💊 On the Pill (or Coming Off It)

♀ Built for women · 9 markers · $222.30 with code CAMERON ~~$247.00~~

Currently on hormonal contraception, planning to stop, or recently stopped and not feeling like yourself — low libido, low mood, fatigue, or cycles that haven't returned.

🩸 Order this exact panel — 10% off

All 9 markers load into your cart in one click. No doctor's visit, drawn at any Quest location in the US, results by email in about two weeks. Code CAMERON applies automatically.

Add all 9 markers — $222.30 → Open the full Bloodwork Vault →

Why this panel

Oral contraceptives do two measurable things beyond preventing pregnancy: they raise SHBG dramatically, and they deplete specific micronutrients. Both are well documented and both are almost never checked. This panel measures what the pill is actually doing to you.

💡 What most people missOral contraceptives raise SHBG by 2–4x, and in a meaningful number of women it does not fully normalise after stopping — studies have found SHBG still elevated months to years later. Since SHBG binds testosterone, this crushes free testosterone and is a genuine, physiological cause of the low libido that so many women report and so many clinicians dismiss. The depletion side is equally real: OCPs are associated with lower B12, folate, B6, magnesium, zinc and selenium.

⏰ When to get it drawnOn the pill: any day. Coming off: wait at least 3 months before drawing hormones, and draw on cycle day 2–5 once cycles resume. Testing too early gives a picture that hasn't settled yet.

What's inside

This panel covers 9 markers chosen for this specific situation. The full list, the clinical reasoning behind each marker, draw timing and how to interpret your results are available to Academy members.

🔒 Panel and protocol are inside the Academy

Every marker and why it's here — plus the full evidence-graded On the Pill (or Coming Off It) protocol: the SHBG rise that crushes free testosterone and doesn’t always reverse, why ‘post-pill syndrome’ is usually a condition the pill was masking, the folate timing that matters before you conceive, and the supplement that quietly reduces efficacy. $10/mo, cancel anytime.

Unlock the full panel →

A few of the markers — free to read

These explainers are free: what each one measures, the optimal range rather than just the lab range, and what actually moves it.

SHBG (Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin)Total & Free Testosterone (ECLIA/Direct)Estradiol, Sensitive [LC/MS-MS]LH & FSH

Frequently asked questions

What blood tests are in the On the Pill (or Coming Off It) panel?

9 markers: SHBG (Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin), Total & Free Testosterone (ECLIA/Direct), Estradiol, Sensitive [LC/MS-MS], LH & FSH, Prolactin, Vitamin B12, Folate, Serum, Magnesium, RBC, Zinc, Plasma.

How much does the On the Pill (or Coming Off It) panel cost?

$247.00 before discount, $222.30 with code CAMERON applied automatically. Individual markers add a one-time $10 draw fee. Ordered through Marek Diagnostics and drawn at any Quest Diagnostics location in the US.

Do I need a doctor's order for these tests?

No. These are ordered direct-to-consumer through Marek Diagnostics — you order online, walk into a Quest location, and results are emailed to you in about two weeks. No physician visit or insurance required. Not available in NY, NJ or RI.

When should I get the On the Pill (or Coming Off It) panel drawn?

On the pill: any day. Coming off: wait at least 3 months before drawing hormones, and draw on cycle day 2–5 once cycles resume. Testing too early gives a picture that hasn't settled yet.

Important: This page is education only, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. A panel is a starting point for a conversation with a clinician, not a substitute for one. Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay — always compare against the range printed on your own report.