Female hair loss testing
Private blood test for female hair loss in London
A bespoke panel covering the nutritional, thyroid and hormonal markers that drive female pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium, post-pregnancy shedding and diffuse thinning. NICE CKS and BAD aligned. Reviewed by GMC-registered doctors at 134 Harley Street.
Hair Loss Essentials from £249. Advanced Hair & Hormone Check from £389. Custom panels from £275.
Quick answer
A blood test for female hair loss typically covers ferritin (iron stores, NICE CKS uses under 30 ug/L for deficiency, some trichology specialists prefer over 70 ug/L for active shedding), TSH and free T4 (thyroid), vitamin D, vitamin B12, and where female pattern hair loss is suspected, total and free testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-sulfate and prolactin. NICE CKS Hair loss and BAD support this layered workup. WMG Health offers Hair Loss Essentials from £249 and a fuller Advanced Hair & Hormone Check from £389, with custom panels designed around your specific case from £275.
When bloods help most
- Persistent shedding (over 100 hairs/day for more than 3 months). Iron, thyroid, B12 and vitamin D are the highest-yield first checks. If those are normal and shedding continues, hormonal context becomes important.
- Visible thinning at the parting or crown. Suggests female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Bloods help rule out compounders before considering minoxidil or other treatment.
- Post-pregnancy hair loss. Postpartum telogen effluvium is common and usually self-resolves over 6-12 months, but is worth distinguishing from coincident iron, thyroid or B12 deficiency.
- Hair loss with cycle changes or perimenopause symptoms. Hormonal axis testing alongside the standard nutritional panel.
- Hair loss with weight changes, mood changes or fatigue. Thyroid and metabolic context matter alongside the hair-specific workup.
Which panel suits you
Foundation
Hair Loss Essentials
Iron studies, ferritin, vitamin D, vitamin B12, thyroid function, full blood count.
£249
Comprehensive
Advanced Hair & Hormone Check
Everything in Essentials plus DHT, androgens, oestrogen, zinc, CRP, ESR.
£389
Bespoke
Custom panel for your case
Tailored around your case and reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor. Typical female-hair-loss bespoke panel £325-425.
From £275
FAQs
Which bloods are most useful for female hair loss?
The four highest-yield markers in female pattern hair loss workup are ferritin (iron stores), TSH and free T4 (thyroid function, also commonly with TPO antibodies), vitamin D, and vitamin B12. In suspected female pattern hair loss (FPHL) or PMOS-related thinning, the panel should also include total and free testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-sulfate, and prolactin. NICE CKS Hair loss and BAD (British Association of Dermatologists) guidance support this layered approach.
What ferritin level matters for hair?
NICE CKS Anaemia (August 2024 revision) treats serum ferritin below 30 micrograms per litre as iron deficient irrespective of sex. Some trichology specialists additionally prefer ferritin above 70 micrograms per litre when active hair shedding is the presenting issue, this is expert opinion (Rushton, Trost), not a NICE-endorsed threshold. We report your ferritin against both contexts so you and your clinician can make an informed decision.
How long does it take to see improvement once a deficiency is treated?
The hair growth cycle is slow. Even when an underlying deficiency is corrected, visible improvement in shedding and density typically takes 3 to 6 months, with further improvement to 9-12 months as new growth lengthens. We typically suggest a baseline panel, treatment of identified deficiencies, then a 3-month and 6-month review.
What about minoxidil or other treatments?
Topical minoxidil is the licensed UK first-line treatment for female pattern hair loss (Regaine 2% solution and 5% once-a-day foam). Our sister service WMG Meds can prescribe topical minoxidil, compounded combinations, and (in postmenopausal women, off-label after individual clinical assessment) finasteride or dutasteride. The bloodwork helps decide whether to treat correctable contributors first.
How much does the female hair loss panel cost?
Our Hair Loss Essentials panel (£249) covers the core nutritional and thyroid markers. The Advanced Hair & Hormone Check (£389) adds the hormonal axis (DHT, androgens, oestrogen, zinc, CRP, ESR). For women specifically, a custom panel built around female pattern hair loss with the full hormonal context typically costs £325 to £425. We quote in writing before booking.
Ready to book?
Same-day appointments at 134 Harley Street usually available. Results clinician-reviewed within 4 hours of your appointment.