Hormone Blood Panels for Men and Women: What to Test and When
Hormone panels are only as good as their timing. Here is what to draw, when, and why fasting and time of day matter.
Male hormone panel
Total testosterone, free testosterone (calculated from SHBG and albumin), LH, FSH, prolactin, and estradiol are the core panel for suspected low testosterone. Draw fasting between 7 and 10 a.m., when testosterone peaks, and repeat any abnormal result on a separate morning before diagnosing hypogonadism.
PSA and hematocrit are added at baseline and monitored during any testosterone replacement therapy. See testosterone replacement therapy consult.
Female hormone panel
For cycling women, estradiol, LH, and FSH are ideally drawn on cycle days 2–5 (early follicular). Mid-luteal progesterone (day 21 in a 28-day cycle) confirms ovulation. Prolactin, TSH, and AMH (ovarian reserve) round out fertility or PCOS workups.
For perimenopause and menopause, FSH tends to rise and estradiol tends to fall — but a single hormone snapshot rarely diagnoses menopause on its own; clinical history remains central. See menopause consultation for how hormone results guide treatment.
Timing, fasting, and interference
Fasting is preferred for reproducibility. Avoid biotin supplements for 48–72 hours (they can distort many immunoassays). Do not draw within 24–48 hours of intense exercise. For cycling women, always note the cycle day on the requisition — without it, the laboratory report is difficult to interpret.
Order a hormone panel
Ready to book? Reserve a private blood collection appointment on our Book Blood Collection page, or request a private requisition through blood test prescription.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have my hormone panel done any morning?+
Men: yes, before 10 a.m. Women: cycle day matters — consult first so we schedule the right day.
Are salivary hormone tests reliable?+
For clinical decision-making, blood remains the gold standard in Canadian practice.