Understanding Your Medical Test: A Patient's Guide to Testing and Results

This test is a laboratory evaluation that helps your doctor learn more about what is happening inside your body, and the results can guide important decisions about your diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care.

The 17-Hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) urine test measures the amount of a hormone called 17-hydroxyprogesterone in your urine over a 24-hour period. 17-OHP is produced by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of your kidneys. This hormone is an important building block for making cortisol, a stress hormone that helps your body respond to illness and stress.

Your doctor may order this test to check for a health condition, to monitor an illness you already have, or to see how well a current treatment is working, so that the right care plan can be chosen for you.

Your doctor may order this test to: screen for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a genetic condition that affects hormone production; evaluate adrenal gland function; monitor treatment for CAH or other adrenal disorders; investigate symptoms like early puberty, irregular periods, or excess hair growth in women.

You may be asked to fast for several hours, avoid certain foods, drinks, or medicines, and drink plenty of water beforehand, so always follow the specific preparation instructions your care team gives you.

Before the test, tell your doctor about all medications you take, including steroids, birth control pills, and supplements. You may need to stop certain medications before the test. Follow any specific instructions your doctor gives you about diet or medication changes. It is important to drink normal amounts of fluids unless told otherwise.

A trained healthcare professional will collect a small sample, usually a tube of blood from a vein in your arm or another specimen, at a clinic or laboratory, and the sample is then analyzed and the results are sent to your doctor.

You will receive a special container for collecting urine. On the morning of the test, start by urinating into the toilet (not the container) at the start time. For the next 24 hours, collect all urine in the container. Keep the container refrigerated or in a cool place. At the end of 24 hours, urinate one final time and add that sample to the container. Return the container to the lab as instructed.

This test is very safe, but you may feel a brief sting during the needle stick, and mild bruising, soreness, or a small amount of bleeding at the site can occur, usually going away within a day or two.

This test has no physical risks. The main challenge is collecting all urine samples accurately for 24 hours. If you miss a sample, tell the lab staff so they can advise whether you need to start over.