrhea hormone panel, including FSH, LH, estradiol, prolactin, and TSH patterns, preparation, causes of missed periods, and next tests.

An amenorrhea hormone panel helps identify why menstrual periods have not started or have stopped. The first test is usually a pregnancy test, even...

Androstenedione Test in Women: High Levels, PCOS, Adrenal, and Results

Learn what an androstenedione test shows in women, why levels rise with PCOS or adrenal disorders, how timing affects results, and when follow-up imaging is needed.

An androstenedione blood test measures an androgen precursor made by both the ovaries and adrenal glands. In women, it is most useful when acne,...

Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Test in Women: Ovarian Reserve, Fertility, and Results

Learn what an AMH test measures, how low or high results relate to ovarian reserve, IVF response, PCOS, age, and why AMH cannot predict natural fertility alone.

An anti-Müllerian hormone test estimates the number of small growing follicles in the ovaries and is used mainly to assess ovarian reserve and predict...

DHEA-S Test in Women: High Levels, PCOS, Adrenal Causes, and Results

Learn how a DHEA-S test evaluates adrenal androgen production in women, what high or low results can mean, and when PCOS, supplements, or adrenal imaging matter.

A DHEA-S blood test measures dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, an androgen produced almost entirely by the adrenal glands. In women, it helps determine whether acne, excess...

Estradiol (E2) Test in Women: High, Low, Normal Range, and Symptoms

Learn how estradiol testing is interpreted across the menstrual cycle, fertility treatment, and menopause, including high and low E2 causes, symptoms, ranges, and next steps.

An estradiol blood test measures E2, the main estrogen during the reproductive years. It is used to evaluate menstrual changes, ovarian function, fertility treatment,...

Estriol (E3) Test in Women: Pregnancy Estrogen, Placenta Function, and Results

Learn how an estriol (E3) test is used in pregnancy, what low or high uE3 results may mean, and which follow-up tests clarify prenatal screening findings.

Estriol, or E3, is an estrogen that rises dramatically during pregnancy because its production depends on cooperation between the fetus and placenta. A blood...

Estrone (E1) Test in Women: Menopause, Estrogen Balance, High and Low Results

Understand what an estrone (E1) test measures, how menopause affects levels, common high and low causes, test limitations, and the follow-up that results may require.

Estrone, or E1, is one of the body’s three main estrogens. It is less potent than estradiol but becomes the most abundant circulating estrogen...

Female Hair Loss Hormone Test Panel: Testosterone, DHEA-S, Ferritin, TSH, and Results

Learn how testosterone, DHEA-S, ferritin, and TSH tests are used in female hair loss, what abnormal results can mean, and when scalp-focused evaluation is needed.

A female hair loss blood panel can identify medical conditions that increase shedding or contribute to patterned thinning, but no single panel diagnoses every...

Female Hormone Test Panel: Estradiol, Progesterone, FSH, LH, AMH, Prolactin, and Results

Learn how estradiol, progesterone, FSH, LH, AMH, and prolactin are timed and interpreted for periods, ovulation, fertility, ovarian reserve, and menopause concerns.

A female hormone test panel can help evaluate irregular or absent periods, infertility, suspected ovulation problems, ovarian reserve, early menopause, pituitary disorders, and selected...

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...