Hormone Testing for Women: What Blood Tests Measure

What a female hormone blood test measures

A female hormone blood test looks at the hormones produced by your ovaries, pituitary gland and adrenal glands, the three systems that work together to run your menstrual cycle and support broader wellbeing. Hormone testing for women typically brings several markers together in one test, rather than looking at a single number in isolation. For a wider look at test options, see our guide to women's health testing.

Oestradiol and progesterone: the reproductive hormones

Oestradiol is the main form of oestrogen your ovaries produce. Levels rise and fall through your cycle, peaking before ovulation, so oestradiol measures the markers associated with ovarian activity and cycle phase. Progesterone rises after ovulation and supports the second half of your cycle, known as the luteal phase. A progesterone test is often used to check whether ovulation has occurred that cycle. Reading oestradiol and progesterone together gives a clearer picture of what stage your cycle is at, and how your ovaries are functioning, than either marker alone.

LH and FSH: the pituitary signals

Luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) come from your pituitary gland, not your ovaries. FSH stimulates egg development early in your cycle, while a surge in LH triggers ovulation. Both markers are also used, alongside oestradiol, to check markers associated with ovarian reserve, particularly for women exploring fertility questions. FSH is generally more useful when interpreted alongside your age and cycle day, since a single result on its own can be misleading.

Prolactin, testosterone, DHEAS and free androgen index

Prolactin is best known for its role in milk production, but raised levels outside pregnancy or breastfeeding can disrupt ovulation and cycle regularity. Testosterone and DHEAS are androgen hormones, present in women as well as men, and they contribute to energy, muscle, libido and skin health. The Free Androgen Index (FAI) is a calculated ratio that shows how much of your testosterone is biologically active rather than bound. Together, these markers help build a picture of androgen balance, which is relevant to symptoms like acne, excess hair growth or irregular cycles.

Cortisol: the stress hormone

Cortisol is produced by your adrenal glands and follows a daily rhythm, higher in the morning and lower at night. It's included in a broader hormone panel because chronic stress and cortisol patterns can interact with reproductive hormones, sometimes contributing to irregular cycles or symptoms that overlap with hormone imbalance. Cortisol measures the markers associated with your stress response, it doesn't diagnose a specific condition on its own.

When to test: timing and your cycle

Timing affects hormone blood test for women results more than almost any other factor. Oestradiol, progesterone, LH and FSH all shift naturally through your cycle, so the same test on different days can look very different. As a general guide, day 2 to 4 of your cycle is often used for FSH and LH, while day 21 (or roughly seven days after ovulation) is a common time to check progesterone. If your cycles are irregular, or you're not sure which day to test, this is worth discussing with your doctor or including in your request notes.

Reading the pattern together

No single hormone tells the full story. Reading oestradiol, progesterone, LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone, DHEAS, cortisol and the free androgen index together is what makes female hormone testing useful, rather than looking at each marker in isolation.

Signs it might be time for a hormone blood test

Common reasons women look into hormone testing for women include irregular or missing periods, unexplained fatigue, mood changes, acne or hair changes, and questions around fertility or perimenopause. If ongoing tiredness is your main concern, it's worth reading why you might always feel tired, since fatigue has several possible hormonal and non-hormonal causes.

Do you need the full profile or a single test?

If you have specific symptoms you're trying to understand, such as irregular cycles, acne or excess hair growth, our hormone imbalance test looks at a more targeted set of markers. If you want the broader picture across your reproductive, pituitary and adrenal hormones in one go, the Female Hormone Profile covers oestradiol, progesterone, LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone, DHEAS, cortisol and the free androgen index in a single test. Both are available with no GP referral needed, from any of MediTests' 3,300+ collection centres, with results in 24 to 48 hours.