How to Read Your Hormone Panel

Testosterone is a hormone measured in blood that helps describe hormone balance and related body functions. On a lab report, Testosterone on a blood test is often reviewed for pattern changes over time and alongside other markers. The Testosterone normal range depends on sex, age, lab method, and the units used.

Free Testosterone is the unbound portion of testosterone circulating in blood. It is the fraction not attached to carrier proteins, so it is the part most available for biologic activity. On a blood test, Free Testosterone helps show how much testosterone is circulating in a usable form and is often read alongside total testosterone and sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG).

Estradiol (E2) is the main form of estrogen measured in blood, and an Estradiol test reports how much E2 is circulating at the time of collection. E2 on a lab report is commonly used in hormone panels to track normal variation across sex, age, and treatment patterns.

Progesterone is a steroid hormone measured in blood to show how much of this hormone is circulating at the time of testing. On a lab report, Progesterone helps describe hormone patterns across different sex and reproductive states, and results are often read as part of a broader Hormones panel. The Progesterone test result is usually reported in ng/mL or nmol/L, and the Progesterone reference range depends on age and sex.

Cortisol is a steroid hormone made by the adrenal glands and measured in blood tests to show how much Cortisol is circulating at the time of collection. On a lab report, it helps describe hormone balance, time-of-day variation, and how the body is responding to stress, activity, and other factors. Because Cortisol changes across the day, the Cortisol test result is usually interpreted with the collection time and the lab’s Cortisol normal range.

DHEA-Sulfate (DHEA-S) is a steroid hormone made mainly by the adrenal glands and measured in blood. On a DHEA-S lab report, the value helps show how much sulfate-bound androgen precursor is circulating. Results are often read with age, sex, and other hormone markers because normal DHEA-S levels vary widely.

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) is a hormone measured in blood to show how much parathyroid signal is circulating at the time of the test. PTH on a lab report helps describe how the body is regulating calcium and related minerals. The result is often interpreted with other markers and the Parathyroid Hormone reference range for the same lab method.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is a pituitary hormone measured in blood to show how much LH is circulating at the time of the test. On a lab report or blood test, LH helps describe hormone signaling patterns and is often reviewed with other hormone values for context. Normal LH range depends on sex and lab method, and both high LH and low LH can reflect shifts in hormone regulation.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is a hormone measured in blood that helps describe signaling between the brain and the reproductive system. FSH on a lab report is often reviewed with other hormone values to understand how that signaling is changing over time. The Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) test is commonly used in hormone panels, and the result is interpreted using the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone normal range for the person being tested.

Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone measured in blood that helps describe how much prolactin is circulating at the time of the draw. On a Prolactin lab report, the PRL value is read as a single number with a unit, often used as part of a Hormones panel to give context for hormone balance and lab result interpretation.

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) is a blood protein that binds sex hormones and helps control how much is available in circulation. SHBG, or Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, is often reviewed on a lab report to understand hormone transport and overall hormone balance. It is usually reported as a concentration in blood, with results interpreted using a Sex Hormone Binding Globulin reference range.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) is a hormone-related blood marker that reflects the body’s growth signaling over time. IGF-1 on a lab report is often used to summarize how much of this marker is circulating in the blood, and the result is commonly reviewed with age- and sex-based ranges. On a blood test, high IGF-1 or low IGF-1 can reflect differences in production, binding, or natural variation.

Growth Hormone (GH) is a hormone made by the pituitary gland and measured in blood as part of hormone testing. On a lab report, GH values help describe how much of this signal is present at the time of the blood draw. GH can vary through the day, so a single Growth Hormone test result is usually read in context with timing and other hormone markers.

Aldosterone is a hormone measured in blood, often as part of hormone-focused testing. It helps describe how the body is regulating salt and fluid balance, so an Aldosterone test result can be read alongside related blood markers and the Aldosterone reference range.

Renin is a hormone measured in blood that helps describe how the body regulates fluid balance and circulation. On a lab report, Renin is often reviewed with other hormone markers to show whether the measured level is within the normal Renin reference range and how it compares across time or different testing conditions.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) is a hormone made by the pituitary gland that helps regulate cortisol production. On a lab report, ACTH measures the amount of this hormone in the blood and is often reviewed with other hormone results. ACTH on a blood test can help describe how strongly the body is signaling the adrenal glands.

Androstenedione is a steroid hormone precursor measured in blood. It reflects how much of this adrenal and gonadal hormone is circulating at the time of the Androstenedione test. On an Androstenedione on a blood test or lab report, the result is read against the Androstenedione normal range to help describe whether the value is typical, high Androstenedione, or low Androstenedione.

17-Hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) is a steroid hormone made in the adrenal glands and ovaries or testes. On a blood test, it helps show how much of this hormone is circulating and how it compares with the 17-Hydroxyprogesterone normal range. The 17-OHP test is often reviewed as part of a hormone panel, where high 17-OHP or low 17-OHP can reflect differences in hormone production or timing of the sample.