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Hormones

Oestradiol in men: why men make the hormone too

According to the NVKC, oestradiol, the main female sex hormone, is made from the male hormones testosterone and androgens, with the enzyme aromatase. According to the NVKC, in men oestrogens, the group oestradiol belongs to, are formed mainly in fat tissue. According to the NVKC, bone growth and bone structure depend on oestradiol in men too.

According to the NVKC, a tumour of the testes or adrenal glands and obesity can give a raised oestradiol, and damage to the pituitary or hypothalamus a low oestradiol. Only a blood test shows how much oestradiol a man has.

Certe uses 95 to 223 pmol/L for men older than 18, and Unilabs 40 to 162 pmol/l for men older than 20.

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

Male
pmol/l
Low 41 Normal 159 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 · Male 41.4–159.0 pmol/l
41.4 159
Unilabs · Male · 20 years and older 40–162 pmol/l
40 162
Certe · Male · 18 years and older 95–223 pmol/L
95 223
Diagnostiek voor U · Male · a limit, not a range < 146.1 pmol/L
146.1
0 245.3 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 the amount of oestradiol in the blood in picomoles per litre, and for men the limits vary between laboratories: Star-SHL gives 41.4 to 159 pmol/l and Diagnostiek voor U an upper limit of 146.1 pmol/L, both without an age.

Estradiol (E2): why this value matters

According to the NVKC, men with signs of breast development (gynaecomastia) are one of the groups in whom oestradiol is measured when an excess is suspected. According to Thuisarts, breasts can grow in men when there are more female than male hormones in the body.

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.
Which test
IVF Partner Screening (Men) · €325,-
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?

According to the NVKC, an oestradiol test can be requested for a man with signs of breast development. According to Thuisarts, a man between 15 and 50 with breasts that have grown should make an appointment with the GP, as should a man whose breasts have grown in a short time.

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

Low Levels

According to the NVKC, a low oestradiol can be linked to damage to the pituitary or the hypothalamus, or to severe underweight as in anorexia nervosa.

High Levels

According to the NVKC, a tumour of the testes or adrenal glands can give a raised oestradiol. According to Thuisarts, as men get older their body makes fewer and fewer male hormones and more female hormones, and the breasts can then grow somewhat.

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

With an abnormal oestradiol, the GP is the next step. According to Thuisarts, with breast growth from a medicine a man discusses with the GP whether he can stop the medicine or take another one.

Estradiol (E2): frequently asked questions

What is aromatase?

According to the NVKC, aromatase is the enzyme needed to make oestradiol from testosterone and other androgens.

Is breast growth in men dangerous?

According to Thuisarts, breast growth in a man because there are more female than male hormones in the body, oestradiol being the main female one according to the NVKC, is not serious and gives no higher chance of breast cancer. When the breast growth comes from something else, according to Thuisarts treatment of that cause is usually needed.

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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