I thought some of you would be interested in knowing my test results considering I take higher than traditionally prescribed doses (I'm post-op). These are prescribed by my family doctor with the approval of my endocrinologist. These values were requested by a new doctor (who wrote a book on female hormones) who is now part of my team. She insisted on measuring them although I disagreed for most things as I deemed they were unnecessary but I went along...it's free for me. I live in Canada.
I take Estradiol Valerate by intramuscular injection, every 5 days and progesterone orally twice daily, always with
food.Test taken on day 5, just before my next injection. 12 hours after last meal and last dose of progesterone.
Lipids all good (I eat low carb, high fat):
Triglycerides and LDL normal
HDL high (good!)
T cholesterol/HDL normal
C reactive protein slightly high at 11.3 mg/L, also above 10 last time tested. Normal range under 10. Last time with values over 10, my doctor was not alarmed. It seems a little above 10 is nothing to worry about. Perhaps this is due to injury to tissues from injection? I don't know.
Coagulation factors normal:
INR 0.9 Normal 0.8-1.2
PT 10.2 Normal 9-13
Despite high levels of estradiol, coagulation factors are normal.
TSH 2.19 Normal 0.4-4.5
FSH 0.2
LH less than 0.1, as expected
SHBG is higher than 200 nmol/L. This is typical of values seen in pregnant women. Due to estrogen.
Prolactin also high at 87.3 ug/L. Typical again of pregnant women. Due to high estrogen, not pituitary tumor which would be the case if no factor could account for the rise in prolactin. Prolactin remains quite high in women who breastfeed their children.
Estradiol 5122 pmol/L or 1,395 pg/ml. (day 5, before injection)
On days 3, levels measured in the last year and a half have been around 2,300-3,800 pg/ml, last test was 2,300 so a significant drop by day 5 already. Interestingly, soon after switching to EV 5 days instead of 7, my levels were at around 3,800 on day 3; at the time was taking half the progesterone I'm taking now. 10 months later, on day 3, and current progesterone dose and weighing about 5-6 lbs heavier, my levels were at 2,300. Was the decrease due to the increased progesterone, the increase in subcutaneous fat in glutes making it so less is injected in muscle and more in fat or just a result of normal fluctuations over time? Who knows?
Progesterone 41.6 nmol/L or 13.1 ng/ml (12 hours after last taking) which indicate to me that peak levels (first couple of hours) must be quite high.
Androstenedione to be confirmed
DHEA-S 5.3 umol/L, in the middle of range (1.7-9.2)
Total testosterone very low at 0.3 nmol/L (8.6 ng/dl), decreased from last time at around 20 ng/dl on EV every 7 days. This seems to indicate that adrenals are pumping less androgens now, precursors to testosterone.
Free and bio-available T, too low to measure because of so high SHBG
*Whoever said that progesterone increases androgen secretion/levels can clearly see from this that this is not the case. I take a high dose of progesterone and my levels of T are the lowest they've ever been! Progesterone is also NOT androgenic in the sense that it doesn't activate androgen receptors.*
Cortisol (taken before 9am) HIGH at 771 nmol/L (172-497). This is why progesterone's sedative effects are so beneficial to me. This shows I'm quite anxious/stressed. And this can account for some of the still persisting health/physical problems I'm experiencing.
Insulin is great at 52 Normal 15-180 pmol/L. Not surprising since I consume very little carbs.
IGF (insulin growth factor) not yet measured, to be confirmed.
Vitamin D and Hemoglobin also normal.
PSA less than 0.1, obviously! I told my doctor.
Everything else normal.
To conclude, the only thing that is really out of range and should be addressed is the high cortisol. I will decide with doctors what is the best option for me.
