Verbatim response from ChatGPT
You’re on the right track thinking hormones could be behind low energy and brain fog. You can get testing and treatment entirely online; different services suit different needs. Below I’ll list reputable options and what each does best, plus the tests you should consider and practical next steps.
Telehealth clinics that test and treat hormones
- Parsley Health — comprehensive, integrative primary care with a strong focus on female hormones and perimenopause/menopause. They order broad lab panels, do deep symptom/ lifestyle review, and create ongoing treatment plans (more expensive, membership model).
- Gennev — specializes in menopause and perimenopause care. Telehealth visits with clinicians who commonly prescribe bioidentical or conventional HRT and follow patients through treatment.
- MenoLabs — telemedicine focused on menopause care and individualized HRT. Good if your main concern is perimenopause/menopause symptoms.
- PlushCare — general telemedicine that accepts many insurances, can order labs (LabCorp/Quest) and prescribe thyroid or hormone treatments when appropriate. Good if you want insurance coverage and a quick start.
- Hers (Hims & Hers) — offers women’s telehealth for thyroid and hormonal issues and partners with lab companies for testing; convenient and lower-cost options for common conditions like hypothyroidism.
At‑home lab test companies (ship-to-you kits; some include clinician review)
- LetsGetChecked — sells at-home hormone and thyroid test kits, plus a nurse/doctor review and can often arrange prescriptions in many states. Good for easy at-home blood draws and integrated follow-up.
- Everlywell — reliable at-home hormone and thyroid testing panels with clear results. Many people use these for initial screening (may need a clinician to interpret and treat).
- ZRT Laboratory (saliva hormone testing used by many clinicians) — good for certain hormone patterns (often used by practitioners who treat perimenopause/menopause), but check whether your clinician accepts salivary results.
Traditional labs (ordered by telehealth clinician for in‑person draw)
- LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics — clinicians will order panels and you go to a local draw site. This is standard when you want broad, reliable blood testing covered by insurance.
Which to pick, roughly:
- If you want focused menopause/perimenopause care and likely HRT: Gennev or MenoLabs.
- If you want a deeper, integrative plan (diet, gut, hormones, lifestyle): Parsley Health.
- If you want fast, insurance-friendly primary care that can order labs and prescriptions: PlushCare or your regular PCP via telehealth.
- If you prefer to do home collection first and get a clinician review: LetsGetChecked or Everlywell.
Important tests to ask for (discuss with whichever clinician you pick)
- Thyroid: TSH, free T4, free T3, anti-TPO antibodies
- Female hormones: estradiol (E2), FSH, LH, progesterone (timing matters), total and free testosterone, SHBG if available
- Adrenals/cortisol: AM serum cortisol or 24‑hour saliva cortisol if recommended
- Other basics: CBC, CMP (metabolic panel), ferritin (iron stores), vitamin D, B12, fasting glucose or A1c, lipid panel
- Optional: DHEA‑S, prolactin, insulin, and others depending on symptoms
Timing notes
- Progesterone should be measured about 7 days before your expected period (mid-luteal) if you’re still cycling.
- FSH/estradiol can be informative in perimenopause but may vary; clinicians often interpret trends, not a single number.
- Thyroid tests can be done any time.
Safety and follow-up
- Some platforms cannot prescribe controlled substances or certain formulations in some states; availability varies by state and your medical history.
- If you have severe symptoms (rapid weight loss, chest pain, suicidal thoughts, fainting, severe breathlessness) seek urgent in‑person care.
- If tests are abnormal or therapy is started (especially HRT or thyroid meds), you’ll need follow-up labs to adjust dosing.
Next steps
- Decide whether you want an at‑home kit first (LetsGetChecked, Everlywell) or full telehealth clinician care (Gennev, MenoLabs, Parsley, PlushCare).
- Book a telehealth consult and ask them to order the tests listed above.
- Review results with the clinician and make a treatment and monitoring plan.
If you’d like, tell me (a) whether you’re still getting periods and (b) whether you prefer an insurance-covered option or a direct-to-consumer service, and I’ll recommend 2–3 options best suited to you.