Ulta Lab Tests

Women’s Hormone-Driven Heart Risk Panel

A comprehensive women’s hormone-driven heart risk panel evaluating cortisol, DHEA-S, estradiol, progesterone, FSH, LH, testosterone, SHBG, full thyroid function with antibodies, glucose, and insulin. Designed to assess how adrenal, ovarian, thyroid, and metabolic hormones influence cardiovascular and cardiometabolic health during hormonal transitions.

Serum
Phlebotomist
Women’s Hormone & Cardiometabolic Risk Assessment Panel, Women’s Endocrine-Linked Cardiovascular Risk Panel, Women’s Hormonal Heart & Metabolic Regulation Panel

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

Fsh

Lh

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.
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The Women’s Hormone-Driven Heart Risk Panel panel contains 13 tests with 17 biomarkers .

Evaluating the Hormonal Drivers of Cardiometabolic Risk in Women

The Women’s Hormone-Driven Heart Risk Panel is a comprehensive laboratory assessment designed to evaluate how hormonal balance influences cardiovascular and metabolic health in women. Hormones play a central role in regulating lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, vascular tone, inflammation, stress response, and body composition. Shifts in reproductive, adrenal, thyroid, and metabolic hormones can significantly impact long-term heart health.

This panel integrates adrenal hormones (Cortisol AM and DHEA-S), ovarian hormones (Estradiol, Progesterone), pituitary signaling hormones (FSH and LH), androgen markers (Total and Free Testosterone, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin), comprehensive thyroid function testing (TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies, Thyroglobulin Antibodies), and metabolic markers (Glucose and Insulin). Together, these biomarkers provide a multidimensional evaluation of endocrine pathways that influence cardiometabolic risk.

Hormonal transitions such as perimenopause and menopause are associated with changes in body fat distribution, insulin resistance, lipid levels, and vascular function. Thyroid dysfunction, adrenal imbalance, and androgen shifts may further modify cardiovascular risk factors. By evaluating these systems together, this panel helps create a clearer understanding of how endocrine function intersects with metabolic and cardiovascular health.

Rather than focusing solely on cholesterol values, this hormone-focused cardiovascular panel explores upstream drivers that can affect lipid metabolism, glucose regulation, inflammatory signaling, and vascular health. It is designed to support informed discussions between patients and healthcare providers about hormone-related influences on cardiometabolic patterns and overall heart risk assessment.

When and Why Someone Would Order This Panel

Hormonal Changes and Cardiovascular Risk

Women may consider the Women’s Hormone-Driven Heart Risk Panel when experiencing hormonal transitions that may influence metabolic or cardiovascular patterns. Perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause are associated with shifts in estrogen, progesterone, and androgen balance. These changes may affect lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, vascular tone, and inflammatory responses.

This panel may be appropriate for women who:

  • Are experiencing irregular cycles or menopausal symptoms

  • Have changes in weight distribution or metabolic patterns

  • Have a history of thyroid dysfunction or autoimmune thyroid disease

  • Are monitoring cardiometabolic risk in the context of hormonal changes

  • Have elevated glucose or insulin levels

  • Want to understand how endocrine balance may influence heart health

Evaluation of Thyroid and Autoimmune Influence

Thyroid hormones directly impact cholesterol metabolism, heart rate, vascular resistance, and energy utilization. Even subtle thyroid dysfunction can influence lipid levels and insulin sensitivity. The inclusion of thyroid antibodies (TPO and Thyroglobulin antibodies) allows evaluation of autoimmune thyroid conditions that may affect long-term metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes.

Assessment of Stress and Adrenal Function

Chronic stress and altered cortisol rhythms may contribute to insulin resistance, abdominal fat accumulation, and metabolic changes. Measuring Cortisol AM and DHEA-S helps assess adrenal signaling patterns that may influence cardiometabolic risk.

Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Regulation

Elevated insulin levels or impaired glucose regulation are closely associated with cardiovascular disease risk. By including fasting Glucose and Insulin, this panel helps evaluate early patterns of insulin resistance that may precede more overt metabolic dysfunction.

Overall, this panel may be ordered as part of a comprehensive evaluation of hormone-related influences on cardiometabolic health, especially during times of endocrine transition.

What Does the Panel Measure?

Adrenal Hormones

  • Cortisol AM: Reflects morning adrenal cortisol production and stress response signaling.

  • DHEA-S (Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate): An adrenal androgen precursor involved in hormone balance and metabolic regulation.

Ovarian and Pituitary Hormones

  • Estradiol: Primary estrogen influencing vascular function, lipid metabolism, and reproductive health.

  • Progesterone: Hormone involved in menstrual cycle regulation and hormonal balance.

  • FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) and LH (Luteinizing Hormone): Pituitary hormones that regulate ovarian function and help determine reproductive stage.

Androgen Markers

  • Testosterone (Free and Total): Androgen levels that influence body composition, energy, and metabolic patterns.

  • Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG): Protein that binds sex hormones and affects bioavailability.

Thyroid Function and Autoimmune Markers

  • TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone): Regulates thyroid hormone production.

  • Free T4 and Free T3: Active circulating thyroid hormones.

  • Reverse T3: Inactive thyroid hormone metabolite that may reflect altered conversion patterns.

  • Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb): Markers associated with autoimmune thyroid conditions.

Metabolic Markers

  • Glucose: Measures fasting blood sugar levels.

  • Insulin: Assesses insulin production and may help evaluate insulin resistance when interpreted alongside glucose.

Together, these biomarkers provide a comprehensive view of endocrine pathways that influence cardiovascular and metabolic health.

How Patients and Healthcare Providers Use the Results

Understanding Hormone-Related Cardiometabolic Patterns

Healthcare providers may use the results of this panel to evaluate how hormonal imbalances influence cardiometabolic markers. For example, declining estradiol during menopause may be associated with changes in lipid patterns and body fat distribution. Elevated insulin levels alongside normal glucose may suggest early insulin resistance.

Identifying Thyroid Dysfunction

Abnormal TSH, Free T4, or Free T3 levels may indicate hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Positive thyroid antibodies may suggest autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease. Because thyroid dysfunction can affect cholesterol and metabolic health, identifying these patterns is clinically important.

Evaluating Androgen Balance

Altered free or total testosterone levels, especially when interpreted alongside SHBG, may influence metabolic patterns and insulin sensitivity. These results may help identify hormonal contributors to cardiometabolic risk.

Assessing Adrenal and Stress Response Patterns

Abnormal cortisol or DHEA-S levels may indicate altered stress response signaling, which can influence glucose metabolism, body composition, and cardiovascular risk factors.

Supporting Preventive Monitoring

This panel may be used for baseline evaluation or ongoing monitoring during hormonal transitions. By understanding how endocrine pathways intersect with metabolic regulation, healthcare providers can better contextualize cardiovascular risk factors and guide evidence-based health planning.

A Hormone-Centered Perspective on Women’s Heart Risk

The Women’s Hormone-Driven Heart Risk Panel offers a comprehensive evaluation of endocrine pathways that influence cardiovascular and metabolic health. By examining adrenal hormones, reproductive hormones, thyroid function, androgen balance, and insulin signaling together, this panel provides a broader perspective on heart risk factors beyond traditional lipid testing alone.

Hormonal balance plays a critical role in regulating metabolism, vascular health, glucose control, and inflammatory responses. During life transitions such as perimenopause and menopause, understanding these shifts becomes especially important.

Through integrated hormone and metabolic biomarker assessment, this panel supports informed discussions between women and their healthcare providers. It provides a data-driven foundation for evaluating how endocrine function may contribute to cardiometabolic patterns, helping guide personalized monitoring and long-term cardiovascular wellness strategies grounded in objective laboratory insights.

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