As you move into your 40s and transition through perimenopause, your physiology begins to shift in subtle but important ways. Blood work that looked “fine” a decade ago can change significantly as metabolism, hormones, inflammation, and nutrient absorption evolve.
Regular blood testing is one of the most powerful tools you have to stay ahead of these changes, and to understand the root causes of symptoms like fatigue, low mood, brain fog, heavy periods, poor sleep, weight changes, or feeling “off” in ways you can’t quite explain.
In this episode, I walk you through the most important blood markers to test annually, what they mean, and the optimal ranges to aim for (which are often different from the standard “normal” reference ranges your GP may use).
Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why blood work becomes more important in your 40s
- Why trends over time matter more than isolated results
- The “low-hanging fruit” markers that can mimic perimenopause symptoms
- The essential blood tests to request annually, and the optimal ranges to look for
- How nutrient absorption declines with age + stress
- When to consider deeper private testing
- Key nutrients that aren’t easily tested but may need supplementing in perimenopause
We cover key markers including:
- Iron (ferritin), B12, folate, vitamin D
- Full thyroid panel: TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, thyroid antibodies
- Blood sugar markers: HbA1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin
- Inflammation markers: hs-CRP, ESR, homocysteine
- General health markers: CBC, lipids, liver + kidney function
If you’ve ever been told “your tests are normal,” yet you still don’t feel normal, this episode will help you understand why, and empower you with the information you need to advocate for optimal health, so you can thrive, not just survive.
Listen in and start understanding your numbers, your trends, and your body with more clarity and confidence.
Mentioned in the Episode:
- DUTCH hormone testing: work with me in my DUTCH Plus Hormone Insight Package here.
Free Resources
- Perimenopause Blueprint: 4 Pillars For Balance + Vitality – download it here.
- Thriving Through Perimenopause Masterclass Recording – access it here.
Work with me 1:1
- Click here to discover ways we can work together 1:1 to help you on a completely personalised level.
Join the Midlife Thrive Membership
- A cancel-anytime, affordable membership, created to give women a private, supportive space, with coaching, community, and accountability, so they can navigate perimenopause (and beyond) with more ease. Click here to join today!
Support for the Empowered Perimenopause Podcast:
Your support in listening to these episodes means the absolute world to me and helps me make an impact with my work, which is why I’m here. I’d be so grateful if you could subscribe/follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts, leave a review – 5 stars would be amazing and so helpful, if you’re happy to!
Connect with me on Instagram
Get in touch! If you have any questions from this episode that you’d like me to address on a future episode or if you have suggestions for topics and or guests you’d like me to cover and chat with on the show, let me know! You can email me on francesca@francescaliparoti.com or drop me a DM on Instagram.
