Women’s Health: Gut Doctor Shares 5 Blood Tests You Should Never Ignore

There are several factors that can influence women’s health. These may include nutrition, hormones, inflammation, metabolism, and lifestyle-related factors. Meanwhile, several underlying health issues may also go unnoticed until symptoms become severe, all of a sudden. For women, regular blood tests can detect imbalances early and support better long-term health.

These tests can catch issues like insulin resistance, thyroid dysfunction, and other potential deficiencies early often before symptoms become aggravated.  The TSH test can evaluate metabolism and thyroid gland function to detect hypo or hypothyroidism.

Meanwhile, high sensitivity CRP can detect low-grade chronic inflammation linked to chronic diseases and heart diseases. Vitamin D and B12 test is vital for checking bone health and immune health. On the other hand, Ferritin test can measure iron storage in the body which is vital for diagnosing anemia, hair loss, and fatigue.

Recently, leading Dr. Saurabh Sethi, AIIMS-trained gastroenterologist and liver specialist, also educated at Harvard and Stanford, took to his Instagram account and recommended 5 blood tests every woman should ask for. Sharing the post, Dr Sethi said, “These 5 tests could change everything. Most women never get them.” ¹

5 Blood Tests Every Women Should Ask For

1. TSH + Free T3+ Free T4: The gut doctor said, “TSH alone does not tell the full story. If you are on thyroid medication and still exhausted, your TSH can look normal while your Free T3  – the form your cells actually use – is low.”

Ask For: Free T3 and Free T4 alongside TSH, especially if symptoms persist despite a “normal” result.

Thyroid imbalances have emerged quite common in women and can cause symptoms such as exhaustion, weight changes, hair loss, inconsistent periods, stress, or poor digestion. Checking all three markers offer a better picture of thyroid health instead of relying only on TSH levels.

2. Fasting Insulin + HbA1c: Dr Saurabh Sethi revealed that, “Your blood sugar can look perfect for years while insulin resistance quietly builds. Elevated fasting insulin is linked to higher risk of colorectal and endometrial cancer – and catches the problem a decade before a diabetes diagnosis.”

Ask For: Both. Fasting glucose alone tells you almost nothing.

Blood sugar imbalances and insulin resistance can impact your energy, weight, hormones, and even the gut health. Fasting insulin assesses how effectively your body uses insulin, while HbA1c reflects average blood sugar levels over the past 2–3 months.

These tests can also detect early signs of insulin resistance, prediabetes, or metabolic problems even before symptoms surface. Women with PCOS, fatigue, weight gain, or sugar cravings can benefit immensely from such screenings.  

3. High-Sensitivity CRP: “Silent inflammation drives heart disease, cancer, and gut disorders. Most women are never tested for it. Hs – CRP finds what a standard panel ignores,” suggested Dr Saurabh Sethi.  

Ask For: hs – CRP specifically. Not standard CRP. They are not the same test.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a marker of inflammation in the body. Higher hs-CRP level may reflect that the body is under stress or inflammation, even if no visible symptoms appear. Monitoring inflammation levels can help guide lifestyle and dietary changes at the right time.

4. Vitamin D + B12: More than 40% of US adults are vitamin D deficient. Low levels are linked to colon cancer, autoimmune disease, and depression. B12 deficiency causes nerve damage and is routinely missed – especially in women over 50 or on plant-based diets.

Ask For: 25-hydroxy vitamin D.

As these deficiencies often develop at a small pace, several females may not realise they are lacking these nutrients until symptoms aggravate. Regular testing can help identify deficiencies early and support timely correction through diet or supplements.

According to a study featured in National Library of Medicine, “Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal bone mineralization and to prevent hypocalcemic tetany (involuntary contraction of muscles, leading to cramps and spasms). It is also needed for bone growth and bone remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts [1-3]. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Vitamin D sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.” ²

5. Ferritin: It is “The most common deficiency in women – and the most overlooked.” Ferritin drops long before anemia shows up. Fatigue, hair loss, brain fog. Sounds familiar?

Ask For: Ferritin by name.

The test measures iron stores in the body. Even when hemoglobin levels reflect normal, low ferritin can still lead to symptoms like fatigue, hair fall, weakness, breathlessness, and poor concentration. It is worth nothing that females are at higher risk of iron deficiency due to menstruation, pregnancy, and dietary factors. Checking ferritin levels can provide a better understanding of iron status and overall energy health.

FAQs

References

1. Dr. Saurabh Sethi, AIIMS-trained gastroenterologist and liver specialist via Instagram|5 Blood Tests Every Women Should Ask For

2. National Library of Medicine|Vitamin D

Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health or treatment options.