H&B&Me Female Hormone Blood Test

Finger-prick test

Results in 48 hours

Doctor-reviewed report

Are you curious about your fertility or periods? Do you have concerns about your overall health, energy, sex drive or mood? A female hormone test can provide valuable insights into hormone levels impacting fertility, thyroid health, menopause energy, mood and more – helping you understand your body better.

✓ Finger-prick test

✓ Results in 48 hours

✓ Doctor-reviewed report

✓ 9 biomarkers

✓ 18+ age

✓ Take test on days 2-6 of menstrual cycle

✓ Not suitable for those taking hormonal contraception, HRT, fertility medicines or thyroid medication

What can you learn from a female hormone test?

Get insights into your health and test for biomarkers that relate to certain conditions or life stages including:

✓ Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

✓ Menopause

✓ Perimenopause

✓ Pituitary gland problems

✓ Thyroid disorders

✓ Fertility potential

What’s tested?

• Oestradiol: One of three naturally occurring oestrogens, mainly produced in the ovaries. It’s the main hormone used to assess oestrogen levels. Oestradiol plays a crucial role in women’s health, affecting energy levels, and brain functions like memory and concentration to name just a few. It also helps preserve bone and cardiovascular health.
• Follicular stimulating hormone (FSH): A hormone released by the brain's pituitary gland. It plays a crucial role in the menstrual cycle by prompting the ovaries to release an egg. If FSH levels are high, it shows the body is having to work hard to recruit eggs for ovulation, which is helpful in diagnosing menopausal status. It can also provide useful information regarding fertility and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
• Luteinising hormone (LH): A hormone released from a part of the brain called the pituitary gland. It helps regulate the menstrual cycle and the production of sex hormones in the ovaries.
• Prolactin: A hormone made by your pituitary gland. It’s responsible for stimulating breast tissue development in women, as well as milk for breastfeeding. Levels of prolactin are typically low in people who aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG): A protein that attaches to sex hormones like oestradiol and testosterone. Testing for this biomarker helps to determine your free androgen index (FAI) which tells doctors how many free androgens, such as testosterone, there are in your body.
• Testosterone: A sex hormone. It plays an important role in female development, as well as sexual behaviour and bone and muscle health. It’s produced mainly in the adrenal glands and ovaries.
• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): A hormone made by your pituitary gland. It plays a crucial role in regulating thyroid activity, as it stimulates your thyroid to make thyroxine (T4).
• Thyroxine (T4): A hormone made by your thyroid. It’s essential in many of your body’s functions, including metabolism and growth. Your thyroid plays an important role in the control of your metabolism. But it also has a wide range of other functions. For women’s health, thyroid dysfunction can affect your menstrual cycle and fertility.
• Free androgen index (FAI): Tells you how many free androgens, such as testosterone, there are in your body. Androgens are hormones that regulate masculine characteristics. Doctors use sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in conjunction with testosterone levels to calculate your free androgen index.

FAQs

When should I take this test?

Do this test between days 2-6 of your menstrual cycle, where day 0 is the first day of your period.

How should I prepare for this test?

To prepare for a female hormone test:

• Plan to take the test between days 2-6 of your menstrual cycle, where day 0 is the first day of your period.
• There’s no need to fast before this test.
• Do the test before 10am so you can post your sample back the same day.
• If you take any medications that might affect your hormone levels, talk to your doctor before stopping them. Do not stop taking any prescribed medications without speaking to your doctor first.

Do I need to fast before this test?

No, you do not need to fast before the female hormone test.

Can I take this test if I’m pregnant?

If you’re pregnant, it’s important you talk to your doctor before taking any at-home blood test. Being pregnant can have a noticeable impact on your results, so make sure to check in with your GP first.

What are the symptoms of hormone imbalance?

The symptoms of hormone imbalance can vary based on the underlying cause and the specific hormones affected. Symptoms can include irregular periods, tiredness, low sex drive, acne, weight gain, mood changes, poor skin health, and unusual or increased hair growth.

What can a female hormone test tell me about my fertility?

Thinking about starting a family? A female hormone test can help you know more about your fertility. It checks reproductive hormones, like FSH, to see if they're at healthy levels to support pregnancy. It can also provide insight into certain things that might make it harder to get pregnant, like PCOS or thyroid problems.

Can a female hormone test tell me if I’m menopausal?

Our female hormone test cannot diagnose menopause. However, depending on the life stage you’re at, the levels of certain hormones in your blood can sometimes indicate if menopause is likely.

For example, high levels of LH can be associated with menopause or perimenopause. Low levels of oestradiol can also be linked with menopause. For women who feel they’re entering or already in menopause, this test can check if their oestradiol levels are as low as expected.

It’s important to note that menopause is usually diagnosed based on symptoms, not your hormone levels. Symptoms of menopause can include hot flushes, night sweats and mood changes, among many others.

Can any medications affect the results of a female hormone test?

Yes. The following medications can affect the results of a female hormone test:

• Hormonal contraception (such as the pill, mini pill, contraceptive patch and vaginal ring)
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• Fertility medicines
• Thyroid medications

If you take any of these medicines, speak to your GP before doing this test.

Can lifestyle factors affect the results of a female hormone test?

Yes. Very low or very high body mass index (BMI) can disrupt your menstrual cycle and affect your hormone levels. Other lifestyle factors like stress can also have an impact on the results of female hormone tests.

How it works

Step 1 – Register your test kit on the H&B&Me app

Step 2 – Take your blood sample following the instructions inside

Step 3 – Send your sample back in the prepaid packaging

Step 4 – View your doctor-reviewed results on the app within 48 hours

Consult instructions for use. Keep away from sunlight. In vitro diagnostic medical device. Do not re-use. Upper limit of temperature (25° Celsius). Keep dry.

We go to great efforts to ensure that the information on this page is accurate at the time that the page was last edited. As we are constantly reviewing and developing our products to meet our consumer needs, consumers, particularly those that suffer from allergies and intolerances, should always check product labelling, warnings, and directions provided with the product that is delivered, prior to use or consumption.

Test kit contents

• Instructions for use
• Test request form
• 4 lancets
• 2 plasters
• 2 pre-injection swabs
• 2 name labels
• 3 gauze swabs
• 1 double protective packet wallet
• 2 blood collection tubes
• 1 pre-paid postage envelope

It is important to note that blood tests alone are not a substitute for seeing a doctor, particularly if you have symptoms. You should not make a diagnosis or start any treatment without a consultation with a doctor or suitably trained healthcare professional.

Intended use

These blood tests are designed for adults aged 18 and over, and are unsuitable for children. Please note that these blood tests cannot treat or diagnose medical conditions. As Holland & Barrett don’t collect any data about your medical history, you must interpret the significance of your results with caution. Be aware that medical conditions, medications, or other aspects of your health can affect your test results. These tests do not replace seeking medical advice and assessment, and if you have an abnormal test result, you should always seek appropriate advice from a trained health professional.