Blood Work For Females - Testing, and Analysis for Hormone Replacement Therapy
Written by Dr. Welsh, Article reviewed and edited by Dr. Fine M.D.. Published on November 4th, 2018
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Female Blood Work Panel for Hormone Deficiency Analysis
Comprehensive
Blood Work Panel for Women
In order to effectively assess our patients' need for Hormone
Replacement Therapy, we perform a battery of diagnostic blood tests
in order to provide a clear and total picture of your overall health.
We understand that there are a number of different medical conditions
which can mimic the symptoms of the Hormone Deficiencies that we
treat, so it is important and vitally necessary to rule out as many
related conditions as possible in order to provide our most effective
diagnosis.
Complete
Blood Count With Platelet/Differential
The
purpose of this test is to analyze a number of different aspects of
your blood, including hematocrit, hemoglobin, white blood cells, red
blood cells, and platelets. This is a very common test, frequently
used in ordinary check-ups. If any of the measurements seem off, then
the physician can perform further testing to uncover underlying
problems.
There are
many tests that are performed in a Complete Blood Count. These are
some of the most important things being measured:
White
Blood Cells – These cells are responsible for fighting disease
within your body. If you have too few, your risk of infection and
illness increases dramatically. If you have too many, this indicates
that you are currently fighting a disease or infection, or may have
a condition which is causing the body to produce too many white
blood cells.
Red
Blood Cells – These cells transport oxygen throughout the body. If
the blood stream contains too few Red Blood Cells, this indicates a
medical condition known as anemia.
Hemoglobin
– The Red Blood Cells use Hemoglobin in order to move oxygen
around the body. Hemoglobin binds oxygen to Red Blood Cells for
transport. They are also responsible for absorbing Carbon Dioxide
and delivering it to the lungs for disposal. Low Levels of
Hemoglobin are a sign of Anemia.
Hematocrit
– This test shows the concentration of Red Blood Cells within your
blood stream. Low density RBC counts can be a sign of a number of
different medical disorders, including leukemia and anemia.
Generally, a high RBC count is a sign you aren't drinking enough
water.
Platelets
– Platelets are responsible for the process of blood clotting
which works to keep your blood stream a closed system. People
without enough platelets take longer for cuts and bruises to heal,
and people with too many are at risk of dangerous conditions
associated with blood clotting such as stroke and heart disease.
Comprehensive
Metabolic Panel
The
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel is another important series of blood
tests. Unlike the CBC, which measures the concentration and density
of the various organelles of the blood stream, the Comprehensive
Metabolic Panel measures the levels of a number of different
metabolic elements and compounds that are found in the blood stream.
The following are some important aspects of your health which are
analyzed through these tests:
Blood
Sugar – The human body primarily uses glucose as a source of
energy. The body uses insulin secreted from the pancreas in order to
deliver glucose to target organs for utilization. If there is too
much sugar in the blood stream, this can be a sign of Diabetes or
Insulin Resistance, because insulin is not effectively delivering
sugar, causing it to build up in the blood stream.
Liver
Function – The liver is responsible for taking various materials
that we consume and converting them into usable products for the
body. The liver produces certain vitamins that we need to be
healthy, and if certain vitamin levels are low, this is a sign that
Liver Function may be impaired. The Liver also plays a key role in
fat, protein, and glucose balance.
Kidney
Function – The kidneys are the primary filtration system for the
body. If there is too much water or the concentration of certain
minerals or salts is too high, the kidneys filter them out for
evacuation. If these tests show that mineral concentrations are too
high in the blood stream, the kidneys may not be functioning
effectively.
Electrolyte/Fluid
Balance – Electrolytes are various elements and molecules,
including potassium and sodium, which the body uses in order to
balance the level of fluid concentration, keeping the cells at a
perfect level of fluid balance. Any form of imbalance can have a
negative impact on overall healthy and normal function.
Lipid
Blood Panel
This is a series of tests which are used in order to assess the
health of your cardiovascular system through the concentrations of a
number of different lipid compounds. The Lipid Blood Panel primarily
assesses four primary factors:
Total Cholesterol – This result shows the total concentration of
cholesterol in your bloodstream.
HDL Cholesterol – This result indicates the concentration of
High-Density Lipoprotein in your blood stream. Higher concentrations
are better for your health.
LDL Cholesterol – High concentrations of Low-Density Lipoproteins,
on the other hand, can lead to a number of different negative health
consequences and are a sign of poor health.
Triglycerides – Triglycerides are considered the most dangerous
form of cholesterol to have in elevated concentrations. High
Triglyceride Levels are associated with hardened arteries, stroke,
and heart disease.
Using the four values above, two other lipid assessments can also be
calculated:
Thyroid
Blood Panel
The Thyroid Blood Panel is a collection of blood tests intended to
measure the function of the Thyroid Gland by the concentration of
various Thyroid hormones in the bloodstream. Thyroxine is often
referred to simply as Thyroid Hormone. Thyroxine is important to
overall health because it has an overall stimulative effect upon the
function of the cardiovascular system and the metabolism. Low
Thyroxine Levels can lead to obesity and fatigue, as well as a number
of other medical conditions.
The Lipid Blood Panel provides four measurements essential to
evaluating hormone health:
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone – This hormone, also referred to as
TSH, is a precursor hormone produced by the Thyroid which controls
all other hormones produced by the gland.
Total Thyroxine – Total Thyroxine refers to the total
concentration of Thyroxine present in the bloodstream.
Free Thyroxine – This is the only form of Thyroxine which is
biologically available to the body for use. Low levels of Free
Thyroxine indicate that the body is not producing a sufficient level
of the hormone.
Free Tri-iodothyronine -This is another thyroid hormone which is
vitally important for normal, regular metabolism. This test measures
the amount of the hormone that is directly available to the body for
use.
Cortisol
Testing
This test
simply measures the concentration of cortisol present in the blood
stream. Cortisol is a hormone central to the physiological response
known as fight-or-flight. The positive goal of cortisol is to help us
think on our feet in tense situations, and to channel out feelings of
pain, but constantly elevated levels of cortisol are very unhealthy
and lead to a number of consequences for long term health. Cortisol
also plays a role in regulating a number of other aspects of healthy
function, including:
Bone
Health
Nervous
System Response
Immune
System Response
Circulatory
Health
Metabolism
Keeping
Cortisol at healthy levels is necessary to maintain the proper
function of all of these systems, and excess production of cortisol
can lead to numerous health problems.
DHEA
Sulfate Testing
DHEA
Sulfate is an androgen hormone produced by the adrenal glands which
is a precursor to sex hormones such as Testosterone and Estrogen.
Although some levels of DHEA are perfectly healthy in women, excess
levels may be a sign that the body is not processing the hormone
effectively into feminine hormones, which can lead to problems.
High DHEA
Levels have the capacity to induce certain male characteristics such
as increased hair growth in women. Elevated DHEA Levels can also
cause the immune system to go into overdrive, causing many
physiological issues and also draining the body of the cortisol
necessary for normal health.
Estradiol
Testing
Estradiol
is the most vital form of estrogen produced by the female body.
During development, the hormone is centrally responsible for primary
and secondary sexual development, and in adulthood, the hormone is
important for the maintenance of proper physiological weight
distribution.
During
Perimenopause and Menopause, Estradiol Levels will often fluctuate
significantly, and eventually drop significantly. Estrogen Hormone
Replacement Therapy can be a means to alleviate the abrupt
physiological changes associated with Menopause in order to make them
easier to handle. Estradiol Testing will provide you with a clear
picture of your feminine hormone health and help your physician
decide if you may benefit from Estrogen Replacement.
Pregnenolone
Testing
Like DHEA,
Pregnenolone is another precursor hormone necessary for the healthy
production of sex hormones. Pregnenolone is also incredibly important
for neurological health, and the hormone is found in high
concentrations in neural tissues. Like HGH and Testosterone,
Pregnenolone Levels drop off in the body as we age. Pregnenolone
plays an important role in keeping Cortisol Levels in check, and as
Pregnenolone Levels drop, Cortisol Production Increases.
Pregnenolone
is important to normal health because it plays a huge role in
regulating the production of other hormones. If the body doesn't have
enough Pregnenolone, then it will suffer both directly as a result of
deficiency, and indirectly because the body can no longer effectively
produce other vital hormones as efficiently.
Progesterone
Testing
Progesterone
is produced by both sexes, but in the highest concentrations in
women. Progesterone is produced in its highest quantities by the
ovaries and the placenta, although it is also secreted by the adrenal
glands. Elevated levels of Progesterone are widely responsible for
the side-effects associated with Pre-Menstrual Syndrome, including
mood swings, bloating, and breast tenderness.
Abnormally
low levels of Progesterone can cause a number of significant
symptoms. If you are a woman experiencing a high level of stress with
no discernible cause, this may be the result of Progesterone
Deficiency. Estrogen Levels and Progesterone Levels are correlated,
and a proper balance is necessary between the two in order to be
optimally healthy.
Serum
Ferritin Test
This
straight-forward test is performed in order to evaluate the iron
levels in your bloodstream. The level of iron in your blood
effectively correlates with the amount of iron that you have stored
in your body. Low Levels of Serum Ferritin are a strong sign of
Anemia and can also be a sign of Restless Leg Syndrome.
High
Levels of Serum Ferritin are a sign that the body may be fighting an
infection or disease. Many vegetarians suffer from Low Serum Ferritin
Levels, with an incidence as high as forty percent.
Follicle
Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone Testing
These two
hormones are central to the proper sexual function of both men and
women, and play different roles according to the sex of the
individual. In women, Follicle Stimulating Hormone is necessary for
the proper development of the Ovarian Follicles. The hormone also
encourages the ovaries to produce the female sex hormones
Progesterone and Estrogen. FSH Testing can also be used in order to
evaluate the fertility potential of a woman as she grows older.
Luteinizing
Hormone Testing is able to effectively assess a woman's menstrual and
fertility state. As women enter menopause, their Luteinizing Hormone
Levels increase dramatically, so this test is very useful for
assessing when a patient should begin Estrogen Replacement Therapy.
Luteinizing Hormone Levels in the blood stream increase when LH is no
longer being effectively utilized by the body.
Hemoglobin
A1C Testing
Hemoglobin
is responsible for sugar-transport through the blood stream. The
Hemoglobin A1C Test measures the percentage of Hemoglobin in your
bloodstream which is currently carrying sugar. If you have too much
sugar in your blood stream, this is a sign that your body is not
distributing sugar properly, which is a sign of diabetes. For
patients that are currently diabetic, the Hemoglobin A1C Test is used
in order assess the risk of experiencing health complications as a
result of diabetes.
IGF-1
Testing
IGF-1
stands for Insulin-like Growth Factor-One. This hormone is produced
when Human Growth Hormone passes through the liver and is broken down
into various Growth Factors. IGF-1 Testing is the strongest indicator
of Human Growth Hormone Deficiency, because IGF-1 Levels remain
relatively stable in the blood stream on a daily basis.
HGH
Testing is not an effective means to diagnose HGH Deficiency because
the hormone is released by the Pituitary Gland in quick pulses, and
the liver metabolizes the hormone very quickly. If your IGF-1 Levels
are considered too low, and you are experiencing symptoms of Human
Growth Hormone Deficiency, you may be a candidate for HGH Hormone
Replacement Therapy.
Fasting
Insulin Testing
This test
measures the concentration of Insulin in the blood stream. Insulin is
used in order to transport sugars and carbohydrates from the blood to
target cells, and elevated levels of Insulin are a sign of Insulin
Resistance. If you consume too many sugars and carbs, your body will
produce an excess of Insulin in order to properly distribute those
calories.
If you
produce too much Insulin for too long, then your body will start to
develop a tolerance for the hormone, meaning that it will take more
and more Insulin to properly move the carbs and sugars out of your
blood stream. Eventually, this can lead to Type-Two Diabetes, as the
level of sugar in your bloodstream outstrips the ability of the
maximum amount of Insulin that your body can produce to properly
evacuate it from the blood.
Sex
Hormone-Binding Globulin Testing
This
glycoprotein is responsible for the transport of the sex hormones
through the blood stream. SHBG is modulated through a number of
different factors. Elevated transcortin, prolactin, androgen,
insulin, HGH, and IGF-1 concentrations are SHBG Inhibitors, and
thyroxine and estrogen are SHBG Activators.
Abnormally
low levels of SHBG may be a sign that symptoms of Sex Hormone
Deficiency are not the result of low levels of Testosterone and
Estrogen themselves, but rather, an inability to effectively
transport the hormones to target organs for activation.
Testosterone
Total and Free Testing
This test
is used to directly evaluate Testosterone production in both men and
women. Total Testosterone refers to all Testosterone which is present
in the blood stream. Free Testosterone indicates the concentration of
Testosterone in the bloodstream which is flowing unbound to any
enzyme.
In order
for Testosterone to be utilized and distributed effectively, it needs
to be bound to SHBG circulating through the bloodstream. If Free
Testosterone Levels are abnormally high, this means that the body is
not distributing Testosterone effectively. If both Bound and Unbound
Testosterone are low, then this means that the body is producing an
insufficient level of Testosterone.
In women,
Testosterone is vital for optimal health, even if it is necessary in
far lower concentrations than it is in males. In women, Testosterone
is intricately related to sexuality, both with regard to sex drive
and sexual ability. Feminine Low-T is also a sign of Menopause, and
Testosterone Replacement Therapy may be an effective means to both
alleviate the symptoms of Menopause and increase libido and sexual
function.
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