Advanced Functional Testing for Midlife Women
When it comes to perimenopause and menopause, conventional bloodwork often doesn’t tell the whole story.
Functional medicine takes a deeper, more personalized approach — looking at how your hormones, gut, nutrients, metabolism, and stress systems are actually working, not just whether they fall into a “normal” range.
Advanced functional testing helps uncover hidden contributors to symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, mood swings, sleep problems, and more. These tests go beyond routine labs to explore how your body is functioning as a whole.
Common Functional Tests for Midlife Women
Hormone & Adrenal Panels
- DUTCH Test (Dried Urine): Measures estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, and their metabolites over a 24-hour period. It shows not just levels, but how hormones are being processed. Helpful for identifying estrogen dominance, adrenal burnout, or disrupted hormone clearance.
- Multi-Point Saliva Testing: Measures hormones like cortisol, progesterone, and estradiol at several points throughout the day or cycle. Ideal for capturing the hormonal fluctuations of perimenopause that a single blood test might miss.
- Comprehensive Serum Hormone Panels: Includes expanded thyroid tests (like Free T3, Reverse T3) and sex hormones to provide a fuller picture than standard lab panels.
Thyroid & Metabolic Health
- Full Thyroid Panel: Goes beyond TSH to include Free T3, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies — important because thyroid issues often mimic menopause symptoms.
- Metabolic Markers: Tests for insulin resistance, inflammation, and cholesterol. These help uncover midlife shifts in metabolism, energy, and cardiovascular risk.
Nutrient & Mitochondrial Testing
- Micronutrient Panels: Assess levels of key vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. Low B12, magnesium, or vitamin D, for example, can contribute to fatigue and mood changes.
- Organic Acids Test (OAT): A urine test that reveals nutrient deficiencies, detox challenges, neurotransmitter imbalances, and gut health issues in one snapshot.
Gut Health & Immune Testing
- GI-MAP or GI Effects: Comprehensive stool tests that assess digestion, microbiome health, inflammation, and infection. The gut plays a major role in hormone metabolism and immune function — especially important in midlife.
- SIBO Breath Test: Checks for bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, a common cause of bloating, fatigue, and food intolerances.
- Food Sensitivity Panels: Identify delayed reactions to foods that may be contributing to brain fog, skin issues, or inflammation.
Toxin & Detox Function
- Hair Mineral Analysis or Urine Testing: Screens for heavy metals and mineral imbalances that can interfere with hormone function and energy.
- Mycotoxin or Environmental Pollutant Panels: Used selectively when mold or toxin exposure is suspected.
Why It Matters
Many women are told their labs are “normal,” even when they feel far from it.
Functional testing looks for root causes that traditional panels often miss. These tests can help explain why you’re tired even after a full night’s sleep, or why your weight won’t budge despite doing “everything right.”
Most importantly, they guide more precise, effective treatment — whether through nutrition, lifestyle changes, supplementation, or bioidentical hormones.
