Female Hormones Blood Test

Female Hormones Blood Test

Gain a deeper understanding of your health with the LoveSelf Female Hormone Blood Test — a comprehensive check of the key hormones involved in fertility, the menstrual cycle, menopause, and metabolism.

Hormonal systems are beautifully complex, and even small imbalances can lead to a wide range of symptoms, from irregular periods, hot flashes, or changes in weight, to skin changes, mood shifts, or challenges with fertility. By analysing these hormone levels, we can help identify whether you may be entering perimenopause or menopause, whether there are signs of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), or assess how well your body is responding to hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

With a broader range of biomarkers than is typically offered through standard checks, this test offers a more complete picture of your hormonal health. You’ll gain nuanced insights into how these hormones interact and influence your wellbeing — empowering you with clarity and understanding.

The LoveSelf Female Hormone Blood Test can be done from the comfort of your home with a simple finger-prick kit, making it easy, accurate, and discreet. Our UK-based, CQC-regulated lab delivers clear results quickly, so you can take the next step in your health journey without delay.

If you’re not sure exactly what you need, we advise all our clients to consult with a GP or one of our Registered Nutritionists before taking any blood tests. However, below you can find more information about this panel, and we hope it will help.

IS THE FEMALE HORMONES BLOOD TEST RIGHT FOR ME?

This test is designed for women who want clear answers about their hormonal health. It can help determine whether your symptoms are linked to hormonal imbalances or natural changes that occur with age — such as during perimenopause or menopause.

It’s especially valuable if you are experiencing:

• Tiredness, low mood, or unexplained changes in weight
• Irregular menstrual cycles or difficulty conceiving
• Symptoms that may be linked to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• Concerns about your fertility
• The need to monitor your hormone levels over time

If you’re taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the test can also show whether your oestrogen levels have been effectively restored. With regular checks, you can track your hormone profile and take a proactive, informed approach to your wellbeing.

SYMPTOMS AND TAGS

Anxiety, Chronic fatigue, Constipation, Dry skin, Fatigue, Feeling cold, Feeling hot all the time, Fertility problems, Lack of libido, Low mood, Menopausal symptoms, Muscle cramps, Palpitations, Weight gain and Women

Everything you need to know about the female hormones

The menstrual cycle in women is regulated by fluctuations in female hormone levels. The length of the cycle is measured from the first day of menstruation to the start of the next period. While the average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, it can range anywhere from 21 to 40 days. By undergoing a blood test, it is possible to track the hormonal changes that occur throughout the menstrual cycle.

Changes in hormone levels throughout the cycle

The first day of the cycle marks the onset of menstruation, during which female hormone levels are low. As the cycle progresses, an egg begins to develop in one of the ovaries, leading to the gradual production of the hormone estrogen. Around days 10 to 16, estrogen levels reach their peak. This surge in estrogen, along with the hormones LH and FSH, prompts the release of the egg from the ovary. Following ovulation, the egg implants itself in the uterus, triggering the production of smaller amount of estrogen. Towards the end of the cycle (around day 28), if the egg remains unfertilized, hormone levels decrease, leading to the start of a new cycle with the onset of menstruation.

Health conditions and female hormones

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that disrupts the normal development of eggs in the ovaries. Common symptoms of PCOS include excessive hair growth, weight gain, irregular or missed periods, and elevated levels of the male hormone testosterone. Thyroid problems, such as an overactive or underactive thyroid, can also impact egg development and hormone levels. Testing hormone levels can help identify whether health issues like PCOS or thyroid problems are responsible for hormonal changes in the body.

Hormonal changes during menopause

Menopause brings about significant hormonal changes, particularly decreased levels of estrogen and other hormones. On average, menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 and is a natural transition that all women experience. However, it can have a profound impact on a woman's overall well-being.

Menopausal symptoms include hot flushes, mood changes, night sweats, fatigue, changes in the menstrual cycle, reduced sex drive, memory and concentration issues, as well as vaginal dryness and pain.

To alleviate these symptoms, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can reintroduce hormones into the body. HRT often involves a combination of estrogen and other hormones, which can be administered through oral tablets, skin patches, or gels. If you suspect you are entering menopause, this blood test can help determine whether low hormone levels are responsible for your symptoms. It can also assist in monitoring the impact of HRT on your body. 

1. Fill out the contact form on the main page
2. Choose your preferred panel
3. Select between a Home Kit (via post), a Clinic Appointment, or VIP service
4. Make the payment online.
5. We'll contact you to arrange a clinic appointment or a VIP service and email you with your home kit delivery details.

Not sure which panel or test is right for you? Reach out to one of our Registered Nutritionists  

COLLECTION OPTIONS

1. VIP: Home/Office/Hotel visit by our phlebotomist – Available in London UK only (1-3 days)
2. Clinic visit (24+ UK locations, 1-3 days)
3. At-home kit (3-6 days)

VIP Phlebotomist Visit (London Only):

Perfect for busy individuals or corporate teams.

• Available across London.
• Once payment is received, our team will contact you to arrange your appointment — usually the same day if booked before 10 am, or the next day if later.
• Additional patients beyond 10 are charged £25 each, invoiced after the visit.
• Please select the total number of blood tests at checkout so our phlebotomist can bring the right equipment.
• Your blood will be collected by a trained phlebotomist and delivered directly to our lab for fast, accurate results.

In-Clinic Appointment:

Quick, professional, and convenient.

• Same or next working day appointment.
• We’ll contact you within 60 minutes of booking to arrange your visit.
• Your blood will be collected by a trained phlebotomist and sent directly to our lab for fast, accurate results.
• Choose your nearest clinic and skip the wait. (Check Locations)

Home Kit:

Test from the comfort of your home — anywhere in mainland UK.

• Everything you need to collect your sample in about 15 minutes.
• Return it to our lab via Prepaid Royal Mail  Tracked 24.
• Free replacement kit if anything goes wrong or more blood is needed — so you can order with confidence.

Ideally, this test is taken between days 2 and 5 of your menstrual cycle (with day 1 being the first day of your period). If you do not have periods, or if your periods are irregular, then the test can be taken at any time.

Hormonal contraception will make these results difficult to accurately interpret so it is best to take a break from this and use barrier methods of contraception for a few weeks before the test.

If you use hormonal gels or pessaries, do not take the finger prick test from a finger you have used to apply these within the last 4 weeks.

If you are having a venous appointment - please let the phlebotomist know the area where gel is applied.

If you take biotin supplements, stop taking these for 72 hours before the test.

Clinic appointment - how to prepare for the Female Hormones Blood Test

If you are coming into one of our clinics for the test, this is what you need to do before you arrive:

• Read the instructions in the SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS section
• Drink plenty of water about an hour before the appointment.
• Avoid coffee/tea/energy drinks. Water is good!
• That’s it! We’ll do the rest.

Home test kit - how it works with the Female Hormones Blood Test

Our blood test kits are simple and convenient.

The most important step in doing a blood test at home is to read the instructions very carefully. The process is very simple, but there are a few pitfalls you need to be aware of - you will save yourself a lot of time if you do it right the first time around!

• Full printed instructions will arrive with your kit - please read them carefully.
• Drink plenty before taking the sample and warm your hands up in the sink with warm water for a few minutes. This will make your blood flow much better.
• Fill the tubes to the top line. We don’t need much blood; filling tubes to the top line is about 15 drops of blood.
• Post the samples on the same day you take them, before midday, Monday to Thursday. If you post it any other time it might get to us late or be stuck at a sorting office over the weekend. You will then have to do it again.
• Package the sample in the same box the kit came in. Otherwise, Royal Mail or DPD will reject it. The sample tubes go into a pouch, then into a cardboard box, and then into a return envelope. All of this is provided in the kit: please use it.
• We look forward to receiving your sample in our lab!

1. THYROID FUNCTION

- Unbound thyroxine (Free T4)
- Unbound triiodothyronine (Free T3)
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

2. REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION

- Oestradiol/estrogen
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)
- Testosterone
- Free Testosterone
- Prolactin
- Free Androgen Index (FAI) - Calculation

We always encourage you to visit one of our Clinique for any of our blood tests.

HOME KIT VIA ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 24

This service costs additional £19.00 and includes:

Available everywhere in mainland UK.

Includes everything you need to take a safe and suitable blood sample in about 15 minutes.

Post the sample back to our laboratory via Royal Mail Tracked 24.

CLINIC APPOINTMENT - SAME OR NEXT WORKING DAY

This service costs additional £38.00 and includes:

• No waiting. We will call you within 2 hours to book your appointment for the same day when purchased before 10am or following day if later than 10am.
• Quick blood collection from your vein, by our professional phlebotomist.
• Blood transported directly to our laboratory - for quick and accurate results.

No home kit exclusion for this panel. We always recommend an in Clinique appointment when the time permits.

We are extremely fast, with some results available within hours and others within a working day or less, from the time your sample is in our lab. However, this is not a guarantee and should not be taken as such. This is the guideline turnaround time that can be shorter or longer.

THIS IS NOT A GUARANTEED TURNAROUND TIME.

We are extremely proud of our very short turnaround times and very efficient laboratory processes; you will receive your results as soon as they are available and have completed clinical validation.

Whilst we accommodate the shortest time scales, with some results available within hours, for some tests the turnaround time is 1-3 working days.

DR. ADAM STATEN - GP VIEW AND RED FLAG SYMPTOMS

Although testosterone is traditionally considered the "male" hormone, women also produce small but important quantities of this in the ovaries. We check testosterone levels to look for androgen excess which may be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Androgen excess is when the body produces too much of the "male" hormones and to get an even more accurate idea of your androgen levels, we calculate your Free Androgen Index (FAI). The FAI tells us not just how much testosterone is in the body, but how much of this testosterone is biologically active and may therefore be causing problems.

Abnormalities in thyroid hormone levels can mimic conditions affecting the other female hormones as they can cause changes in your cycle, or symptoms such as tiredness, low mood and weight gain, which are sometimes associated with menopause.

Therefore, we also check your thyroid function so we get a good overall picture of some of your most important hormone levels.

Red flag symptoms for the Female Hormones Blood Test

Even if your blood tests are normal, you should see a doctor if you have any of the symptoms below because they may be a sign of a serious underlying illness. 

• Unexplained weight loss.
• Drenching sweats during the night.
• Persistent fevers.

Why do you check testosterone?

Although typically considered the "male hormone" testosterone is produced by all women and is an important part of the hormone profile. Excess testosterone can be found in polycystic ovarian syndrome which can cause acne, weight gain, thinning hair, and irregular periods.

It is actually more useful to calculate the "Free Androgen Index" (FAI) which tells us how much biologically active testosterone you have. FAI is calculated from your total testosterone level and your Sex Hormone Binding Globulin level.

There is also increasing interest in the role of testosterone replacement after menopause as falling levels of testosterone contribute to the lowering of libido and low energy levels.

Can I take this test whilst taking HRT?

Yes, the test will tell you whether your HRT has restored your pre-menopausal oestrogen levels.

What is oestradiol?

Oestradiol is one of the three different forms of oestrogen. It is the predominant form of oestrogen in the body during a woman's fertile years. Oestradiol is generally what people mean when they refer to oestrogen. 

Do I need to fast for the Female Hormone Blood Test?

Fasting is generally not required for a routine female hormone blood test. Most hormones that are tested, including estrogen, testosterone, FSH, and LH, do not require fasting. Just avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before the test, as that can impact hormone levels.

Can I see a GP to discuss my Results?

Yes, usually the same or next day.

Our fantastic partner clinical team of consultants and GPs. Once you have your results, you can book an online video consultation to discuss your results.

Our clinical team consists of practicing NHS and private GPs, who work closely with our laboratory and can tell you what your blood test results mean for you. Having an integrated laboratory and GP services makes your health journey seamless and extremely efficient.

This service is not included in the price of the test, it is charged separately, should you wish to book it.

Will I have a general explanation of my results?

Yes, our doctors put a huge amount of effort into your online Health Dashboard, which will have explanations of what each biomarker is, the normal reference ranges and what it means if you are outside of them.

QUICK AND ACCURATE RESULTS DIRECT FROM THE LABORATORY.

We partner with regulated laboratories and accredited clinics that manufacture their own approved home sample collection kits. Your results are looked after by our fantastic clinical governance team and a super-talented biomedical science team.

When you book your test with us - you book directly with the lab. This means accuracy and responsible duty of care, direct access to the provider and extremely fast turnaround times.