InsideTracker Hormone Balance blood test - 12 blood values

Estradiol (E2) is the most potent form of estrogen, playing a key role in reproductive health, bone density, and cardiovascular function. Abnormal levels may indicate hormonal imbalances that your healthcare provider can help evaluate.

A progesterone blood test measures the level of progesterone, a hormone essential for the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Progesterone is primarily produced by the ovaries after ovulation and plays a key role in preparing the uterus for implantation.

TSH is thyroid-stimulating hormone. The pituitary gland makes it, and uses it to drive your thyroid. At the laboratory that runs the test the usual adult range runs from 0.27 to 4.20 mE/L. A high TSH usually fits an underactive thyroid. A low value usually fits an overactive one. That direction feels inverted, and it is. TSH is the pituitary signal, not the thyroid hormone itself. Laboratories use slightly different limits from one another. Always read the reference value printed on your own result. And a single measurement is never a diagnosis.

Fasting insulin measures the amount of insulin in your blood after an overnight fast. It helps assess how efficiently your body manages blood sugar and can reveal insulin resistance before glucose levels become abnormal.

DHEA-S (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) is the most abundant adrenal hormone and serves as a precursor to both oestrogen and testosterone. It declines naturally with age and reflects overall adrenal reserve.

Free testosterone is the unbound, bioavailable form of testosterone that can directly enter cells and activate receptors. It may indicate your body's functional androgen activity. Your healthcare provider can help interpret what your levels mean.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, essential for strong bones and teeth, muscle contraction, nerve signalling, and blood clotting. Most calcium is stored in bones and teeth, with a small amount circulating in the blood.

Cortisol is the body's primary stress hormone, produced by the adrenal glands. It regulates metabolism, immune responses, and the sleep-wake cycle. Levels follow a natural daily rhythm, peaking in the morning and declining throughout the day.

SHBG stands for sex hormone binding globulin. It is a protein made by the liver. SHBG binds testosterone tightly and oestradiol somewhat more loosely. Hormone bound to SHBG cannot act in the tissues. SHBG therefore determines how much of your total testosterone is genuinely available. SHBG is not itself a sex hormone but a transport protein. Results are reported in nmol/l. Normal values differ by sex and by age, and in men SHBG rises as they get older. An SHBG should therefore be assessed alongside total testosterone, never on its own.

Total testosterone measures the combined amount of bound and free testosterone in the blood. As the primary androgen, testosterone may influence muscle mass, bone density, libido, mood, and energy levels in both men and women.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a key role in calcium absorption, bone health, and immune function. It is primarily produced in the skin through sunlight exposure and can also be obtained from certain foods and supplements.

Magnesium is an essential mineral involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including energy production, muscle and nerve function, blood sugar regulation, and bone development.