Estrogen Levels...

[itsxandrea]

Hey, I know we can't talk about our specific dosages, but I hope that our levels from our blood tests are open for conversation?

If so, I'm kind of curious about one thing:

I've been on HRT for a year now and all my tests went normal until the summer when I read a 263. They told me that I needed to be in a 100-200 range and I was way higher than needed. It surprised me because I was taking a moderate dosage and most girls I know take even higher ... but anyway, they told me I had to reduce it.

I reduced it... and noticed after a week I didn't like it. I got down to a 97 and they said I was just fine. I don't think this is fine though... this is lower than where I need to be and I don't like the effects that are going on.

Has this happened with anyone? Does anyone know if being a vegetarian and eating a lot of soy products really does boost my estradiol levels? I didn't know if that was a myth or not ... I'm just not sure what I should do because I can't go back to the higher dosage :S

[sam79]

Soy products really won't have any effect on E levels. And it's a different kind of E in any case.

I don't see what's so bad about a 263 though... Mine was 282 last time which is considered fairly normal by my endo.

If you're on oral E, be aware that it's fairly spikey in terms of levels as is. Oral E doesn't have a huge half life, and the peak is normally 4-6 hours after your dose.

Hope this helps somewhat.

[itsxandrea]

Thanks, that does help...

I use to go to a special endo who was very good, but because I switched insurance I ended up going to this doctor at a lgbt community health center and I don't know if they are that familiar with things. He did say that me being above 200 put me at an increased risk for DVT ... So, maybe that's why he reduced me.

Just wish there was a magic way to read at 150 or 200 and I'd be so happy. Arg.

[sam79]

It's certainly true that DVT risks with oral E increase sharply as E increases...

If you're not at risk of DVT with other factors though, I believe it's generally considered safe enough to be up in the ~300 range. Sadly I can't find a resource document that discusses this in a little more depth.   I'll have a closer look tonight.

[Cindy]

I'm on pellet implants, my E level is around 600. My endo has no concerns at all. When it starts to drop I'm given a new implant.

[Elle]

I'm on pellet implants, my E level is around 600. My endo has no concerns at all. When it starts to drop I'm given a new implant.

Yeah my estrogen level is pretty high too on injections it's like 900 the day I inject. My doctor said my T was around 20 is that low or high?

[sam79]

Assuming the standard unit, a T number of 20 is in the slightly higher normal male range ( which is 8 - 30 ).

For MTF under HRT, T should generally be 0.5 - 2.5, which is the normal female range.

[Ms Grace]

My endo tells me my levels every time I visit, and I nod and go "hm, I see, hm, that's good yeah?" and by the time I've left I have totally forgotten what he told me. I should probably write it down or something I guess. 

[kathyk]

In short - The proper dose to maintain an E level that sustains feminization is critical to a smoother and successful transition. So unless you have a health risk, you need to have the estrogen level at least near 200.  My doctor is a Transgender Specialist and she said at low levels a girl will maintain the status quo, AND NOT REALLY IMPROVE.  She understands that her patients can sense low estrogen levels, and she immediately brought me up to 212 after my former Endo kept me between 100 and 140.  The estrogen levels of a 62 year old woman were doing me no good and had stalled me out.  Getting above 200 made a big positive change in the way I felt, and it kick-started the body changes again.

Anyway, levels below 100 may even reverse some skin tone and body hair to a slightly more MALE pattern.  And that's not good for your transition or mental state, and how a girl feels inside and about her body is far more important than some doctors think.  (They can be so damn stupid and overly cautious at times.) 

I'm doing spironolactone pills, with self injections of depo estradiol every week.  The normal two week injection schedule had a dramatic roller coaster effect, so I was switched to weekly injections at half the two week dose.  It's cheap and effective for most people ... unless you have good insurance or get the super inexpensive Walmart prescription pills.

[Alainaluvsu]

Yeah my estrogen level is pretty high too on injections it's like 900 the day I inject. My doctor said my T was around 20 is that low or high?

It depends on the measuring. In the US, it's where you want to be.

[judithlynn]

My GP in Melbourne has been aiming to get my T Levels down to between 0.5 to 2.5. When I started back on HRT about a year ago my T levels were on the low side already at  5.6. After 4 months on E, I was down to 3.6 and then about 6 months ago I had managed to get it to just 1.6.  My GP said the aim is to keep the T in a normal female range ie under 2.5 and to keep the oestrogen level fairly constant. I have asked what level is the oestrogen, but he keeps telling me the important factor at my Age is the T level.

Generally development has been slow and steady and emotionally its been reasonably easy, but I have had some interesting moments. A month ago I had to attend some meetings in Canberra (in my male attire) and after one meeting, one of the women I was with said - do you realise that your trousers have split at the seam at the top of your thigh. Luckily I had a spare pair in my suitcase (but now that pair has split in the same place!) Basically I hadn't noticed but I have added a few inches onto my bottom and upper thighs and am increasingly finding it difficult to get my male trousers to fit me. However my women's jeans now sit neatly on my hips and bottom. Yeh!

Some of the women I am working with have also started commenting on my complexion and how soft my features seem so things must be starting to show.

At the moment my GP has said he feels that I can increase my oestrogen dosage, but I am holding off a bit longer to see how things go. Interestingly I have noticed that I am looking at some men in a different way. Maybe the oestrogen is affecting my orientation, although I remain very attracted to women!
Judith

[KabitTarah]

My endo tells me my levels every time I visit, and I nod and go "hm, I see, hm, that's good yeah?" and by the time I've left I have totally forgotten what he told me. I should probably write it down or something I guess. 

Ask for copies of your bloodwork!!! I do that with my GP every time AND I get a copy from the blood lab (Quest Diagnostics has an App for THAT). I absolutely plan to do that with my endo, too!!!

[Tammy M]

My levels this spring were E: 186 pg/ml  and T 13 ng/ml.  Then for some reason the estrogen fell all the was to 88 pg/ml this summer, so my doctor upped my dosage as my/our goal is a level of 200 pg/ml.  Units are important when talking about levels as doctors in different parts of the world measure using different units..

I am including a chart of male and female hormones levels...

ESTROGEN: units in pg/ml
Women (> 18 years old)   
Follicular Phase 30-120
  Ovulatory Peak 130-370
  Luteal Phase 70-250
  Post-Menopausal 15-60
Male 15-60

Conversion factor: 1 ng/ml = 3.18 nmol/l

Testosterone: units are ng/ml
Females 6 - 86 
Males 270 - 1100

Conversion factor: 1 ng/ml = 3.47 nmol/l

[Missy~rmdlm]

This snippet from my recent labs might put some numbers in context. Clearly the scale and method matter, and that varies by location. (Missouri in my case)

This lab resulted in a change to my dosage.

[anjaq]

I guess if you are able to sense psychological or physical effects of having not enough E, thats your sign then - too high E levels can also cause a lack of feminization it seems. So one has to stay in a certain range that varies depending on the person.