Most annual physicals look at a “basic panel” of about 19 biomarkers. That’s enough to catch major red flags, but not nearly enough to explain the fatigue, weight changes, brain fog, or mood swings so many women deal with, starting in their 30s.
At Parsley Health, we go deeper. Our Longevity Labs measure 100+ biomarkers across six categories that tell the real story of what’s happening in your body. And when you connect the dots across those categories, you get answers that routine bloodwork simply can’t provide. 89% of Parsley members experience improvement or resolution of their symptoms within the first year when these labs are combined with root-cause functional medicine care.
What Your Routine Bloodwork Misses
Here’s what your routine bloodwork is missing, and why it matters.
1. Hormones
Hormones are the body’s master messengers, influencing everything from fertility to mood to metabolism. A standard doctor’s visit typically checks thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), but rarely includes a full hormone panel.
At Parsley, we measure estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, FSH/LH, and sex hormone binding globulin. These labs answer questions that 50,000 Parsley members have asked us over and over:
- Why have my cycles become irregular?
- Are night sweats and brain fog symptoms of early perimenopause? (Perimenopause can begin as early as the mid-30s, not just the late 40s)
- Is my stress causing my energy and weight issues?
One Parsley member in her early 40s was told, “It’s just stress,” when she couldn’t sleep and gained weight suddenly. Our hormone panel revealed her progesterone was low, pointing to signs of perimenopause. Though stress may have been a trigger, the dramatic changes she saw were because of the shift in her hormones. With targeted care, she finally felt like herself again.
2. Heart Health
Heart disease is the #1 killer of women, yet routine labs typically stop at total cholesterol. That number alone doesn’t tell you much. Additionally, women are less likely than men to be diagnosed early because their cardiovascular symptoms are often dismissed. We take it a step further with advanced markers, including ApoB, lipoprotein(a), and omega-3/6 ratios.
These numbers uncover hidden risks that traditional care misses—especially for women, whose heart attack symptoms often look different (fatigue, jaw pain).
3. Nutrient Reserve
Nutrient deficiencies are one of the most overlooked causes of stubborn symptoms. Low ferritin, vitamin D, or B12 can masquerade as fatigue, anxiety, or hair loss. Up to 60% of women have low vitamin D levels, which can impact bone health, immunity, and mood.
Parsley checks iron and TIBC, RBC magnesium, zinc, copper, and folate. These are markers most PCPs never order.
4. Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is like a slow burn in the body. You may not feel it directly, but it can drive joint pain, gut issues, autoimmune disease, and even heart disease. It is the root of many conditions that disproportionately affect women: approximately 80% of autoimmune diagnoses are in women, with onset often in the 30s–50s
We measure high-sensitivity CRP, ESR, homocysteine, and a complete blood count with a differential. These labs show whether your immune system is quietly overactive long before symptoms escalate.
5. Thyroid Health
Women are up to 8x more likely than men to have thyroid disorders, yet many are told their thyroid is “fine” based on a single TSH value.
At Parsley, we test free T4, free T3, and thyroid antibodies (TPO, TgAb). This full panel uncovers autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s) and explains symptoms like unexplained weight gain, hair loss, and chronic fatigue.
One Parsley member had been told for years that her thyroid was “normal.” When we ordered functional labs, we saw from test results that she had elevated antibodies, confirming Hashimoto’s, and we finally had a path forward to resolving her symptoms. With care tailored to her results, she regained energy and clarity.
6. Metabolic Health
Nearly half of women over 40 have some form of metabolic syndrome. Weight changes, 2 p.m. crashes, and brain fog often trace back to metabolic health. Yet most labs only check fasting glucose. Functional labs go further with fasting insulin, HbA1c, leptin, uric acid, and advanced insulin resistance scores.
We know that insulin resistance can start 10 to 15 years before Type 2 Diabetes is diagnosed. These markers catch blood sugar dysfunction years before it becomes diabetes—and give you a clear roadmap to reverse it.
