Estradiol (E2)

Why test for Estradiol (E2)

Estrogens are a group of hormones that play a key role in the development of female physical features and reproductive functions, including the growth of breasts and the uterus, and regulation of the menstrual cycle. Men also make estrogen but in much smaller amounts.

There are many types of estrogens, but only three types are commonly tested:

• Estrone, also called E1, is the main female hormone made by women after menopause. Menopause is a time in a woman's life when her menstrual periods have stopped and she can't become pregnant anymore. It usually starts when a woman is around 50 years old.
• Estradiol, also called E2, is the main female hormone made by nonpregnant women.
• Estriol, also called E3 is a hormone that increases during pregnancy.

Measuring estrogen levels can provide important information about your fertility (the ability to get pregnant), the health of your pregnancy, your menstrual cycle, and other health conditions.

Other names: estradiol test, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), estrogenic hormone test

Estradiol (E2) tests or estrone tests are used to help:

• Find out the reason for early or late puberty in girls
• Find out the reason for late puberty in boys
• Diagnose menstrual problems
• Find out the cause of infertility (the inability to get pregnant)
• Monitor infertility treatments
• Monitor treatments for menopause
• Find tumors that make estrogen

An estriol (E3) hormone test is used to:

• Help diagnose certain birth defects during pregnancy.
• Monitor a high-risk pregnancy

SOURCE: https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/estrogen-levels-test/