On what day of the cycle to take testosterone ✅: when a woman needs a free analysis, how is blood for total

To maintain her health, a woman must undergo a preventive medical examination every year. In addition to a general examination by various specialists, it is recommended to donate blood for the level of hormones 💉. To get the most reliable results, you need to know on which day of the cycle to take testosterone.

Why take testosterone for a woman

A doctor may prescribe a testosterone test for a woman in the presence of symptoms such as:

• failure of the menstrual cycle;
• hirsutism;
• decreased libido;
• deterioration of hair and nails;
• fast weight gain;
• sudden mood swings;
• difficulty conceiving;
• acne on the face and body.

The study can be included in the list of analyzes if any gynecological disease is suspected. Also, a woman may be prescribed this type of study during pregnancy.

When to take

The test results for testosterone in a woman change daily. This feature is considered the norm, it depends on the day of the menstrual cycle. In pregnant women, an increase or decrease in the level of the hormone is associated with the gestation period.

In most cases, it is recommended to take testosterone on the 5th day of the cycle, provided its total duration is 28 days. If the cycle is shorter, the study is carried out for 3-4 days. When it is longer, i.e. more than 28 days - for 8-9 days. Depending on the urgency of the situation in which it becomes necessary to conduct a laboratory test for the level of the hormone in the blood, the doctor may prescribe a diagnosis for any day.

Knowing the duration of the menstrual cycle, it will be possible to conclude that there are deviations.

If the patient is taking hormones or any other medications, she needs to inform her attending physician about this before taking the test. Some drugs can affect the results, so the study may be scheduled for a different date.

When a patient has irregular menstrual bleeding, i.e. there is a failure, testosterone is given in women 4 a day after the onset of menstruation.

How to take

In most cases, the test for testosterone in women is taken in the morning, because at this time, its highest concentration in the blood is observed. It is forbidden to eat food 12 hours before collection of biological material. It is also better to refuse water, but a small dose is allowed. If a woman cannot completely refuse to drink fluids, she is allowed to drink only clean, non-carbonated water. A woman should take a blood test for testosterone no earlier than 3 days after the last intercourse.

Some experts do not recommend brushing your teeth in the morning for the purity of the study.

To get the most reliable results, you should adhere to other rules:

1. Donate blood no earlier than 24 hours after ultrasound or X-ray examination.
2. Do not take drugs or alcohol. Smoking is also included in the list of contraindications.
3. 1-2 days before delivery, you should refrain from fatty, fried and salty foods. The diet should only contain easily digestible foods. But complete refusal of food, i.e. hunger strike, before the study is also prohibited.
4. Overtraining is prohibited on the last day. Intense physical activity affects the amount of testosterone in the blood. You should cancel your workouts in the gym, do not lift heavy objects, do not run, etc. Hiking long distances can also affect test results.
5. 2-3 days before the analysis, it is better not to visit the bathhouse or sauna.
6. Avoid emotional overload. Any stressful situations can affect the result.

Correctly take the analysis at rest. For this reason, the patient should arrive at the hospital 30 minutes before the scheduled time. The time it takes to wait will allow your heartbeat and breathing to return to normal. Keep calm while taking blood.

If the patient has a fear of a medical procedure, i.e. she is afraid of injections, etc., it is better to inform a specialist about this.

If the patient cannot, for some reason, come to the hospital in the morning, the laboratory test can be rescheduled for the evening. But during the day, a woman should also not take food, it is necessary to adhere to all other rules of preparation.

Norm

A laboratory study of the blood that the patients donate for the hormone determines the level of free and total testosterone. The general indicator will indicate what concentration of the hormone is contained in the biological material of a woman at the time of delivery. Free - the active free fraction of testosterone. It does not bind to other proteins.

If testosterone is given on the 5th day of the cycle, the norm for women of reproductive age is:

• free testosterone - less than 4.1 pg / ml;
• total testosterone - 0.38 - 1.97 nmol / l.

Norms for different age categories:

Deviations from the norm

When the interpretation of the results indicates deviations from the norm, the doctor may prescribe additional tests and examinations. They are necessary in order to find out what caused such changes in the female body. After collecting all the necessary information about the patient, a diagnosis will be made and appropriate treatment prescribed.

Possible reasons for an increase or decrease in the level of the hormone in the body include:

• tumor neoplasms in the ovaries;
• pathology of the kidneys or adrenal glands;
• alcoholism;
• drastic changes in the diet (for example, a rigid diet);
• fibroids or polyposis of the uterus;
• oncological processes in the body;
• taking medications;
• climatic conditions (change of place of residence);
• age-related changes, etc.

A slight deviation from the norm does not always indicate the presence of a pathological process. Some women have a genetic predisposition to increased testosterone production. But only a doctor can confirm the safety of this anomaly for the patient.