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You’re right to consider hormones as one possible cause of low energy and brain fog — but those symptoms can also come from thyroid disease, anemia, sleep problems, low vitamin D/B12, insulin resistance, depression, etc. Below are reputable online options (grouped by what they do) plus the specific lab tests you should consider and safety tips.
Where to get hormones tested (at-home or lab-ordered)
- LetsGetChecked — at‑home blood/urine kits for female hormone panels (estradiol, FSH, LH, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA‑S) and basic metabolic/thyroid testing. They also offer follow‑up nurse/physician consults and can arrange prescriptions in many states. Good for convenience + integrated follow‑up.
- Modern Fertility — at‑home blood tests focused on women’s hormones (AMH, FSH, estradiol, etc.) with clear education about results. Excellent for a woman-focused hormone baseline; they don’t generally provide ongoing prescribing but are great for initial data.
- Everlywell — a variety of at‑home female hormone panels and thyroid tests. Useful for screening; you’ll usually need a PCP or telehealth follow‑up for treatment decisions.
Where to get evaluated and treated (telemedicine clinics that can order labs and prescribe)
- Gennev — telehealth clinic focused on perimenopause/menopause with clinicians who prescribe menopausal hormone therapy (including bioidentical options), plus coaching for symptoms. Good if symptoms fit perimenopause/menopause.
- Bonafide Health — online menopause/HRT clinic (telemedicine + prescription management). Useful if you want a menopause‑focused provider who can manage HRT remotely.
- PlushCare or Teladoc (general telemedicine) — primary‑care style virtual visits; they can order labs (including thyroid and hormone tests), review results, and prescribe or refer to specialists. Good if you want general workup (thyroid, anemia, metabolic) in addition to hormones.
- One Medical — hybrid care (virtual + in‑person when needed) with ordering of labs and referrals to endocrinology or OB/GYN; useful if you want continuity and easier escalation to in‑person testing.
Which tests to ask for (a typical useful panel for your symptoms)
- Thyroid: TSH, free T4 (and free T3 if symptoms suggest), anti‑TPO if autoimmune thyroid disease suspected
- Reproductive hormones: estradiol, FSH, LH (timing matters — discuss with provider), progesterone (ideally mid‑luteal/day ~7 post‑ovulation if you still ovulate), total testosterone, SHBG, DHEA‑S
- Basic labs: CBC (anemia), CMP (liver/kidney/electrolytes), ferritin/iron studies, vitamin B12, vitamin D (25‑OH), fasting glucose or A1c, lipid panel
- Others as indicated: cortisol (if suspicious), sleep evaluation, depression screening
Important notes and safety
- Timing matters: some hormone levels vary through the menstrual cycle. A good telemedicine clinician will tell you when to draw tests (or adjust interpretation if you’re on hormonal birth control or HRT).
- Saliva/urine hormone tests are generally less reliable than serum blood tests — prefer blood tests ordered by labs/clinicians.
- Make sure any telemedicine clinic has licensed clinicians in your state. Ask whether they will prescribe compounded “bioidentical” hormones and whether they use evidence‑based dosing and monitoring — compounded hormones carry additional safety/quality concerns.
- If you have severe symptoms (suicidal thoughts, chest pain, very rapid weight change, severe shortness of breath), seek urgent in‑person care.
- If results are abnormal or complex, ask for referral to an in‑person endocrinologist or gynecologist.
If you’d like, I can:
- Compare two or three of these services based on your state, budget, or whether you want bioidentical HRT vs standard HRT
- Draft the exact message to send to a telemed clinician asking which labs they’ll order and how they handle HRT
Which of those would be most helpful to you next?