If you’ve had a doctor diagnose you with endometriosis or suspect you have it, the process of learning about your condition and monitoring your progress can feel daunting. Personally and professionally, I’ve been there! That’s why I put together a short list of three accessible lab tests patients wish they knew about sooner. I’m sharing these because I want to make sure you’re empowered with information about your body so that you can get the personalized care you deserve. While most doctors recognize these lab tests, it’s best to interpret results alongside a naturopathic doctor and/or medical doctor who has experience and expertise in endometriosis.
- Ca-125 is a protein that’s often higher in the blood when endometriosis is present. Since endometriosis can cause pelvic inflammation and tissue damage, Ca-125 levels rise, giving us an idea of how active the endometriosis might be and helping us track changes over time to monitor treatment. However, it’s important to know that Ca-125 can be elevated due to other conditions. That’s why we can’t diagnose and monitor endometriosis solely based on Ca-125. We always need to assess the entire case!
- AMH (anti-Mullerian hormone)is helpful to measure if fertility is a concern for you. While there’s no lab test that can predict fertility, this hormone is often measured in fertility clinics to estimate ovarian reserve – in other words, how many eggs are left in the ovaries. Endometriosis patches on the ovaries (“endometriomas”), chronic pelvic inflammation and surgery on the ovaries can all reduce ovarian reserve. Testing AMH along with other hormones like FSH, LH, estrogen and progesterone can give us an idea of how the ovaries are faring after surgery.
- A complete blood count (CBC)is a simple and inexpensive test that your doctor has probably ordered for you multiple times before. A CBC includes your red blood cell count, platelets, and a breakdown of different white blood cells by amount and category. The catch with this test is how the results are interpreted. Doctors generally use it to screen for anemia from blood loss with periods, and for infections that increase white blood cell numbers. Those are both helpful, but I also use the CBC to look at the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), which is known in the research to often be elevated in endometriosis and helps us understand how your body is responding to inflammation. A high NLR can indicate that inflammation is more active, and with a holistic treatment plan, we want to see NLR return to a normal range. It’s common for the NLR to go up and down sometimes, so don’t be overly concerned if you notice that in your labwork, but make sure to discuss it with a knowledgeable provider.
And there you have it! With the right support, endometriosis doesn’t need to be complicated. If you’re looking for support to overcome endometriosis pain and get back to living the life you love, book a free discovery call with Dr. Despina Michailidis, ND at Hygeia Naturopathic Clinic.
