Test ID: SB-652 | 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 (LC-MS/MS): Estradiol (E2), Estriol (E3), Estrone (E1), Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEAS.
Saliva — 4-Point Cortisol Profile: Morning, Noon, Evening, and Night Cortisol.
Blood Spot — Full Thyroid Panel: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Total T4, TPO Antibodies, Thyroglobulin Antibodies.
Blood Spot — CardioMetabolic Panel: Fasting Insulin, HbA1c, HDL Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, hsCRP.
22 markers total — the most comprehensive at-home female health profile available: sex hormone balance, the full daily cortisol rhythm, complete thyroid function including autoimmune antibodies, and a full cardiometabolic panel in a single kit.
Related Symptoms
Persistent fatigue, unexplained weight gain, sugar cravings, energy crashes, elevated cholesterol or triglycerides on previous testing, PMS, heavy or irregular periods, perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms (hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, low mood), low libido, brain fog, anxiety, insomnia, hair thinning, feeling cold, chronic stress, burnout, or diagnosed or suspected PCOS, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or estrogen dominance.
Who Should Consider This Test?
- Persistent fatigue or exhaustion that does not improve with rest
- Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight despite diet and exercise
- Sugar cravings, energy crashes, or afternoon slumps
- Elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, or blood sugar on previous testing
- PMS, heavy, irregular, or absent periods
- 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
- Hair thinning, dry skin, or feeling cold
- Chronic stress or burnout
- Diagnosed or suspected PCOS, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or estrogen dominance
- Currently on HRT, the contraceptive pill, or levothyroxine
- Family history of thyroid disease, diabetes, heart disease, or metabolic syndrome
- Women over 35 wanting the most complete at-home hormonal, thyroid, and cardiometabolic health baseline available
Why This Test Is Particularly Important for Women
- Estrogen is the primary coordinator of female metabolic and cardiovascular health — Estradiol (E2) maintains insulin sensitivity, HDL cholesterol, vascular elasticity, and systemic inflammation control via hsCRP; it supports thyroid hormone binding and T3 activity; its decline in perimenopause triggers simultaneous hormonal, thyroid, and cardiometabolic deterioration that no single-system test can characterise
- Cortisol is the central disruptor of all four systems in women — depleting progesterone and creating estrogen dominance; impairing thyroid T4-to-T3 conversion; driving insulin resistance, visceral fat, raised triglycerides, and suppressed HDL; and elevating hsCRP; the 4-point profile reveals which time of day is driving these cascades and is the essential lens through which all other results must be interpreted
- Thyroid dysfunction in women is systematically under-detected by TSH alone — cortisol-driven T3 suppression, estrogen-related binding changes, and Hashimoto’s autoimmunity (present years before TSH becomes abnormal) are all missed by standard thyroid screening; differentiation requires FT3, FT4, TT4, TPO, and Tg antibodies tested alongside sex hormones and cortisol
- Insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk are hormonally driven in women at every life stage — PCOS is defined by insulin resistance even in lean women; perimenopause removes estrogen’s insulin-sensitising protection; hypothyroidism independently raises LDL, triglycerides, and hsCRP; only testing all four systems together reveals which hormonal drivers are active
- hsCRP is a stronger cardiovascular risk predictor in women than LDL — directly elevated by estrogen decline, cortisol dysregulation, insulin resistance, Hashimoto’s autoimmunity, and progesterone deficiency; it is the convergence biomarker of the entire female hormonal-metabolic system and a primary target for integrated intervention
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 saliva at four time points (morning before 9am, noon, evening, night) 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 22 marker results with female-specific reference ranges
- Visual charts for all six sex hormones, your full 4-point cortisol daily curve, the full thyroid panel, and all six cardiometabolic markers
- Integrated clinical interpretation of how your estrogens, progesterone, cortisol, thyroid markers, and cardiometabolic results interact as a single female hormonal-metabolic system
- Estrogen-progesterone dominance ratio analysis
- Cortisol-thyroid T3 conversion interaction assessment
- Hashimoto’s autoimmunity assessment (TPO + Tg antibodies) in cortisol and insulin context
- Insulin resistance pattern assessment (fasting insulin + HbA1c)
- Cardiovascular risk profile in full female hormonal and thyroid 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, thyroid, and cardiometabolic markers together?
In women, these three systems form a single integrated regulatory network. Estrogen decline triggers thyroid vulnerability and cardiometabolic risk simultaneously. Cortisol disrupts progesterone, thyroid T3 conversion, and insulin sensitivity in parallel. Hashimoto’s produces symptoms identical to estrogen deficiency and insulin resistance. Testing all systems together reveals the root-cause interaction pattern that single-system testing cannot identify.
Why is TSH alone not enough to assess thyroid health in women?
TSH measures the pituitary signal to the thyroid, not the active hormone reaching cells. Cortisol-driven T3 suppression produces functional hypothyroidism with a normal TSH. Hashimoto’s causes progressive thyroid damage for years before TSH becomes abnormal. Estrogen-related changes in thyroid hormone binding alter T4 availability without affecting TSH. All three patterns are invisible to TSH alone.
Is this test suitable for women with PCOS or Hashimoto’s?
Yes — this is particularly valuable for both. PCOS is fundamentally a condition of insulin resistance, androgen excess, and estrogen-progesterone imbalance, all directly assessed here alongside thyroid antibodies. Hashimoto’s is screened by TPO and Tg antibodies alongside the cortisol and insulin markers that drive autoimmune thyroid activity.
Can I use this test if I am on HRT, the contraceptive pill, or levothyroxine?
Yes. HRT and the pill significantly affect estrogen, progesterone, thyroid binding globulin, HDL, and triglycerides. Levothyroxine dosing is most accurate when FT3, FT4, and thyroid antibodies are assessed alongside the sex hormones and cortisol that affect thyroid conversion and binding. This panel provides the complete integrated picture that standard monitoring cannot.
When in my cycle should I collect?
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 before 9am is recommended for optimal cortisol awakening response accuracy.
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.
