Bloodwork 101

The Wake Her Up community is created by women who are taking their health back into their own hands. We are not doctors or health professionals. Just women getting to know our own bodies and gaining the power to heal ourselves. Teresa Litman from WHU has spent over 2 years learning and researching how to understand lab results in an effort to help thousands of women in the community asking for guidance to understand their own bloodwork. She has compiled this incredible guide for understanding our own labs. Join the Wake Her Up community HERE

If you are experiencing the symptoms of perimenopause, and your doctor refuses to run your labs or tells you that your lab work shows your hormones in "normal range", you need to find a provider that will help optimize your hormones UNTIL you feel good.

See our directory HERE

Recommended Labs for Perimenopause

CBC- Complete Blood Count test measures the following:

 ⁃ Red blood cells, which carry oxygen

 ⁃ White blood cells, which fight infection

 ⁃ Hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells

 ⁃ Hematocrit, the amount of red blood cells in the blood

 ⁃ Platelets, which help blood to clot

CMP- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel measures the following:

 ⁃ Glucose

 ⁃ Calcium

 ⁃ Total Protein

 ⁃ Bilirubin BUN (blood urea nitrogen)

 ⁃ Creatinine

 ⁃ Albumin

A CMP also measures the following 4 electrolytes:

 ⁃ Sodium

 ⁃ Potassium

 ⁃ Bicarbonate

 ⁃ Chloride

A CMP also measures the following 3 liver enzymes:

 ⁃ Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

 ⁃ Alkaline transaminase

 ⁃ (ALT) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

LH- Luteinizing Hormone is involved in many bodily processes, including pregnancy, puberty, and ovulation.

FSH- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone is a hormone your pituitary gland makes and releases that plays a role in sexual development and reproduction. It affects the function of ovaries.

E2- Estradiol sensitive test measures levels of the hormone E2 in the blood. The results can reflect issues ranging from fertility problems to liver damage.

E3- Estriol is one of the three main estrogens. Although levels are usually so low they can’t be detected in the blood. Estriol levels increase during pregnancy.

E1- Estrone stimulates the estrogen receptor about ten times more weakly than E2. Estrone is produced in the ovaries (similar to other estrogens) but also in fat tissue.

Total Testosterone- Testosterone travels through your blood in two ways: Attached to the proteins albumin and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) Free -- not attached to any proteins. *Total Testosterone is your reserve tank.

Free Testosterone (free t)- Free testosterone is considered bio-available testosterone that’s not bound to the proteins in total testosterone. *It’s available for the body’s immediate use.

SHBG- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin - is a protein that binds certain hormones. When SHBG is too high this can affect your testosterone to be bound up and not available for immediate use.

Progesterone -Progesterone belongs to a group of steroid hormones called the progestogens and is the major progestogen in the body.

DHT- Dihydrotestosterone is made through conversion of the more commonly known androgen, testosterone. Almost 10% of the testosterone produced by an adult each day is converted to dihydrotestosterone.

DHEA-Dehydroepiandrosterone is a hormone that your body naturally produces in the adrenal gland. DHEA helps produce other hormones, including testosterone and estrogen.

Vitamin D- Vitamin D is a steroid hormone produced from cholesterol when your skin is exposed to the sun. Only a handful of foods contain significant amounts of this crucial vitamin. Deficiency is very common.

Vitamin B12- Vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) plays an essential role in red blood cell formation, cell metabolism, nerve function and the production of DNA, the molecules inside cells that carry genetic information.

Magnesium- Magnesium plays a role in over 300 enzyme reactions in the human body. Magnesium functions include helping with muscle and nerve function, regulating blood pressure, and supporting the immune system.

Lipids- A lipid panel measures the amount of certain fat molecules called lipids in your blood. There are five different types of lipids:

 ⁃ Total cholesterol

 ⁃ Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol

 ⁃ Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol

 ⁃ High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol

 ⁃ Triglycerides

Prolactin- Prolactin (also known as and PRL) is a hormone, mostly comes from your pituitary gland. It makes and releases (secretes) the hormone.

Complete Thyroid Panel:

TSH- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone isn’t found in the thyroid but is produced from the pituitary gland. TSH, which is a hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland.

T3- Triiodothyronine is one of the two main thyroid hormones.

Free T3- measures how much free and active thyroid hormone your body has available to work with.

Reverse T3- Reverse T3 is an anti-thyroid metabolite that acts to completely BLOCK your thyroid from working. Reverse T3 is created by the body from T4.

Total T4- measures free and bound T4 together. A calculation may be done to figure out how much T4 is free. This is a less accurate way to check how well your thyroid is working.

Free T4- test directly measures the amount of free T4 in your blood. Many believe this test provides more accurate information than a total T4 test, so it's used more often.

TPO- Thyroid peroxidase is an enzyme normally found in the thyroid gland. TPO plays an important role in the production of thyroid hormones. A TPO test detects antibodies against TPO in the blood.

TGA Antibodies- Antithyroglobulin Antibody Test can help diagnose and predict thyroid issues.

This is not medical advice. This was created by women for women. Please advocate for your own body. Get to know your body and listen to what is best for you.

You are not crazy! You deserve to feel Awake & Alive.

♥Marcella Hill, founder of Wake Her Up