Affordable Hormone Testing: What to Test First, When to Test, and How to Save Money (Without Missing What Matters)

Navigating Affordable Hormone Testing: Key Priorities and Timing for Real Answers

If you’ve ever wanted to understand your hormones better but felt completely overwhelmed by the cost of testing… you are not alone.

Because hormone testing can quickly turn into:

• dozens of tests

• hundreds of dollars

• confusing results

• and still no clear explanation of what it actually means

And that’s where most women get stuck.

They’re doing the “right thing” by trying to learn about their body… but they end up spending a fortune and still feeling like they have no answers.

The good news? You can do hormone testing in a way that’s affordable, strategic, and genuinely helpful.

Women getting a blood test

Step 1: Don’t Test Everything — Prioritise What Matters Most

One of the biggest mistakes I see is women ordering massive hormone panels without a plan.

More tests does not always equal more clarity.

If you’re working with a limited budget, the goal is to start with tests that give the clearest foundation and guide what needs deeper investigation.

Here are the most helpful tests to prioritise:

1) Thyroid Testing (Often the Best First Step)

Thyroid issues are common in women struggling with fatigue, weight changes, mood symptoms, cycle irregularity and fertility concerns — and yet they’re often missed.

Start with:

• TSH

• Free T4

• (and ideally) Free T3

• Thyroid antibodies

A full thyroid panel is often a great first step, an underactive thyroid can mimic symptoms similar to PCOS and is a common cause of fertility issues. Typically only TSH is covered by medicare so this is a panel that will require a private referral.

2) Sex Hormones (When Your Cycle or Symptoms Suggest It)

If you’re dealing with:

• irregular cycles

• acne / hair changes

• PMS / mood swings

• painful periods

• fertility concerns

…then sex hormones are important.

Key hormones include:

• estrogen

• progesterone

• testosterone (and free testosterone if possible)

For PCOS, additional markers like SHBG and LH/FSH ratio can also offer valuable insights.

3) Cortisol + Stress Hormones

This one is big — because stress and adrenal dysfunction can mimic (or worsen) nearly every hormonal symptom.

If you’re experiencing:

• burnout

• anxiety

• sleep disruption

• fatigue that feels “wired but tired”

• energy crashes in the afternoon

Then consider checking:

• cortisol

• DHEA

Step 2: Timing Hormone Tests Correctly (So You Don’t Waste Money)

This is where SO many women go wrong.

Your hormones aren’t static they fluctuate daily, and throughout your cycle. That means timing matters.

Thyroid tests

Can be done most days

Best tip: be consistent with time of day if repeating. Even though it's not necessary I suggest all tests be done first thing in the morning in a fasted state. This helps with consistency of results.

Cortisol testing

Cortisol is on a rhythm: highest in the morning📉 lowest at night

This is why:

• morning blood tests can be helpful

• but saliva cortisol panels (multiple samples through the day) give deeper insight.

Progesterone

This is the biggest one.

Progesterone should be tested:

• 7 days after ovulation(not just “day 21” unless you have a perfect 28-day cycle)

If you don’t ovulate regularly, this needs a different approach — which is where symptom tracking + guidance is key.

Step 3: How to Use Medicare/Public Testing to Save Money

This is where you can be really smart.

In Australia, Medicare-covered testing is often a great foundation (with the right referral).

How to make the most of it:

• start with the basics that are often bulk billed (thyroid, iron, glucose/insulin markers, etc.)

• clearly communicate symptoms to your GP

• request tests in one draw where possible

• use results to decide whether deeper private testing is needed

This approach prevents spending unnecessary money upfront.

Step 4: When Private Testing Is Actually Worth It

Private testing can be incredible — but only when it’s used intentionally.

Private testing may be worth it when:

• you want thyroid antibodies

• you need a more detailed sex hormone panel

• you want saliva cortisol rhythm testing

• you need fast answers and want to avoid multiple appointments

The best approach for many women is:

• Medicare first

• private second

This gives you both affordability and depth. If working with a practitioner you may be able to do both draws at the same time.

Alternative Testing: HTMA as a Budget-Friendly Starting Point

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is one of my favourite tools when women:

• can’t afford full hormone panels yet

• feel exhausted and inflamed

• struggle with stress-related symptoms

• have symptoms but “normal blood results”

HTMA doesn’t test hormones directly… but it gives insight into:

• thyroid/adrenal patterns

• mineral depletion

• metabolic stress load

• estrogen/progesterone dominance clues

• inflammation + blood sugar tendencies

Mineral ratios can act like a map that helps us understand what’s going on underneath, and guides smarter next testing and supplement support without guessing.

HTMA is often more affordable than full hormone panels and provides a strong starting point when budget is tight.

Practical Tips to Keep Hormone Testing Affordable

Here are simple strategies I recommend:

• keep a symptom + cycle diary (helps target testing)

• ask about bulk billing where possible

• compare private lab pricing (it varies wildly)

• schedule testing around symptom peaks

• use telehealth to reduce travel and visit costs

• work with a practitioner who can help you test strategically (not excessively)

Final Thoughts

Affordable hormone testing is absolutely possible — but it requires strategy.

You don’t need to test everything. You need to test the right things, at the right time, in the right order.

And when you do that, your results become clearer, more actionable, and far less overwhelming.

If you’re feeling stuck, confused by your symptoms, or overwhelmed by what to test (and when)…

Book a FREE Naturopathic PCOS Assessment Call and I’ll help you map out the most important testing priorities for your symptoms and budget — so you can finally get clarity and stop guessing.