Home › Biomarkers › Estradiol
In girls, signs of puberty, such as breast growth, before the age of 8 can be a reason for an oestrogen test. Estradiol is the main oestrogen.[1]
On this page you can read what estradiol is, what the guidelines say about a level that is too low or too high, what affects your level and which levels are best to look at alongside it.
Also known as: oestradiol, an oestrogen. At the lab: E2.
Estradiol belongs to the oestrogens. This is a group of hormones with a major role in female reproduction. Think of puberty, periods, pregnancy and the menopause.[1]
Estradiol is mainly made in the ovaries. It helps release an egg each cycle and thickens the lining of the womb. This is how it makes pregnancy possible.[1]
Men make small amounts of estradiol in the testicles. Estradiol is one of the three oestrogens that are often tested, alongside estrone (E1) and estriol (E3).[1]
Oestrogens are not only important for reproduction. In men and women, they help with healthy cholesterol and blood sugar, strong bones and muscles and the ability to concentrate.[1]
Estradiol itself also supports the health of your brain and your bones.[1]
In women, a test can help with early or late puberty, irregular or absent periods, problems getting pregnant or symptoms of the menopause, such as hot flushes and night sweats.[1]
In men, a test can show whether too much oestrogen is causing symptoms, such as breast growth or problems with erections.[1]
Labplusarts, the lab BioProfile works with, uses a reference value of 41 to 159 pmol/l for estradiol (E2). The lab calls a level between those limits normal.[2]
| Range | What it can mean | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| 41 to 159 pmol/l[2] | Normal according to the lab | As the lab reports it, without a separate group |
Source: Labplusarts, the lab's reference value for estradiol (E2).[2]
In women, the level changes a great deal over the course of life. A level that stays too low can point to a health problem. A doctor will then look at things such as late puberty, the time before the menopause, a condition of the ovaries or a condition of the thyroid or pituitary gland.[1]
In men, the oestrogen level changes little over the course of life. A high level in men can therefore point to a condition, such as fertility problems or tissue that makes oestrogen itself.[1]
BioProfile is working on its own zones for each value, from risk to optimal. A doctor reviews those zones before they appear in your result.
Sometimes you need to stop certain supplements and medicines before the test, such as the pill or hormone therapy for the menopause. Tell your healthcare provider everything you take. Never stop a medicine on your own, only when your healthcare provider tells you to.[1]
What counts as a healthy level depends on your age and your sex. In men, the level changes little over the course of life, while in women it changes a great deal.[1]
In women, the level rises during puberty. Oestrogens also play a role in periods, pregnancy and the menopause.[1]
How your level is read also depends on the reason for the test, which oestrogen was measured and the results of other tests.[1]
Estradiol is included in BioProfile 121 and 150.[3]
The BioProfile editorial team wrote this page on 10 October 2026 from the sources below, which we read on 10 October 2026. Every number on this page appears in one of those sources, with that source's number next to it. An expert has yet to check this page; after that check, the expert's name and the date of the check will appear at the top. This page offers explanation, not a diagnosis. Discuss a value outside the range with your GP.
