Understand why your hormones behave the way they do
Your periods are heavy or painful. PMS takes out a week every month. Your skin breaks out around your cycle, or you’ve been told you have PCOS and handed the pill as the only option.
Hormone symptoms rarely come from one place. They depend on how you make hormones, how you respond to them, how you clear them through your liver and gut, and how stress pulls on the whole system. Your genes shape every one of those steps.
The Lifecode Gx hormones test is a simple at-home cheek swab. It shows where your hormone pathways are more vulnerable, so we can support the right ones instead of guessing.
Could your genes be part of your hormone picture?
This panel may be worth considering if you recognise several of these:
- PMS, PMDD or mood swings that follow your cycle
- Heavy, painful, irregular or absent periods
- PCOS, acne or excess facial hair
- Endometriosis or fibrocystic breasts
- Fertility challenges, for women or men
- Low libido or low energy
- Symptoms that flare with stress
- Perimenopause symptoms arriving early or hitting hard
What I see again and again is that clients have treated each symptom separately: one thing for the skin, another for the periods, another for mood. When we look at how oestrogen is being cleared, or how stress hormones are competing with sex hormones, it often turns out to be one story.
What the Lifecode Gx hormones test looks at
The report looks at the full journey of your hormones, from making them, to using them, to clearing them out safely.
| Area | Genes looked at | Why it matters for you |
|---|---|---|
| Steroid hormones | AKR1C4, CYP17A1, GABRA2, HSD11B1, SRD5A2, SULT2A1 | How you make and balance cortisol, androgens like testosterone and DHEA |
| Oestrogen metabolism | COMT, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYP3A4, CYP19A1, ESR1, ESR2, MTHFR, NQO1 | How you produce oestrogen and which clearance routes you favour |
| Hormone detoxification | ABCB1, GSTM1, GSTP1, SULT1A1, SULT1E1, UGT1A1 | How efficiently your liver packages hormones up for removal |
| Stress response (HPA axis) | ADRB1, ADRB2, FKBP5, MTNR1B, OPRM1, TCF7L2 | How strongly you react to stress, and how that pulls on your sex hormones |
| Reproductive axis (HPG) | ESR1, ESR2, FAAH | How sensitive your tissues are to oestrogen |
Each gene comes with the nutrients and lifestyle factors that support it. For oestrogen clearance, for example, that can mean specific vegetables, fibre and B vitamins, as well as looking after the gut bacteria that recycle hormones.
How it works
- Book a strategy call so we can check this is the right test for you and choose your panels.
- Your kit arrives at home. It’s a simple cheek swab, with no blood and no needles.
- Post it back to the Lifecode Gx lab.
- I analyse your report alongside your symptoms, history and any recent blood tests.
- We meet online to go through your results, and you leave with a clear plan and a recording of the session.
Hormones pairs especially well with the DNA Methylation panel, because methylation is one of the main routes for clearing oestrogen, and with Detoxification for a fuller view of liver clearance.
Pricing depends on which panels you choose and how your programme is set up, so we’ll decide together on your strategy call.
Other DNA panels: DNA Methylation · Detoxification · Nervous System · Metabolics · Nutrient Core · Histamine. See all DNA testing options.
Hormones DNA test FAQs
Is the hormones DNA test the same as a DUTCH test?
No, and they work brilliantly together. A DUTCH test shows what your hormones are doing right now. The DNA test shows your built-in tendencies, which never change. One tells us the current picture, the other tells us why it keeps happening.
Can men do the hormones DNA test?
Yes. It covers testosterone, DHT, oestrogen and stress hormones, so it is useful for men with low libido, low energy, fertility concerns or hair loss too.
Can this help with PCOS?
PCOS has several drivers, including blood sugar, androgens, inflammation and stress. The test shows which of those pathways are more vulnerable for you, so your plan targets your version of PCOS. Metabolics is a great add-on panel to Hormones for PCOS, as it looks at blood sugar, insulin and appetite. Read about the Metabolics DNA test.
How long do results take?
Results take 3 to 4 weeks from when the lab receives your sample. Once your report is in, we book your results consultation.
Can I do the test from outside the UK?
Yes. I work with clients internationally and all consultations are online. Get in touch and I’ll confirm kit delivery to your country.
Do I need to stop medication or supplements before the test?
No. Your DNA doesn’t change, so medication, diet and supplements won’t affect the result.
Does my DNA decide my health?
No. Your genes show where you’re more vulnerable. Diet, gut health, stress, sleep and targeted nutrients decide how those genes actually behave, which is exactly what we work on together.
