You want to do a hormone test, but the lab asks: which hormones do you want measured? That is exactly where many women get stuck. Test too few and you miss the answer; test everything and you pay for values that have nothing to do with your complaint.
My stance: choose your hormones based on your symptom and life stage, not on what sounds most complete.
Why a hormone test?
Your hormones affect almost every aspect of your wellbeing: energy, mood, cycle, skin and sleep. With complaints that may be hormonal, a blood test gives concrete answers instead of guessing. A hormone test is not a diagnosis but a starting point: the values guide the conversation with a doctor or targeted lifestyle changes.
Which hormones for which complaint?
The table below links your complaint or goal to the hormones that are most informative, plus the best moment to draw blood. That way you order with purpose.
| Complaint or goal | Which hormones | Moment |
|---|---|---|
| Irregular cycle | FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone | Day 2-5 + day 19-22 |
| Wish to conceive | FSH, LH, estradiol, AMH, progesterone | Day 2-5 + day 19-22 |
| Suspected menopause | FSH, estradiol | Day 2-5 |
| Suspected PCOS | Testosterone, SHBG, LH/FSH ratio | Morning, day 2-5 |
| Fatigue or mood | TSH, cortisol, vitamin D | Morning |
| Reduced libido | Testosterone, estradiol | Morning, day 2-5 |
The core hormones explained
Estradiol (E2) is the main oestrogen and plays a central role in your cycle, bone health and mood. Progesterone is essential for the second half of the cycle. FSH and LH regulate egg maturation and ovulation. Testosterone is produced by women too: too much can fit PCOS, too little can fit fatigue. TSH screens your thyroid, which can mimic many hormonal complaints. With a wish to conceive, AMH is also informative about your egg reserve.
When does testing make sense?
Consider a hormone test if your cycle is irregular, your period is absent, you are persistently tired without a clear cause, you have mood swings, you suspect menopause, you want to get pregnant or you have complaints that fit PCOS.
Just as important: when is testing not worthwhile? If you have had one odd cycle or feel a bit off for a week, that is rarely a reason for an extensive panel. Hormones fluctuate naturally, and a snapshot can then give more confusion than clarity. In such cases, give your body some time first, and track your complaints. If they return or persist, a test does become valuable, because you then have a pattern to link the result to.
At which moment in your cycle?
The moment matters. Day 2-5 is ideal for FSH, LH, estradiol and testosterone (your baseline values). Day 19-22 is the best moment to measure progesterone and confirm ovulation. TSH can be done any time, preferably in the morning. The NHG explicitly describes in its guidelines that the cycle moment strongly affects sex hormone results, so always note your cycle day. Using hormonal contraception? Then the values are less representative of your natural balance; discuss that with a doctor.
A word about contraception
If you take the pill or use a hormonal IUD, it suppresses your natural cycle. Your measured estradiol, FSH and LH then mainly reflect the effect of the contraception, not your own hormone balance. If you want to know your natural values, it can be worthwhile to discuss with a doctor whether and when to measure. Never simply stop contraception just to test.
How does it work?
For a hormone test a small amount of blood is drawn, usually from your arm, at a sampling location. The blood is analysed in a laboratory and results are usually available digitally within a few working days. A broad hormones for women test measures the core hormones in one go. Want the broader context? Read our pillar hormone testing for women: which tests and when and the overview blood test hormones women: which values are tested.
What your result does and does not tell you
A hormone value is a snapshot, not a verdict on your life. In women who still menstruate especially, estradiol and progesterone can jump considerably within a single cycle. The Voedingscentrum stresses that lifestyle factors such as nutrition, sleep and exercise co-determine your hormonal system, and those change from week to week. That is why the pattern over time is often more informative than one isolated measurement. Always discuss an abnormal result with a doctor before drawing conclusions, especially if you experience symptoms or wish to conceive.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral?
No, you can order a hormone test without a referral and arrange everything online yourself. With abnormal values it is wise to discuss the result with a doctor.
How reliable is the test?
The blood is analysed in a certified laboratory with equipment comparable to that in hospitals. Reliability is comparable to a test through your GP.
Which hormone is most important to test?
That depends entirely on your complaint. There is no universally most important hormone; the right choice follows from your story and life stage.
Tagi
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