Order a TSH test and check your TSH level

A TSH test can help you understand how your thyroid is working right now. TSH is usually the first value doctors look at to get an impression of that.

Testing your TSH gives you a snapshot of a single hormone. It is not a diagnosis, but a data point you can discuss with a doctor alongside your symptoms and any other values.

For busy professionals, a measurement like this can be an efficient first step towards understanding symptoms such as fatigue, weight changes or low energy.

This test may suit people who:

• have symptoms that might relate to the thyroid, such as fatigue or weight changes
• want to record a baseline of their thyroid function
• want to recheck a previously abnormal TSH value
• want preventive insight into how their body is functioning

Would you like more context about your hormones? A doctor may advise adding other values alongside TSH.

This test measures one biomarker in your blood:

• TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone): a hormone from your pituitary gland that steers your thyroid.

For more context, FT4 is sometimes added, but TSH on its own is often a common first step. You can read more on the page about TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone).

Your TSH value can say something about how your pituitary gland and your thyroid work together. A TSH that is too high may point to an underactive thyroid; a TSH that is too low may fit an overactive thyroid.

Because TSH can fluctuate through the day and from person to person, a single measurement is always a snapshot. A doctor therefore considers the wider context: your value, your symptoms and sometimes additional hormones.

For this test, blood is drawn at a certified sample point. There are more than 750 locations across the Netherlands, which you choose yourself after ordering.

You do not need to see your GP first; you pick a location and a time that suit you. The draw is done by trained staff and usually takes only a few minutes.

This test can be useful if you have symptoms you cannot quite place, such as ongoing fatigue, palpitations or changes in your weight.

If you had an abnormal value before, measuring your TSH can help track how it develops. You always interpret the result together with a doctor.

Your result shows your TSH alongside a reference range and a short explanation. What counts as a healthy value varies by lab, age and timing, so a number on its own says little.

Many people want to know what their result means. A TSH that is too high may, for example, point to an underactive thyroid, while a lower value may fit an overactive thyroid. Only a doctor can properly interpret your result.

For a TSH test you usually do not need to fast. You can pick a time that fits into your day.

Do you use thyroid medication or other hormones? Then ask your doctor whether and when it is best to measure, as this can affect your result.

Your results are available online within a few working days. You see your TSH value, its reference range and a clear explanation.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.