The core female hormone panel plus thyroid: oestradiol, FSH, LH, testosterone, SHBG, free androgen index, prolactin and a full thyroid screen, reviewed by a UK GMC-registered doctor.
Tap any marker to see what it is and why we test it, in plain English.
Female hormones
Where you are in perimenopause or menopause, and how HRT is working.
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Oestradiol
What it isThe main form of oestrogen. Levels fall and fluctuate through perimenopause.
Why we test itShows where you are in the transition and, on HRT, whether you are absorbing your oestrogen.
Luteinising hormone (LH)
What it isA pituitary hormone released with FSH to drive ovulation.
Why we test itRead alongside FSH to build a picture of ovarian function.
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
What it isA pituitary hormone that rises as the ovaries slow down.
Why we test itA raised FSH supports a diagnosis of perimenopause or menopause under 45, and is part of the under-40 work-up.
Prolactin
What it isA pituitary hormone.
Why we test itA raised prolactin can stop periods and lower libido, and needs ruling out before symptoms are put down to menopause.
Testosterone
Linked to energy and libido, and checked before and during testosterone treatment.
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Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)
What it isThe protein that carries testosterone and oestrogen in the blood.
Why we test itNeeded to work out how much testosterone is actually available to your body. Oral oestrogen raises it.
Testosterone
What it isThe total amount of testosterone circulating in your blood.
Why we test itA baseline before testosterone is considered, and the main check once you are on it.
Free testosterone
What it isThe small fraction of testosterone not bound to proteins.
Why we test itThe part that acts on your tissues, so it tracks symptoms better than the total alone.
Free androgen index (FAI)
What it isCalculated from testosterone and SHBG.
Why we test itThe figure national guidance uses to keep testosterone within the normal female range during treatment.
Thyroid
A thyroid problem can feel just like menopause, so we rule it out.
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Free T4
What it isUnbound thyroxine, the main thyroid hormone.
Why we test itRead with TSH to confirm how your thyroid is working.
Free T3
What it isUnbound triiodothyronine, the active thyroid hormone.
Why we test itAdds detail where TSH and T4 are borderline.
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
What it isThe pituitary signal that drives the thyroid.
Why we test itAn underactive or overactive thyroid mimics menopause symptoms such as fatigue, low mood and weight change.
About this test
Is it right for you?
The hormones that change through perimenopause and menopause, with the thyroid markers that can cause the same symptoms, from one sample.
Useful under 45 to support a diagnosis, where testosterone is being considered or monitored, or to check how treatment is working. Over 45, menopause is usually diagnosed from symptoms alone.
Choose a finger-prick sample you take yourself, or a venous sample: a kit for a draw you arrange, a partnered clinic, or a nurse at your home.
Results are reviewed by a UK GMC-registered doctor and explained in the context of your symptoms, not just sent as numbers.
Over 45 and wondering where to start? Menopause is usually diagnosed from symptoms, so you may not need a test. Book a consultation instead.
What's included
Collection kit with everything you need for your chosen option
Alcohol wipes, plasters and gauze
Step-by-step instructions
Prepaid return packaging
Doctor review of your results
What happens next
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Your kit is posted first class to the address you give us.
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Take your sample in the morning, ideally before 10am, and return it in the prepaid envelope.
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A doctor reviews your results, then sends them to you with your outcome and recommended next steps.
Compare tests
Find the right blood test for you.
Every test is reviewed by a UK GMC-registered doctor. Pick the one that matches where you are today.
The finger-prick kit is quick and you take it yourself at home. A venous sample is drawn from the arm by a phlebotomist or nurse and gives a larger sample; choose it if you struggle with finger-prick tests or your doctor has asked for it. The markers tested are the same either way.
When should I take the sample?
In the morning, ideally before 10am, and post it back the same day. If you still have periods, days two to five of your cycle give the most useful FSH reading, but any day is fine if your periods are irregular or have stopped.
Do I need this test to start HRT?
Not usually. Over 45, menopause is diagnosed from your symptoms. This test is useful under 45, where testosterone is being considered, or to rule out thyroid problems.
How long do results take?
Usually within a few working days of the lab receiving your sample. A doctor reviews them and we email you to talk them through.
Hormones matter. Let's treat them properly.
Medical care that puts you back in control, with a doctor who listens, clear options and treatment tailored to you.
