Results in 2 working days
11 Biomarkers
Your hormones are in constant conversation, and this hormone test for women listens to eleven of them at once. A female hormone test kit you use at home, it needs only one small blood sample to measure oestradiol (oestrogen), progesterone, FSH, LH, testosterone, SHBG, the free androgen index, prolactin and full thyroid function (TSH, free T4 and free T3), so you can see where each level sits and how they relate to one another.
Your sample is analysed in UKAS-accredited, CQC-registered laboratories working to NHS standards. Every result is reviewed by a doctor and your report arrives in the Forth app within around two working days, with an interpretation that takes account of your age, your cycle and any contraception or HRT you use. Your results are read against your life stage, not against one number for every woman.
Timing makes a real difference to hormone results. If your periods are regular, collect your sample on day 3 of your cycle, ideally mid-morning; if they are irregular or have stopped, any day works.
£89
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What gets tested?
11 Biomarkers
Blood sample collection options
WHEN TO TAKE THE TEST?
Regular periods? Collect on day 3 of your cycle, ideally between 9 and 11am. Irregular or no periods? Any day works.
If you are using hormonal contraception or HRT, some hormone readings can be affected, which is worth bearing in mind when you review your results with a clinician.
IMPORTANT: if you use a hormone gel, cream or spray, we highly recommend a venous sample (taken from a vein by a home nurse or at a partner clinic), because of the contamination risk.
As seen in
11 Biomarkers
Oestradiol
Oestradiol is the main form of oestrogen, made mostly by your ovaries. It matures the egg in the first half of your cycle and supports bone, heart, skin, mood and sleep. A low level can mean the ovaries are responding less, as in perimenopause, yet in our data median oestradiol actually peaks at 45 to 49 (228 pmol/L), and more than a quarter of results between 45 and 54 are flagged high, a sign of how much hormones can swing in late perimenopause.
Progesterone
Progesterone is made mainly by the ovaries after ovulation, with a little from the adrenal glands. It prepares the womb lining for a possible pregnancy and has a calming effect on the brain and on sleep. Because it is near zero before ovulation and high afterwards, around half of all Forth progesterone results carry a ‘high’ flag that is entirely normal for the day they were taken.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is the signal your brain sends to your ovaries at the start of each cycle, telling a group of follicles to begin maturing. As the ovaries become less responsive, the brain turns up the volume and FSH rises, which makes it one of the clearest markers of the menopause transition. In our data the share of women with an FSH outside the healthy range climbs from around 3% at 18 to 24 to 40% at 45 to 49. A regular cycle doesn’t rule out a raised FSH.
Luteinising Hormone (LH)
LH is released by the pituitary gland and works in partnership with FSH: its surge in the middle of your cycle triggers ovulation and then prompts the body to make progesterone. Across Forth results, median LH in women barely moves between 18 and 44 (7.1 to 7.5 IU/L), then climbs to 27.3 IU/L at 50 to 54 as the ovaries wind down. Read next to FSH, it says more: both rising together points towards the menopause transition, while a high LH with a normal or low FSH is one pattern seen in some women with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS, previously known as PCOS).
Testosterone (total)
Women make testosterone in the ovaries and adrenal glands at a fraction of male levels, and it matters for libido, energy, muscle, bone and mood. The typical result among women testing with Forth is around 0.9 nmol/L, and levels fall gradually across adult life, so that by her fifties a woman has around half the testosterone she had at 20. Too much can bring acne, unwanted hair and irregular periods; too little is quieter and easily blamed on something else.
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) is a protein made by your liver that binds testosterone and oestradiol away, so it decides how much of each your body can actually use, which makes it central to understanding PMOS and unwanted hair growth. Among women testing with Forth, median SHBG roughly halves from the lowest BMI band to the highest, while the combined pill more than doubles it. A low SHBG can be an early sign of insulin resistance, often before blood sugar starts to change.
FAI (calculated)
The Free Androgen Index (FAI) estimates how much testosterone is free to act on your skin, hair follicles and ovaries. It is calculated from your total testosterone divided by your SHBG, multiplied by 100. It helps make sense of acne, unwanted hair and PMOS and can show how they respond to treatment. Because a low SHBG lifts the index on its own, a raised FAI often reflects low SHBG rather than the ovaries making more testosterone.
Prolactin
Prolactin is best known for milk production after birth, but outside pregnancy its main job is regulatory: when levels climb, it dampens the LH and FSH signals that drive ovulation, which can make periods irregular or stop them. It is also one of the most reactive hormones in the body, rising with stress, broken sleep and early-morning sampling. The typical female result in our data is 340 mIU/L, and how far above the range a result sits matters far more than the flag itself.
Thryoid hormones
Thyroid hormones set the pace at which your body turns food into energy, and an imbalance can affect weight, energy, mood and your cycle. They also shape other results on this panel: an underactive thyroid can raise prolactin and lower SHBG, while an overactive one pushes SHBG up, so reading thyroid and sex hormones together stops you chasing the wrong cause.
Changes in oestrogen, progesterone, LH, FSH, prolactin or thyroid hormones can all cause irregular menstrual cycles. Find your baseline and see what’s behind the change.
Fluctuating hormones can make it hard to conceive. Monitor your levels to understand your hormone health and simplify family planning.
Understand your symptoms and inform your HRT conversations with your GP, with data from your oestrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH levels.
Thinning hair or unwanted hair growth can be linked to testosterone, SHBG, oestrogen or thyroid hormones. Discover your levels and take back control of your confidence and appearance.
Hormones can impact how you lose and gain weight. Check key markers related to weight management to identify the cause and achieve your goals.
Frustrated by unexplained breakouts? Excess free testosterone, often linked to low SHBG, may be the cause. Pinpoint the likely culprit and take the right next step for your skin.
Progesterone influences mood and sleep. Find the hormonal stability you need to feel balanced, calm, and well.
Are poor sleep and fatigue controlling your day? Low progesterone, falling oestrogen or thyroid changes can be the cause. Find the hormonal balance for restful nights.
If you’re experiencing a reduced sex drive, low free testosterone (shaped by SHBG) or low oestrogen may be the cause. Reclaim your libido and your confidence.
The Tasso device offers a virtually painless way to collect your blood sample at home. Simply apply it to your upper arm and the gentle vacuum does all the work — no needles, no fuss, all done in minutes.
Available as an optional add-on at checkout (+£20).
Watch how it worksGetting the insights you need to improve your health has never been easier.
It only takes a few minutes to collect a small blood sample from your fingertip for the female hormone blood test. Use the Tracked-24 envelope included in your kit to securely send it to our labs. Collect on day 3 of your cycle if your periods are regular, ideally mid-morning.’
Your results arrive in the Forth app within 2 working days of your sample reaching our lab. Every result is reviewed by a doctor, and your report shows how your hormones relate to one another, read against your age, cycle and any contraception or HRT.
Your report explains what your results mean and what is worth doing next, whether that’s a conversation with your GP about HRT, a change to sleep, training or nutrition, or simply a retest. Most hormones respond over months rather than weeks, so retesting after three to six months shows whether a change is working. One result is a starting point; the trend tells the story.
Hormones move across the month and across the day, so when you collect your sample shapes what your results can tell you.
If your periods are regular, collect on day 3 of your cycle (day 1 is the first day of full bleeding); anywhere from day 2 to day 5 is fine. This is when FSH, LH and oestradiol sit at the stable baseline their reference ranges are built on.
If your periods are irregular or have stopped, any day works.
On day 3 your progesterone will be very low, around 1 nmol/L across Forth results, because it is only made in quantity after ovulation. That is the right answer, not a warning sign. To check whether you ovulate, test progesterone about seven days before your next period with our Progesterone Blood Test or MyFORM® Female Hormone Mapping.
Several hormones on this panel follow a daily rhythm, including testosterone and TSH, but prolactin shows it most clearly. It rises overnight and falls through the morning: among women testing with Forth who collected before 7am, 58% of prolactin results came back above the reference range, against 13% of women who collected between 10 and 11am.
Collecting mid-morning, between 9 and 11am, gives the most representative reading.
There is no single healthy level for most female hormones: the same number can be low, healthy or high depending on your cycle phase and menopause status, so your report reads each result against the range that applies to you.
2.5 x or more: median oestradiol rises from 127 pmol/L in the first days of your cycle to around 350 pmol/L around ovulation.⁵
27.4 nmol/L median progesterone on day 24 of a 28-day cycle, a week after ovulation, against close to zero before it.⁶
35 IU/L of FSH would be strikingly high before menopause, when the range tops out at 12.5, yet is normal after it, when the range is 25–135.⁷
Citations
⁵ Forth customer oestradiol results, January 2021 to June 2026.
⁶ Forth customer progesterone results, January 2021 to July 2026.
| Hormone | Unit | Before menopause | After menopause |
| Oestradiol | pmol/L | Follicular 45–854 · Mid-cycle 151–1,461 · Luteal 82–1,251 | 0–505 |
| Progesterone | nmol/L | Follicular 0–0.6 · Mid-cycle 0.2–13.2 · Luteal 13.1–46.3 | 0–0.4 |
| FSH | IU/L | Follicular 3.5–12.5 · Luteal 1.7–7.7 | 25–135 |
| LH | IU/L | 2.4–12.6 | 7.7–59 |
| Testosterone | nmol/L | 0.3–1.7 (under 50) | 0.1–1.4 (50 and over) |
| SHBG | nmol/L | 24.6–122 | 24.6–122 |
| Prolactin | mIU/L | 102–496 (not pregnant or breastfeeding) | 102–496 |
Reference ranges used by Forth’s UKAS-accredited laboratory partners. Ranges vary between laboratories, so the range printed on your own report is the one that applies to you.
A result outside the reference range can be a useful signal.
Yet a flag isn’t automatically a problem, and some say more about when and how the sample was taken than about your health.
50% of Forth progesterone results are flagged high, almost always because the sample was taken after ovulation, when progesterone is meant to be high.⁵
14,4% of SHBG results on the combined pill sit above range, against 5.3% in women using no hormonal contraception: an expected effect of the pill, not a fault.⁶
13% of women’s prolactin results are only just above the limit, a level that often settles on a calm mid-morning repeat.⁷
Explore the data behind each hormone: FSH · Oestradiol · Progesterone · SHBG · Prolactin · Testosterone
Citations:
⁵ Forth customer progesterone results, January 2021 to July 2026.
⁶ Forth customer SHBG results, April 2018 to August 2026.
⁷ Forth customer prolactin results, April 2018 to August 2026.
Hormones are a moving picture. In women aged 45 to 49, FSH results in our data range from under 3 IU/L to over 100 IU/L, and the same woman can test normal one month and high the next.
When we analysed 12,134 Female Hormone Health scores, 40% of women over 40 and 24% of women under 40 had scores in the ‘improvable’ range (below 70).
Retesting turns a snapshot into a trend, and a trend shows whether what you are changing is working.
Hormonal contraception and HRT change your hormones, and a female hormones test reflects that. Your results will be read for your situation.
In our data:
The combined pill roughly halves median both oestradiol (from 182 to 79.5 pmol/L) and LH (from a 8.2 to 4.5 IU/L), and more than doubles SHBG, leaving less testosterone free to act.
Progestogen-only methods such as the mini pill, implant, injection or hormonal coil barely move either.
Post-menopausal women on HRT have a median oestradiol of 257 pmol/L against 28 pmol/L without it, while FSH and LH fall as the feedback signal is partly restored, which is why FSH can’t confirm menopause while you take HRT.
There is no single target number for HRT; dosing is guided by how you feel and by protecting the womb lining. Your results give you and your prescriber clearer information for that conversation.
Many everyday symptoms can be linked to changes in your hormones, but most have more than one possible cause. Looking at several markers together helps you see which one is likely behind yours.
| If you are noticing… | Hormones in this test that give context | Extra markers worth adding |
| Irregular, heavy or absent periods | FSH, LH, oestradiol, progesterone, prolactin, thyroid function | AMH |
| Difficulty conceiving | FSH, LH, oestradiol, prolactin, thyroid function | AMH |
| Fatigue and low energy | Thyroid function, oestradiol, testosterone | Ferritin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D |
| Low mood or mood changes | Oestradiol, progesterone, thyroid function | Vitamin D, Ferritin |
| Poor sleep | Progesterone, oestradiol, thyroid function | Cortisol |
| Unexplained weight changes | Thyroid function, SHBG, testosterone, free androgen index | HbA1c |
| Low libido | Testosterone, free androgen index, SHBG, oestradiol, prolactin | |
| Acne or excessive hair growth | Testosterone, free androgen index, SHBG, LH | HbA1c |
| Thinning hair on the scalp | Testosterone, free androgen index, SHBG, thyroid function | Ferritin |
| Milky nipple discharge outside pregnancy | Prolactin, TSH | |
| Hot flushes or night sweats | FSH, LH, oestradiol |
These symptoms can have many causes and a blood test cannot diagnose a condition on its own. What it can do is show whether your hormone levels sit where they should for your age and cycle, so that you and a clinician know where to look. If your symptoms persist or worsen, please speak to your GP.
Explore our other hormone blood tests or personalise this one to add any of the markers above.
If you are looking for a full hormone test for women, Female Hormone Imbalance Test gives you a detailed snapshot of eleven reproductive and thyroid hormones on one day, the right starting point for most questions about your cycle, skin, energy or thyroid.
Some questions, though, are about how hormones behave over time, such as whether you ovulate or whether perimenopause has begun, and a single good month can hide a transition that is well underway. For those, a test that maps your hormones at more than one point in your cycle gives a far clearer answer.
| Female Hormone Imbalance Test | MyFORM® Female Hormone Mapping | MyFORM® Perimenopause Test | |
| What it shows | A snapshot of 11 reproductive and thyroid hormones | How your hormones behave across your cycle | Whether your symptoms may be due to perimenopause |
| Samples | 1, on day 3 or any day if periods are irregular | 2, timed to your cycle | 2, timed to your cycle |
| Best for | Irregular periods, skin, hair, libido, energy, a first baseline | Ovulation, cycle health, unexplained cyclical symptoms | Changing cycles, hot flushes, sleep and mood changes from your forties |
| On hormonal contraception | Suitable | Not suitable | ? |
| Price | £89 | £139 | £139 |
In our data, the average female hormone health score falls from 77 among women aged 31 to 40 to 53 in women over 60. A score on its own doesn’t change anything, though; what helps is knowing which hormones are behind it, what is worth doing about them and whether it is working. Your results arrive in the Forth app, built for exactly that, and every retest adds to your trend, so you can see your hormones change over months and years rather than guessing from one snapshot.
Your results translated into clear scores for reproductive and thyroid health, so you can see the overall picture at a glance.
Oestradiol
Healthy
195 (nmol/l)
Next target 274 - 566 (nmol/l)
Realistic, step-by-step targets based on your own levels, not a generic ideal.
12
100
Sex steroid hormones
NEEDS ATTENTION
Your results show low range levels of FSH compared with women who are not taking hormone contraception and having natural periods. These results are consistent with someone taking a form of progesterone contraception that suppresses your hormone network.
Interpretation from our clinical team that accounts for your age, your cycle and any contraception or HRT you use.
"A Female Hormone Imbalance Test is vital for women's hormonal health. It assesses oestrogen, progesterone, and other hormone levels, helping screen for issues like PCOS or menopause-related imbalances. This knowledge can help you manage symptoms, enhance fertility, and make informed decisions about your reproductive health and overall well-being, improving quality of life."
Dr Thom Phillips
Clinical lead
Our team of specialist doctors, dieticians and biomedical scientists are here to help you be in the best of health.
This is what our customers ask us about the most. For more information, try our help centre.
What is the best home hormone blood test for women in the UK?
It depends on the question you want answered. For a broad picture from one sample, our Female Hormone Imbalance Test covers 11 reproductive and thyroid hormones; whichever provider you choose, look for UKAS-accredited laboratories, a doctor’s review and results read against your cycle, contraception or HRT. If your question is about ovulation, MyFORM® Female Hormone Mapping maps your hormones at two points in your cycle; if it is about perimenopause, the MyFORM® Perimenopause Test does the same.
What is the blood test for hormonal imbalance in females?
A female hormone panel measures the key hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle, mood, energy and metabolism. Forth’s Female Hormone Imbalance Test checks 11 markers, including oestradiol, progesterone, FSH, LH, testosterone, prolactin, SHBG, free androgen index and thyroid function (TSH, free T4 and free T3), with one home finger-prick sample for £89.
Can I ask my GP for a hormone blood test?
Yes. Your GP can arrange hormone tests on the NHS, usually when there is a clear clinical reason, and this is free. Some people choose a home test like Forth’s for convenience as it provides a wider panel in one sample, or to track changes over time. Results are reviewed by a GP, but you should always speak to your own GP about ongoing concerns.
What are the 5 common signs of hormonal imbalance?
Five common signs of hormonal imbalance in women are irregular periods, persistent fatigue, unexplained weight changes, low mood and changes to skin or hair, such as acne or excessive hair growth. These can have many causes. A hormone blood test can help determine whether levels such as oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone and thyroid hormones are within the expected ranges.
Why don't doctors always check hormone levels?
On the NHS, hormone tests are usually arranged when symptoms point to a specific cause, because some hormones change naturally across the cycle and a one-off result is not always conclusive. A structured home test, taken at the right point in your cycle and reviewed by a GP, can provide a clearer starting point. Always discuss results with your own GP.
What is a female hormone test?
A female hormone test measures the levels of key hormones in your blood, helping to assess hormonal balance and overall health. For women, hormone testing can provide insights into reproductive health, menstrual cycle irregularities, fertility, and conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or perimenopause.
When is the best time to test for hormone imbalance?
The best time to test depends on what you’re investigating. If you’re checking for general hormone balance, you can test at any time. However, for specific conditions:
If you have irregular cycles or are unsure, our team can help guide you on the best time to test.
What are the main female hormones?
The key hormones that regulate women’s reproductive health include:
What causes a hormone imbalance in women?
Hormone imbalances are generally triggered by three categories:
What are the common symptoms of a female hormone imbalance?
Symptoms can be varied and often overlap with other conditions. If you are experiencing several of the following, a hormone check is recommended:
I’m using HRT, can I use this blood test?
Oestradiol is lowest during your period and rises as a follicle matures, from a median of 127 pmol/L in the first week to around 350 pmol/L by mid-cycle in our data. Progesterone stays close to zero until ovulation and peaks about a week later (27.4 nmol/L on day 24), while FSH and LH are highest early in the cycle and at the mid-cycle surge. If no pregnancy follows, oestradiol and progesterone fall and your period starts.
How do I treat a hormone imbalance?
The first step in treating an imbalance is to understand what the problem is. Some imbalances are natural, such as during your menstrual cycle, as there is nothing to treat.
Imbalances caused by conditions like PCOS or thyroid disorders may require medication. You should speak to your doctor about your options after receiving your results.
Lifestyle changes may be the answer to your hormone imbalance. Obesity, lack of sleep and high-stress levels can all impact your hormone network. Changing your diet, getting more exercise and reducing your cortisol levels through better sleep can all help to rebalance your hormones.
Your results will include commentary from one of our medical team, who will advise on what you should do next.
How do hormone levels fluctuate during the menstrual cycle?
Oestrogen rises before ovulation, progesterone peaks mid-luteal, then both dip before menstruation
Are my results confidential?
Your information and results are completely confidential. We won’t share them with anyone other than you. Your results are delivered through our mobile app, which you’ll need an account to access. All packaging is discreet, too.
When will I get my results?
Your blood test results will be delivered to your account within 2 days of your sample reaching our labs.
How soon will the test arrive?
If you order your test before midday on a Monday to Friday then your kit will be dispatched the same day.
All our kits are sent out via Royal Mail Tracked24, so it should be with you within 1-2 working days.
How secure is my data?
We have strict processes in place to ensure the protection of your data. Following GDPR the company also operates under tight legal rules about the sharing of data which ensures that data is only shared if it is crucial to the delivery of our service. For example, our doctors see customer results at the time of review, however, after review, access to results is withdrawn.
Learn more about your data security.
Can I have someone take my blood for me?
Yes. We offer two options if you do not want to do our finger prick test. The first is a home appointment where a nurse comes to your home to take a blood sample. The second is to visit a Phlebotomy clinic near you that offers a blood sample service.
A blood sample will be taken from your vein and we will provide you with everything you need to give to the nurse to allow them to take the sample.
The nurse will give you the blood sample to return to us using the pre-paid envelope provided.
Does a doctor review my results?
We have a team of doctors and nurses who look at all results and will comment on any results that are outside of the normal range for your age.
Can I download the results to share with my GP?
Yes, you can download your results from your health dashboard as a PDF to share with your GP.
Learn how to export your results.
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