In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver delivers a solo masterclass on the lab work every woman in perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause should understand and request from her doctor. Dr. Haver explains why standard annual labs, built for a general population, routinely miss the specific hormonal, metabolic, cardiovascular, and bone related changes that happen during the menopause transition, and she walks through seven categories of testing that give a far more complete picture of a woman's health. She starts with an advanced lipid panel, explaining why LDL alone is not enough and why ApoB, Lp(a), and small dense LDL particles matter for women whose cardiovascular risk shifts as estrogen declines. She covers fasting glucose and fasting insulin together, showing how the HOMA IR score can reveal insulin resistance long before a diabetes diagnosis. She addresses bone health in depth, arguing that waiting until age 65 for a baseline DEXA scan is far too late given how much bone density can be lost in the years surrounding menopause, and she details safe vitamin D supplementation ranges and optimal target levels. Guest links: * The ‘Pause Life https://thepauselife.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqNHlkfDy6-ZvUItyvLEdJ28-COZ4zZJ_GWy3vXk_gKuSJIzU4S * The 'Pause Wellness https://thepausewellness.com/ * Dr. Mary Claire Haver (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/drmaryclaire/ * Dr. Mary Claire Haver (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/@drmaryclaire * The Pause Life by Dr. Mary Claire Haver (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/drmaryclaire/?ref=PRODASH_UPSELL_xav_ig_profile_page_web# * The Menopause Quiz (The Pause Life) https://thepauselife.com/pages/new-menopause-quiz-lp * The Menopause Empowerment Guide (The Pause Life) https://thepauselife.com/pages/menopause-empowerment-guide-sign-up * Lab Test Checklist (The Pause Life) https://thepauselife.com/pages/lab-checklist-download * Clinicians List (The Pause Life) https://thepauselife.com/pages/recommended-physicians?srsltid=AfmBOooHgFFAcEtlYaKhzCJxU2XrdF1TQpLy_-OLoSh6YcOmNNTYPZ-t Books * “The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Mary-Claire-Haver/dp/1785045547 * “The New Perimenopause: An Evidence-Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Perimenopause-Evidence-Based-Surviving-Yourself/dp/0593736613/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=Rqixj&content-id=amzn1.sym.3a079c4e-f938-40c9-a0ed-01ef0e9528e9&pf_rd_p=3a079c4e-f938-40c9-a0ed-01ef0e9528e9&pf_rd_r=137-6716336-1977900&pd_rd_wg=EY2rq&pd_rd_r=179df492-f1bd-47ab-b516-225a64060f2e For full show notes, please visit: https://bit.ly/unPAUSEDHowtoReadYourLabs Never miss an episode—sign up for The ’Pause Life Newsletter: https://thepauselife.com/pages/newsletter Medical Disclaimer: The information, including opinions and recommendations, on this platform is meant for informational and educational purposes only. Mary Claire Media, LLC, the unPAUSED podcast, and The ’Pause Life are not medical organizations. Medical advice or medical diagnosis cannot be provided to you through the platform, any associated website, or customer portals. Using this platform does not establish a patient-physician relationship.