Important Lab Tests for PCOS
Many women who have PCOS have not had the correct blood work done or don't know what blood tests to ask to have done.I would like to post some important labs used to diagnose and monitor PCOS
1. Total testosterone (elevated levels are > 50ng/dl
2. Free testosterone
3. Luteinizing Hormone (LH) (plays a role in ovulation and egg development)
4. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) (responsible for egg release from the ovaries)
5. LH/FSH ratio (results should be under 2)
6. DHEA-sulfate (this test tells how much androgens or "male hormones" your body is producing) DHEA sulfate converts into testosterone.
7. Prolactin
8. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) this test will help to rule out hypo or hyperthyroidism (slow vs fast metabolism issues)
9. Liver Function tests (LFT's). Important since medications pass through the liver, to check for possible damages. Checking every 3-6 months is recommended.
10. Fasting Lipid Profile: Total Cholesterol (<>45 mg/dl is ideal)Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) (<130 mg/dl is ideal)Triglycerides (fat in blood) (<150 mg/dl is ideal)
11. Fasting Insulin (results should be <10) difficult to do, it needs to be frozen when brought to the lab and tested before it reaches a certain temperature, expensive but would be very beneficial in determining and monitoring insulin resistance.
12. Fasting blood chemistry panel (includes glucose, electolytes and sometimes renal labs)
13. Fasting glucose to insulin ratio (used to diagnose and monitor insulin resistance, ratio under 4.5 usually indicated insulin resistance)
Ellen Reiss Goldfarb, RD
11500 W. Olympic Blvd, Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA
310-408-1770
info@ellenreissgoldfarb.com
1 comments:
Hi Ellen,
Thank you very much for your helpful blog.
I am now on day 1 or 2 of my first period cycle since Nov 9, 2008. My sister was diagnosed with PCOS (of the thinner person variety) several years ago and struggled for years with childbirth until a very recent success with the seeming help of Metformin.
I understand that certain tests should take place on certain days of your 'cycle'. I have therefore been 'sitting-on' some lab forms in order to wait for the best day. Now that the time has finally come, i'm not sure what the best days are for what tests, nor if i should quickly call my doc to request more test.
The lab requests i have now are:
TSH, Estradiol, LH, FSH, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA-S
its my basic understanding that I should attempt to get this tests on day 3 (as opposed to day 10?) of my cycle. Or do you recommend some combo of days?
Thanks
Emalee
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