Hormone Testing: Understanding Hormone Levels and Imbalances

So you’ve watched a video, dived into Google searches about PCOS and premature menopause, and now you’re feeling anxious about your biological clock? Take a deep breath and let’s break it down together.

You might be wondering how to get hormone levels tested and what the results might mean for you. Hormones are more than just a buzzword—they play a pivotal role in your overall health, influencing everything from your mood to your metabolism. Identifying whether your hormones are imbalanced can be the first crucial step toward addressing potential issues impacting your well-being.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the entire process of hormone testing. From understanding what to expect during the test to decoding your results, we’ll cover it all. You’ll also discover why hormone testing is essential and how it can be a game-changer in managing conditions related to hormonal imbalances. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid understanding of hormone testing and how it can help you take proactive control of your health.

Why Should You Consider Getting Your Hormone Levels Tested?

We are obsessed with data at Arva, and unfortunately, the data doesn’t look good. Let’s focus on 2 points here:

• 1 in 6 Indian couples face infertility.

• 1 in 5 women is diagnosed with PCOS, a condition that impacts fertility

Women are having children later than ever — that, coupled with our sedentary lifestyles, stressful jobs and lack of information is making pregnancy harder as time goes by.

Fertility isn’t something we really think about until we have to. But until our bodies catch up to our mental timeline, we’re going to have to address it more proactively.

How to Spot Hormonal Imbalance: Top Symptoms to Watch For

So how do you know if your hormones are out of whack? Some common signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance include:

• Irregular periods or no periods at all

• Heavy or painful periods

• Acne and oily skin

• Excess facial and body hair growth

• Thinning hair on the scalp

• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight

• Mood changes like irritability, anxiety, or depression

• Low libido

• Vaginal dryness

• Hot flashes and night sweats

If you're nodding your head at a few too many of these, it might be time to dig deeper.

What are the Causes of Hormonal Imbalance?

Hormonal imbalances can be triggered by a variety of factors such as:

• PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

• Thyroid disorders

• Birth control pills

• Chronic stress

• Poor diet and nutrition

• Lack of exercise

• Certain medications

• Pregnancy and menopause

While some causes are out of our control, making positive lifestyle changes can go a long way in restoring balance. But first, you need to know exactly what you're working with.

Enter — Hormone Testing

A Fertility Hormone Test is a blood test that determines the levels of certain hormones in your body and how they can impact your health. 

Our hormones and endocrine system are responsible for so many functions like regulating hunger, metabolism, sleep, hair, etc. that testing them can give you a deeper insight into their role in your body and how they’re causing certain symptoms.

Arva’s Fertility Test has been curated to not only give you information about your fertility health but can also get to the root cause of annoying hormonal symptoms like dark chin hairs, weight fluctuations, and more.

How do you test for hormone imbalance?

The most accurate way to diagnose a hormonal imbalance is through a blood test. This measures the levels of various hormones in the body, including:

• Estrogen

• Progesterone

• Testosterone

• Thyroid hormones (TSH, Free T3, Free T4)

• Prolactin

• FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)

• LH (Luteinizing Hormone)

• DHEA-S

• Cortisol

Depending on your symptoms and medical history, your doctor may recommend testing for specific hormones. Arva's Fertility Test looks at all the key players.

What do we look at?

There are thousands of different hormones, neurotransmitters, and chemicals running through our body. How do we know what to test?

Well, we've curated this test with some of the best endocrinologists, gynaecologists, and infertility specialists in the country to ensure we look for the right indicators, specifically for Indian women. You can read about it in detail here.

How does it work?

Arva’s Fertility Test is a 3-step process:

1. Book an appointment
   A member of the Arva Care Team will call to schedule your appointment
   

2. Track your cycle
   The blood sample must be collected on Day 3 of your period.
   

3. Collect the sample
   A friendly phlebotomist from our diagnostic partners will collect a blood sample from your home.

Bing, bang, boom! You get a personalised report less than 48 hours later with your results in language you can actually understand. No jargon or Doctor-handwriting-interpretation necessary.

But if you still have questions or concerns about the next steps, our empathetic team of doctors, nutritionists, and wellness experts are available over call and email.

Knowledge is power. You’re just a click away

TL;DR:

• Women are having children later than ever — that, coupled with our sedentary lifestyles, stressful jobs and lack of information is making pregnancy harder as time goes by.

• A Fertility Test is a blood test that determines the levels of certain hormones in your body and how they can impact your health.

• Arva’s Fertility Test has been curated with the best doctors and specialists in the country to ensure we look for the right indicators, specifically for Indian women. 

• It’s a simple 3-step process:

  • Book an appointment

  • Track your cycle

  • Collect the sample