A blood test to investigate the possible causes of thinning hair and hair loss. Includes tests for testosterone and SHBG as well as thyroid health and iron status.
 
Collect your own finger-prick blood sample 
We'll send you everything you need to collect a blood sample from your finger at home.
 
Hormones govern every activity of your body, from growth and metabolism to reproduction and your sleep cycle. Even a small imbalance in your hormone levels can have a significant impact on your health, affecting your mood and energy levels as well as fertility and libido. Hormones are known as chemical messengers which are manufactured in your glands and released into your bloodstream. They instruct your body in everything it does – regulating appetite, growth, mood and reproduction. Generally they keep the body functioning and in balance. Hormone disorders are common and can often be put right through hormone replacement therapy or lifestyle changes. Hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day and also, for women, through the reproductive cycle.
 
Testosterone
Free Androgen Index
 
Proteins are vital to the functioning of cells and tissues as well as for building muscle. Proteins in the blood are measured to help diagnose liver or kidney disease as well as other conditions. Proteins also carry other molecules around the blood (e.g. hormones) so are often measured to help calculate how much of a particular hormone is bound to protein or free and therefore available to your cells. Raised proteins are often caused by dehydration but can also indicate other conditions. Low proteins can indicate severe malnutrition or malabsorption.
 
Most of the sex hormones - testosterone, oestrogen and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) - found in your blood are bound to Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) which means that they are unavailable to your cells. Measuring the level of SHBG in your blood gives important information about your levels of free or unbound hormones which are biologically active and available for use.
 
SHBG
 
Ferritin is a complex globular protein which stores iron in an inactive form. As your iron stores deplete, the ferritin releases its iron for use. If your ferritin depletes then you will run out of iron and if your iron runs out your ability to produce red blood cells in your bone marrow decreases. Ferritin therefore gives a good measure of your iron stores. Ferritin is also an acute phase protein, so can increase during periods of infection, inflammation or trauma.
 
Ferritin
 
Your thyroid is a gland in the front of your neck which produces hormones which help to govern your metabolism. It is possible for your thyroid to under-produce or over-produce thyroid hormones, and both conditions can lead to debilitating symptoms. Typically an underactive thyroid leads to symptoms of lethargy, weight gain and dry skin and hair while an overactive thyroid leads to symptoms of feeling nervous and anxious, as well as weight loss. Once diagnosed, thyroid conditions can be treated but even then it is important to continue to monitor levels of thyroid hormones to ensure that your levels remain optimal.
 
Free Thyroxine (T4)
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
 
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is an inflammation marker used to assess whether there is inflammation in the body - it does not identify where the inflammation is located. High Sensitivity CRP (CRP-hs) is a test which is used to detect low-level inflammation which is thought to damage blood vessels which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. When you have a serious injury you get a lot of inflammation around the site of injury. You can imagine the swelling around a twisted ankle. Any injury like this will cause your CRP-hs to rise. However, people who train often are also at risk of chronic low level inflammation, which can impact your performance negatively. We use CRP-hs in conjunction with CK and your full blood count (see liver and full blood count sections) to paint this picture. Inflammatory markers like CRP-hs offer the best insights if you are rested when you have the test, otherwise they might be elevated due to recent exercise.
 
CRP-hs