17-Beta-estradiol (estradiol, estradiol, E2) is a form of the female sex hormone.It is produced primarily in the ovaries (Graafian follicle, corpus luteum) in women and in the placenta in pregnant women. The concentration of estradiol changes during the female menstrual cycle.In men, production takes place in the testes and adrenal cortex.Estradiol is the most potent of the female sex hormones.Like all sex hormones, estradiol is synthesized from cholesterol.
The process
Material needed
- Blood serum
Preparation of the patient
- No preparation necessary
Disruptive factors
- None known
Normal values for women
| Cycle time | Normal values in pg/ml |
| Prepubertal | < 20 |
| Early follicular | 20-190 |
| Preovulatory | 150-350 |
| Luteal | 55-2.120 |
| Postmenopausal | < 30 |
| Pregnancy,1st trimester (third trimester). | 300-7.000 |
| Pregnancy,2nd trimester | 1.000-17.900 |
| Pregnancy,3rd trimester | 4.300-17.600 |
Normal values for men
| Age | Normal values in pg/ml |
| Prepubertal | 3-7 |
| Adults | 12-34 |
Conversion factor
- Pg/ml x 3.671 = pmol/l
Indications
- Suspicion of cycle disorders
- Sterility diagnostics
- Monitoring of follicle maturation (oocyte maturation).
- Suspicion of estrogen-producing tumors.
Interpretation
Interpretation of elevated values in women
- Follicular persistence – failure of the follicle to burst with excessive hormone production.
- Estrogen-producing tumors (granulosa and theca cell tumor).
- Liver dysfunction such as cirrhosis (connective tissue remodeling of the liver with functional impairment) – slowing of estradiol metabolism.
- Renal dysfunction – slowing of estradiol metabolism.
- Estrogen substitution and overdose.
- Periovulatory phase (phase around ovulation).
- Gravidity (pregnancy)
Interpretation of elevated values in men
- Obesity (obesity)
- Hormone-producing tumors
- Liver dysfunction such as cirrhosis (connective tissue remodeling of the liver with functional impairment) – Slowing of estradiol metabolism.
- Renal dysfunction – slowing of estradiol metabolism.
Interpretation of decreased values
- Primary ovarian insufficiency (ovarian weakness).
- Functional or morphologic changes
- Menopause (menopause)
- Secondary ovarian failure
- Taking hormonal contraceptives (ovulation inhibitors).
- Lack of stimulation of the ovary (ovary).
- Pituitary insufficiency: corpus luteum insufficiency (luteal weakness); anovulation (lack of ovulation).
Other indications
- When interpreting the measured values, the cycle phase must always be taken into account, i.e. it is always necessary to specify the cycle day on the day of blood sampling or the first day of the last menstrual period.
