InsideTracker Hormone Balance blood test - 12 blood values

InsideTracker gives members a Hormone Balance score from 0 to 100, calculated from a fixed set of blood values. If you search for InsideTracker in the Netherlands, you usually want those values measured without a membership and without shipping a sample to the United States.

This blood test is that alternative: the same 12 blood values behind the Hormone Balance category, drawn at a certified Dutch lab and returned digitally in your account, with an assessment by a BIG-registered doctor.

This panel may suit women and men who want a broad picture of their hormonal balance. It can be relevant for:

• Women with cycle complaints who want a broad baseline, alongside their GP's advice
• Women with questions about menopause or perimenopause
• Men and women with changes in energy, mood or libido
• People who want the InsideTracker Hormone Balance category measured in the Netherlands

This panel measures 12 blood values:

• Sex hormones: Estradiol, Progesterone, Total Testosterone, Free Testosterone (calculated), SHBG and DHEA-S.
• Stress and thyroid: Cortisol and TSH.
• Metabolism: Fasting Insulin.
• Vitamins and minerals: Vitamin D, Calcium and Magnesium.

The results show how your sex hormones, your stress hormone, your thyroid and your minerals compare to the reference ranges. Because the panel is broad, the doctor can see connections that stay invisible in isolated measurements, such as a hormone picture that fits a thyroid or stress component.

If you are specifically after the athletic angle, our InsideTracker Fitness blood test is more compact. The full InsideTracker blood test measures 36 blood values in one go. Keep in mind that a single value is not a diagnosis.

For this blood test, a staff member draws a small tube of blood at a certified location. You can choose from 700+ collection sites, so there is almost always a location near you.

You only need your appointment confirmation and a valid ID. The draw usually takes just a few minutes.

Some people choose to measure these values:

• When they want to map cycle or menopause complaints objectively
• When their energy, mood or libido noticeably changes
• When they want to see whether stress or their thyroid plays a role in their complaints
• When they want to repeat their US InsideTracker measurement in the Netherlands

What the results mean depends on your personal situation, your sex and, for women, your cycle phase: estradiol and progesterone fluctuate strongly through the cycle. Our reference ranges for these hormones are based on the follicular phase.

Always discuss any deviating values with your GP, so you know what the results may mean for you personally.

Plan a morning draw: your testosterone and cortisol peak then, and your fasting insulin requires 10 to 12 hours without food. Women tracking their cycle preferably draw in the early follicular phase, day 2 to 5 of the cycle, for a comparable baseline.

Drink enough water on the day of the draw. If in doubt, discuss your situation with your GP.

You receive your results digitally in your account, usually within a few working days. For each value, you can see whether it falls within the reference range.

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