This panel provides an assessment of hormones, which play a significant role in maintaining the overall health and wellness in women. Estradiol helps to maintain a healthy libido while progesterone acts as a precursor to testosterone. Testosterone has important role in maintaining bone strength, muscle mass and energy level and is responsible for growth and development of sexual characteristics, facial and body hair, increased sexual drive. DHEA has a broad spectrum of benefits including improved energy, mood, memory, increased testosterone levels, enhanced libido and immune function. Finally, Cortisol imbalance is known to result in conditions like irritability, fatigue, depression, foggy thinking, weight gain and bone loss. This panel also provides a good assessment of thyroid function. In primary hypothyroidism, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are elevated. In primary hyperthyroidism, TSH levels are low. In hyperthyroidism, both thyroxine (tetraiodothyronine; thyroxine: T4) and T3 levels (total and free) are usually elevated, but in a small subset of hyperthyroid patients (T3 toxicosis) only T3 is elevated. Disorders of the thyroid gland are frequently caused by autoimmune mechanisms with the production of autoantibodies known as anti-TPO antibodies.
