A hormone test is a blood test that measures where your key hormones stand, such as oestradiol, progesterone, FSH, testosterone and your thyroid values. For women, this kind of test can help make sense of complaints like fatigue, an irregular cycle or menopause symptoms. Which hormones are worth testing depends on your life stage and your complaint.
At Lunara we hear the same question almost daily: which hormones should I actually test? The honest answer is that it varies per woman. Someone trying to conceive looks at different values than someone in the middle of menopause.
Below we set out what a hormone test measures, when it is worth doing, and how to arrange one through a blood test.
What is a hormone test?
A hormone test is a blood test that measures the concentration of one or more hormones in your blood. Hormones are messenger substances that help steer your cycle, mood, energy and metabolism. The result is a snapshot, not a diagnosis on its own.
Your body makes hormones in glands such as your ovaries, your thyroid and your adrenal glands. Those values shift constantly, sometimes within a day, sometimes across your whole cycle. A blood test captures that moment, and a doctor reads the result in your context.
A number is therefore a pointer, not a verdict.
When is a hormone test worth doing for women?
A hormone test can be worthwhile if you have complaints that may fit a shift in your hormones, and you want to know where you stand. Think of a cycle that suddenly changes, persistent fatigue, or menopause symptoms that affect daily life. A test does not replace a conversation with your GP, but it does give you something concrete to bring to it.
Common situations in which women consider a hormone test:
- An irregular or absent period
- Fatigue, low mood or sleep problems without a clear cause
- An active wish to conceive or questions about your fertility
- Menopause symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats or mood swings
- Complaints that may fit PCOS or an underactive thyroid
If you recognise such a situation, it helps to first think about which question you want answered. Our guide to hormonal imbalance helps you recognise the signals.
Which hormones should women test?
Which hormones are worthwhile depends mostly on your life stage and your complaint. For many women it centres on the sex hormones oestradiol and progesterone, the regulating hormones FSH and LH, plus testosterone, SHBG and your thyroid values. Cortisol comes into play with stress-related complaints.
The table below is a guide, not a prescription. Which combination fits you is best discussed with a doctor.
| Life stage or question | Hormones that often come into view |
|---|---|
| Cycle complaints or irregular periods | oestradiol, progesterone, LH, FSH, testosterone, SHBG |
| Trying to conceive and fertility | AMH, FSH, LH, oestradiol, progesterone, TSH |
| Perimenopause and menopause | FSH, oestradiol, TSH |
| Fatigue or mood | TSH, free T4, ferritin, cortisol |
| Suspected PCOS | testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, LH, FSH |
A few of these values, briefly explained:
- Oestradiol is the main form of oestrogen and helps steer your cycle. The value varies strongly by cycle phase (Reed and Carr, 2018).
- Progesterone rises after ovulation and reflects your second cycle half.
- FSH drives egg maturation and gradually rises toward menopause (Harlow et al., 2012).
- Testosterone is present in women too, in small amounts; a raised value can fit PCOS.
- TSH gives a first impression of your thyroid, which can mimic many hormonal complaints.
If you want to read this per hormone in more detail, see our overview of which hormones women test.
How does a hormone test through a blood test at Lunara work?
At Lunara you arrange a hormone 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. That is because oestradiol and progesterone vary strongly during your cycle (Reed and Carr, 2018). So keep the timing in mind:
- Progesterone is best measured in your second cycle half, around day 21 for a 28-day cycle.
- FSH and oestradiol are often measured on days 2 to 5 for a fertility picture.
- AMH and TSH can be drawn on any cycle day.
- Cortisol is best drawn in the morning, because it has a strong daily rhythm (StatPearls, 2025).
Which panel fits your question varies per situation. For a broad view of your female hormones, look at Hormones Women. If you are in menopause, the Menopause Check fits better, and for a wish to conceive the Fertility Assessment.
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. The reverse is also true: a value within range can still fit complaints.
That is why interpretation is tailored, not a sum.
If you want to read further per value, our articles on which values a blood test in women checks and on how hormone balance changes in menopause help. For fertility, read more about the AMH value by age. If you suspect your thyroid plays a role, see our overview of thyroid symptoms in women.
Always discuss an abnormal or unexpected result with your GP. They can help you decide whether further steps are worthwhile.
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. It does mean that shifts often have several causes at once.
Cortisol is a good example. It has a natural daily rhythm, with high values in the morning and low values in the evening (StatPearls, 2025). Ongoing stress can affect that rhythm.
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
Which symptoms can point to a hormonal imbalance?
Commonly mentioned signals are fatigue, an irregular cycle, mood swings, sleep problems and weight change. These complaints can have other causes too, so a test gives a direction at most.
How quickly do I get the result of a hormone test?
At Lunara you usually receive your result within a few working days, digitally and with context per marker from a BIG-registered doctor.
Do I need a GP referral?
No, for a hormone test through Lunara you do not need a referral. You order online and book a slot at a blood draw location yourself.
On which cycle day should I test my hormones?
It depends on the hormone. Progesterone is measured around day 21, FSH and oestradiol often on days 2 to 5, and AMH on any cycle day.
Conclusion: start with your question
A hormone test is most useful when you know in advance which question you want to answer. If you are unsure which hormones fit your complaint or life stage, start with the life-stage table above and pick the matching panel. Then discuss your result with your GP before making decisions.
References
- Reed BG, Carr BR. The Normal Menstrual Cycle and the Control of Ovulation. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com; updated 2018.
- Harlow SD, Gass M, Hall JE, et al. Executive summary of the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop + 10: addressing the unfinished agenda of staging reproductive aging. Menopause. 2012;19(4):387-395. PMID: 22343510.
- 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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