Hormones
Hormones are chemicals that run through your body to coordinate different processes, allowing the body to function well. Some glands, tissues, and organs produce hormones.?Hormones are chemicals that signal?messages to various organs and tissues through the bloodstream.?Balanced hormonal functions are vital for good health. You have over 50 hormones controlling different bodily functions, many of which may even be unknown to you.
Hormone Tests help monitor important hormones present in your body. The levels of these hormones are significant for vital body functions such as:
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Metabolism
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Digestion
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Growth
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Homeostasis
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Sleep-wake cycle
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Ovulation
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Regular menstrual cycles
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Conception
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Fertilisation
Hormone tests are more commonly done for females experiencing infertility issues.?Timely screening through hormone tests at home can help avoid several illnesses. Your doctor may prescribe you a hormone test for different purposes, such as:
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Confirming pregnancy
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Detecting hormonal imbalances
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Tracking menopause
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Understanding the cause of reproductive issues
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When is a Hormone Test Prescribed?
A Hormone Test At Home is often recommended when you exhibit symptoms suggesting a possible hormonal imbalance. Since hormones affect several bodily systems, a hormone imbalance can trigger various symptoms. You can even book a Hormone Test Online if you or a close one is facing the following symptoms:
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Signs of pregnancy like missed periods, nausea, frequent urination, or tender breasts
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Difficulty getting pregnant or maintaining a pregnancy
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Abnormal vaginal bleeding
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Irregular or absent menstrual periods
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Signs of menopause (hot flushes, vaginal dryness, etc.)
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Sleep issues in women under the age of 40
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Abnormal hair growth
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Acne
Hormone tests at home also help detect thyroid issues. Thyroid issues are, more often than not, seen in women. You may exhibit the following symptoms in the case of an underlying disorder:
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Diarrhoea or constipation
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Mood changes
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Feeling cold
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Excessive tiredness
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Unexplained weight gain
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Irritability
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Irregular heart rate
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Changes to the hair or skin
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Trouble sleeping
Your doctor may also ask you to Book Hormone Tests in situations where you have previously suffered from certain health conditions due to the effects of hormonal imbalances. People taking regular medications to change their hormone levels may also book hormone tests online to monitor their medication and treatment responses.
It is essential to discuss the symptoms with your doctor if you notice any signs of hormonal imbalance.?They will help determine and prescribe hormone tests based on your condition.
Why is Hormone Testing Important?
Hormone tests offer insight into the essential functions taking place in the body.?They are used to detect fertility issues, problems in the menstrual cycle, or whether or not you are perimenopausal.?Hormone tests also help in diagnosing medical conditions like diabetes or hypothyroidism. Additionally, they are necessary to understand how your medications are working.
You can book hormone tests online to explore the functioning of various critical hormones, including:
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Estrogen
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Progesterone
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Testosterone/DHEA
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Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
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Thyroid hormones
In most cases, your doctor will use hormone test to diagnose a problem. However, various other factors are considered to arrive at a diagnosis alongside the test. These include medical history, symptoms, and different test results.
How is the Hormone Blood Test Performed?
To check the hormone levels in the body, a lab technician or nurse will use a hypodermic needle to collect blood sample from your body. The extracted blood sample is sent to a specialist laboratory for analysis.
While most hormonal tests use blood as a sample, some may require saliva or urine samples.
Time Required for Test Report + Next Steps
Your healthcare provider will share your hormone tests result with you. Depending on the lab, you can access your hormone test results online within a few hours and get in touch with your doctor to discuss the results.
Healthcare providers often correlate the test's findings with other tests to make the appropriate diagnosis. Due to this, the doctor may wait until they get the results of all the tests before reviewing them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Blood samples are usually taken during the cycle's follicular phase. This is because normal and abnormal hormone levels have a more precise separation during this time.
Fasting is not required for testing your hormone levels.
FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) Test is usually performed on the second or third day of the menstrual cycle.
If you suffer from hormonal imbalance, you will experience symptoms such as irregular or heavy periods, hirsutism, and excessive hair growth, especially on the face, chin, or other body parts.
The Hormone Test Price varies depending on the type of test being performed. Comprehensive hormone panels are also available, containing a variety of hormone tests, including Thyroid Panel, Insulin, FSH, LH, Prolactin, AMH, PCOS Profile, Testosterone, and more.
You may undergo hormonal imbalance at different times, such as during menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, and puberty. Besides this, some medical conditions, environmental conditions, endocrine gland malfunctions, and lifestyle habits can also trigger such imbalances.
A range of hormone tests are available for men, including but not limited to TSH, insulin, FSH, LH, testosterone etc.
If you live with PCOS, hormones like Insulin, estrogen, progesterone, androgens (testosterone, DHEA, and androstenedione), and luteinizing hormone (LH) may be deranged.