Dr Ula: Retesting. Why and how often?
- Dr Ula Heywood
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Change without measurement is guesswork.
Your bloodwork is a snapshot — a moment in time. It captures how your body was performing that day, in that season of your life. But health doesn’t stand still. It moves. It responds. It adapts to what you eat, how you sleep, how you train, and how you manage stress.
That’s why retesting isn’t optional. It’s essential.
The Science of Momentum
Most meaningful change happens over 90 days. That’s how long it takes for red blood cells to renew, hormones to rebalance, and metabolism to reset. If you’ve been putting in the work — improving nutrition, refining habits, managing stress — this is when you’ll start to see it in your data.
Without retesting, you’re flying blind. You might feel better, but are your biomarkers actually improving? Is your inflammation lowering? Is your insulin back in range? You don’t know what you don’t test.
At Autonomy, we see the power of retesting every day. Clients start with high insulin, sluggish thyroids, or low vitamin D. Three months later, those same markers tell a new story — one of progress, stability, and renewed control. Retesting turns invisible effort into visible proof.
The Rhythm of Retesting
There’s no one-size-fits-all formula, but there is a rhythm.
Every 3 months – Transformation Phase When you’re in an active improvement phase — working on metabolism, hormones, weight, or recovery — retest every 90 days. This is when most interventions show measurable change. It keeps your program targeted and your care precise.
Every 6 months – Consolidation Phase Once things are trending in the right direction, retest every six months. This confirms that the progress you’ve built is holding steady — that thyroid, cholesterol, glucose, and inflammation remain on track while your lifestyle becomes your new normal.
Every 12 months – Maintenance Phase Even in excellent health, annual testing matters. It’s your early warning system. Quiet shifts in insulin, vitamin D, or liver enzymes often appear before symptoms do. Prevention isn’t about waiting for something to go wrong — it’s about proving what’s going right.
The Markers That Matter
Your foundation is measurable. These are the biomarkers that tell your body’s story:
Metabolic health: glucose, insulin, HbA1c, lipids, triglycerides, ApoB, Homocysteine
Inflammation: hsCRP
Hormones: thyroid panel (TSH, free T3, free T4), cortisol, sex hormones when indicated
Nutrients: vitamin D, B12, folate, ferritin, zine
Organ function: liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT), kidney function (creatinine, eGFR)
These markers act as feedback loops — showing whether your body is thriving or under strain. They take the guesswork out of your decisions.
For Those Just Beginning
If you haven’t worked with Autonomy before, there’s no better time to understand where your health truly stands. Your first test creates your baseline — the foundation for every future decision. It reveals what’s working, what’s not, and where silent risks may already be forming.
Most people wait until something feels wrong. By then, the problem has already built momentum. Baseline testing gives you the upper hand — the ability to see the full picture before symptoms appear. Whether your goal is longevity, energy, or prevention, it starts with knowing your numbers.
Once you know, you can act with confidence.
Turning Data Into Direction
Retesting isn’t about collecting numbers — it’s about translating them into action.
Each test is a mirror, reflecting how your biology responds to your choices. When the numbers move, you know your strategy is working. When they don’t, you know exactly where to focus next. Either way, you gain clarity — and clarity builds momentum.
At Autonomy, we believe you should never have to guess about your health. Retesting transforms effort into evidence. It connects cause with effect. It replaces uncertainty with insight.
Because your first test shows where you are.Your retest shows how far you’ve come — and where to go next.
Ready for Your Retest — or Your First Test?
If you’re an existing client, select from our Continuing Care options — either a Full Check-In (full retesting and Doctor review) or a Targeted Check-In (focused biomarkers and doctor review).
If you’re new to Autonomy, you can start our Early Wins program today. Establish your baseline, understand your biology, and build a clear, data-driven plan forward.
Contact us to receive a Doctor review and find out which option — Full, Targeted, or Baseline — is right for you.
Dr. Ula
Co-Founder and Lead Physician, Autonomy
