You are tired, you suddenly weigh more, your sleep is wrecked, and someone says: "go get your hormones checked." Sounds logical, but "the hormones" do not exist as one button you tick. There are dozens of hormones, they fluctuate across the day and your cycle, and half of them say little without the right timing. So the question is not whether you can test hormones, but which value fits your complaint.
My stance up front: ticking off a broad hormone panel without a complaint mostly creates noise. Hormone blood work only becomes valuable when the measurement fits a concrete signal, is drawn at the right moment, and is read in context by a doctor.
Which hormones are measured?
Which values come up in a hormone blood test depends on your complaint and your sex. The table below is your decision aid: per complaint you see which values are usually relevant, what they reveal, and what to watch when the blood is drawn.
| Complaint or question | Relevant values | What it reveals | Watch at draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unexplained fatigue | TSH, free T4, ferritin | Whether a slow thyroid or low iron plays a role | Thyroid is time-independent; ferritin can be measured alone |
| Weight, mood, feeling cold | TSH, free T4 | Whether your thyroid runs too slow or too fast | TSH first, free T4 if TSH is abnormal |
| Cycle issues, fertility (women) | Estradiol, progesterone, FSH, LH | The rhythm of your cycle and ovulation | Cycle day drives the result; draw on the right day |
| Menopause symptoms | FSH, estradiol | Whether you are heading towards menopause | Values fluctuate; a single reading says little |
| Libido, muscle loss, energy (men) | Total testosterone, SHBG | How much testosterone is available | Morning, before 10:00; testosterone peaks then |
| Milk discharge or unexplained low libido | Prolactin | Whether prolactin is raised | Rest before the draw; stress and needle anxiety raise it |
| Stress fatigue, adrenal question | Cortisol, DHEA-S | Only informative with a specific suspicion | Morning; cortisol peaks early and falls over the day |
Why timing matters so much
Hormones are not fixed numbers. Cortisol is high in the morning and low at night, testosterone peaks in the early morning, and in women almost every sex hormone value changes with the cycle day. Draw at the wrong moment and you measure something real that still cannot be interpreted. For most sex hormones, day 2 to 5 of your cycle is the standard moment, unless your doctor advises otherwise (progesterone is measured around the second half of the cycle to assess ovulation).
The Dutch Heart Foundation (Hartstichting) applies the same principle to other values: not one figure, but the pattern and context determine the meaning. With hormones this is doubly true, because a single reading is a snapshot of a moving system.
A concrete example: testosterone falls gradually through the morning after you wake. A "too low" value drawn at 14:00 may not be low at all if you had measured it at 8:00. In women something similar applies to estradiol and progesterone, which move with the cycle day. That is why the table above lists not only which value is relevant, but also what to watch at the draw. Ignore that column and you measure something correct that says nothing.
When is a hormone blood test useful?
The Dutch College of General Practitioners (NHG) advises ordering blood tests on indication, so with a concrete complaint or risk factor, not as routine screening without a reason. Translated to hormones, testing is mainly useful with:
- Persistent fatigue without a clear cause
- Unexplained weight change or cold or heat intolerance
- Mood complaints, irritability or low mood
- Loss of libido, and in men muscle loss or loss of energy
- Cycle issues, fertility questions or suspected menopause
No complaints but you want a broad baseline? Then a thyroid value adds more than an extensive sex hormone panel. See the overview in Annual blood test: which tests do you really need?
How does a hormone blood test work?
You can order a hormone test without a referral. The blood is drawn at a collection point (750+ in the Netherlands) and analysed in a certified laboratory. Results are usually available within 2 to 3 working days, with a professional review by a registered (BIG) doctor.
For a reliable result:
- Have blood drawn in the morning, before 10:00, certainly for cortisol and testosterone
- Women: account for your cycle day (day 2 to 5 for most hormones)
- Mention medication, contraception and supplements, as these can shift values
Want to test in a targeted way? For men the Hormones Man panel bundles the relevant values, for women Hormones Women does the same, and for the thyroid specifically look at Thyroid Function. Going deeper into one value? Read about recognising thyroid problems.
Frequently asked questions
Can I test all hormones at once?
Technically yes, but it is rarely useful. A broad panel without a complaint often produces values you cannot interpret. A targeted panel that fits your complaint gives more direction than as many markers as possible.
Do I need a referral?
No, you can order a hormone blood test yourself, without a referral from a GP.
What if my hormone values are normal but I still have complaints?
Complaints can have other causes: lack of sleep, nutritional deficiencies, chronic stress or an underlying condition. Discuss your results with a doctor to look at the whole picture. A blood value is not a diagnosis.
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