At Needles, Herbs & Labs, Dr. Naylous takes a broader approach to thyroid and hormone evaluation by looking at patterns across multiple laboratory markers rather than relying on a single result. Hormonal symptoms can be influenced by thyroid function, stress physiology, blood sugar regulation, nutrient status, reproductive hormones, and other factors, so testing is selected based on the individual patient’s symptoms and health history.

This can be especially helpful for patients dealing with fatigue, changes in weight, hair loss, irregular menstrual cycles, low libido, sleep concerns, mood changes, temperature sensitivity, or other symptoms that may have a hormonal component.
 

Looking Beyond a Single Thyroid Marker

Thyroid evaluation is often centered around TSH, but TSH is only one part of the overall thyroid picture.

Depending on the patient, Dr. Naylous may also consider markers such as Free T4, Free T3, thyroid antibodies, and other relevant laboratory findings to better understand how the thyroid may be functioning.

Rather than interpreting one value in isolation, he looks at the relationship between thyroid markers and considers them alongside symptoms, nutrient status, medications, stress, and other clinical information.
 

What We May Evaluate

Testing is individualized and may include markers such as:

• TSH

• Free T4

• Free T3

• Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO)

• Thyroglobulin antibodies

• Estradiol

• Progesterone

• Testosterone

• DHEA-S

• FSH

• LH

• Prolactin

• Cortisol

• Insulin and blood sugar markers

• Vitamin D

• Iron and ferritin

• Other relevant markers when appropriate

The exact panel depends on the patient’s age, sex, symptoms, menstrual status, health history, medications, and previous laboratory results.
 

Hormones Work as a System

Hormones do not function independently. Changes in one area may influence another, which is why Dr. Naylous looks for patterns rather than focusing on one isolated number.

For example, symptoms involving energy, menstrual health, mood, or metabolism may warrant consideration of thyroid function alongside reproductive hormones, blood sugar regulation, iron status, nutrient levels, and stress-related markers.

The goal is to understand how these different systems may be interacting within the broader clinical picture.
 

Looking at Hormones in Context

Hormone levels can vary based on timing, age, menstrual cycle phase, medications, stress, sleep, and other factors.

For this reason, Dr. Naylous interprets hormone results alongside the timing of the test and the patient’s symptoms rather than relying only on whether a value falls inside a laboratory reference range.

In some cases, the timing of testing—such as the phase of the menstrual cycle—may be important when evaluating reproductive hormones.
 

Who May Benefit From Thyroid & Hormone Testing?

Testing may be considered for patients experiencing concerns such as:

• Persistent fatigue

• Changes in weight or metabolism

• Hair thinning or hair loss

• Feeling unusually cold or hot

• Irregular menstrual cycles

• Heavy or painful periods

• PMS or other cycle-related symptoms

• Low libido

• Sleep disturbances

• Mood changes

• Brain fog

• Fertility-related concerns

• Perimenopause or menopause-related symptoms

• Previous abnormal thyroid or hormone results

• Persistent symptoms despite being told testing is “normal”

Not every patient requires an extensive hormone panel. Dr. Naylous determines which markers may be appropriate based on the individual clinical picture.
 

Connecting the Results Back to Your Symptoms

Laboratory testing is most useful when it is interpreted alongside the patient’s broader health story.

Dr. Naylous reviews thyroid and hormone findings together with:

• Symptoms

• Medical history

• Menstrual and reproductive history

• Diet and nutrition

• Medications and supplements

• Sleep and stress

• Blood sugar regulation

• Iron and nutrient status

• Previous laboratory results

• Other relevant health concerns

This helps determine which findings may be clinically meaningful and whether additional evaluation may be appropriate.
 

How It Works

After your consultation, Dr. Naylous will determine which thyroid and hormone tests may be appropriate based on your symptoms, health history, medications, supplements, and previous laboratory findings.

He will then place the laboratory order, and you can have your blood drawn at a participating laboratory such as Quest Diagnostics or another designated lab location.

Once the results are available, Dr. Naylous reviews the full pattern and discusses the findings with you during a follow-up consultation.

Recommendations may then be individualized based on your results and overall clinical picture and may include nutrition, targeted supplementation, lifestyle support, Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, or additional medical evaluation when appropriate.
 

A More Complete View of Hormonal Health

The goal of thyroid and hormone testing is not simply to find one abnormal number. It is to better understand how thyroid function, reproductive hormones, metabolism, stress physiology, nutrient status, and other systems may be contributing to the way a patient feels.

At Needles, Herbs & Labs, Dr. Naylous uses laboratory testing as one part of a broader, individualized approach to help connect symptoms with the underlying patterns that may deserve closer attention.