The base everyone needs
Three things slip out of control most often in women: the thyroid, iron, and vitamin D. Hypothyroidism disguises itself as fatigue, swelling, and "can't lose weight," so TSH is the first line of any checkup after 25–30.
Ferritin paired with a complete blood count catches hidden iron deficiency before anemia — a frequent cause of exhaustion, hair shedding, and pallor in women with heavy periods. Vitamin D and fasting glucose complete the mandatory base.
Cycle hormones: test on the right day
Cycle hormones make sense only with a date: FSH, LH, and estradiol are drawn on cycle days 2–5, progesterone on days 21–23 of a 28-day cycle to assess ovulation. Prolactin is taken in the morning, calm, without stress — otherwise the result inflates easily.
Without cycle complaints, conception problems, or symptoms, the whole panel is unnecessary. A hormone number without a cycle day cannot be interpreted at all — it is just a number.
AMH and hCG: planning and pregnancy
AMH — anti-Müllerian hormone — reflects ovarian reserve: the approximate stock of remaining follicles. It is tested when planning pregnancy after 30–35, before IVF, and when early ovarian depletion is suspected; the cycle day does not matter because the level is stable.
hCG is the main laboratory marker of pregnancy: a quantitative blood test is more precise than a strip and allows tracking the rise early on. Outside pregnancy, a notable hCG always needs a medical explanation.
CA-125: why it is not a preventive test
CA-125 rises with endometriosis, fibroids, inflammation, and even during menstruation — as preventive screening it creates more false alarms than benefit. A gynecologist orders it when an ovarian mass has already been seen on ultrasound: with imaging, the marker helps weigh the risks.
Its second legitimate role is monitoring treatment in patients with a confirmed diagnosis, where a falling level reflects response. Everything else — "just in case" — leads to unnecessary investigations.
A women's checkup by task
- Everyone after 25–30: TSH, ferritin, CBC, vitamin D, glucose
- Cycle problems: FSH, LH, estradiol (days 2–5), progesterone (days 21–23)
- Planning after 30–35: AMH, TSH, prolactin
- Suspected pregnancy: quantitative hCG
- CA-125 — only as ordered by a gynecologist, together with ultrasound
Markers covered in this article
Several markers on your report?
See how MedProtect explains results in the app: the whole report, a check of the recognized values, and a clear breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't all hormones be drawn on one day?
Is low AMH a verdict against pregnancy?
How often should the checkup repeat?
Sources
- CA-125 blood test: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Accessed: August 31, 2026.
- Anti-Müllerian Hormone Test: MedlinePlus Medical Test — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Accessed: August 31, 2026.
- HCG blood test - quantitative: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Accessed: August 31, 2026.