hormones
13 articles in this field-note collection.
ACTH blood test: normal range, high and low causes
ACTH is the pituitary signal that tells your adrenals to make cortisol. Here's a normal morning level, what high and low results mean, and when it's urgent.
hCG blood test: levels, pregnancy and what results mean
hCG is the pregnancy hormone. Here's a normal level outside pregnancy, how fast it rises, why it can run high, and when a result is urgent.
Leptin levels: normal range, body fat and resistance
Leptin is made by fat cells, so it tracks body fat and runs higher in women. What's normal, what leptin resistance means, and when the test matters.
Progesterone blood test: normal levels, low and high causes
Progesterone shows whether you ovulated. See normal levels by cycle phase and pregnancy, what a low day-21 result means, and how to read it with LH and FSH.
Prolactin blood test: normal levels and why it runs high
Prolactin is the milk-making hormone. Here's a normal level, the usual reasons it runs high, how to read it with TSH and kidney tests, and when it's urgent.
Renin blood test: normal ranges, high and low causes
Renin is the kidney hormone that starts the blood-pressure chain. What's normal, how posture, salt and pills move it, and what high or low renin means.
SHBG blood test: normal range, low and high causes
SHBG holds testosterone and estrogen in your blood. Here's what's normal, what low or high SHBG usually means, and how to read it with free testosterone.
LH blood test: normal levels, high and low causes
LH is your brain's signal to the ovaries and testes. See normal LH by sex and cycle phase, what high or low LH usually means, and how to read it.
IGF-1 blood test: normal levels by age, low and high causes
IGF-1 tracks growth hormone. Here's the normal range for your age, what optimizers aim for, why it runs low or high, and when to see a specialist.
FSH blood test: normal levels, high and low causes
FSH is your brain's signal to the ovaries or testes. See normal levels by sex and cycle phase, what high or low FSH usually means, and how to read it.
Cortisol test: normal levels, high and low causes
Cortisol runs on a daily clock. Here's a normal morning level, what high and low results usually mean, how to read it with ACTH, and when low is urgent.
Estradiol blood test: normal levels, high and low causes
Estradiol (E2) is your main estrogen. See normal levels for men and women, what high or low results usually mean, and how to read E2 with FSH and LH.
Testosterone test: normal levels, low T causes, next steps
What a normal testosterone level is for men and women, the optimal ranges people aim for, the most common causes of low T, and when a result is urgent.