Female Hormones Blood Test (11 markers)

Periods changing, sleep going, mood not your own? These are the hormones I check first in your 30s, 40s and 50s, plus your thyroid, from one small blood sample.

What it measures

11 markers: FSH, LH and oestradiol (the hormones that run your cycle); testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG and the free androgen index; prolactin; and 3 thyroid markers (TSH, free T4 and free T3).

How to give your sample

• Finger-prick kit at home: £85. Posted to you with a tracked return envelope. Delivery is free.
• Blood draw at a clinic near you: £120. Choose from more than 40 clinics across the UK and give me 3 times that suit you, right here when you pick this option. I'll book it and confirm by email.

Before you test

Test in the morning. If you still have periods, I'll tell you which day of your cycle to test on. On hormonal contraception or HRT? Tell me before you test, because it changes how some results read.

• Taking biotin (in many hair, skin and nail supplements)? Stop it 3 days before, and longer if it's a high dose, because it can upset thyroid and hormone results.
• If you take thyroid medicine, take your sample before that day's dose.
• Using a testosterone or oestrogen gel or cream? Choose the clinic draw, or wash your hands well and prick a finger on the hand you don't apply it with, because it can get into the sample.

Your results and your written report

Your results come back to me, usually 1 to 3 working days after the lab receives your sample. You get the lab report, which is the numbers and their ranges, and a written report from me. In it I read your results together and explain what they mean for you, including any that sit inside the range but still matter. It's a written report, not a consultation. The price includes the lab fee and your report.

Want to talk it through and turn it into a plan? Book a Women's Health Consultation (45 minutes, £125, online). If it's perimenopause or menopause, book a Menopause Consultation.

Who it's for

For you if your periods are changing, you think it might be perimenopause, your libido has gone quiet, or you want a clear starting point. In perimenopause, FSH and oestradiol can swing from week to week, so one normal result does not rule it out. Your symptoms count as much as the numbers.

A test result is one part of the picture. It does not diagnose a condition on its own. If you have symptoms that worry you, they need to be checked.