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Hormones touch almost everything you feel day to day, so “imbalance” can look like many different things. The goal is not to chase perfect numbers. It is to notice patterns, rule out red flags, and use targeted testing so your next steps are based on information, not guesswork.
What to watch for in your pattern
Periods that are consistently very short or very long, heavy bleeding or new clots, acne along the jawline or new facial hair, scalp hair thinning, hot flashes or night sweats, energy and sleep changes around your cycle, vaginal dryness or pain with sex, and strong sugar crashes are all common signals to look closer. Birth control, postpartum shifts, high training loads, and perimenopause can also change what you see. If something feels off for more than a couple of cycles, it is worth checking.
How symptoms can relate to key hormones
Estrogen lower than expected. Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep disruption, mood shifts, lower libido.
Estrogen relatively higher than progesterone. Heavy or longer periods, breast tenderness, headaches around your period, bloating, irritability.
Progesterone lower in the luteal phase. Shorter cycles, spotting before a period, sleep changes, anxiety that clusters late in the cycle.
FSH higher than expected for age. A clue toward lower ovarian reserve or perimenopause, cycles that change length, hot flashes.
LH pattern changes. Irregular ovulation timing or signs that fit with PCOS when read alongside the rest of your picture.
Testosterone higher. Acne along the jawline, new facial or body hair, scalp hair thinning, irregular cycles.
Testosterone lower. Low libido, lower muscle strength, fatigue that is hard to shake.
SHBG lower. More free androgens circulating, which can amplify acne and hair changes even if total testosterone is not very high.
These connections are most useful when you test more than one marker and read them together rather than in isolation.
The smartest way to check without guessing
Start by noting day 1 of bleeding, overall cycle length, and the top few symptoms you care about for two or three cycles. Then add a baseline that matches your questions. For most people sorting through symptoms and fertility goals, the broadest and most practical place to start is the Women’s Health Panel, because it reads the interplay between estrogen, progesterone, LH, and androgens (plus binding proteins) instead of looking at one number in a vacuum. If you are actively planning timing for pregnancy or preservation, the Fertility Blood Test adds early-cycle context with AMH, FSH, and estradiol, and the Ovarian Reserve Blood Test gives a quick read on AMH when you want a fast look at egg quantity. If symptoms or history point that way, talk with your clinician about thyroid function, vitamin D, and markers related to insulin resistance, since whole-health factors can shape cycles, energy, and mood.
Red flags to act on quickly
Three months without a period when not pregnant or breastfeeding.
Bleeding that soaks a pad or tampon every hour for two hours, or bleeding with dizziness or fainting.
Severe new pelvic pain, pain with fever, or pain that wakes you at night.
Milky nipple discharge when not postpartum, new severe headaches, or vision changes.
Depressive symptoms, anxiety, or insomnia that significantly affect daily life.
Where Strawberry helps
If you want to begin at home, Strawberry makes testing straightforward. Collection is quick with our virtually painless upper-arm device, and every sample is processed by certified partner labs and reviewed by clinicians. Day 3 testing is especially convenient because you collect at home, not at a lab when you are tired and menstruating. After testing, you receive a Personalized Fertility Timeline that brings your results together with your age and shows when it makes sense to recheck or speak with a specialist.
Choose your starting point
Most complete view for symptoms and cycle clues: Women’s Health Panel.
Planning timing for pregnancy or preservation: Fertility Blood Test (AMH, FSH, estradiol).
Fast check on egg quantity: Ovarian Reserve Blood Test (AMH).
Bottom line
You know your body best. If patterns keep tapping you on the shoulder, pair a couple of months of light tracking with a well-chosen panel so you can connect symptoms to hormones and make a plan. With steady habits and clear data that reflects your unique timeline, feeling better is very doable.
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