Women’s Health Labs Your Doctor Isn’t Running but Should Be | #184

What labs should women actually be asking for, and what do those numbers really tell you about your health? In this episode of Healthy As A Mother, Dr. Leah Gordon breaks down the key labs she believes women should understand, from blood sugar and fasting insulin to thyroid, iron, inflammation, reproductive hormones, vitamin D and more. She explains what these markers can reveal about metabolic health, fertility, energy, hormones, symptoms and overall health, and why looking at a single lab without the right context can sometimes miss the bigger picture.The conversation also dives into reproductive hormone testing, including estradiol, progesterone, FSH, LH, AMH, testosterone, SHBG and DHEA, with a major emphasis on understanding where you are in your menstrual cycle when certain labs are drawn. Leah and Morgan discuss why cycle tracking and understanding ovulation can give women important context about their own health, whether they are trying to conceive, trying to avoid pregnancy, navigating postpartum or breastfeeding, or approaching perimenopause.They also cover thyroid markers, ferritin and iron studies, hs-CRP and inflammation, cortisol, vitamin D, ANA, and the importance of considering a partner’s semen analysis when trying to conceive. The episode ultimately comes back to one central idea: learning the basics of your own health can help you ask better questions, recognize when something deserves further investigation, and become more informed about what is happening in your body.00:00 Trailer + Introduction03:26 Understanding Women’s Health Labs04:58 Why Testing Matters for Women’s Health09:29 Blood Sugar, Insulin & Metabolic Health16:34 Thyroid Labs: TSH, T3, T4 & Antibodies23:18 Iron & Ferritin: What Women Should Know29:10 Inflammation & hs-CRP33:59 Why Preconception Lab Testing Matters38:57 Reproductive Hormones & Cycle Timing40:52 Estradiol: When to Test Estrogen42:17 Progesterone: When to Test It45:37 Cycle Tracking & Knowing When You Ovulate49:46 FSH & LH: What They Tell You54:42 AMH & Ovarian Reserve57:54 Testosterone, SHBG & DHEA61:14 Cortisol, Vitamin D & Stress62:38 ANA, Fertility & Partner Testing63:56 Understanding Your Labs & Advocating for Your HealthResources From This Episode:Dr. Leah's Free Fertility Lab Guide - https://drleahgordon.com/fertility-lab-guide-freebieDr. Leah's Free Fertility Masterclass - https://fertilitymasterclass.drleahgordon.com/Dr. Leah's Taking Back Fertility Program - https://takebackfertility.drleahgordon.com/Dr. Leah's Womanhood Wellness Membership - https://drleahgordon.com/join