The following is a list of what is included in the item above. Click the test(s) below to view what biomarkers are measured along with an explanation of what the biomarker is measuring.
Also known as: Cortisol AM
Cortisol, A.M.
A cortisol level is a blood test that measures the amount of cortisol, a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland. The test is done to check for increased or decreased cortisol production. Cortisol is a steroid hormone released from the adrenal gland in response to ACTH, a hormone from the pituitary gland in the brain. Cortisol affects many different body systems. It plays a role in: bone, circulatory system, immune system. metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and protein. ervous system and stress responses.
Also known as: Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, DHEA SO4, DHEA Sulfate Immunoassay, DHEAS, Transdehydroandrosterone
DHEA SULFATE
DHEA-sulfate test measures the amount of DHEA-sulfate in the blood. DHEA-sulfate is a weak male hormone (androgen) produced by the adrenal gland in both men and women.
Estradiol
Estradiol (estradiol-17 beta, E2) is part of an estrogen that is a group of steroids that regulate the menstrual cycle and function as the main female sex hormones. Estrogens are responsible for the development of female sex organs and secondary sex characteristics and are tied to the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. They are considered the main sex hormones in women and are present in small quantities in men. Estradiol (E2) is the predominant form of estrogen and is produced primarily in the ovaries with additional amounts produced by the adrenal glands in women and in the testes and adrenal glands in men. Estradiol levels are used in evaluating ovarian function. Estradiol levels are increased in cases of early (precocious) puberty in girls and gynecomastia in men. Its main use has been in the differential diagnosis of amenorrhea – for example, to determine whether the cause is menopause, pregnancy, or a medical problem. In assisted reproductive technology (ART), serial measurements are used to monitor follicle development in the ovary in the days prior to in vitro fertilization. Estradiol is also sometimes used to monitor menopausal hormone replacement therapy.
Also known as: Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone
Glucose
A blood glucose test measures the amount of a sugar called glucose in a sample of your blood. Glucose is a major source of energy for most cells of the body, including those in the brain. The hormones insulin and glucagon help control blood glucose levels.
Also known as: Insulin (fasting)
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone that is produced and stored in the beta cells of the pancreas. It is vital for the transportation and storage of glucose at the cellular level, helps regulate blood glucose levels, and has a role in lipid metabolism. When blood glucose levels rise after a meal, insulin is released to allow glucose to move into tissue cells, especially muscle and adipose (fat) cells, where is it is used for energy production. Insulin then prompts the liver to either store the remaining excess blood glucose as glycogen for short-term energy storage and/or to use it to produce fatty acids. The fatty acids are eventually used by adipose tissue to synthesize triglycerides to form the basis of a longer term, more concentrated form of energy storage. Without insulin, glucose cannot reach most of the body's cells. Without glucose, the cells starve and blood glucose levels rise to unhealthy levels. This can cause disturbances in normal metabolic processes that result in various disorders, including kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and vision and neurological problems. Thus, diabetes, a disorder associated with decreased insulin effects, is eventually a life-threatening condition.
Also known as: Progesterone Immunoassay
Progesterone
Serum progesterone is a test to measure the amount of progesterone in the blood. Progesterone is a hormone produced mainly in the ovaries. In women, progesterone plays a vital role in pregnancy. After an egg is released by the ovaries (ovulation), progesterone helps make the uterus ready for implantation of a fertilized egg. It prepares the womb (uterus) for pregnancy and the breasts for milk production. Men produce some amount of progesterone, but it probably has no normal function except to help produce other steroid hormones.
Also known as: Reverse T3, Reverse Triiodothyronine, RT3, T3 Reverse RT3 LCMSMS, Triiodothyronine Reverse
T3 Reverse, LC/MS/MS
Reverse T3 produced in the thyroid comes from the conversion of the storage hormone T4. Your body, especially the liver, can constantly be converting T4 to RT3 as a way to get rid of any unneeded T4. In any given day approx. 40% of T4 goes to T3 and 20% of T4 goes to Reverse T3. However in any situation where your body needs to conserve energy and focus on something else, it will change the above percentages, changing the conversion of RT3 to 50% or more, and the T3 goes down, down. Examples are emotional, physical, or biological stress, such as being chronically or acutely sick (the flu, pneumonia, etc), after surgery, after a car accident or any acute injury, chronic stress causing high cortisol, being exposed to an extremely cold environment, diabetes, aging, or even being on drugs like beta blockers and amiodarone.
Also known as: Free T3, FT3, T3 Free
T3, Free
This test measures the amount of triiodothyronine, or T3, in the blood.
Also known as: Free T4, FT4, T4 Free
T4, Free
The free T4 test is not affected by protein levels. Since free T4 is the active form of thyroxine, the free T4 test is may be a more accurate reflection of thyroid hormone function.
Also known as: Testosterone Total And Free And Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
Free Testosterone
In many cases, measurement of total testosterone provides the doctor with adequate information. However, in certain cases, for example when the level of SHBG is abnormal, a test for free or bioavailable testosterone may be performed as it may more accurately reflect the presence of a medical condition.
Sex Hormone Binding
The sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) test measures the concentration of SHBG in the blood. SHBG is a protein that is produced by the liver and binds tightly to testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and estradiol (an estrogen). In this bound state, it transports them in the blood as an inactive form. The amount of SHBG in circulation is affected by age and sex, by decreased or increased testosterone or estrogen production and can be affected by certain diseases and conditions such as liver disease, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, and obesity. Changes in SHBG levels can affect the amount of testosterone that is available to be used by the body's tissues.
A total testosterone test does not distinguish between bound and unbound testosterone but determines the overall quantity of testosterone. If a person's SHBG level is not normal, then the total testosterone may not be an accurate representation of the amount of testosterone that is available to the person's tissues.
TESTOSTERONE, TOTAL,
A testosterone test measures the amount of the male hormone, testosterone, in the blood. Both men and women produce this hormone. In males, the testicles produce most of the testosterone in the body. Levels are most often checked to evaluate signs of low testosterone: In boys -- early or late puberty and in men -- impotence, low level of sexual interest, infertility, thinning of the bones
In females, the ovaries produce most of the testosterone and levels are most often checked to evaluate signs of higher testosterone levels, such as: decreased breast size, excess hair growth, increased size of the clitoris. irregular or absent menstrual periods and male-pattern baldness or hair thinning.
Thyroglobulin Antibodies
Measurement of thyroglobulin antibodies is useful in the diagnosis and management of a variety of thyroid disorders including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves Disease and certain types of goiter.
Thyroid Peroxidase
Also known as: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Test, Thyrotropin Test
TSH
A TSH test is a lab test that measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland. It tells the thyroid gland to make and release thyroid hormones into the blood.
*Important Information on Lab Test Processing Times: Ulta Lab Tests is committed to informing you about the processing times for your lab tests processed through a national lab. Please note that the estimated processing time for each test, indicated in business days, is based on data from the past 30 days across the 13 laboratories for each test. These estimates are intended to serve as a guide and are not guarantees. Factors such as laboratory workload, weather conditions, holidays, and the need for additional testing or maintenance can influence actual processing times. We aim to offer estimates to help you plan accordingly. Please understand that these times may vary, and processing times are not guaranteed. Thank you for choosing Ulta Lab Tests for your laboratory needs.
The Women’s Hormone-Driven Heart Risk Panel panel contains 13 tests
with 17 biomarkers
.
The Women’s Hormone-Driven Heart Risk Panel is designed to connect hormonal changes with cardiovascular and metabolic risk in women.
Hormones strongly influence cholesterol handling, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, weight distribution, and blood vessel health. This panel maps key hormones alongside metabolic and thyroid markers to provide a clearer picture of heart risk during hormonal transitions.
Purpose of This Panel
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Understand how hormonal shifts may affect heart health
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Identify patterns linked to insulin resistance and weight gain
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Evaluate thyroid and adrenal influences on metabolism
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Support informed, preventive cardiovascular planning for women
Who This Panel Is Best For
This panel is commonly chosen by:
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Women in perimenopause or menopause
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Women with PCOS
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Women using birth control or hormone therapy
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Women with unexplained:
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Anyone who suspects hormones may be influencing heart or metabolic risk
Tests Included and What They Show
Sex Hormones and Reproductive Signaling
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Estradiol
Influences cholesterol metabolism, blood vessel health, and fat distribution.
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Progesterone
Plays a role in vascular tone, fluid balance, and metabolic stability.
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Total and Free Testosterone
Affects insulin sensitivity, body composition, and cardiovascular risk.
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Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)
Regulates how much active hormone is available in the body.
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Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Help assess menopausal status, ovarian signaling, and cycle changes.
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DHEA-S
An adrenal hormone linked to energy, stress response, and metabolic health.
Metabolic and Blood Sugar Markers
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Fasting Glucose
Shows baseline blood sugar levels.
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Insulin
Helps detect insulin resistance, a key driver of cardiovascular risk in women.
Stress and Adrenal Function
Thyroid and Metabolic Regulation
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Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Screens overall thyroid signaling.
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Free T4 and Free T3
Show available thyroid hormones that affect energy and cholesterol metabolism.
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Reverse T3
Helps identify stress-related thyroid slowing.
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Thyroid Antibodies
Detect autoimmune patterns that may affect metabolism and heart risk.
Why This Panel Matters
Women’s heart health is closely tied to their hormonal landscape. Changes in estrogen, progesterone, and androgens can shift cholesterol patterns, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and weight distribution.
By evaluating hormones together with metabolic and thyroid markers, this panel helps reveal risk patterns that standard heart tests may miss, especially during hormonal transitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this panel only for menopause?
No. This panel is useful for women in perimenopause, menopause, PCOS, or anyone with hormone-related symptoms.
How do hormones affect heart risk?
Hormones influence cholesterol handling, insulin resistance, inflammation, and blood vessel function, all of which impact cardiovascular health.
Can this panel explain weight gain or fatigue?
It may help identify hormonal, thyroid, or insulin-related contributors to weight changes and low energy.
How often should this panel be done?
Many women choose this panel during major hormonal changes or every 1–2 years to track trends.
Are there other panels I should consider adding?
Some women also add:
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A core or advanced cardiovascular panel
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A lipid or inflammation panel
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A nutrient or metabolic health panel
