You can have your hormone balance tested in the Netherlands at your GP, or directly through a provider with blood draw locations near you. At Lunara this is possible without a referral, at more than 750 locations across the country. What matters most is that the laboratory is reliable, because the value of your result stands or falls with it.
We notice that many women struggle with one question above all: how do I know whether a lab can be trusted? Honestly, a polished website tells you nothing. What does count is accreditation, and a doctor who gives your result context.
Below you read where to go, how to recognise a reliable laboratory, and what to expect from a hormone balance test.
Where can you have your hormone balance tested?
You can have your hormone balance tested in two ways: through your GP, or directly through a provider that works with a certified laboratory and blood draw locations. Both routes use a blood test. The difference is mostly whether you need a referral and how quickly you can book.
At your GP you usually test when there is a medical reason. If you want to take the initiative yourself, for example with cycle complaints or menopause questions, you can come to Lunara without a referral.
The draw itself is an ordinary blood test at a location near you.
How do you recognise a reliable laboratory?
You recognise a reliable laboratory for hormone testing mainly by accreditation, not by marketing. In the Netherlands medical laboratories are assessed by the Raad voor Accreditatie against the international standard ISO 15189 (Raad voor Accreditatie). That standard sets requirements for quality and competence, and accredited labs take part in proficiency testing where their results are compared with other labs.
When choosing, look at a few concrete points:
- Accreditation to ISO 15189. This is the international standard for medical laboratories (ISO 15189:2022). If a lab works to it, its procedures and accuracy have been externally assessed.
- A doctor who reviews your result. A number without context says little. At Lunara a BIG-registered doctor explains your result per marker.
- Transparency about which hormones are measured. You should be able to see in advance which markers a panel contains.
- A blood draw location near you. Handy, but never let proximity outweigh the quality of the lab.
Quality comes before convenience. A lab nearby is nice, but a reliable result matters more.
Testing your hormone balance without a referral: how does it work at Lunara?
At Lunara you arrange a hormone balance test without a GP referral. You order online, book a slot at a blood draw location near you, and give a small tube of blood. You receive your result digitally, usually within a few working days, with context per marker from a BIG-registered doctor.
For some hormones the day of your cycle matters, because oestradiol and progesterone vary strongly during your cycle (Reed and Carr, 2018). Plan your draw around that where you can.
If you first want to know which hormones fit your question, read our pillar on hormone testing for women. If you are weighing up the GP versus testing yourself, our article on testing hormones without a GP and the comparison GP versus self-testing help.
For a broad view of your female hormones, look at Hormones Women. If you are in menopause, the Menopause Check fits better.
What can you expect at the blood draw?
A hormone balance test at Lunara is an ordinary blood draw at a location. A staff member takes one or more tubes of blood, and that is usually done within a few minutes. Sometimes preparation is needed, such as fasting or accounting for your cycle day.
A few practical points:
- Timing in your cycle. Progesterone is often measured around day 21, FSH and oestradiol on days 2 to 5.
- Time of day. Cortisol is best drawn in the morning, because it has a strong daily rhythm (StatPearls, 2025).
- Medication and contraception. Mention beforehand what you use, as this can affect your values.
After the draw, your blood goes to the laboratory for analysis.
What do your hormone values mean?
You always read a hormone value in context: your age, your cycle phase and your complaints all shape what a number means. One value outside the reference range does not automatically mean something is wrong, and a value within range does not rule out complaints.
That is why interpretation is tailored.
If you want to read further per value, see our overview of which values a blood test in women checks. Always discuss an abnormal or unexpected result with your GP, who can help you decide whether further steps are worthwhile.
Costs and reimbursement of hormone testing
The price of a hormone balance test depends on how many hormones you measure. A single hormone is cheaper than a broad panel. The current price is always on the product page.
If you test without a referral, you pay for the test yourself. Whether a test through your GP is reimbursed depends on your policy and on whether the test is seen as medically necessary. Check this with your health insurer if in doubt.
Lifestyle and your hormone balance
Your hormones respond to how you live: to your sleep, your movement, your food and the stress you experience. That does not mean hormones can be steered by lifestyle alone, but it does mean that shifts often have several causes at once.
A test can help you support a suspicion before you change anything. What you do next is best discussed with your GP.
Frequently asked questions about hormone testing
Do I need a GP referral?
No, for a hormone balance test through Lunara you do not need a referral. You order online and book a slot at a blood draw location near you yourself.
Where can I have blood drawn near me?
Lunara works with more than 750 blood draw locations across the Netherlands. When booking, you choose a location that is convenient for you.
How quickly do I get my result?
You usually receive your result within a few working days, digitally and with context per marker from a BIG-registered doctor.
How do I know whether a laboratory is reliable?
Look for accreditation to ISO 15189 and participation in proficiency testing via the Raad voor Accreditatie. A doctor who reviews your result is a second important sign.
Conclusion: start with accreditation, not distance
A hormone balance test near you is only as good as the laboratory behind it. So choose first on accreditation and on a doctor who reviews your result, and only then on proximity. Discuss your result with your GP before making decisions.
References
- ISO 15189:2022. Medical laboratories: Requirements for quality and competence. International Organization for Standardization; 2022.
- Raad voor Accreditatie. Medical laboratories (EN-ISO 15189). rva.nl.
- Reed BG, Carr BR. The Normal Menstrual Cycle and the Control of Ovulation. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com; updated 2018.
- Kaur J, Gandhi J, Sharma S. Physiology, Cortisol. StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; updated 2025.
Every blood test result through Lunara includes a professional assessment by a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
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