Menopause blood panel · London
Menopause blood panel - private in London.
FSH, LH, oestradiol and the wider panel that actually matters - interpreted against your symptoms by a BMS-accredited specialist, in line with NICE NG23.
What is included
What a menopause panel typically covers.
Not every panel needs every marker. A well-designed one covers the hormones, the common overlaps and the pre-HRT baseline in one draw.
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FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)
Raised in menopause. On two samples 4-6 weeks apart, an FSH above 30 IU/L supports the diagnosis - most useful under 45.
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LH (luteinising hormone)
Rises alongside FSH as the ovaries stop responding. Interpreted with FSH rather than alone.
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Oestradiol
Falls as ovarian function declines, but fluctuates widely in perimenopause. A single low reading rarely settles it.
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Progesterone (if still cycling)
Day 21 progesterone can confirm whether a cycle was ovulatory. Not needed once periods have stopped.
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TSH (thyroid function)
Thyroid disease mimics menopause: fatigue, mood, weight, temperature. Nearly always worth checking alongside.
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Vitamin D
A level below 50 nmol/L is deficient - supplement. Worth knowing before starting HRT.
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Ferritin
Low iron stores drive fatigue and brain fog. Heavy perimenopausal bleeding is a common cause.
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HbA1c
Baseline diabetes screen - relevant to cardiovascular risk when weighing HRT options.
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Lipid panel
Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides feed into a proper CV risk assessment.
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Testosterone (with SHBG)
Considered when low libido, energy or mood are prominent. Report total and free testosterone with SHBG.
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DHEAS
Added when androgen-deficiency symptoms are prominent, or when hair loss and acne need a fuller adrenal picture.
Important - NICE guidance
Blood tests are not usually needed over 45.
Per NICE guideline NG23, women over 45 with typical menopausal symptoms do not need blood tests to diagnose menopause. Symptoms alone are sufficient. Hormones fluctuate widely in perimenopause, so a single reading can mislead.
Testing is indicated when: you are under 45 and need to distinguish premature ovarian insufficiency from perimenopause; you have no periods (hysterectomy, coil, long-cycle absence) and the diagnosis is unclear; or a specific pathology is suspected - thyroid disease, androgen deficiency, iron depletion.
When testing helps
The scenarios where bloods actually change the plan.
If your situation is on this list, a panel is worth doing. If not, symptom review with a menopause specialist is a better first step.
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Under 45 with symptoms
Bloods matter more here. Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is diagnosed with two raised FSH results 4-6 weeks apart plus low oestradiol.
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Low libido or fatigue
Testosterone with SHBG, ferritin and TSH map the common causes - not oestradiol alone.
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Hair loss or acne
An androgen panel (testosterone, SHBG, DHEAS) helps sort menopause changes from PCOS or thyroid disease.
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Irregular bleeding
Bloods can support investigation, but new heavy or post-menopausal bleeding needs gynaecology, not a private panel.
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Thyroid overlap
TSH is nearly always worth doing alongside - it changes the answer often enough to be routine.
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Vitamin D and iron
Cheap, correctable, and often the reason symptoms feel worse than the hormone picture suggests.
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HRT already started
Monitoring is not usually needed on standard body-identical HRT - symptom response guides the dose.
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No periods, unclear
Hysterectomy, coil in situ or long-cycle absence - bloods help where the clinical pattern alone is not enough.
Interpretation
How the numbers are read.
- FSH: an FSH above 30 IU/L on two samples 4-6 weeks apart supports menopause or POI. A single reading is rarely diagnostic.
- Oestradiol: variable in perimenopause. A low reading fits the picture but does not confirm it.
- Testosterone: reported as total and free (calculated) with SHBG - free testosterone is the meaningful number.
- TSH: read against the lab reference range. An out-of-range TSH explains menopause-mimicking symptoms often enough to justify the test.
- Vitamin D: below 50 nmol/L is deficient and worth supplementing - cheap, safe and often symptomatic.
Limits
What bloods do not tell you.
Being clear about what the test cannot do is as important as running it.
They do not predict timing
No blood test tells you when menopause will happen precisely. AMH gives a rough ovarian reserve marker, not a date.
They do not decide HRT
The decision to start HRT is clinical: symptoms, risks, preferences. Numbers inform it, but do not make it.
They do not screen HRT safety
A hormone panel does not exclude breast, cardiovascular or VTE risk. That is a proper history and, where relevant, imaging.
What matters more
The four things that actually move the plan.
A blood test is one input. These are the others - and they matter more than most numbers on the report.
Symptom assessment
A structured score - vasomotor, sleep, mood, cognitive, urogenital - not a vague chat.
HRT trial per NICE
Treat symptoms, not blood tests. A time-limited trial is often the fastest route to an answer.
Cardiovascular risk
A proper CV risk assessment shapes route (transdermal vs oral) and preparation choice.
BMI, lifestyle, family history
Weight, smoking, alcohol and family history of breast cancer, VTE and osteoporosis all inform the decision.
Indicative cost
What a private menopause blood panel costs in London.
Add a GP or menopause specialist consultation to interpret the report: typically £150-£350.
| Panel | Indicative range | Appointment | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single FSH | £45-£85 | 5 min | 24-48 hrs |
| Full menopause panel (FSH, LH, oestradiol) | £180-£350 | 10 min | 24-72 hrs |
| Comprehensive (adds thyroid, vitamin D, HbA1c) | £250-£450 | 10-15 min | 3-5 days |
| Panel + specialist consultation | £400-£800 | 45-60 min | 3-7 days |
Where to get it
London providers we work with.
Menopause-literate clinics with UKAS-accredited laboratory partners and, where appropriate, BMS-accredited specialist review.
- Randox Health
- Medichecks (postal)
- London Medical
- Nuffield Health
- The Menopause Clinic Marylebone
- Newson Health Menopause Centre
- HCA Wellington Women's Health
- Chelsea and Westminster Private Menopause
Newson Health guidance
The Newson Health approach is aligned to British Menopause Society standards: individualised HRT choice, consideration of testosterone add-back for persistent low libido, and regular review rather than one-off tests. It is a useful benchmark for what good menopause care looks like in London.
Related
Related tests, treatments and conditions.
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Fertility MOT (AMH)
Ovarian reserve testing.
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Well Woman Screen
Comprehensive private health check for women.
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Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Treatment pathway when indicated.
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MRI-US Fusion Prostate Biopsy
For related male hormonal assessment.
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Menopause (condition guide)
Symptoms, diagnosis and HRT explained.
Learn more -
Hypothyroidism
Thyroid overlap with menopausal symptoms.
Learn more
Frequently asked
Menopause blood panel - your questions.
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Do I need to fast for a menopause panel?
Not for hormones. If HbA1c or a lipid panel is included, an overnight fast is usually preferred for the lipids - HbA1c does not require fasting.
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When in my cycle should I be tested?
If you are still cycling, FSH and LH are typically checked on day 2-5. Progesterone, if included, is taken 7 days after ovulation (day 21 in a 28-day cycle). Once periods have stopped, timing does not matter.
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Does insurance cover a menopause panel?
Screening bloods are usually self-funded. Where symptoms are severe or POI is suspected, some insurers cover consultation and investigations - we check with your insurer before you book.
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Why do hormones fluctuate so much in perimenopause?
Ovarian function does not switch off in a straight line. FSH and oestradiol can swing week to week, which is why a single reading is often misleading and NICE prefers a symptom-based diagnosis over 45.
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Will a blood test tell me the right HRT dose?
No. HRT is titrated to symptoms. Oestradiol monitoring is occasionally useful on transdermal HRT if response is poor, but standard practice is to treat symptoms, not numbers.
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I am over 45 - do I really not need any tests?
Per NICE NG23, women over 45 with typical menopausal symptoms do not need blood tests to diagnose menopause. Tests are still worth doing to check thyroid, iron, vitamin D and cardiovascular risk before HRT - but not to confirm menopause itself.
Ready when you are
Bloods, interpreted properly - and HRT if it fits.
Tell us what is going on. We match you to a BMS-accredited menopause specialist and confirm cost and timings within one working day.