Last checked September 2026 against 15 sources · Editorial policy
Estradiol levels: normal ranges by age and cycle
Normal estradiol levels in women depend on the cycle phase and age. Labcorp's adult female ranges are 12.5 to 166 pg/mL in the follicular phase, 85.8 to 498 around ovulation, 43.8 to 211 in the luteal phase and 6.0 to 54.7 after menopause. In the first trimester of pregnancy the range is 215.0 to 4,300.0 pg/mL. Estradiol is highest just before ovulation and during pregnancy, and each lab sets its own ranges.
Estradiol ranges by cycle phase, in perimenopause and after menopause. What your result means and why a single test can mislead in your 40s.
Normal estradiol levels: expectation vs reality
What people often expect
“There's one normal estradiol number, and anything outside it means a problem”
What the evidence shows
Normal estradiol changes several-fold within one menstrual cycle, and ranges differ by lab and test method: Cleveland Clinic lists 2 to 21 pg/mL after menopause, while Labcorp lists 6.0 to 54.7. In perimenopause, levels swing so much that NICE advises against using estradiol to diagnose it from age 45. A result only means something alongside your cycle day, age and symptoms.
Estradiol levels chart: by cycle phase, age and pregnancy
Estradiol levels during the menstrual cycle
Estradiol is lowest in the early follicular phase and rises gradually. Two to three days before ovulation it rises much faster to a peak, which triggers the LH and FSH surge. It dips around ovulation, rises again to the middle of the luteal phase, then falls back to early follicular levels before your period. Labcorp's ranges: follicular 12.5 to 166, ovulation 85.8 to 498, luteal 43.8 to 211 pg/mL.
Learn more →Normal estradiol levels by age
In girls aged 1 to 10, Labcorp's range is 6.0 to 27.0 pg/mL; levels rise at puberty. In the reproductive years they follow the cycle ranges above. In the menopause transition, averages hold steady until about 2 years before the final period, then fall. After menopause, Labcorp's range is 6.0 to 54.7 pg/mL. For comparison, adult men range from 7.6 to 42.6.
Estradiol levels in perimenopause
There's no perimenopause range, because levels vary so much. In a study of women sampled through a full cycle, estradiol in ovulatory cycles rose with each stage of reproductive aging. In SWAN, 31.5% of women had estradiol that rose before falling steeply, 28.6% stayed fairly flat and 26.9% declined slowly. Obesity made a flat pattern more likely.
Learn more →Estradiol levels after menopause
After the final period, average estradiol keeps falling for about 2 years and then stabilizes at a low level. Labcorp's postmenopausal range is 6.0 to 54.7 pg/mL, while Cleveland Clinic lists 2 to 21 pg/mL. Standard tests aren't precise at these low levels, so Labcorp recommends a sensitive LC/MS-MS test for postmenopausal women. Estrone becomes the main estrogen.
Learn more →Estrogen levels in pregnancy
Estrogen reaches its highest levels in pregnancy, rising throughout and peaking in the third trimester. Labcorp's estradiol range in the first trimester is 215.0 to 4,300.0 pg/mL. Estriol, made by the placenta, becomes important in pregnancy and is measured between weeks 15 and 20 as part of prenatal screening. Levels fall dramatically after childbirth.
What high estradiol levels can mean
A high result can be normal around ovulation or in pregnancy. Otherwise it can come from estrogen medicines, excess body fat, PCOS, fertility treatment, or rarely an estrogen-producing ovarian tumor. In perimenopause, a high reading on one day is common and doesn't mean you aren't approaching menopause.
Learn more →What low estradiol levels can mean
Low estradiol is expected after menopause and early in each cycle. Outside those times it can point to primary ovarian insufficiency, removed ovaries, pituitary or hypothalamic problems, or low weight and heavy exercise. Doctors check FSH and LH to tell these apart: FSH is high when the ovaries are failing and low when the signal from the brain is missing.
Learn more →Estradiol levels on HRT
HRT raises estradiol, but doses are set by how you feel, not by a target number. Menopause guidance says hormone blood tests are rarely needed or helpful, because the right dose varies a lot between women. When a level is checked, a sensitive LC/MS-MS test gives more reliable results in the low range.
Learn more →Normal estradiol levels by the numbers
85.8–498 pg/mL
43.8–211 pg/mL
6.0–54.7 pg/mL
215–4,300 pg/mL
Labcorp ranges come from the Roche ECLIA method; other labs and methods report different ranges.
How to read your estradiol result
Note the cycle day
First stepEstradiol only makes sense against the phase of your cycle, so write down the first day of your last period and tell your provider. The same number can be normal on one cycle day and unusual on another.
Use your lab's range
First stepCompare your result with the range printed on your report, not with a chart from another lab. Methods differ, especially at low levels.
Stop biotin before the test
Strong evidenceHigh-dose biotin can interfere with the result; Labcorp advises stopping it at least 72 hours before the blood draw.
Repeat rather than rely on one result
Strong evidenceBecause estrogen changes so often, you may need more than one test to see a trend.
Pair it with FSH when needed
If this is the causeUnder 45, an FSH test alongside estradiol helps show whether low estrogen comes from the ovaries or the brain.
Related guide →
When estradiol levels need a doctor's review
Low estradiol with missed periods before 45
See a doctor to check for early menopause, primary ovarian insufficiency or hypothalamic causes.
More →High estradiol with heavy or irregular bleeding
See a doctor. Estrogen without enough progesterone can thicken the uterine lining.
More →Bleeding after menopause
See a doctor, whatever your estradiol level.
More →Symptoms on HRT despite a normal level
Discuss the dose or route with your doctor; symptoms guide the dose.
Estradiol levels: questions women ask
What are normal estrogen levels for females?
It depends on the cycle phase. Labcorp's ranges are 12.5 to 166 pg/mL in the follicular phase, 85.8 to 498 at ovulation and 43.8 to 211 in the luteal phase. After menopause it's 6.0 to 54.7 pg/mL.
What is a normal estradiol level after menopause?
Labcorp's postmenopausal range is 6.0 to 54.7 pg/mL, while Cleveland Clinic lists 2 to 21 pg/mL. Low-range results vary by method, so a sensitive LC/MS-MS test is more accurate after menopause.
When is estrogen the highest?
In pregnancy overall, peaking in the third trimester. Within a normal cycle, estradiol peaks just before ovulation, after rising rapidly for 2 to 3 days.
What are estrogen levels in pregnancy?
Much higher than outside pregnancy. Labcorp's estradiol range in the first trimester is 215.0 to 4,300.0 pg/mL, and levels keep rising into the third trimester.
Why is my estradiol high in perimenopause?
It’s common. In perimenopause, estradiol in ovulatory cycles tends to rise with each stage of reproductive aging, and some women have surges before levels fall. A high reading on one day doesn’t rule out approaching menopause.
Related →Why is my estradiol high after menopause?
The most common reasons are HRT or other estrogen medicines and excess body fat, which makes estrone that can be converted to estradiol. Rarely, an estrogen-producing ovarian tumor is the cause, so unexpected results should be discussed with a doctor.
Is estradiol the same as estrogen level?
Not exactly. An estrogen test can measure estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) or estriol (E3). Estradiol is the one usually tested in women before menopause; after menopause estrone is the main estrogen.
What does estradiol mean?
Estradiol, or E2, is the strongest and main form of estrogen during the reproductive years, made mostly by the ovaries. It's also the estrogen used in most HRT.
Related →What estradiol level indicates menopause?
No single level does. Menopause is confirmed after 12 months without a period, and from 45 NICE advises against using estradiol to diagnose it. Low estradiol with high FSH supports the diagnosis in younger women.
Related →What are normal estradiol levels by age?
In girls aged 1 to 10, Labcorp lists 6.0 to 27.0 pg/mL. In adult women it follows the cycle, from 12.5 to 498 pg/mL depending on phase, and after menopause 6.0 to 54.7 pg/mL.
Is an estradiol level of 50 good?
It depends on when it was taken. 50 pg/mL fits Labcorp's follicular and luteal ranges and is at the upper end of its postmenopausal range. Your doctor will read it with your cycle day and symptoms.
Sources
- Labcorp. Estradiol (test 004515): reference range and clinical information.
- Cleveland Clinic. Estrogen: hormone, function, levels and imbalances.
- NICE. Menopause: identification and management (NG23). Updated 2024.
- Randolph JF Jr, Zheng H, Sowers MR, et al. Change in follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol across the menopausal transition: effect of age at the final menstrual period. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(3):746-54.
- Hale GE, Zhao X, Hughes CL, et al. Endocrine features of menstrual cycles in middle and late reproductive age and the menopausal transition classified according to the Staging of Reproductive Aging Workshop (STRAW) staging system. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92(8):3060-7.
- Tepper PG, Randolph JF Jr, McConnell DS, et al. Trajectory clustering of estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone during the menopausal transition among women in the Study of Women's Health across the Nation (SWAN). J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012;97(8):2872-80.
- Cleveland Clinic. Estrone: function, hormone levels and testing.
- MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine. Estrogen levels test.
- Cleveland Clinic. High estrogen: causes, symptoms, dominance and treatment.
- Cleveland Clinic. Low estrogen: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
- MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels test.
- Women's Health Concern / British Menopause Society. Fact sheet: HRT types, doses and regimens.
- NHS. Early or premature menopause.
- NICE. Heavy menstrual bleeding: assessment and management (NG88).
- NHS. Postmenopausal bleeding.
See our editorial policy.
Related guides
Estradiol lab test
An estradiol blood test measures your main estrogen. When in your cycle to test, normal ranges, why it can't d…
FSH levels in perimenopause and menopause
FSH rises as the ovaries slow, but in perimenopause it swings day to day. Ranges by stage, why one FSH test ca…
Progesterone levels
Progesterone ranges in the follicular and luteal phase, in pregnancy and after menopause. Why timing matters a…
Estrogen during the menstrual cycle
Estrogen peaks just before ovulation, dips, rises again after it, then drops before your period. Ranges by pha…