The hormones behind performance and recovery
Sports & Fitness
Training hard is only half the story; how your body recovers and adapts is governed largely by hormones. This panel looks at the endocrine picture behind performance: your anabolic and sex hormones, the proteins that carry them, and cortisol, the hormone that rises with stress and heavy load. Together they can help explain plateaus, fatigue and stubborn results.
You might consider it if progress has stalled despite consistent training, or if recovery, energy and sleep are not what they were. Measuring testosterone alongside SHBG and the free androgen index shows both how much testosterone you have and how much is actually available to your muscles.
Your blood is drawn in our private Leigh-on-Sea clinic and analysed by an accredited UK laboratory, with a doctor’s report explaining your results within 5–7 working days. Because hormones follow a daily rhythm, a morning appointment gives the clearest picture. The report is a starting point for conversation, not a verdict on your training.
Preparation: A morning appointment is best, as testosterone and cortisol are highest before around 10am. No fasting is required, but avoid heavy training for 24 hours beforehand and stay normally hydrated so your results reflect your true baseline.
Inside this panel
12 biomarkers in 2 areas
- Anabolic & sex hormones8 markers
- Total Testosterone
- Free Testosterone
- Free Androgen Index
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)
- Albumin
- DHEA-Sulphate
- Oestradiol
- Progesterone
- Pituitary & stress hormones4 markers
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- Luteinising Hormone (LH)
- Prolactin
- Cortisol
Worth considering if
- Training plateaus despite consistent effort
- Slow recovery between sessions
- Low energy or stamina
- Reduced drive or motivation
- Difficulty building or maintaining muscle
- Disrupted sleep
- Low mood or irritability
Who this test suits
- Committed athletes and gym-goers wanting to train smarter
- Anyone whose progress has stalled despite hard work
- People experiencing slow recovery or persistent fatigue
- Those curious about their hormonal baseline
- 1
Book your time
Choose a slot that suits you. Appointments only, so the clinic is yours.
- 2
A gentle draw
Demi takes your venous sample in minutes, in a calm private room.
- 3
Doctor-reviewed report
Your results arrive within 5–7 working days, explained marker by marker.
About this test
Cortisol reflects stress and training load, while testosterone drives adaptation and recovery. Seen together, they help explain whether your body is building up or running down: insight a single marker cannot give.
You do not need to stop entirely, but avoiding heavy or unusually intense sessions for 24 hours before your draw gives a truer reading, as strenuous exercise can temporarily shift several of these hormones.
It offers an informational picture of your hormones, not a training plan. Your report highlights anything outside the usual range and is a helpful basis for a conversation with a coach or your GP.
