Health Check Female

The Female Health Check is a comprehensive blood and urine health assessment designed to provide a broad overview of your general health and key areas of female wellbeing. For £220, the panel assesses cardiovascular risk, blood sugar, thyroid function, iron status, vitamins, inflammation, liver and kidney function, hormones related to metabolism, urine health and selected tumour markers. Testing is available at various UK locations, with at-home phlebotomy also available and an optional GP consultation for result review.

What is a Female Health Check?

A Female Health Check combines a wide range of blood and urine tests into one comprehensive health assessment. Instead of looking at one individual marker, the panel examines several important areas of health, including cholesterol and cardiovascular risk, blood glucose regulation, thyroid function, iron and nutritional status, kidney and liver function, inflammation and urine health.

The panel includes a full blood count, lipid testing, HbA1c, thyroid markers, iron studies, vitamins, kidney and liver markers, inflammatory markers and additional cardiovascular markers such as Apolipoprotein A1, Apolipoprotein B and Lipoprotein(a). It also includes CA125 and CA15-3, which are tumour markers that may be used as part of a clinical assessment but should not be interpreted as definitive cancer screening tests.

A urine assessment is also included, providing information about factors such as glucose, protein, ketones, blood-cell-related findings, nitrates, pH, specific gravity and urine culture and sensitivities. Together, these results can provide a broad snapshot of your current health and highlight areas that may warrant further investigation.

What Does the Female Health Check Include?

The panel includes the following markers:

Cardiovascular Health

• Total Cholesterol
• HDL Cholesterol
• LDL Cholesterol
• Non-HDL Cholesterol
• Triglycerides
• HDL % of Total
• TC/HDL Ratio
• ApoA1
• ApoB
• ApoB/A1 Ratio
• Lipoprotein(a)
• High-Sensitivity CRP

Diabetes & Metabolic Health

• HbA1c
• C-Peptide
• Insulin Levels
• Leptin
• Glucose
• Ketones

Thyroid Health

• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
• Free T3
• Free Thyroxine (Free T4)
• Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies
• Thyroglobulin Antibodies

Vitamins, Iron & Nutrition

• Vitamin B12
• Serum Folate (Vitamin B9)
• Serum Iron
• Ferritin
• Transferrin
• Iron Binding Capacity
• Transferrin Saturation
• Albumin
• Total Protein
• Globulin
• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Corrected Calcium
• Phosphate

Liver Health

• ALT/GPT
• AST/GOT
• Gamma GT
• Alkaline Phosphatase
• Total Bilirubin
• Albumin
• Globulin
• Total Protein

Kidney Health

• Creatinine
• Urea
• Cystatin-C
• Sodium
• Potassium
• Chloride
• Bicarbonate
• Calcium
• Phosphate

Blood Count & Haematology

• Haemoglobin
• Red Blood Count
• Haematocrit (HCT)
• MCV
• MCH
• MCHC
• RDW
• Platelets
• MPV
• Neutrophils
• Lymphocytes
• Monocytes
• Eosinophils
• Basophils
• Reticulocyte Count
• Absolute Reticulocyte Count
• ESR

Female Health & Tumour Markers

• CA125
• CA15-3

Parathyroid & Bone-Related Assessment

• Intact Parathormone (PTH)
• Calcium
• Corrected Calcium
• Phosphate
• Magnesium

Urine Assessment

• Urine Glucose
• Urine Protein
• Ketones
• Urinary Nitrates
• pH
• Specific Gravity
• Urobilinogen
• Casts
• RBCs
• Urine Culture and Sensitivities
• Bacterial Count

The exact markers reported may depend on the laboratory's reporting format, sample requirements and applicable reference ranges.

Benefits of the Female Health Check

1. Comprehensive assessment in one appointment

The Female Health Check brings together a broad range of investigations rather than focusing on a single health concern. This means your cardiovascular, metabolic, thyroid, nutritional, inflammatory, liver, kidney and urine markers can be assessed as part of the same health review.

2. Detailed cardiovascular risk assessment

The panel goes beyond total cholesterol by including LDL, HDL, non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, ApoA1, ApoB, the ApoB/A1 ratio and Lipoprotein(a). These markers can provide a more detailed picture of lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk than a basic cholesterol test alone.

3. Checks blood sugar and metabolic health

HbA1c provides information about average blood glucose over the preceding weeks and months, while insulin, C-peptide and other metabolic markers provide additional information about glucose regulation. This can be particularly useful when investigating metabolic health alongside weight, lifestyle and family history.

4. Comprehensive thyroid assessment

The panel includes TSH, Free T3 and Free T4, as well as thyroid antibodies including TPO antibodies and thyroglobulin antibodies. This provides considerably more information than a TSH-only assessment and can help identify patterns that may warrant further thyroid investigation.

5. Investigates iron and nutritional status

Iron deficiency can occur for many reasons, including inadequate dietary intake and blood loss. Ferritin, serum iron, transferrin, iron-binding capacity and transferrin saturation can be assessed together, while B12 and folate provide additional information about important nutritional factors and blood-cell production.

6. Reviews liver and kidney function

The panel includes several markers used to assess liver and kidney function, including ALT, AST, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, creatinine, urea and cystatin-C. Reviewing several markers together gives a broader picture than relying on an individual result.

7. Assesses inflammation and blood health

High-sensitivity CRP and ESR are inflammatory markers, while the full blood count evaluates haemoglobin, red cells, white blood cells, platelets and their different subtypes. Together, these results can provide useful information when investigating fatigue, inflammation, anaemia or other non-specific symptoms.

8. Includes urine health assessment

The urine component checks several characteristics including protein, glucose, ketones, nitrates, pH, specific gravity and microscopic findings. Where a urine culture is performed, culture and sensitivity information can help identify bacterial growth and guide appropriate clinical management.

9. Includes female-related tumour markers

CA125 and CA15-3 are included as part of the broader panel. These are not diagnostic tests for cancer, and elevated results can occur for several benign or non-cancerous reasons. Their results should therefore be interpreted alongside symptoms, medical history and other investigations rather than used in isolation.

10. Provides a useful baseline for future monitoring

A comprehensive health assessment can establish baseline measurements that may be useful for comparison with future results. Tracking markers such as cholesterol, HbA1c, ferritin, thyroid function and kidney or liver markers over time can help identify meaningful changes.

Why Do I Need a Female Health Check?

A Female Health Check may be useful if you want a broad assessment of your health rather than testing for one specific condition.

It may be particularly relevant if you are experiencing:

• Persistent tiredness or low energy
• Changes in weight
• Feeling unusually cold or hot
• Hair thinning or hair loss
• Changes in menstrual patterns
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Difficulty concentrating
• Changes in mood
• Unexplained weakness
• Digestive symptoms
• Changes in exercise tolerance
• A family history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes
• A history of abnormal thyroid results
• Previous iron or vitamin deficiencies
• Concerns about cholesterol or blood sugar
• A desire to establish a health baseline

The panel can also be useful as part of a broader preventive health assessment, particularly when several areas of health need to be reviewed at the same time.

Step-by-Step: How the Female Health Check Works

In-Clinic Testing

1. Book your appointment

Choose a convenient appointment at one of the available UK testing locations. You can book the Female Health Check for £220.

2. Review preparation instructions

You will receive information about any preparation required before your appointment. Because this is a comprehensive panel containing several metabolic and lipid measurements, follow the specific instructions provided when booking.

3. Attend your appointment

A trained healthcare professional confirms your details and the tests requested before collecting your samples.

4. Blood sample collection

A professional phlebotomist takes the required venous blood samples from your arm using sterile, single-use equipment. The blood draw generally takes only a few minutes.

5. Urine sample collection

Where required, you will provide a urine sample for analysis. The sample is assessed for markers including protein, glucose, ketones, nitrates, pH, specific gravity and other urinary findings.

6. Laboratory analysis

Your blood and urine samples are sent for laboratory analysis. Each individual marker is measured using the appropriate laboratory method and compared with the applicable reference range.

7. Results report

Your results are compiled into a laboratory report showing your measured values, units and relevant reference intervals. Results can then be reviewed as a complete health profile rather than as isolated numbers.

8. Optional GP consultation

A GP consultation is optional. If you would like help understanding abnormal or unexpected results, a GP can review your report and advise whether further testing, monitoring or referral may be appropriate.

At-Home Blood Draw – Home or Hotel

1. Book your home visit

Arrange an appointment for a professional phlebotomist to visit your home or hotel.

2. Follow preparation instructions

Complete any required preparation before the appointment, following the instructions supplied for your specific panel.

3. Phlebotomist arrives

A trained phlebotomist visits your chosen location with the equipment required to collect your samples safely.

4. Blood draw

The phlebotomist collects the required venous blood samples using sterile, single-use equipment.

5. Urine sample

Where a urine sample is required, you will receive instructions about providing the appropriate specimen and how it should be handled.

6. Sample transport

The samples are labelled and prepared for laboratory transportation according to the relevant sample-handling requirements.

7. Laboratory testing

The laboratory analyses the blood and urine specimens and produces your individual results with the relevant reference ranges.

8. Receive your results

Your completed report is provided securely once the laboratory testing has been completed.

9. Optional GP review

If you have questions about your results, you can arrange an optional GP consultation to discuss the findings and possible next steps.

Your Female Health Check Results – Explained

Because this health check contains a large number of different tests, there is no single "normal" result for the whole panel. Each marker has its own measurement unit and reference range.

Your report should always be interpreted using the reference interval supplied by the laboratory.

Some commonly reported examples include:

• HbA1c: commonly below 42 mmol/mol in people without diabetes; 42–47 mmol/mol may indicate increased diabetes risk, while 48 mmol/mol or above is a commonly used diagnostic threshold for diabetes when confirmed appropriately.
• Total cholesterol: generally desirable below approximately 5.0 mmol/L, although individual targets depend on cardiovascular risk.
• LDL cholesterol: target levels vary according to individual cardiovascular risk; lower targets may apply to people at higher risk.
• HDL cholesterol: levels above approximately 1.2 mmol/L in women are generally considered favourable.
• Triglycerides: fasting triglycerides are commonly considered desirable below 1.7 mmol/L.
• Ferritin: the reference interval varies by laboratory and age; low ferritin can indicate depleted iron stores.
• TSH: many laboratories use a reference interval around 0.4–4.0 mIU/L, although the exact range varies.
• Free T4: commonly reported in pmol/L, with the laboratory's own reference interval used for interpretation.
• Free T3: commonly reported in pmol/L, again using the laboratory-specific reference range.
• Vitamin B12: commonly reported in pmol/L in the UK, with the laboratory's reference range determining whether the result is considered low or adequate.
• Creatinine: reported in µmol/L and interpreted according to factors including age, sex and kidney function.
• Haemoglobin: commonly reported in g/L; the reference interval differs between women and men.
• Platelets: commonly reported as ×10⁹/L, with many laboratories using a range around 150–400 ×10⁹/L.
• CRP: hs-CRP is reported in mg/L and may be used as an inflammatory and cardiovascular risk marker in the appropriate clinical context.

What does a high result mean?

A high result does not necessarily mean that you have a disease. For example, cholesterol, ferritin, inflammatory markers, liver enzymes and several other measurements can change because of numerous physiological and medical factors.

What does a low result mean?

A low result may indicate deficiency, reduced production, medication effects or another underlying factor, depending on the specific marker. For example, low ferritin can indicate depleted iron stores, while low haemoglobin may require assessment for anaemia.

What happens if a result is outside the range?

An abnormal result should be considered alongside your symptoms, medical history and other laboratory findings. A GP may recommend repeating the test, ordering additional investigations or referring you to an appropriate specialist.

Important note about CA125 and CA15-3

CA125 and CA15-3 are tumour markers, not standalone cancer screening tests. An elevated result does not automatically mean cancer, and a normal result does not completely exclude cancer. These markers can be affected by several benign conditions and should be interpreted by a clinician in the context of symptoms and other investigations.