Can I have breakfast before a sex hormone test?

Jan 24, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Lu
Introduction
In general, it is not recommended to eat breakfast before undergoing sex hormone testing. Sex hormone tests typically require drawing the patient's blood to measure levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and prolactin. If the patient eats breakfast before the test, nutrients and other substances from the food may enter the bloodstream and potentially affect the hormone levels in the blood.

Generally, it is not recommended to eat breakfast before undergoing a sex hormone test. The detailed explanation is as follows:

A sex hormone test typically requires drawing the patient's blood to measure levels of hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and prolactin. If the patient eats breakfast before the test, nutrients and other substances in the food may enter the bloodstream and potentially affect the accuracy of the hormone levels measured. Therefore, to obtain more accurate test results, patients are usually advised to fast for 8–12 hours before the test, ensuring that hormone levels in the blood remain unaffected by food. If the patient has eaten due to special circumstances, they should inform the doctor, who will assess the accuracy and reliability of the test results based on factors such as the purpose of the test and the patient's physical condition.

Additionally, strenuous exercise should be avoided on the day before and the day of the test, as it may cause temporary changes in hormone levels, which could affect the test results.

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