A measure of your stress hormone
Cortisol Stress
Cortisol keeps you alert, regulates blood sugar and helps your body respond to pressure. It follows a daily rhythm, peaking in the morning and easing towards night. When that pattern is disrupted by prolonged stress or, less often, an underlying gland problem, energy, sleep, mood and resilience can all suffer. This test measures your cortisol at its natural morning high.
Because timing shapes the reading, a morning draw gives the most informative result. Your sample is taken in our private Leigh-on-Sea clinic and analysed by an accredited UK laboratory, with a doctor-reviewed report explaining your result.
A single measurement is a snapshot, not a verdict, but it can help you understand whether your cortisol sits within the expected range and whether stress may be playing a larger role in how you feel. Any result outside the norm is worth discussing with your GP, who can consider it alongside your wider health.
Preparation: Book your appointment for around 9am, when cortisol naturally peaks. Avoid exercise beforehand, as it can raise your level temporarily, and stop any biotin supplements two days before your test to keep the reading accurate.
Inside this panel
1 biomarker
- Stress hormone1 marker
- Cortisol
Worth considering if
- Constant fatigue or burnout
- Poor or broken sleep
- Mood swings or irritability
- Difficulty coping with stress
- Frequent minor illnesses
- Unexplained weight changes
Who this test suits
- Anyone feeling persistently stressed or burnt out
- People with unexplained fatigue and poor sleep
- Those investigating possible adrenal issues with their GP
- 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 follows a daily rhythm, highest in the morning and lowest at night. A draw at around 9am captures your peak, which is the most useful point for interpreting whether your level sits within the expected range.
Recent exercise, biotin supplements and some hormonal medications can all influence cortisol. Avoid exercise before your draw, stop biotin two days prior, and note any medication so it can be considered in your report.
Most reports are returned within 5–7 working days of your sample reaching the laboratory, reviewed and explained by a doctor.
