Episode #184
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 + Introduction 03:26 Understanding Women’s Health Labs 04:58 Why Testing Matters for Women’s Health 09:29 Blood Sugar, Insulin & Metabolic Health 16:34 Thyroid Labs: TSH, T3, T4 & Antibodies 23:18 Iron & Ferritin: What Women Should Know 29:10 Inflammation & hs-CRP 33:59 Why Preconception Lab Testing Matters 38:57 Reproductive Hormones & Cycle Timing 40:52 Estradiol: When to Test Estrogen 42:17 Progesterone: When to Test It 45:37 Cycle Tracking & Knowing When You Ovulate 49:46 FSH & LH: What They Tell You 54:42 AMH & Ovarian Reserve 57:54 Testosterone, SHBG & DHEA 61:14 Cortisol, Vitamin D & Stress 62:38 ANA, Fertility & Partner Testing 63:56 Understanding Your Labs & Advocating for Your Health Resources From This Episode: Dr. Leah's Free Fertility Lab Guide - https://drleahgordon.com/fertility-lab-guide-freebie Dr. 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

