General hormone timeline

[Alainaluvsu]

Nope, we don't. Strangely enough, medication doses are entirely forbidden, but there's zero issue with blood levels.

Thanks to you two for your numbers.

Axélle: Ehm, correct me if I'm wrong... Are you saying that your doctor is mimicking menopause with your doses? This is crazy... x_x He should know that menopause, although normal, is when part of a woman's body fails = not something to wish for...

Alaina, I've converted your values in your post.
Mhm... Looks like you're aiming at follicular values, past the luteal area. Yup, 100 % confirmed, my levels are crazy low at 184 pmol/L = 50.123 pg/mL.

...But I think you might have made a mistake with your unit. Because this converter says the conventional unit for estradiol is pg/mL. And well, if I make the obvious conversion... Your target range would be 55 065 - 91 775 pmol/L, which is roughly 100 x the values on my sheet. xD

And uhm. THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS?! This is crazy. Gosh, how are Americans even alive? I mean, if a basic thing like blood tests are at such a crazy price, doesn't it mean health care is exclusively for the rich? Or rather, the extremely rich? (My revenue: a little less than 880 $ per month. Ask me to do four blood tests a year and you're taking over 10 % of my annual revenue away. x_x)

Oops, you're right. My levels are measured as per pg/ml.

It sucks... it really does. Add on top of that the endo visits are usually about $110 and the pills are about $70 (would be more if Wal Mart didn't have excellent prescription prices)... it's really expensive. Basically if you have a serious medical condition... consider yourself bankrupt if you don't have great insurance or a bunch of money in the bank.

[A]

"God bless America", eh? Apart from the inappropriate term, that's an excellent phrase. Because people are gonna need heck of a blessing to live in there...

And I guess you're happy you're not taking cyproterone instead of spiro, and pills instead of gel. Estrogel + Androcur = 135 $ a month. ^^' And I'm not even sure my dose is good. Might go up if I need a higher dose of estradiol.

[Alainaluvsu]

They don't prescribe Cyproterone in the states. All I know is a months worth of E for me is $16... Finasteride is about $10, and Spiro is about $50... plus tax of course =/ Walmart saved my butt...

[Alainaluvsu]

50 for spiro??!?!

my friend said she spends less than 15 bucks for a three-month supply.

Really? Where?? I can't find anything anywhere for cheaper...

[MyKa]

My insurance covers it although last time they submitted it to my insurance wrong and i was sent a bill for $175.oo. USA
Unfriendly states of america..............lol!!!!!!!

[Claire25]

Really? Where?? I can't find anything anywhere for cheaper...

It depends on the dose of the pills. One version of it is about 270ish dollars for 3 months. And another which is a smaller dose but more pills comes out being around the 15$ for 3 months of it. At least that was my experience with it 

[luna nyan]

By the way, do you mind sharing about what ranges of estradiol your doctor and you are aiming for? I know mine are insufficient, at 184 pmol/L, still in the male range, but the female norm being written as:

My results at the 6 week and 4.5month tests were:
E@ 320 pg/mL
free T @ 15 ng/dl

My endo was happy as my levels were perfectly average - average female levels of E, average male levels of T.  Androgyne

And that makes me think that I should really get tips for eating.

I used to cook sauces/curries and make big batches of them at a time so I could freeze a meals worth of each sauce.  That way when I got home, dinner preparation was very quick.  All I had to do was either cook some pasta or rice and reheat the sauce/curry, and prepare a fresh salad and cut/boil some veges.  A bit mundane, but cooking for one has to be quick.

[Nicolette]

Holy c, I simply walked into my GP, asked for a number of blood tests. Cost = £0. The GP asked me whether I wanted anything else tested too. Couldn't think of anything else. Isn't the NHS great? Well, most of the time. I've been investigating reasons for fatigue. I did some research and then asked the GP to test my blood's E, T, thyroid and ferritin levels.

luna nyan, how can 15 ng/dl be an average male T level?

My T level is <11.5 ng/dL (<0.4 nml) and less than menopausal women.

[Alainaluvsu]

Holy c, I simply walked into my GP, asked for a number of blood tests. Cost = £0. The GP asked me whether I wanted anything else tested too. Couldn't think of anything else. Isn't the NHS great? Well, most of the time. I've been investigating reasons for fatigue. I did some research and then asked the GP to test my blood's E, T, thyroid and ferritin levels.

luna nyan, how can 15 ng/dl be an average male T level?

My T level is <11.5 ng/dL (<0.4 nml) and less than menopausal women.

Because that's free T

[Nicolette]

Thanks for the clarification. I incorrectly presumed serum testosterone.

[Erica]

would be more if Wal Mart didn't have excellent prescription prices

Target, oh my god, it was my first time going there, and they charged me $8.00 for my estradiol...I'm used to paying at least $25.00, and I swear some places have been as high as $50.00.  What is Wal-Mart like? 

[Alainaluvsu]

Hoping I don't break a rule here... but I get 2mg 150 quantity for $16

[Erica]

Eeep, I hope not, as well.  They won't sell to you without a prescription, so I'm guessing/hoping not. 

[luna nyan]

luna nyan, how can 15 ng/dl be an average male T level?

I did say free T as Alaina quoted. =)

Those are the only figures I remember off hand from the last blood tests I had - I didn't ask for a hard copy.  Thankfully to date, all my other blood workup numbers are within normal ranges.

Alaina you're probably skirting the rules but if the mods aren't happy, they can go and edit you post.  As far as we're concerned you could be taking 2mg once a day or 2mg once a week.  Anyone can look up what the usual dispensaries on a drug - I think there are international variants depending on government regulations though.

[Alainaluvsu]

And for all anybody else knows... my doctor may prescribe my E in a quantity where 1 refill is 3 months of pills, 2 months of pills.. etc

[Rena-san]

I have a question about forming a timeline? Does the timeline begin the day hormones are first taken or the day that you reach the strongest dose your doctor wants you on? Cause right now, I'm on a light dose of HRT, how do I even know if they are working?

[Nicolette]

I did say free T as Alaina quoted. =)

Me stupida. I thought it said "free" on my printout for my own reading, but it's "serum".  But as you say, I'd be in the male range. So what does free actually mean?

[Carolina1983]

I have a question about forming a timeline? Does the timeline begin the day hormones are first taken or the day that you reach the strongest dose your doctor wants you on? Cause right now, I'm on a light dose of HRT, how do I even know if they are working?

You should feel it.


calmness, less sexdrive, smoother skin, less oily skin etc.

[Nicolette]

Just my cynicism. But don't discount the placeco effect. For some it's quite strong.

[luna nyan]

Me stupida. I thought it said "free" on my printout for my own reading, but it's "serum".  But as you say, I'd be in the male range. So what does free actually mean?

Free testosterone basically is the testosterone that isn't bound to the serum, and is supposed to be the portion that is biologically active.  Serum is more a measure of the total amount.

Oh.  Being on spiro may not necessarily change the amount of free T as it is more a blocker.