Do you need to fast for a sex hormone test?

Jan 09, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

My period started the previous evening. I had blood drawn at noon the next day after lunch. Do I need to fast for a sex hormone test?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Li Ping
Testing for sex hormones usually requires a fasting state, although there are special circumstances. Most hormone levels can be influenced by feeding and baseline conditions. Therefore, fasting is generally required for most sex hormone tests to better reflect the body's hormonal secretion status. However, there are exceptions, such as testing blood prolactin levels, which does not require fasting.