Women's Health · Hormones & Blood Tests
Irregular periods, hot flushes, low energy, mood shifts, trouble conceiving — they often trace back to a handful of hormones. Here's what each one does, when in your cycle to test, and how to understand the numbers.
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Hormone changes rarely arrive with a label. They show up as everyday things easy to brush off as stress or “just getting older”:
One or two can be completely normal. Several together, lasting for weeks, are worth understanding — and that starts with the hormones behind them.
Your hormones, at a glance
A single hormone rarely tells the whole story. Here's the bigger picture in one view.
The part most people miss
For women, timing matters as much as the test. The same hormone reads very differently depending on the day — so a result is only meaningful when it's taken on the right day.
Always note the date of your last period when you test — it's what makes your results readable. And a NICE-backed point worth knowing: if you're over 45 with typical menopause symptoms, a blood test often isn't needed to diagnose perimenopause — though it's still useful to rule out thyroid problems, and more helpful if you're under 45 or things are unclear.
Reading the numbers
Unlike many blood tests, women's hormones don't have one fixed target. Your numbers depend on your cycle day, your age and whether you've reached menopause — so the same value can be perfectly normal or a red flag depending on context.
Illustrative only — ranges vary by laboratory, cycle phase, age and assay, and a result “in range” doesn't rule out a problem if you have symptoms. Always interpret with a doctor.
Sources: NHS · NICE · Society for Endocrinology / Endocrine Society.
When you're ready to check
Trusted at-home & lab services that test these hormones for women — compared at a glance, grouped by region.
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Only providers we consider reputable are listed.
Why you can trust this guide
Built on officially recognised medical information — guidance from the NHS, NICE and the Society for Endocrinology. We explain what tests measure and what results can mean; we don't diagnose, and we never publish dosing or treatment protocols.
Affiliate disclosure: some provider links are affiliate links and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never changes which services we list — only ones we consider reputable appear here.
Written by M. Videika — The Hormone Blueprint. Educational only; not a substitute for advice from your doctor.
Usually yes. FSH, LH and oestradiol are best on days 2–5 (ideally day 3); progesterone is taken about 7 days before your next period to confirm ovulation. AMH and thyroid can be tested any day.
Mostly from your symptoms and age. If you're over 45 with typical symptoms, a blood test often isn't needed to diagnose perimenopause — but it can rule out thyroid issues, and FSH is more useful if you're under 45 or your picture is unclear.
Hormonal contraception changes these results, so many providers suggest testing during a break or using a different approach. Check the provider's guidance and your doctor before testing on the pill.
AMH gives a useful estimate of your ovarian reserve (roughly how many eggs you have left) and stays stable across the cycle, so it can be tested any day. It doesn't predict natural fertility on its own.
It depends on your question. Fertility/AMH panels suit family planning; menopause panels (FSH, LH, oestradiol + thyroid) suit changing periods and hot flushes; a general female hormone panel is a good all-round starting point.
Quite possibly — an underactive thyroid causes fatigue, weight gain, low mood and irregular periods that look a lot like perimenopause. That's why good panels include thyroid (TSH) alongside reproductive hormones.
No — the services above let you order privately online. But results are best interpreted with a doctor, especially if anything is borderline or you have symptoms.
Then there's no “day 3” to aim for — test any day and simply note that your periods are irregular or have stopped. Irregular cycles are themselves a reason to check hormones and thyroid.
Reputable providers use accredited laboratories, so the analysis is reliable. The biggest variables are the timing in your cycle and how the sample is collected — so follow the instructions and confirm important results with your doctor.
Don't panic and don't start any treatment on your own. Take your results to a doctor — a single reading isn't a diagnosis, and they'll look at your symptoms and the wider picture before advising anything.
Not sure where to start?
Answer a few questions about your cycle and symptoms — get a personalised read on what might be going on. No blood, no email required.