Full biomarker guide
Menopause blood test panel measuring key sex hormones, thyroid, and metabolic markers to help connect symptoms with patterns and guide next steps.
This is a lab panel, not a single hormone test. A Menopause Panel bundles several blood tests that tend to move together during perimenopause and menopause—so you can see patterns (not just one number) and have a clearer conversation about symptoms, risks, and treatment options.
Do I need this panel?
You might consider a Menopause Panel if your body feels like it is changing faster than your routine can keep up—hot flashes or night sweats, sleep disruption, mood shifts, brain fog, new vaginal dryness, or a change in libido. Many people also notice body composition changes (more abdominal fat, less muscle), a weight plateau despite “doing everything right,” or a sudden drop in exercise recovery.
This panel can also be useful if you are trying to clarify where you are in the menopause transition (perimenopause vs postmenopause), especially when your cycles are irregular or you are using hormonal contraception that makes cycle-based clues less reliable.
If you are considering hormone therapy (HRT/MHT) or you have already started it, a panel approach can help you and your clinician interpret symptoms alongside multiple related markers—sex hormones plus common “look-alikes” such as thyroid patterns or metabolic changes.
Your results are educational and are best used to support clinician-directed care, not self-diagnosis. Menopause is a clinical transition, and lab patterns are one piece of the picture.
Most components of this panel are standard blood tests; reference ranges and “in-range” flags can vary by lab, and hormone results are most meaningful when interpreted together and in context (cycle timing, medications, and symptoms).
Lab testing
Order labs to measure Menopause Panel
from $69.99 at Quest Diagnostics
About 1 week
Schedule online — results typically within a week
Clear next steps
Guidance included, with follow-up care available
HSA / FSA
Eligible for pre-tax health spending accounts
Get this panel with Vitals Vault
Vitals Vault makes it straightforward to order a Menopause Panel and get a cohesive view of multiple markers in one blood draw. Instead of chasing individual tests one at a time, you can start with a menopause-oriented bundle designed to show common hormone, thyroid, and metabolic patterns that affect how you feel.
After your results are in, PocketMD can help you interpret the full set together—what looks consistent with perimenopause or postmenopause, what might point to thyroid or metabolic contributors, and what follow-up questions to bring to your clinician.
If your results or symptoms suggest you need a broader workup, you can use this panel as a baseline and consider reordering to track trends or upgrading to a more comprehensive menopause-focused panel when a wider net is appropriate.
- One order, one draw: multiple menopause-relevant markers together
- Pattern-based interpretation support with PocketMD
- Useful for baseline testing and for trending after lifestyle or therapy changes
Key benefits of the Menopause Panel
- Shows menopause-stage patterns by looking at multiple sex hormones together (not estradiol alone).
- Helps separate hormone-transition symptoms from common mimics like thyroid imbalance or metabolic strain.
- Creates a baseline you can trend over time as cycles change, symptoms evolve, or treatment starts.
- Supports safer, more targeted conversations about HRT/MHT by pairing symptoms with lab context.
- Highlights androgen patterns (testosterone/DHEA-S) that can affect libido, energy, and body composition.
- Adds cardiometabolic context (glucose/insulin/lipids) that often shifts around midlife.
- Reduces guesswork versus ordering individual tests by bundling the most commonly paired markers.
What is the Menopause Panel?
The Menopause Panel is a bundled set of blood tests that looks at several body systems that commonly change during perimenopause and menopause. It typically includes key reproductive hormones (like estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone), androgen markers (like testosterone and DHEA-S), thyroid markers (like TSH and free T4), and metabolic or cardiovascular risk markers (like glucose, insulin, and a lipid profile).
Menopause is defined clinically as 12 consecutive months without a period, but the transition leading up to it can last years. During that transition, hormones can fluctuate significantly day to day and cycle to cycle. That is why a panel can be more useful than a single hormone number: the overall pattern across markers often tells a clearer story.
You can use this panel in a few common ways: (1) to support staging when symptoms and cycle changes suggest perimenopause, (2) to evaluate symptoms that overlap with thyroid or metabolic issues, and (3) to establish a baseline before starting therapy or to track changes after adjustments.
No panel can “diagnose” menopause on its own. Your age, symptoms, menstrual history, medications, and the timing of the blood draw all affect how results should be read.
What do my panel results mean?
Patterns that can look “low” across the panel
In a menopause-oriented panel, “low” often refers to lower ovarian hormone output—especially lower estradiol (E2) and sometimes lower progesterone—paired with a compensatory rise in pituitary signals such as FSH (and often LH). That pattern can fit late perimenopause or postmenopause, particularly when it matches your symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption, vaginal dryness). Low androgens (total/free testosterone or DHEA-S) can also show up and may align with lower libido, reduced vitality, or changes in muscle maintenance, but they are not specific to menopause and should be interpreted carefully. If thyroid hormones (free T4/free T3) are low or borderline with an abnormal TSH, thyroid dysfunction may be contributing to fatigue, weight change, or brain fog even if menopause is also present.
Patterns that are often “optimal” or reassuring
A reassuring panel is one where the pattern fits your life stage and symptoms are not being driven by an untreated look-alike condition. For example, thyroid markers may be in a stable, expected range; glucose, insulin, and lipids may suggest lower cardiometabolic risk; and inflammation or liver markers (if included) may not raise red flags. In perimenopause, you can still see estradiol that looks “normal” on a given day, so “optimal” does not necessarily mean you are not in transition—it can mean there is no strong signal of thyroid disease, severe insulin resistance, or another condition that would change next steps. If you are on HRT/MHT, an “optimal” pattern is one that matches your treatment goals and symptom control without suggesting overtreatment.
Patterns that can look “high” across the panel
Higher FSH and LH are common as ovarian function declines, and they can be especially elevated after menopause; in that context, “high” can be expected rather than dangerous. High estradiol can occur with certain medications, timing within the cycle, higher body fat (because adipose tissue can convert hormones), or external estrogen exposure; it can also reflect that you are still cycling in earlier perimenopause. Higher androgens (testosterone or DHEA-S) may point toward conditions outside menopause staging—such as polycystic ovary syndrome patterns, adrenal contributions, or medication effects—especially if paired with acne, hair changes, or irregular cycles. On the metabolic side, high fasting insulin, higher glucose, or an unfavorable lipid pattern can signal increasing cardiometabolic risk that often accelerates around midlife and may deserve targeted follow-up.
Factors that influence menopause panel results
Timing and context matter. If you still have cycles, estradiol, progesterone, LH, and FSH can vary widely depending on the day of your cycle and whether ovulation occurred. Hormonal contraception, HRT/MHT, testosterone therapy, DHEA supplements, and some psychiatric or seizure medications can shift hormone readings. Thyroid results can be influenced by biotin supplements, pregnancy/postpartum status, acute illness, and thyroid medications. Body composition changes, alcohol intake, sleep disruption, and stress can affect insulin, glucose, and lipids. Because this is a multi-marker panel, the most useful interpretation usually comes from the pattern across categories (sex hormones + thyroid + metabolic markers) rather than any single out-of-range flag.
What’s included in this panel
- Absolute Band Neutrophils
- Absolute Basophils
- Absolute Blasts
- Absolute Eosinophils
- Absolute Lymphocytes
- Absolute Metamyelocytes
- Absolute Monocytes
- Absolute Myelocytes
- Absolute Neutrophils
- Absolute Nucleated Rbc
- Absolute Plasma Cells
- Absolute Prolymphocytes
- Absolute Promyelocytes
- Absolute Reactive Lymphocytes
- Albumin
- Albumin/Globulin Ratio
- Alkaline Phosphatase
- Alt
- Ast
- Band Neutrophils
- Basophils
- Bilirubin, Total
- Blasts
- Bun/Creatinine Ratio
- Calcium
- Carbon Dioxide
- Chloride
- Creatinine
- Egfr
- Eosinophils
- Estradiol
- Fsh
- Globulin
- Glucose
- Hematocrit
- Hemoglobin
- Lh
- Lymphocytes
- Mch
- Mchc
- Mcv
- Metamyelocytes
- Monocytes
- Mpv
- Myelocytes
- Neutrophils
- Nucleated Rbc
- Plasma Cells
- Platelet Count
- Potassium
- Prolymphocytes
- Promyelocytes
- Protein, Total
- Rdw
- Reactive Lymphocytes
- Red Blood Cell Count
- Sodium
- Testosterone, Total, Ms
- Urea Nitrogen (Bun)
- White Blood Cell Count
Similar tests and related panels
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this panel tell me if I’m in perimenopause or menopause?
It can support staging, but it cannot determine it by itself. Menopause is diagnosed clinically (12 months without a period). The panel is most helpful when your symptoms and menstrual history are interpreted alongside patterns like higher FSH/LH with lower estradiol and progesterone, plus checks for thyroid or metabolic contributors.
Do I need to fast for the Menopause Panel?
Fasting is often recommended if your panel includes fasting glucose, fasting insulin, or a lipid panel, because food can change those results. If you are not sure, choose a morning draw after an overnight fast and follow any instructions provided with your order.
Why not just test estradiol or FSH alone?
Single tests can be misleading during perimenopause because hormones fluctuate. A panel helps you see relationships—such as estradiol alongside FSH/LH, androgens, thyroid markers, and metabolic markers—so you can distinguish a normal fluctuation from a broader pattern that explains symptoms or changes your next steps.
If my estradiol is “normal,” can I still be in perimenopause?
Yes. Estradiol can look normal (or even high) on some days in perimenopause, especially earlier in the transition. That is why symptoms, cycle changes, and the broader pattern (including FSH/LH and progesterone) matter more than one estradiol value.
How should I interpret results if I’m on HRT/MHT or hormonal birth control?
Medications can shift both your hormone levels and the feedback signals (FSH/LH). The most useful approach is to interpret your results in the context of what you are taking, your dosing schedule, and your symptom response. PocketMD can help you organize questions for your clinician, and you may need repeat testing timed to your regimen.
How often should I repeat this panel?
It depends on your goal. If you are establishing a baseline, a single panel may be enough. If you are adjusting HRT/MHT, addressing insulin resistance, or tracking symptoms over time, repeating after a meaningful change (often 8–12 weeks for metabolic shifts, or after a stable period on a therapy plan) can be more informative than frequent retesting.
What if my symptoms are severe but most results are in range?
That can happen, especially in early perimenopause where labs may not show a dramatic shift on a single draw. Symptoms, sleep quality, medication effects, iron status, mental health, and other conditions can also play a role. If symptoms persist, consider discussing a broader evaluation or a more comprehensive menopause panel with your clinician.
How does ordering Menopause Panel work?
Purchase online through Vitals Vault. A licensed clinician reviews and approves your order, then you receive a digital requisition for a Quest Diagnostics blood draw.
Where do I get my blood drawn?
Samples are collected in person at Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide. After checkout you can schedule your visit at a convenient site.
How long until I get results?
Most results are ready about a week after your draw. You can view them securely in your Vitals Vault account.
Do I need a doctor referral?
No separate referral appointment is required. Clinician review is included in the online order flow.
Are HSA and FSA accepted?
Yes. Eligible HSA/FSA cards can be used at checkout for qualifying lab orders.
Are my results private?
Results are available in your secure Vitals Vault account. You control who you share them with, subject to applicable law.
What is the difference between blood glucose and A1c?
Blood glucose shows the amount of sugar in your blood at a single moment. A1c (hemoglobin A1c) estimates your average blood sugar over roughly the past 8–12 weeks. Comparing them helps explain whether your long-term average lines up with your fasting glucose on draw day.
What does Menopause Panel help me understand?
It helps you understand how this marker fits into your broader metabolic picture, with results tracked in your Vitals Vault account.
What can I do if my A1c or glucose results are elevated?
Elevated values can signal higher metabolic risk. Many people start with nutrition, activity, sleep, and weight management, then retest and review results with a clinician. This test is educational and does not replace medical advice or diagnosis.
How accurate is this testing?
Your sample is processed at CLIA-certified Quest Diagnostics laboratories. Results should still be interpreted with a qualified clinician alongside your history, symptoms, and other labs.
Why is there an age minimum for ordering?
Consumer-initiated testing through Vitals Vault is limited to adults 18+ so ordering and interpretation stay aligned with clinical best practices for this channel.
