Hormonal Health Quiz

What this quiz can and cannot tell you

Hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, thyroid hormone and androgens all influence the menstrual cycle, mood, energy, skin and weight. Because so many hormones interact, the same symptom can have several causes. This quiz groups your answers into broad patterns so you can have a more specific conversation with a clinician. It does not measure hormone levels and it cannot diagnose anything.

What a typical cycle looks like

ACOG describes a normal menstrual cycle in adults as lasting 21 to 35 days, with bleeding for up to about seven days. Cycles in the first few years after periods start, and in the years before menopause, are often less regular. Tracking cycle start dates for a few months gives you and your clinician far better information than memory alone.

Patterns worth discussing

• Irregular or infrequent periods, along with acne or extra facial and body hair, can be associated with polycystic ovary syndrome. PCOS is diagnosed from a combination of cycle history, signs of high androgens, blood tests and sometimes an ultrasound.
• Fatigue, feeling cold, weight changes, hair thinning and cycle changes can relate to an underactive or overactive thyroid, which a simple blood test can check.
• Hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems and changing cycles in your 40s often reflect perimenopause, the transition before menopause.
• Very heavy or very painful periods can be linked to fibroids, adenomyosis or endometriosis and deserve evaluation rather than being written off as normal.
• Mood symptoms that reliably appear in the week or two before a period and lift once bleeding starts may be premenstrual syndrome or the more severe premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

How hormones are actually tested

Hormone testing is timed and chosen based on your symptoms. Some tests are done early in the cycle, some at specific points, and some are not useful at all for certain questions. Many home hormone test kits measure levels at a single moment, which can be hard to interpret. A clinician will usually start with your history, a pregnancy test where relevant, thyroid function, and targeted blood work.

Lifestyle factors with evidence

Sleep, regular physical activity, a balanced diet and managing stress support overall health, and losing a modest amount of weight can improve cycle regularity in some people with PCOS. Supplements marketed for hormone balance are not regulated like medicines, and many lack good evidence, so discuss them before starting.

Bringing your results to a visit

Write down your quiz pattern along with three months of cycle dates, the symptoms that bother you most, and any medicines or supplements you take. That short summary helps a clinician decide which tests, if any, make sense, and it keeps the conversation focused on what matters to you.

If you are under 18, consider sharing your results with a parent, school nurse or pediatrician, since irregular cycles are common in the first few years after periods start and usually settle with time.

Sources: ACOG: Abnormal uterine bleeding; NICHD: Polycystic ovary syndrome; NIDDK: Hypothyroidism; Office on Women's Health: Premenstrual syndrome.