Thyroid
"Normal" TSH doesn't mean your thyroid is fine.
1 in 8 women will develop a thyroid condition in her lifetime.
Most doctors only test TSH. We test 8 markers including Reverse T3, antibodies, selenium, and iodine — because your thyroid is more than one number.
Why this matters for women
Thyroid dysfunction is common in women and often goes undetected when only basic markers are tested. It can contribute to fatigue, weight changes, hair thinning, mood shifts, and cycle irregularities. This panel provides a deeper look at thyroid health and potential root causes of symptoms.
Symptoms to watch for
What we test
T3, Free
Measures the active, unbound form of T3 thyroid hormone. Important for women who have normal TSH but still experience thyroid symptoms like fatigue, hair loss, and difficulty losing weight.
T4 Free (FT4)
Measures the unbound, active form of T4 available to tissues. The most reliable T4 measurement for women on birth control or hormone therapy.
Thyroglobulin Antibody
Measures antibodies against thyroglobulin, a protein used to make thyroid hormones. Elevated in Hashimoto's and Graves' disease, helping confirm autoimmune thyroid conditions in women.
TPO Antibody
Measures antibodies attacking thyroid peroxidase enzyme. The most common marker for Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune thyroid disease that affects women 7 times more than men.
TSH
Measures thyroid-stimulating hormone, the primary thyroid screening test. Women are 5-8 times more likely than men to develop thyroid disease, making TSH essential for detecting hypo- and hyperthyroidism.
Selenium
Measures an essential trace mineral that supports thyroid function and antioxidant defense. Important for women because selenium deficiency impairs thyroid hormone conversion and weakens immunity.
T3 Total
Measures all T3 thyroid hormone including bound and free forms. Helps evaluate hyperthyroidism in women where T3 may be elevated even before T4 changes.
T3 Reverse, LC/MS/MS
Measures reverse T3, an inactive form of thyroid hormone. Elevated in women under chronic stress, illness, or inflammation, explaining thyroid symptoms despite normal lab values.
Who should consider this panel?
Women with fatigue, weight gain, or brain fog
Anyone with a family history of thyroid disease
Women who've been told their TSH is "normal" but still have symptoms
Postpartum women (postpartum thyroiditis affects 5-10%)
Women planning pregnancy (thyroid function directly affects fertility)
Cited sources
Subclinical Hypothyroidism: Prevalence, Health Impact, and Treatment Landscape
Yoo WS, Chung HK.
Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2021.
Effect of selenium on thyroid autoimmunity and regulatory T cells in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: A prospective randomized-controlled trial
Hu Y, et al.
Clinical and Translational Science, 2021.
Laboratory Testing in Thyroid Conditions — Pitfalls and Clinical Utility
Soh SB, Aw TC.
Annals of Laboratory Medicine, 2019.
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