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Oestradiol and weight: fat tissue, overweight and underweight

According to the NVKC, the female fat distribution is one of the characteristics that oestradiol, the main female sex hormone, is responsible for. According to the NVKC, fat tissue is the main place where oestrogens, the group that includes oestradiol, are formed after menopause and in men.

According to the NVKC, oestradiol can be raised with obesity through conversion of androgens in fat tissue, and lowered with anorexia nervosa or another cause of severe underweight. Only a blood test shows the oestradiol level.

Star-SHL uses 18.4 to 505 pmol/l for women after menopause, and Diagnostiek voor U gives an upper limit of 118 pmol/L after menopause.

Doctor's Assessment Included

Oestradiol is the main female sex hormone; it is made mainly in the ovaries and is needed for strong bones in women and men. According to the NVKC, the result depends on sex, age, cycle phase, pregnancy and measuring method.

  • Star-SHL uses 41.4 to 159 pmol/l for men and 45.4 to 854 pmol/l for women in the follicular phase; Certe uses 95 to 223 pmol/L for men older than 18.
  • According to Thuisarts, a blood test makes no sense for finding out whether someone is in menopause, because that number is not reliable.
  • According to Certe, the medicine fulvestrant (Faslodex) cross-reacts in the oestradiol test, which may produce falsely raised results.

Reference Ranges

See the value that applies to you:

Choose male or female — this range differs by sex.

Enter your age — this range changes with age.

This range also depends on context such as cycle phase or sample material; the highlighted rows apply to your group.

Male Your group
pmol/l
Low 41 Normal 159 High
Female Your group
pmol/l
Low 46 Normal 607 High

Reference ranges may vary between laboratories. When you order a test, a BIG-registered doctor assesses your personal results in context. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.

Check your own value

Estradiol (E2): what Dutch laboratories use

Reference ranges by group, in pmol/l
Star-shl · Female · follicular phase 45.4–854.0 pmol/l
45.4 854
Star-shl · Female · ovulatory phase 151–1461 pmol/l
151 1461
Star-shl · Female · luteal phase 81.9–1251.0 pmol/l
81.9 1251
Star-shl · Female · after menopause 18.4–505.0 pmol/l
18.4 505
Star-shl · Male 41.4–159.0 pmol/l
41.4 159
Unilabs · Female · 14 years and older · follicular phase 70–950 pmol/l
70 950
Unilabs · Female · 14 years and older · mid-cycle 140–2400 pmol/l
140 2400
Unilabs · Female · 14 years and older · luteal phase 80–1150 pmol/l
80 1150
Unilabs · Female · 14 years and older · after menopause 0–125 pmol/l
0 125
Unilabs · Male · 20 years and older 40–162 pmol/l
40 162
Certe · Female · a limit, not a range · follicular phase < 854 pmol/L
854
Certe · Female · ovulation peak 151–1461 pmol/L
151 1461
Certe · Female · a limit, not a range · luteal phase < 1251 pmol/L
1251
Certe · Female · a limit, not a range · after menopause < 505 pmol/L
505
Certe · Male · 18 years and older 95–223 pmol/L
95 223
Diagnostiek voor U · Female · follicular phase 72–529 pmol/L
72 529
Diagnostiek voor U · Female · mid-cycle 235–1309 pmol/L
235 1309
Diagnostiek voor U · Female · luteal phase 205–786 pmol/L
205 786
Diagnostiek voor U · Female · a limit, not a range · after menopause < 118 pmol/L
118
Diagnostiek voor U · Male · a limit, not a range < 146.1 pmol/L
146.1
0 2640 pmol/l

Source: Star-shl

Source: Unilabs

Source: Certe

Source: Diagnostiek voor U

Each value as the laboratory itself publishes it, retrieved in 2026.

Estradiol (E2): what this test measures

An oestradiol test measures how much oestradiol is in the blood, in picomoles per litre; according to the NVKC, oestrone, another oestrogen, is sometimes measured separately, for example to find the cause of a raised oestradiol in children with early breast development.

Estradiol (E2): why this value matters

According to the NVKC, oestradiol is measured to detect an excess in men and women or a shortage in women. According to the NVKC, with obesity and a raised oestradiol, oestrone is often raised as well, an oestrogen that according to the NVKC is formed mainly in fat tissue from androgens and is further converted into oestradiol.

Estradiol (E2): how the blood test works

Referral
No GP referral needed. After the order we arrange the referral through ZorgDomein, within one business day; orders after 17:00 or at the weekend start on the next business day. ZorgDomein emails a barcode, and that barcode is what the draw site needs.
The draw
A blood draw from a vein in the arm, at a partner laboratory's draw site. No home kit, no finger prick.
Where
650+ draw sites run by independent laboratories across the Netherlands. Draw sites

Estradiol (E2): how to prepare

  1. Do you have a cycle? Pick the right day

    Required

    If you have a menstrual cycle, count the first day of your period as day 1 and have the draw on day 2 to 5. On hormonal contraception, or without a cycle, any day works.

  • Water is always fine. Drink as usual beforehand, it makes the draw easier.
  • Take your usual medication, unless your own doctor told you otherwise.

Estradiol (E2): when is testing worthwhile?

The NVKC names symptoms of an irregular menstrual cycle as a reason to measure oestradiol.

Estradiol (E2): symptoms of a high or low value

Low Levels

According to the NVKC, anorexia nervosa and other causes of severe underweight are on the list of causes of a low oestradiol, alongside menopause and early failure of the ovaries, among others.

High Levels

According to the NVKC, obesity is among the causes of a raised oestradiol, and according to Thuisarts a man with too much body fat gets more female hormone in that fat, which can make his breasts grow.

Estradiol (E2): causes of a low or high value

What lowers the value

  • Menopause

    A low oestradiol occurs in women during and after menopause.

  • Severe underweight, as from heavy training

    Anorexia nervosa and other causes of severe underweight, such as heavy physical training, go with a low oestradiol.

  • Damage to the pituitary or hypothalamus

    Damage to the pituitary or the hypothalamus can give a low oestradiol.

  • Early failure of the ovaries

    Early failure of the ovaries from chemotherapy, radiation or antibodies against the ovaries gives a low oestradiol.

  • Oestrogen-blocking breast cancer treatment

    Oestrogen-blocking treatment of oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer can lower oestradiol.

What raises the value

  • Pregnancy

    Oestradiol is raised during pregnancy.

  • Obesity

    With obesity, oestradiol can be raised through conversion of androgens in fat tissue, and oestrone is then often raised as well.

  • Hormone treatment for IVF

    With hormone treatment for IVF, many follicles mature at once and a lot of oestradiol is formed, with a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

  • Tumour of the ovaries, testes or adrenal glands

    A tumour of the ovaries, the testes or the adrenal glands can give a raised oestradiol.

  • Fulvestrant (measurement error)

    The medicine fulvestrant (Faslodex) cross-reacts in the oestradiol test, which may produce falsely raised results.

Estradiol (E2): lifestyle and this value

An abnormal oestradiol goes to the GP; when breast growth in a man comes from too much body fat, according to Thuisarts treatment of the cause is usually needed, such as losing weight.

Estradiol (E2): frequently asked questions

What is oestrone?

According to the NVKC, oestrone is an oestrogen other than oestradiol that is formed mainly in fat tissue from androgens and is further converted into oestradiol.

Estradiol (E2): sources

  1. Star-shl, Labbepalingen (referentiewaarden per bepaling), star-shl.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) star-shl.nl
  2. Unilabs, Bepalingenklapper (referentiewaarden per bepaling), bepalingenklapper.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) bepalingenklapper.nl
  3. Certe, Bepalingenwijzer (referentiewaarden per bepaling), bepalingenwijzer.certe.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) bepalingenwijzer.certe.nl
  4. Diagnostiek voor U, eLabgids (Referentiewaarden DvU), diagnostiek.getincontrol.eu, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) diagnostiek.getincontrol.eu
  5. NVKC, Alles over testen: Oestradiol, allesovertesten.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-13 (retrieved 2026) allesovertesten.nl

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Estradiol (E2)

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