The Blood Test Every Woman in Her 30s–50s Should Ask for at Her Next Physical
When it comes to your thyroid health, waiting until something “feels wrong” can be a big mistake. For women in their 30s–50s especially, subtle changes in energy, mood, weight, or even digestion can be early signs of an underlying autoimmune condition that’s quietly doing damage.
One of the simplest ways to catch thyroid issues early — before they require lifelong medication — is to ask your doctor for a Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody (TPO) test at your next physical.
What is a TPO Antibody Test?
A TPO antibody test measures the amount of thyroid peroxidase antibodies in your blood. These antibodies form when your immune system mistakenly targets thyroid peroxidase — an enzyme your thyroid needs to make hormones — as if it were a foreign invader.
Normal range: Usually under 35 IU/mL (lab ranges can vary slightly)
Elevated range: Anything above normal can signal autoimmune activity against the thyroid
High results: Strongly suggest conditions like Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, even before thyroid hormone levels (like TSH or Free T4) are abnormal
If you see a number in the hundreds — or even higher — it’s a sign your immune system is in overdrive - attacking your own tissue.
Why This Matters — Especially for Women
That’s why I recommend asking for a TPO (thyroid peroxidase) antibody test at your next physical — it can detect the immune activity of Hashimoto’s years before your thyroid hormone levels drop low enough to show up on a standard screening.
I frequently work with otherwise healthy women in this age group dealing with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. It’s one of the most common autoimmune conditions, where your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid gland, slowly impairing its ability to produce hormones. This process can go on for years before being detected, which is why it’s often missed until symptoms escalate and permanent damage has been done.
For those who have it, Hashimoto’s can feel like an unshakable fatigue that no amount of sleep fixes, stubborn weight gain despite healthy eating and exercise, brain fog, thinning hair, dry skin, and sometimes mood changes like depression or anxiety. Many women describe it as “feeling like I’m moving through molasses” or “just not feeling like myself anymore.” Left unchecked, the immune attack gradually reduces thyroid function, leading to full-blown hypothyroidism — which can affect metabolism, energy, heart health, and fertility.
The good news? If caught early, you can often slow or stop the immune damage before it leads to complete thyroid hormone loss, giving you a much better chance at restoring energy, stabilizing mood, and protecting long-term health.
Early Intervention Can Mean Avoiding Medication
By making targeted changes in diet, lifestyle, and stress management, you can often calm the immune attack enough to preserve thyroid function — and in some cases, avoid medication altogether.
Calming the immune system isn’t just about protecting the thyroid, either. Autoimmune conditions rarely exist in isolation. If your immune system is attacking one part of your body, it’s more likely to go after something else down the line — joints, skin, gut, nerves.
Real Client Example
A recent client joined my Holistic Transformation Program with a TPO antibody level in the mid-400s. That’s more than ten times the upper limit of normal. Through a personalized plan — focusing on food quality, gut health, inflammation control, and stress reduction — she cut her antibody levels in half during the program.
Now she’s working toward bringing them completely into the normal range, and in the process, she’s reduced her risk for other autoimmune issues and improved her overall health.
How to Request and Use the Test
Ask your doctor to include a “TPO Antibody” test at your next physical — even if your thyroid hormone levels have always been “normal.” Or you can run it on your own through a direct to consumer blood test company.
Keep a copy of your results so you can track changes over time.
If elevated, address it now — don’t wait until symptoms worsen or medication is your only option.
Bottom Line
The TPO antibody test is a low-cost, high-value tool for early detection of autoimmune thyroid disease. For women in their 30s–50s, catching Hashimoto’s early can mean the difference between lifelong medication and keeping your thyroid healthy for decades to come.
If you’ve never had one, put it on your list for your next check-up. Your future self will thank you.