Test ID: SB-648 | Sample Type: Saliva + Dried Blood Spot | Technology: LC-MS/MS | Results Time: 3–5 Working Days After Laboratory Receives Sample | Laboratory: ZRT Laboratory – CLIA Certified | Hormone Specialist Doctor Interpretation: Included | Suitable For: Adults and Children | Collect Sample At Home: No Clinic Visit Required
What Does This Test Measure?
Saliva — Sex Hormones & Cortisol (LC-MS/MS): Estradiol (E2), Estriol (E3), Estrone (E1), Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEAS, Cortisol.
Blood Spot — CardioMetabolic Panel: Fasting Insulin, HbA1c, HDL Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, hsCRP.
13 markers total — a complete picture of female sex hormone balance, cortisol, and cardiometabolic risk in a single at-home kit.
Related Symptoms
Persistent fatigue, unexplained abdominal weight gain, sugar cravings, energy crashes, elevated cholesterol or triglycerides on previous testing, blood sugar irregularities, PMS, heavy or irregular periods, perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms (hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, low mood), low libido, brain fog, anxiety, insomnia, chronic stress, burnout, diagnosed or suspected PCOS or estrogen dominance, or family history of diabetes, heart disease, or metabolic syndrome.
Who Should Consider This Test?
- Persistent fatigue or exhaustion that does not improve with sleep or rest
- Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight, particularly around the abdomen
- Sugar cravings, energy crashes, or afternoon slumps
- Elevated cholesterol or triglycerides on previous testing
- Blood sugar irregularities, a history of gestational diabetes, or pre-diabetes
- PMS, heavy, irregular, or absent periods
- Breast tenderness, bloating, or mood swings in the second half of the cycle
- Perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms: hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, low mood
- Low libido or reduced sexual interest
- Brain fog, poor concentration, or memory issues
- Anxiety, irritability, or emotional volatility
- Insomnia, night waking, or unrefreshing sleep
- Chronic stress or burnout
- Diagnosed or suspected PCOS or estrogen dominance
- Currently on HRT or the contraceptive pill and wanting to monitor hormonal and metabolic markers
- Family history of diabetes, heart disease, or metabolic syndrome
- Women over 35 wanting a comprehensive hormonal and cardiometabolic health baseline
Why This Test Is Particularly Important for Women
- Estrogen is the primary cardiovascular protector in women — Estradiol (E2) supports HDL, suppresses LDL oxidation, maintains vascular elasticity, and controls systemic inflammation; as E2 declines in perimenopause, HDL falls, triglycerides rise, and hsCRP elevates in a directly hormonal pattern that raises cardiovascular risk yet is rarely assessed alongside hormone levels
- Cortisol is the primary driver of insulin resistance, visceral fat, and estrogen dominance in women — cortisol elevation impairs insulin sensitivity, promotes abdominal fat, raises triglycerides, suppresses HDL, and elevates hsCRP; simultaneously suppressing progesterone and depleting DHEAS, accelerating hormonal ageing and worsening cardiometabolic risk
- Insulin resistance is hormonally amplified in women at every life stage — PCOS is defined by insulin resistance even in lean women; perimenopause removes estrogen’s insulin-sensitising effect; fasting insulin is the earliest detectable marker, elevated years before HbA1c becomes abnormal
- hsCRP connects the hormonal and metabolic systems in women — elevated by cortisol dysregulation, insulin resistance, visceral fat, estrogen decline, and progesterone deficiency simultaneously; a stronger independent predictor of cardiovascular disease in women than LDL cholesterol
- Progesterone and DHEAS are the anti-inflammatory, anti-metabolic-ageing hormones in women — both depleted under cortisol elevation; low progesterone drives estrogen dominance and blood sugar instability; low DHEAS reduces the estrogen and testosterone precursor pool and has direct insulin-sensitising effects
Not Sure Which Test Is Right for You?
Email us at info@hormonelab.co.uk with your gender, age, symptoms, medications, and any current treatments. We will forward your enquiry to our doctors and respond within 24 hours.
How It Works
- Order your kit — delivered directly to your door
- Collect your saliva sample (morning before 9am for optimal cortisol accuracy) and blood spot via finger-prick. Guidance on optimal cycle timing is included
- Post your samples to ZRT Laboratory using the return instructions provided
- Receive your full report by email within 3–5 working days
What You Receive
- All 13 marker results with female-specific reference ranges
- Visual charts for all six sex hormones, cortisol, and all six cardiometabolic markers
- Clinical interpretation of how your estrogens, progesterone, cortisol, DHEAS, and cardiometabolic markers interact as an integrated female hormonal-metabolic system
- Estrogen-progesterone dominance ratio analysis
- Cortisol-driven metabolic impact assessment — connecting cortisol to insulin resistance, triglycerides, HDL, and hsCRP
- Insulin resistance pattern assessment (fasting insulin + HbA1c)
- Cardiovascular risk profile in full female hormonal context
- Integrated interpretation by a Hormone Specialist PhD Doctor
- Personalised next-step recommendations
- Laboratory fee included — no hidden charges
Why We Use ZRT Laboratory
All testing is performed by ZRT Laboratory — a globally recognised, CLIA-certified diagnostic laboratory founded in 1998 by Dr. David Zava, PhD. ZRT has performed over 11 million tests and is trusted by healthcare professionals in 96+ countries.
- Pioneers of at-home dried blood spot (DBS) and saliva hormone testing
- Advanced LC-MS/MS technology for clinical-grade accuracy
- Qualified for the CDC Hormone Standardization (HoSt) Program
- Personalised reference ranges based on age and sex
Through our partnership with ZRT Laboratory, Hormone Lab UK delivers internationally recognised, research-backed hormone testing to people across the UK and Europe — from the comfort of home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should women test hormones and cardiometabolic markers together?
In women, sex hormones and cardiometabolic health are mechanistically inseparable. Estradiol protects HDL and suppresses cardiovascular inflammation; its decline directly raises cardiovascular risk. Cortisol drives insulin resistance and visceral fat while suppressing progesterone. Testing both systems together reveals whether cardiometabolic symptoms are driven by hormonal root causes — something neither system can determine when tested alone.
When in my cycle should I collect my sample?
Guidance on optimal cycle timing is included in your kit. For most women, collection in the luteal phase (days 19–21 of a 28-day cycle) provides the most clinically meaningful progesterone and estrogen values. Morning collection is recommended for optimal cortisol accuracy.
Is this test suitable for women with PCOS?
Yes — PCOS is fundamentally a condition of insulin resistance, androgen excess, and estrogen-progesterone imbalance, all directly assessed by this panel. Fasting insulin is often the most clinically important marker in PCOS and is measured alongside the full sex hormone and cortisol profile.
Can I use this test if I am on HRT or the contraceptive pill?
Yes. HRT and the contraceptive pill significantly affect estrogen, progesterone, HDL, triglycerides, and insulin sensitivity — which is precisely why monitoring both hormonal and cardiometabolic markers together is more informative than standard blood tests for women on hormonal treatment.
Does the price include the laboratory fee?
Yes. The full laboratory analysis fee is included. There are no additional charges. You are only responsible for posting your samples to the laboratory.
How long is the kit valid for?
The kit must be used within 12 months of the purchase date.
