You eat well. You exercise. You try to sleep. And yet — you're tired. Your brain feels foggy. Your mood dips for no obvious reason. Your weight won't shift no matter what you do.
Sound familiar?
Here's what a lot of women don't know: those symptoms aren't just "part of being a woman." They're your body sending signals. And in many cases, a straightforward blood test would connect the dots — if anyone thought to run one.
In a survey of over 5,100 women in the UK, more than half said their pain and symptoms had been dismissed or ignored by a doctor. Thyroid disorders — ten times more common in women than men — are routinely misdiagnosed as stress or burnout. Iron deficiency affects millions of women of menstruating age, often going completely undetected. A large UK study of over 33,000 health-conscious adults found that 6% had anaemia — and most had no idea.
You deserve better than "it's probably just stress." You deserve data.
Here are the blood tests every woman should be getting once a year — proactively, not reactively.
1. Thyroid Function (TSH, Free T3, Free T4 + Antibodies)
Your thyroid is a small gland in your neck that controls your entire metabolism. When it's off — even slightly — the effects are wide-ranging and easy to dismiss: fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, hair thinning, low mood, constipation, feeling cold all the time.
Sound like something you've been told is "just getting older"?
Thyroid disorders are significantly more common in women, and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) in particular is notoriously underdiagnosed. One woman described having classic thyroid symptoms for over a decade — weight gain, heavy periods, brain fog — and being told to "eat more vegetables" and "take up jogging" before finally getting answers.
A full thyroid panel goes beyond the basic TSH test most GPs run. It includes Free T3, Free T4, and thyroid antibodies — markers that can catch autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which won't always show on TSH alone.
Test annually. Don't accept a basic TSH-only result if you have symptoms.
2. Ferritin (Iron Storage) + Full Blood Count
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world — and women are disproportionately affected. Monthly blood loss through menstruation, combined with a diet that often under-delivers on iron, makes this a near-epidemic issue.
Here's the part that catches people out: you can be iron deficient long before you become clinically anaemic. Ferritin — the protein that stores iron in your body — can be depleted while your haemoglobin still looks fine on a standard blood test. So you get told you're "not anaemic" and sent on your way. Meanwhile you're exhausted, struggling to concentrate, losing hair, and wondering what's wrong with you.
Symptoms of low ferritin include: fatigue, brain fog, poor concentration, hair loss, brittle nails, restless legs, breathlessness, and palpitations. All things many women are simply told to accept.
Always ask for ferritin specifically — not just iron or haemoglobin. They're different markers and ferritin is the more sensitive early indicator.
Test annually — or every six months if you have heavy periods.
3. Vitamin D
If you live in the UK, there's a very good chance you're deficient. The NHS recommends supplementing vitamin D from October through March because our climate simply doesn't provide enough sunlight to maintain adequate levels.
But deficiency doesn't just cause bone problems — it impacts immune function, mood, energy, muscle recovery, and skin health. Low vitamin D has also been linked to depression, increased susceptibility to illness, and worsened autoimmune conditions.
The NHS lower threshold for vitamin D is 50 nmol/L. Functional medicine practitioners typically recommend aiming for 100–150 nmol/L for optimal health. You can't know where you stand without testing — and supplementing without knowing your baseline means you're guessing in the dark.
Test once a year, ideally in early spring when levels are at their lowest after winter.
4. Vitamin B12 + Folate
Vitamin B12 is essential for nerve function, energy production, red blood cell formation, and cognitive health. Folate works alongside it — and both are commonly depleted, particularly in women who eat plant-based diets, take the contraceptive pill (which depletes B12 and folate), or have gut absorption issues.
The NHS lower limit for B12 is 180 pg/mL. Functional medicine research suggests you need to be above 400 to avoid neurological symptoms — yet someone sitting at 200 gets told they're completely fine, while experiencing brain fog, anxiety, poor memory, and tingling in their extremities.
If you're on the pill, plant-based, vegan, or vegetarian — testing B12 and folate should be non-negotiable.
Test annually. If you supplement B12, test before your next dose for an accurate baseline.
5. Female Hormones (Oestradiol, FSH, LH, Progesterone, Testosterone, SHBG)
Hormones regulate almost everything: your menstrual cycle, your mood, your libido, your sleep, your weight, your energy. When they're out of balance, the effects are felt across your entire life — and yet many women are told their symptoms are "normal" or simply prescribed antidepressants without anyone checking their hormone levels.
This panel is relevant at every stage of life:
- 20s–30s: Understanding your cycle, investigating irregular periods, PMS, low libido, or difficulty with mood
- 30s–40s: Perimenopause can begin as early as your late 30s — testing helps distinguish hormonal shifts from other causes
- 40s–50s: Monitoring the transition through perimenopause and into menopause, and informing decisions about HRT
- 50s+: Ongoing monitoring if you're on HRT, and tracking post-menopausal health
Testosterone is often overlooked in women but plays a significant role in energy, motivation, muscle maintenance, libido, and mental clarity. Low testosterone in women is underdiagnosed and under-treated.
Test annually — and ideally at the same point in your cycle each time for consistent results.
6. Cholesterol (Full Lipid Profile)
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women globally — yet it's consistently underdiagnosed and undertreated in women compared to men. Women often present with different symptoms than men, making it easier to miss.
High cholesterol is completely silent — it doesn't hurt, it doesn't announce itself — and the damage it does to arteries accumulates over decades. A full lipid profile measures total cholesterol, HDL ("good"), LDL ("bad"), and triglycerides. It's quick, simple, and can reveal cardiovascular risk that you'd have no other way of knowing about.
Test annually from your 30s onwards, or earlier if you have a family history of heart disease.
7. HbA1c (Blood Sugar / Diabetes Risk)
Type 2 diabetes develops gradually — often without obvious symptoms — and is increasingly common. HbA1c measures your average blood sugar levels over the past three months, giving a much more accurate picture of metabolic health than a single fasting glucose reading.
Women with PCOS are at significantly elevated risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Fluctuating blood sugar also plays a major role in energy levels, cravings, mood, and weight — things that affect day-to-day life long before a formal diagnosis would be made.
Test annually, especially if you have PCOS, a family history of diabetes, or struggle with energy and weight.
8. High-Sensitivity CRP (Inflammation Marker)
Chronic low-grade inflammation is increasingly recognised as a driver of everything from fatigue and joint pain to heart disease and cognitive decline. High-sensitivity CRP (C-reactive protein) is a blood marker that reflects systemic inflammation levels.
It won't diagnose a specific condition — but it tells you whether your body is in an inflammatory state, which is useful context for everything else you're testing. Elevated CRP can indicate autoimmune activity, poor gut health, chronic stress, or metabolic imbalance — all things worth investigating further.
Include this in any comprehensive annual panel.
Why You Shouldn't Wait to Be Offered These
The NHS does an incredible job of treating disease. But annual proactive testing for all of the above? That's not routinely offered — and for many women, symptoms have to become quite serious before they're taken seriously.
Private blood testing has become more accessible and more affordable than ever. Many tests can be done at home with a finger-prick kit, with results back within days. Knowing your numbers gives you the power to act early, have informed conversations with your GP, and make targeted changes rather than guessing.
You know your body. When something feels off, it usually is. Don't let "your results are normal" be the end of the conversation.
Ready to Take Control?
At Boost & Glow we believe that knowledge is the foundation of great health. Whether you're looking to understand your hormones, track your energy, or go deeper with private blood testing — we're here to help you get the answers you deserve.
Explore our health and wellness range at Boost & Glow →
This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions based on your blood test results.
Tags: women's health, blood tests women UK, female hormone test, thyroid test women, ferritin test, vitamin D deficiency, women's annual health check, private blood testing UK, proactive health, women's wellness
0 comments