Hormones play a crucial role in regulating various aspects of women's health throughout their lives, from puberty through menopause and beyond. Hormones like estradiol and luteinizing hormone have many effects on the female body, including reproductive function, bone strength and emotions.
These hormones are involved in intricate biological processes, with fluctuations in their levels impacting menstrual cycles, fertility, the transition into menopause and more.
Understanding hormone levels through hormone testing can provide valuable insights into overall health and help guide informed decisions about wellness goals. Discover how people like you are using hormone testing for their individual health journeys.
Getting to know your body better through hormone health testing
Stephanie Rose is a popular YouTube creator who posts vlogs about wellness, self-care, lifestyle and more. She prioritizes wellness in her lifestyle in many ways, from cooking healthy meals at home to going for walks with her partner.
Stephanie is dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle. She makes an effort to regularly check in with her body and takes note of any changes, including unexpected symptoms or fluctuations related to her menstrual cycle.
“I’m trying to listen to my body more and better track my overall health,” she says. “I have been wanting to get hormone health testing done for a while now.”
Using Labcorp OnDemand, Stephanie tested her thyroid hormones, her estradiol (E2) levels and her follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Labcorp OnDemand’s Standard Thyroid Test measures both thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and Free T4 (thyroxine) to assess thyroid function and screen for conditions, such as underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). The Estradiol (E2) Test measures levels of estradiol in your blood to provide insights into hormonal health. Estradiol is the hormone responsible for developing and regulating the female reproductive system. The FSH Test evaluates FSH, a protein made by the pituitary gland that plays a key role in sexual development, reproductive health and menstrual cycle regulation.
After completing her testing at a local Labcorp patient service center (PSC), Stephanie describes the experience as “quick and easy.”
“I was in the room for probably two minutes at most,” she says. “I’m excited to take better care of my body, get to know my body a little more and know why I’m experiencing certain symptoms. I like to know why I’m feeling a certain way, or why my body responds a certain way. I think these tests are going to help me learn more about my body.”
Navigating hormonal changes after pregnancy
Jessica Spiers is a certified nutrition specialist (CNS) who focuses on hormone health in women and creates weekly videos about everything from simple healthy living to navigating life as a busy mom. She recently celebrated her 40th birthday and reflected on her life before this milestone. Before turning 40, Jessica had spent the past decade of her life focused mainly on growing both her family and career as a nutritionist. Now that she’s entering her 40s and beginning a new chapter, she wants to learn more about her body and assess her health after such a busy period of her life.
“It felt like the entire decade of my 30s was spent doing things outside of myself,” says Jessica. “I felt as though I was pouring into my young family and my nutrition clients. So, during my 39th year, I spent those 12 months coming back to myself to rediscover who I am. I’m a different person now.”
To learn more about how her health has evolved, Jessica worked with Labcorp OnDemand to test her FSH, estradiol and thyroid hormone levels. FSH supports ovulation and regulates the menstrual cycle by helping stimulate the growth of eggs in the ovaries. Estradiol also plays a role in menstrual cycle regulation and overall reproductive health. Thyroid hormones can affect several aspects of health, from mood and fertility to metabolism.
Jessica admits she was a little nervous about getting her hormones tested. “I’m a wimp when it comes to needles,” she says. “But the Labcorp staff was amazing. They practically held my hand through the experience, and I was in and out in under five minutes.”
As a nutritionist who specializes in hormone health, Jessica says she loves having access to these data points to help guide her wellness journey. “With this data, we’re able to see whether the foods we eat love us back, or if we’re taking supplements, whether those are moving the needle on some aspect of our health,” she explains.
Understanding hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause
Tracy Campoli is a health coach, fitness trainer and busy mom who creates content about wellness, lifestyle and fashion. When it comes to her own well-being, Labcorp OnDemand’s hormone testing has recently been helping Tracy navigate her transition to menopause.
The stages of menopause include perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Each phase encompasses hormone fluctuations, which can result in both physical and emotional symptoms, including hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain and changes in libido.
At almost 50 years of age, Tracy has been noticing symptoms of perimenopause for two years as her body makes the transition to menopause. Her symptoms began with trouble sleeping and generally feeling “blah.” However, she notes that menopause is “not a one-and-done” process. “Whether you’re in perimenopause or menopause, it’s not a stagnant place,” she explains. “Your hormone levels are always shifting and changing.”
To help assess some of those hormonal fluctuations, Tracy used Labcorp OnDemand’s Menopause Test to check her FSH, estradiol, progesterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. Progesterone is produced by the ovaries and is essential for menstrual regulation and supporting pregnancy, while LH is produced by the pituitary gland and plays a complementary role to FSH and estradiol in assessing hormone status.
“I am all about empowering women, and Labcorp OnDemand really empowers women to know what’s going on with their bodies, especially for those experiencing menopause symptoms,” says Tracy.
She also notes the importance of talking about hormone testing with your healthcare provider, especially if you’re undergoing a major transition like menopause. “In the last few years, I started working with a doctor who specializes in menopause,” she shares. “Having someone to partner with me has been so beneficial as I go through this period of my life.”
Discovering hormonal imbalances
Kyla Beland is a certified personal trainer who makes content that encourages people to focus on whole-body health. After a recent appointment with an integrative physician, she learned that her progesterone levels were low. While it’s normal for progesterone levels to fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle and different life stages, low progesterone levels may be associated with a variety of health concerns, such as irregular periods, mood changes or fertility challenges.
“I felt like I was at my healthiest; I didn’t feel like I had a hormonal imbalance,” says Kyla.
Since learning that her progesterone levels were low, Kyla says she has been working with her healthcare provider to develop a protocol that will boost her progesterone levels. Now, she wants to re-test her progesterone levels to see if that protocol is working effectively.
While she still plans to work closely with her physician to help her interpret her bloodwork results and determine the next steps for her health goals, Kyla says she loves the convenience of using Labcorp OnDemand’s health testing. “When I found out that I can purchase the same test that my physician orders and trusts, it literally blew my mind,” she says.
Even though Kyla arrived about 20 minutes early for her Labcorp appointment, she says they still took her in right away and completed her lab work efficiently. In addition to progesterone testing, she also tested her estradiol and LH levels to gain a more comprehensive understanding of her hormonal health.
“I also like that you get your results in your own patient portal,” adds Kyla. “I already have my previous lab results from a few months ago in the same portal, so now I can look at both and compare my progesterone levels.”
Learn more about your health with hormone testing
Hormone testing provides valuable insights that support women's health and well-being through all stages of life, empowering informed conversations with healthcare providers.
If you’re ready to learn more about your health, explore Labcorp OnDemand’s full collection of hormone tests.
