Routine blood tests provide a vital snapshot of your overall health. From tracking energy and hormone levels to identifying risk for heart disease, blood tests are essential for early detection and long-term wellness.
“Understanding your labs gives you more control and insight into your health — especially as things change with age,” says Ashley Chambers, MD, an internal medicine physician at OhioHealth.
Read on to discover which blood tests women should discuss with their healthcare providers, how to interpret the results and ways to use this information to advocate for your personal health.
Standard blood tests and overlooked essentials
Standard blood tests your doctor might recommend include a complete blood count (CBC), complete metabolic panel and standard lipid panel. According to Dr. Chambers, some of the more overlooked blood tests women should request at their annual checkups include an A1C test, advanced lipid testing and checking vitamin levels.
Together, the results of these blood tests offer your care provider a more personalized understanding of your health.
- Complete blood count (CBC): Helps to identify infections and conditions like anemia by measuring red and white blood cells as well as platelets.
- Complete metabolic panel: Used to assess glucose levels, kidney and liver function, thyroid function, and screen for diabetes and prediabetes.
- Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): Screens for underactive or overactive thyroid function, both of which are common in women, especially during hormonal transitions like pregnancy or menopause.
- A1C: Measures your average blood sugar over three months, differing from a point-in-time glucose test, and is particularly useful if you have a family history of diabetes.
- Standard and advanced lipid testing: While a standard lipid panel measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels, advanced tests like Lp(a) and apolipoprotein B provide more nuanced insights for people with a strong family history of heart disease.
- Vitamin levels: If you’re struggling with fatigue but your basic labs read as normal, it may be time to dig deeper. Dr. Chambers suggests talking to your care provider about checking your vitamin D, B12 and iron levels.
How often should you get tested?
Dr. Chambers recommends beginning regular lab screenings by age 30, even if you feel healthy. “I like patients to have this full panel including cholesterol, blood sugar, blood counts, and kidney and liver function tests around the time they’re 30,” she says.
Annual wellness visits are a good benchmark for tests like CBCs, lipid panels and thyroid testing. Additional panels, like A1C or vitamin levels, may be added based on personal or family history.
Women’s hormone levels fluctuate naturally across their lifetime. Hormone imbalances can affect menstrual cycles, mood and fertility — making thyroid function testing and hormone panels crucial for a well-rounded approach to care.
“There can be significant changes in bloodwork for women in that 40 to 50 age range,” Dr. Chambers says, pointing to perimenopause and menopause as key transition times. These changes can impact cholesterol, glucose and thyroid hormone levels.
When you’re feeling fatigue but your labs are normal
Many women experience fatigue; but what happens when the standard labs come back “normal”?
“I usually recommend checking different vitamin levels, electrolytes, thyroid function and glucose levels at a minimum. Further testing could be guided by other symptoms or concerns.” says Dr. Chambers. These can all contribute to low energy. If nothing turns up, she starts exploring lifestyle factors like stress, sleep, exercise and diet, which can greatly impact someone’s cholesterol and blood sugar.
Lifestyle changes can positively influence lab results. Dr. Chambers recommends eating more lean proteins and fiber while avoiding processed foods. For vitamin deficiencies, a diverse diet that’s rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains usually helps unless there’s an underlying absorption issue.
What lab results shouldn’t be ignored?
Some abnormal lab results warrant immediate follow-up. Dr. Chambers emphasizes the importance of getting to the root cause of anemia. “Anemia is one of those results that should never be brushed off — we always want to know why someone is anemic,” she says. “It could be caused by something simple like heavy periods, but we still need to stay on top of it and monitor it over time.”
Other results that need immediate attention:
- High blood sugar or A1C levels might indicate prediabetes or diabetes
- Elevated liver enzymes could mean a possible liver disease such as fatty liver
- Abnormal electrolytes may signal dehydration or medication side effects
Personalizing blood work based on your needs and family history
Every woman’s body is different, and factors like genetics and ethnicity play a role in how we interpret lab results. Dr. Chambers points out that a family history of heart disease or diabetes can shape what tests are prioritized and when.
“Some people’s cholesterol can be driven up by a genetic component, rather than lifestyle choices,” she explains. In these cases, additional or earlier testing may be warranted.
Ultimately, understanding your bloodwork is about more than just numbers. It’s about taking ownership of your health.
“There’s a lot of education out there now online about different lab tests,” Dr. Chambers says. “Feel free to bring it up with your doctor.” She encourages women to ask questions, advocate for themselves and discuss what tests make sense for their unique situations.
Keeping on top of your routine blood work is just one more benefit to having a primary care doctor. If you’re looking for one, check out our Find a Doctor page.
