Blood shows you a snapshot of right now. Your body works hard to keep blood levels stable, so it will pull minerals from your tissues to keep that snapshot looking "normal." A hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) looks at what your body has actually been storing and using over the past few months. It shows the patterns underneath your symptoms, not just the moment you got tested. That's why so many women whose bloods came back "fine" finally get answers here. Scientifically speaking: Blood tests: extracellular fluid ie. what is moving between cells. Hair tests: intracellular fluid what is happening inside your cells.

Not directly. HTMA measures minerals and their ratios, and those minerals are the building blocks your hormones rely on to be made and balanced. So while you won't see an oestrogen or progesterone number, you'll see the mineral patterns that drive how your hormones behave. It's the layer underneath the hormones.

A Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) measures intracellular fluid. This is the fluid inside your cells. You will see a pattern in the minerals of your body. Your cells work by moving minerals like copper, magnesium, sodium, potassium etc… in and out of them. Based on your pattern and the ratios we can identify thyroid function, adrenal status, heavy metals, need for blood sugar support, liver function, iron status, gut inflammation and more. Based on your levels, and your history your practitioner will be able to determine the most likely pattern underneath your symptoms and utilise other testing like blood tests to get an even more comprehensive approach if you need it.

Dyed or chemically treated hair can affect certain mineral readings. If your hair is coloured, we ask for a sample of new growth closest to the scalp, or you can use body hair as an alternative. The kit instructions walk you through exactly how to collect a clean sample. If you must used dyed, we ask you for the treatment and dye details on your hair submission form.

No. As part of the test you meet with a trained practitioner to talk about your history and they give you the instructions and referral for the test. No need to wait for anything in the mail. They’ll walk you through the seamless process, anywhere around the world. A mailbox, pair of scissors is all you need.

Most GPs don't run HTMA, it sits outside standard blood pathology. That's exactly the gap this fills. Your doctor rules out disease. This helps you understand the everyday patterns behind how you feel, the ones that don't show up on a standard blood panel.

No, HTMA isn't covered by Medicare or private health. Nor are initial visits on telehealth. It's a self-funded test.

Yes. Everyone has the four fundamentals. While Female Fundamentals is built for women, the HTMA test itself works for men and children too. Our practitioners are trained to interpret your results taking into your health history, no matter your age or gender. Many women choose to also share this knowledge and refer their partners, and children to the test.

The sample is analysed by an accredited laboratory using standardised methods. HTMA is a screening and pattern tool, not a diagnostic test, and we're always honest about that. It's not designed to diagnose disease. It's designed to reveal the functional patterns underneath your symptoms, so you can act on them. Used that way, it's a genuinely powerful window into your body. If you would like to see scientific reference articles, click here.

Every Female Fundamentals practitioner is AHPRA Registered or overseas equivalent. They then undergo additional training to become specialised in Female Fundamentals under the guidance of Dr Anthea Todd. This includes understanding how to interpret HTMA results and applying the Four Fundamentals across the medical, functional and energetic layers of health. In addition to their organised training, many practitioners come from a background of feeling like they didn’t have answers for their own health and want to support others who feeling lost, get answers too.