Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
776. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the public care available to women who wish to have their hormones tested on an asymptomatic basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51178/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of diagnostic testing within the public health service is based on clinical need and the professional judgment of the treating healthcare practitioner.
In general, blood tests, including hormone tests, are not provided as part of a routine blood testing for people who are asymptomatic and do not have an identified clinical indication. Decisions regarding laboratory investigations are made by a patient's healthcare provider, typically a General Practitioner (GP) or hospital doctor, having regard to the individual's symptoms, medical history and clinical presentation.
Where a clinician considers it appropriate, blood tests measuring hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) may be requested through public health service laboratory services to assist in the diagnosis, investigation or management of a medical condition. These tests are generally undertaken where there is a relevant clinical indication, rather than on an information basis alone.
Access to publicly funded diagnostic services ordinarily occurs following referral by a GP or another treating clinician.
