Women's health is routinely undertested. Thyroid problems are dismissed as stress. Iron deficiency is overlooked because haemoglobin looks fine. Hormonal symptoms are normalised instead of investigated. A comprehensive blood test changes that.
A GP might check your thyroid (TSH only), haemoglobin, and basic cholesterol. That misses most of what drives how women feel day to day. Here are the markers that make a real difference.
Thyroid disorders affect women approximately 5 to 8 times more often than men. A standard GP thyroid check tests TSH only. If TSH is "normal," you are told your thyroid is fine. But TSH alone misses conversion problems (normal TSH, low Free T3), early autoimmune thyroid disease (detectable through TPO and TG antibodies before TSH becomes abnormal), and subclinical hypothyroidism that sits within the reference range but below optimal. TrueVitals tests TSH, Free T3, Free T4, and thyroid antibodies in every panel. This is where many women finally get an explanation for years of fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and cold intolerance.
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in women globally, driven by menstrual blood loss, pregnancy, and dietary intake. Most tests check haemoglobin or ferritin alone. Haemoglobin only drops when iron deficiency is already severe (iron-deficiency anaemia). Ferritin is a better early marker but is also an acute-phase reactant, meaning inflammation can falsely elevate it and mask genuine depletion. Full iron studies (serum iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation, transferrin) give the complete picture. TrueVitals includes all of them.
Women's hormonal health involves far more than oestradiol. Progesterone is essential for cycle regularity, sleep quality, and mood. LH and FSH reveal ovarian function and are critical for fertility assessment and menopause staging. Prolactin elevation can cause irregular periods and is linked to pituitary issues. Testosterone matters for women too, affecting libido, energy, and muscle maintenance. DHEA-S declines with age and is an adrenal health marker. Most private blood tests check oestradiol and maybe testosterone. TrueVitals Ultimate includes oestradiol, progesterone, LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone, SHBG, cortisol, and DHEA-S.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women in the UK, yet women are significantly less likely to be screened for it than men. Oestrogen provides some cardiovascular protection before menopause, but ApoB and Lp(a) reveal structural risk that exists regardless of hormonal status. Post-menopause, cardiovascular risk increases sharply. Testing ApoB and Lp(a) before menopause gives you a baseline. Testing them during and after menopause reveals how much risk has changed. TrueVitals includes both.
CA-125 is associated with ovarian cancer. CA 15-3 is associated with breast cancer. Neither is diagnostic on its own. Both are elevated in other conditions too. But as part of a comprehensive screening picture, they add a layer of proactive monitoring that most private blood tests do not include. TrueVitals Ultimate includes both alongside CEA and CA 19-9. If a result is elevated, your report explains what it means and recommends appropriate follow-up with your GP.
These three deficiencies are extremely common in women and each independently causes fatigue, brain fog, low mood, and poor recovery. Vitamin D deficiency is endemic in the UK. B12 deficiency is common in vegetarians, vegans, and women on the contraceptive pill. Folate is critical for anyone considering pregnancy. TrueVitals includes all three in every panel, plus red cell folate in the Ultimate panel for a more accurate long-term folate assessment.
Establish your personal reference points for hormones, thyroid, iron, and cardiovascular markers while they are closest to their natural state. Test Lp(a) at least once (it is genetic and does not change significantly). If you are on hormonal contraception, test thyroid and B12 as both can be affected. Folate is essential if you are planning pregnancy.
LH, FSH, and oestradiol on day 2-5 of your cycle give ovarian reserve indicators. Progesterone on day 21 confirms ovulation. Full thyroid with antibodies is critical as subclinical hypothyroidism affects fertility and increases miscarriage risk. Iron studies, B12, folate, and vitamin D should all be optimised before conception.
Typically mid-40s to mid-50s. FSH and oestradiol confirm menopausal status. Thyroid function should be monitored as hypothyroidism becomes more common. Cardiovascular risk markers (ApoB, cholesterol) become more important as oestrogen's protective effect declines. Bone markers (calcium, vitamin D, PTH, ALP) track osteoporosis risk. A comprehensive baseline at the start of perimenopause is invaluable.
If you are on hormone replacement therapy, regular testing ensures your levels are therapeutic and balanced. Oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone, SHBG, and liver function should all be monitored. Thyroid function can shift on HRT. TrueVitals reports flag interactions between your hormone levels and other health systems to give your prescribing doctor deeper data.
Timing note: For the most consistent reproductive hormone results, test on day 2 to 5 of your menstrual cycle (day 1 is the first day of your period). If your periods are irregular or absent, test any time. Post-menopausal women can test any day. Your TrueVitals report adjusts interpretation based on the cycle day you provide.
Most private "well woman" blood tests check 15 to 40 markers. They typically cover basic hormones, thyroid (TSH only), cholesterol, and vitamin D. Here is what they leave out.
The markers that catch autoimmune thyroid disease and conversion problems. Missed by every provider that only tests TSH.
Ferritin alone misses inflammatory masking. Full studies reveal true iron status.
The cardiovascular markers that matter most, especially post-menopause when oestrogen protection declines.
Missing from most panels. Essential for cycle assessment, fertility, sleep quality, and pituitary screening.
Female-specific tumour markers for ovarian and breast cancer screening. Not included by most providers.
Insulin resistance is a key driver of PCOS, weight gain, and metabolic disease. Missed when only glucose and HbA1c are tested.
The TrueVitals Ultimate panel includes all of these. 115 biomarkers for women. £349. The most complete women's health blood test available in the UK. See how we compare to other providers.
Full thyroid with antibodies, complete hormones (oestradiol, progesterone, LH, FSH, testosterone, SHBG, prolactin, cortisol, DHEA-S), full iron studies, ApoB, HbA1c, insulin, vitamin D, B12, folate, hs-CRP, and tumour markers (CA-125, CA 15-3). A comprehensive panel like TrueVitals Ultimate covers all of these in a single test.
Day 2 to 5 of your menstrual cycle (day 1 = first day of your period) gives the most consistent baseline for reproductive hormones. If your periods are irregular or absent, test any time. Post-menopausal women can test any day. Your report adjusts interpretation based on the cycle day you provide.
Yes. FSH and oestradiol confirm menopausal status. Full thyroid testing rules out thyroid dysfunction (which mimics perimenopause symptoms). Progesterone, cortisol, and DHEA-S add context around sleep, mood, and stress. A comprehensive panel helps distinguish perimenopause from other conditions causing similar symptoms and gives your GP or menopause specialist deeper data to work with.
Very. Insulin resistance is a key driver of PCOS and is linked to weight gain, fatigue, irregular periods, and increased cardiovascular risk. Testing insulin and HOMA-IR catches metabolic dysfunction years before glucose or HbA1c become abnormal. TrueVitals Ultimate includes both.
The TrueVitals Ultimate panel tests 115 biomarkers for women for £349, including complete hormones, full thyroid, iron studies, cardiovascular risk markers, metabolic depth, and female-specific tumour markers. It is the most comprehensive women's health blood test in the UK. View the Ultimate panel.
115 biomarkers including complete hormones, full thyroid, iron studies, cardiovascular risk, tumour markers, and metabolic depth. AI-powered reporting. £349.
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