One of the most crucial ways in order for you to keep track of your entire well-being is to have regular blood testing. Perhaps, that is the reason why you need to know the Gynecological blood test list. It may allow you to be informed of the changes in your body over time, which will eventually aid you in making decisions when it comes to your health.
Usually, your doctor will recommend that you get a blood test at least once every year. But, if you are experiencing something unusual such as persistent symptoms, you probably need to get blood tests more often than that. Sometimes, it also helps in optimizing your health and reducing your risk of various diseases.
Gynecologists are capable of performing various tests in order to determine health issues, especially of your female reproductive system. Some of these tests are done annually, while others are required only if necessary. But, even though your doctor doesn’t prescribe you to undergo into a test, it’s safe to follow the recommended annual blood tests.
The question is, “what do gynecologists test blood for?” Here is the Gynecological blood test list for women, their preparation, procedure, results, and interpretation:
Gynecological Blood Tests List
1. Blood Glucose Test
There are two ways of testing your glucose- random or fasting tests. Usually, the fasting test is recommended because it gives more accurate results, and it is easier to interpret. You are not allowed to drink or eat for 8 hours before you undergo a blood glucose test.
If you have elevated blood sugar, your body is less likely to produce enough insulin or the insulin in your body is not used efficiently. If the level of your blood sugar is high, it means that you have diabetes or prediabetes.
2. Lipid Blood Test
Usually, a lipid blood test test does not require fasting and can be measured at any time. But, if the purpose of the test is to determine the total liquid profile, then fasting may be required for 12 hours. This test is more accurate if undertaken more than two months after surgery, injury, heart attack, infection, or pregnancy to know the cholesterol levels.
High levels of High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol can reduce your risk of diseases related to blood vessels and the heart. It means that a higher level of HDL is good. On the other hand, high levels of Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol can increase your risk of diseases related to blood vessels and the heart.
3. Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) And T4 Test
Thyroid stimulating hormone test can be done at any time of the day, without requiring fasting. The blood is simply drawn from your body. The blood is then taken to the lab to be analyzed. But, before you check your TSH level, you need to let your doctor know your medications as some drugs might affect your thyroid.
Since women are prone to have an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) or underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), you need to measure your hormone levels to ensure that your thyroid is functioning correctly.
High levels of TSH usually indicate that you have an underactive thyroid. During pregnancy, you will most likely experience a decreased level of TSH and an increased level of T3 and T4. On the other hand, low levels of TSH usually indicate that you have an overactive thyroid.
4. Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) Test
Before vitamin D test, you are required to fast for 4 to 8 hours. This test needs a usual blood test. Using a needle, your blood will be drawn from the vein in your arms. For infants and children, a quick finger prick is enough for the blood test.
The vitamin d test results may depend on factors such as sex, age, and the method used for the Vitamin D test. If you have low levels of vitamin D, you are most likely at risk of cardiovascular diseases, immune diseases, and certain cancers. On the other hand, high levels of vitamin D can lead to hypervitaminosis D, a rare but serious condition which can expose you to kidney or liver problems.
Conclusion
Gynecological blood test list can help disclose diseases inside your body. That is the reason why you need to be checked regularly so that you will be able to understand how well your body works. If your purpose in visiting a gynecologist is to know what causes your infertility, then you may be required to have various female infertility tests.
Doctor, author and fitness enthusiast, Ahmed Zayed, MD, is a surgery resident with a passion for helping people live a happy healthy life. He is the author of numerous health-related books and contributor to several medicine, health and wellbeing websites.
