Very often in practice to specify, exclude or diagnose gynecological conditions it is necessary to measure the levels of various sex hormones. In gynecological practice, estrone, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and others are examined. All steroid hormones except estradiol and progesterone are usually determined in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (5th – 7th day). Estradiol is tested both in the early phase of the cycle and in the ovulatory phase (day 14), and progesterone is tested only in the intermediate luteal phase around day 20-24, possibly in triplicate. The level of estradiol in the early phase (5-7th day) is about 110-330 pmol/l, and in the ovarian phase – 480-1170 pmol/l. In the hypoovarian condition, when ovarian function is reduced for some reason, low estradiol levels and high LH and FSH levels are found. Another condition affecting ovarian function is polycystic ovary syndrome, in which, however, estrogens are usually normal during the early phase of the menstrual cycle. Then changes occur in the levels of male sex hormones. On the other hand, the cause of elevated estrogen values ​​is an ovarian tumor that has increased synthetic activity. NEWS_MORE_BOX In the ovulatory phase of the cycle, estradiol is determined in parallel with FSH and LH and serves to diagnose ovulation along with other methods for this purpose. The absence or insufficient increase of the hormone in this phase indicates an anovulatory or disovulatory cycle. Progesterone, in turn, is the intermediate luteal phase of the cycle (20-24th day) should be above 47.7 nmol/l. Lower values ​​indicate an anovulatory cycle or luteal insufficiency. Male sex hormones are also important in the diagnosis of some gynecological conditions. For example, to confirm polycystic ovarian syndrome in the early phase, testosterone is determined, which is normally 0.3-3.4 nmol/l, free testosterone, which is 1.9% of the total in healthy women or 2.7% in women with hirsutism. Normal values ​​for dihydrotestosterone are 0.60-0.73 nmol/l, and for SHBG – 0.69-2.14 mcgr %. In polycystic ovarian syndrome, testosterone, free testosterone and dihydrotestosterone are at upper limit values ​​or slightly increased, and SHBG is decreased. These same male sex hormones have multiple elevated values ​​in ovarian tumors secreting androgen hormones. It is important to know that male sex hormones in healthy women are not only secreted by the ovaries, but also by the adrenal glands. This means that their rise is not an absolute sign of ovarian disease. Therefore, other hormones such as cortisol or DHEA-S may need to be tested.