What I Test (and Why): A Naturopath’s Approach to Understanding Your Health

When you come to see me for the first time, one of the most important steps in understanding your health is testing — but not just any testing. The right tests, done at the right time and interpreted in the right context, can reveal valuable insights into what’s really driving your symptoms. In this post, I’ll share the key blood tests I commonly request at an initial consultation, how I interpret them, and when we might need to look further with functional testing.

The Foundations: Standard Blood Tests

Most women I see benefit from a set of core blood tests that provide a broad overview of how their body is functioning. These form the foundation for identifying nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, inflammation, and metabolic health concerns. They also give us a baseline to work from and a data set we can use to identify trends in the future. This is important for preventative healthcare especially in perimenopause, as often we can pick up a problem early, before it becomes an issue. Commonly requested tests include:

• Full blood count (FBC): Assesses red and white blood cells for signs of anaemia, infection, or immune changes.

• Liver function tests (LFTs): The liver plays a crucial role in hormone metabolism and detoxification.

• Kidney function (EUCs): Provides information on hydration, electrolyte balance, and overall kidney health.

• Iron studies: Ferritin, iron, transferrin and saturation (not just haemoglobin) to assess both iron stores and utilisation.

• Vitamin B12 and folate: Essential for energy production, red blood cell formation, and nervous system function.

• Vitamin D: Vital for immune, bone, and hormone health, and commonly low in Australian women.

• Thyroid panel: TSH, Free T4, and Free T3 (and ideally thyroid antibodies) to assess thyroid hormone production and conversion.

• Lipids and glucose: Key for cardiovascular and metabolic health, especially during perimenopause.

• Reproductive hormones: Oestradiol, progesterone, LH, FSH, testosterone, prolactin, SHBG and DHEA-S, providing insight into menstrual health, ovulation, and hormone balance.

Timing and Preparation Matter

Testing is most accurate when done correctly. I always check whether tests were performed:

• At the right time in the cycle — for example, day 2–5 for oestradiol, FSH and LH, or around 7 days before your period for progesterone.

• In the right conditions — I always suggest tests are done fasted, and at the same lab if possible.

• As complete panels — particularly for thyroid, iron, and hormones, where partial testing can easily miss key information.

Even small details can significantly change the interpretation, so context is everything.

Beyond “Normal”: How I Interpret Results

Many women are told that their results are “normal” but they still feel tired, anxious, moody, or flat. That’s because standard pathology ranges are designed to detect disease, not to identify when your body is functioning suboptimally. In clinic, I interpret results using functional reference ranges — the narrower, evidence-informed ranges where most people feel and function at their best.

But numbers alone don’t tell the full story. Every result is assessed alongside your symptoms, history, and lifestyle. I ask: Do these results make sense for the person sitting in front of me? This integrative view helps ensure that testing is meaningful, not just a list of numbers on a page.

When We Need to Look Further

If your initial results highlight something that’s been overlooked — such as an incomplete thyroid panel or iron study — we’ll start by filling those gaps with standard testing. But sometimes, standard tests don’t provide the full picture. That’s when functional testing becomes valuable. Depending on your symptoms, this might include:

• DUTCH or ENDO Map hormone testing: For a detailed analysis of sex and adrenal hormone metabolism.

• Comprehensive stool analysis or Breath testing: To explore gut health, digestion, and inflammation.

• Microbiome Mapping: To assess the overall gut or vaginal microbiome.

• Metabolic or organic acids testing: To assess nutrient status, detoxification, and energy production pathways.

Functional testing is often the missing link that helps us see why your hormones or energy aren’t behaving as expected — not just what your current levels are.

What to Remember

Testing is a tool — not a diagnosis in itself. When interpreted functionally and holistically, it becomes a roadmap to understanding your body. By starting with a solid foundation of standard blood tests, ensuring accuracy and timing, and layering in functional testing where needed, we can uncover the why behind your symptoms — and build a targeted, effective plan to support your health.

If you’re ready to move beyond “normal” results and get a deeper understanding of your health, you can book a 1:1 consultation via my website.