The full body checkup which spotted my low testosterone (& a few other things)

I’m a wellbeing editor, have loads of very personal experience with fertility testing, and spend much of my free time reading up on women’s health topics, and strategies for tip-top whole-body health. 

So it’s amazing really, that I’ve never gone for a full body checkup. I love knowing the data on my health, alongside the more tangible symptoms delivered direct from my body. But I just haven’t got round to it – I could have done, having had the insurance to cover it from various employers – but I guess my symptoms haven’t ever been that bad. 

Or haven’t they? 

I’m a chronic night owl, let’s be real. And despite being big into wellbeing, I probably don’t practise enough what I preach – I don’t get enough green veggies, I skip meals, I probably drink a tad too much alcohol for my age and profile. I know I’m tired, and that my joints don’t feel great. And, that my mood and libido fluctuate. More than they should. 

But that’s all normal, isn’t it? I’m a tired mum of two. And I’m getting older. 

Which is where I have to stop myself, and get a little real. Honestly – as if being age 38 is an excuse to feel like rubbish!

The test I booked

With the team wrapping our perimenopause self care guide collab back in the spring, I touched base with Randox Health to book in for their full body Randox Everywoman Health Check. There was no time like the present, I’d decided – and reading through that info on perimenopause had got me thinking. 

Before crossing that milestone, it would be good to get a really thorough overview of my whole body health. I talk about it all the time – it’s another thing to walk the walk. 

I’m spoilt for choice when it comes to health screening options. Whether I head into a local London clinic or do everything online or by pre-paid post, granular detail about my health (and hundreds of data points) are at my fingertips. 

I wasn’t looking for a niche result or anything very specific – I was looking for the type of full body checkup a woman in her late 30s might do once (or twice) every year or so, to keep track of my overall health, and prevent problems down the line. 

Established in 1982, Randox is the largest healthcare diagnostics company in the UK and Ireland, and their Everywoman Health Check is currently the most personalised option on the market, with a focus on preventative healthcare. By ‘preventative’, we’re talking key actions we can take now, to help prevent disease and other health problems as we age. 

Looking for the Randox discount code? TRB readers get an exclusive 10% off – just pop code TRB10 in at checkout.

Test notes: The Everywoman Health Check

Highly personalised, preventative in focus and developed by Randox Health – best in class in the UK – this was the full body checkup for me. But let’s get specific – here’s what’s included in the Everywoman Health Check: 

• Up to 150 data points (linked to key health areas) measured 
• 12 month plan with 2 health checks per year
• Personalised health plan detailing results and next steps
• Optional health and wellbeing discussion
• Optional GP appointment

Which key health areas are covered, exactly? Each test includes the following checks : 

• Personal health measurements (including BMI (Body Mass Index), blood pressure and oxygen saturation)
• Full blood count
• Iron status
• Heart health check
• Diabetes health check
• Metabolic syndrome check
• Kidney health check
• Urinalysis
• Liver health check
• Pancreatic health check
• Digestive health check
• Nutritional health check
• Muscle and joint health check
• Bone health check
• Allergy evaluation
• Infection and inflammation check
• Thyroid health check
• Hormonal health check

My appointment, results, and the goals I’m now working towards

For reference, here are my vitals: 

Age: 38

Height: 1.69m 

Weight: 69.3kg 

I booked a test in my local Randox location, which as an east-Londoner was their Canary Wharf clinic. 

I’d fasted for 8 hours beforehand, and was only a little nervous about the blood test aspect. I needn’t have been though, because the whole appointment from start to finish took just a little over half an hour – including measurements, blood and urine test – and was an absolute breeze, compared to my prenatal tests and health checks. 

Once done, I booked in for my repeat visit in six months’ time, asked the lovely reception team for their best nearby breakfast recommendation and headed off to school pick-up. It really couldn’t have been easier.

True to form, I saw my Randox full body checkup results ping into my inbox three days after my appointment. Clicking in, everything was set out for me in a super-clear dashboard, giving a snapshot of my health status and quick access to really detailed information and data. 

As you can see, my results mostly came back as optimal and in range (green), with a few key areas to focus on (amber and red). Crucially, my key findings summarised that: 

• my cardiovascular risk score indicates low risk of cardiovascular disease over the next ten years
• I have excellent blood glucose and HbA1c results

So far, so good. But clearly, a full body checkup digs much deeper. 

The Everywoman Health Check comes with an optional health and wellbeing discussion, which I jumped at, and a few weeks later I had a 30-45 minute phone catch up with Natasha – a consultant from the Randox team. 

Here’s what we covered, and my goals for improvement over the next six months. 

Note, we’re only covering my target areas for improvement in this feature. All results are unique and while my watch points may be heart health and testosterone, other patients may need to focus on blood glucose levels, for example, or a vitamin deficiency.

I need to watch my waist to hip ratio

While my BMI (Body Mass Index) is optimal, these kick-start measurements show that my waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio are increased. Let’s dig in.

Waist circumference

This is a measure of central (abdominal) fat, and gives information on my disease risk and potential for other long-term health problems, including type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, coronary heart disease and high blood pressure. 

At 88cm, my waist circumference puts me at moderate risk here. And while consultant Natasha advised this is likely down to natural postpartum weight gain – something I’m working on! – and not very pronounced, reducing my waist circumference to around 81cm is now one of my goals. 

Waist/hip ratio

How your body fat is distributed really matters, and with mine positioned more around my waist than hips, this is something I need to work on, particularly for preventing heart disease and diabetes. 

Again, my risk is moderate at a 0.846 ratio. But I’d like to steadily drive it down towards a low risk 0.8.

My heart health is fine (but could be better)

This is an area of concern for me, and while nothing looks worryingly out of range at the moment, definitely a focus as I move towards my 40s.

My results showed that my total cholesterol measures high, at 6.07 mmol/l. It could be worse, but it could definitely be much better, and while a certain amount of cholesterol is essential for various body functions, elevated levels are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and stroke. 

I’d like to bring this number down towards the healthy range, aiming for 5 mmol/l. During my post-appointment phone consultation, Natasha took me through the different markers for cholesterol and protein components in this test, and it looks like a few of these would benefit from attention – this granular level of detail is so helpful to have. 

First on my list is LDL cholesterol – mine is a little high, and I’m aiming to bring it down from 4 mmol/l to 3.

Liver health is a thing

I’ll be honest – I really wasn’t thinking about liver health when I booked my full body checkup. But I’m super-glad Randox caught the ball, because my liver could use a little focused attention in the run-up to my 40s.

A few enzymes – found mainly in the liver – look a little high on my test results, and while this could be due to a number of factors, it’s definitely encouraged me to kick the week night glass of wine at home, and take a deeper look at my liver health. 

Natasha from Randox noted on our call that my higher numbers could also be down to a round of antibiotics I’d taken just before the test, but instinctively I know that I probably could make lifestyle choices which would support my liver. At the time of writing I’m feeling great, now with a glass of wine just at the weekends or on special week night events.

Hormones are all good (aside from one)

For me, this was the most fascinating area of the full body checkup. As a fertility fanatic, wellness editor and mum of two in my 30s, hormones are a big part of my every day. But seeing the numbers in black and white is incredibly helpful, when making targeted lifestyle choices, or working through any symptoms or concerns with a health professional. 

Almost all of my numbers came back as in-range – and specifics such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and progesterone all correctly identified as within range for the follicular phase of my cycle (which I was in, having just finished my period).

Focus: testosterone

The only exception was testosterone, which again, I really haven’t ever thought about that much. Mine measures at 0.247 nmol/l which is a little low – here are the ranges I’m aiming to work with, following a few lifestyle tweaks: 

• Low: <0.29
• Optimal: 0.29-1.67
• High: >1.67

With plans to try for a third baby in the near future, this gave me a timely insight into my hormonal health. Female testosterone is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenals, fat tissue and ovaries, and is crucial for healthy follicle development, FSH production and good blood flow, plus libido. 

I’d like to get my testosterone showing at around that 0.29 nmol/l in my next set of full body checkup test results, and after discussing with Natasha, my key actions are: 

• improving sleep duration and quality (I’m a bit of a night owl and don’t get enough sleep, so this is a no-brainer)
• dig deep with nutrition – healthy fats, proteins and complex carbs are the focus, plus zinc, magnesium and vitamin D
• continue lowering my alcohol intake 
• aim for that lower body fat percentage (using the results from my personal measurements to guide)
• reduce stress (easier said than done, but I’m working on it!)
• incorporate strength training to my (slightly wobbly) exercise routine 
• keep focusing on liver health (crucial for proper testosterone production, and again using my liver health results as a guide) 

I’m excited to see whether the results shift a little, across the next six months.

How much does the test cost?

The Randox Everywoman Health Check comes in at £350, with the option to pay across 4 interest-free payments of £87.50 if you prefer. TRB readers get an exclusive 10% off – just pop code TRB10 in at checkout. 

How often should I get a full body checkup?

Generally, every 1-2 years is sufficient – depending on your age, lifestyle, and any existing health concerns. If you’re someone with a family history of certain diseases or have specific health risks, you might want to consider more frequent checkups. 

Personally, I’m planning to do mine again when I turn 40, in a couple of years. 

Keen to book the Everywoman Health Check? Go for it – it’s the most insightful, productive and action-driving decision I’ve taken for my health in years. 

The nudge to focus on a little healthy weight loss, driving with protein and lowering my alcohol intake – plus get real about sleep – has been the change I needed, and regardless of the test results, I feel so much better. 

TRB readers get an exclusive 10% off at Randox Health using code TRB10 at checkout.