Estradiol - Serum

Description

An estradiol test measures the amount of a hormone called estradiol in the blood. Estradiol is one of the main types of estrogens.

In women, most estradiol is released from the ovaries and adrenal glands. It is also released by the placenta during pregnancy. Estradiol is also produced in other body tissues, such as skin, fat, cells bone, brain, and liver. Estradiol plays a role in:

• Growth of the womb (uterus), fallopian tubes, and vagina
• Breast development
• Changes of the outer genitals
• Distribution of body fat
• Menopause

In men, a small amount of estradiol is mainly released by the testes. Estradiol helps prevent sperm from dying too early.

Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.