Why Standard Hormone Testing Misses the Mark (and What to Ask For Instead)
One of the most frequent questions I get is: “Do you run hormone testing?”
The short answer is yes.
The longer answer? It’s complicated.
If your provider only tests estrogen and progesterone, you don’t have the full picture into what’s going on for you hormonally.
Hormones Don’t Operate in a Silo
Hormone testing matters, but hormones don’t exist in isolation. They’re influenced by nutrition, stress, thyroid health, and even your gut. Looking at just progesterone and estrogen is like looking at your checking account balance and calling it your net worth. It ignores your investments, debt, and spending habits—aka the rest of the story.
If I’m working with someone on hormone health, I want to see the bigger picture—especially the most common drivers of imbalance:
Testosterone and DHEA-S → androgens that impact ovulation, PCOS, acne, hair growth/loss.
Thyroid panel (TSH, free T3, free T4, antibodies) → the thyroid sets the metabolic “pace” for your entire body.
Cortisol patterns through the day → chronic stress impacts ovulation and progesterone.
Vitamin D → critical for ovarian function and egg quality.
Ferritin (iron stores) → low iron = fatigue, poor thyroid function, and cycle issues.
Glucose and HbA1C → how your body manages blood sugar, key for fertility and PMS.
Gut testing (if digestive symptoms are present) → your microbiome helps process and clear hormones.
This is the difference between spot-checking symptoms and actually understanding what’s driving them.
Tell Me If This Sounds Familiar…
You get progesterone and estrogen checked, results come back “normal,” but you’re still not conceiving.
Labs look slightly off and you’re immediately prescribed birth control, Clomid, or progesterone cream—without anyone asking about your thyroid or blood sugar.
You open your patient portal and see a confusing PDF full of numbers, ranges, and flags—without a single conversation about what it means for your actual symptoms.
No context. No roadmap. Just more questions.
This is why so many women feel dismissed. You know something is off. The labs don’t explain it. And you’re left to figure it out alone.
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
You deserve more than a quick “everything’s fine” or a prescription to mask symptoms. You deserve a practitioner who will:
Look at more than estrogen and progesterone.
Put the results into context with your symptoms.
Help you understand the “why” behind the numbers.
Give you actionable next steps that actually move you toward balance.
And provide you with accountability and guidance alone the way. Because we all are human, and a plan is only as good as the systems you put into place to follow it.
Do You Need Additional Tests?
If your hormone testing has left you feeling more confused than empowered, it’s not you—it’s the system. Standard hormone testing misses the mark because it’s too narrow, too disconnected, and too often left unexplained.
That’s why I created a free resource: “What to Ask For in Your Hormone Panel.” Download it to see which labs actually give you the full picture.
And if you’re ready for support in understanding your results—and creating a plan that actually works with your body—schedule a consult. All of our packages include a full hormone lab panel (valued at over $300) and aim to give you clear answers, a deeper look, and a plan that makes sense.