Question about LH and FSH levels

[jade_d]

Hey there, long time no talk =D. So I recently had blood work done with my doctor and he said my LH and FSH levels were low compared to the natal womans levels. I was just wondering, isnt that normal for us? I mean LH and FSH are simply for fertility, and when we go on this journey , it is something we accept.

So the question is, is low LH and FSH normal for us? If so, how low? I know we cannot talk about dosages, so I wont even mention my regimen, but my levels are

lh- .167 mU/ml
fsh - .112 mU/ml

I have looked EVERYWHERE online for info, but havent found -anything-. And all my transgender friends outside of germany told me they never even measure those because it is not important for us.

Any info would be great.

[KathyLauren]

I can't imagine why your doctor would have requested those tests.  They obviously ordered up a standard set of hormone tests for cis women, instead of for trans women.

The numbers mean that you aren't likely to have a menstrual cycle soon.  Surprise!

[Mendi]

Clueless doctors, all there is to say 

I mean I know, that some doctors also here in Finland measure those...for unknown reasons...

[Harley Quinn]

Those levels are nice and low. LH and FSH levels are tested to ensure that your testosterone is staying suppressed. A rise in LH and FSH could indicate a potential resurgence of testosterone, among other health issues from hormone therapy.

[Doreen]

I recently went off of hormones, and the endo measured my Lh/FSh levels along with a couple others. (AMH & InhibinB)
They were above the max levels for females as a whole but in post menopause levels.

All that meant is my brains screaming for more hormones, but none are being produced.  My estrogen was <30, and T <3.  Also means I'm 'post op' or menopausal...your pick.

If you're on HRT and a spiro blocker pre op, its no surprise your LH & FSH is low. 

[Mendi]

Those levels are nice and low. LH and FSH levels are tested to ensure that your testosterone is staying suppressed. A rise in LH and FSH could indicate a potential resurgence of testosterone, among other health issues from hormone therapy.

All and well...but even after SRS or orchi?

[jade_d]

I can't imagine why your doctor would have requested those tests.  They obviously ordered up a standard set of hormone tests for cis women, instead of for trans women.

The numbers mean that you aren't likely to have a menstrual cycle soon.  Surprise!

Yeah, I even told him that, he actually said " These are not in the average female range " and I was like, of course they aren't! I'm transgender! Going into this we even discussed that I would become sterile : face palm :

Are we allowed to post our blood work? Wouldn't have any dosages or anything. =) Unfortunately, here in Germany the doctors are pretty behind when it comes to this HRT. I even emailed him back and told him " im transgender, so of course not ALL of my hormones will be where a cis woman's are, most, but not the reproductive levels "

Those levels are nice and low. LH and FSH levels are tested to ensure that your testosterone is staying suppressed. A rise in LH and FSH could indicate a potential resurgence of testosterone, among other health issues from hormone therapy.

Yeah, I read if they get too high it can indicate bone density issues. They do a huge blood work test on me all the time.  I have SRS in October anyway. And when I talked to my doc about it, he also said my E2 levels were too high, when they are only at 180 pg/ml , whichis , from what I understand, where they should be. He actually said " you dont need super estrogen doping " , and all I could do was think " wut "

I recently went off of hormones, and the endo measured my Lh/FSh levels along with a couple others. (AMH & InhibinB)
They were above the max levels for females as a whole but in post menopause levels.

All that meant is my brains screaming for more hormones, but none are being produced.  My estrogen was <30, and T <3.  Also means I'm 'post op' or menopausal...your pick.

If you're on HRT and a spiro blocker pre op, its no surprise your LH & FSH is low. 

Exactly, all my other pituitary hormones are fine. So yeah......My creatinin is sometimes a tick high, but thats because in Transgender women, a lot of the time that is the case. 

[Dena]

Are we allowed to post our blood work? Wouldn't have any dosages or anything. =) Unfortunately, here in Germany the doctors are pretty behind when it comes to this HRT. I even emailed him back and told him " im transgender, so of course not ALL of my hormones will be where a cis woman's are, most, but not the reproductive levels "

You many discuss most medications as long as you don't provide dosage information. You may also provide lab results as they are only obtained when your under medical supervised treatment. TOS 8 is primarily intended to prevent posting of information that would enable others to self medicate.

[jade_d]

You many discuss most medications as long as you don't provide dosage information. You may also provide lab results as they are only obtained when your under medical supervised treatment. TOS 8 is primarily intended to prevent posting of information that would enable others to self medicate.

Thats good to know, so here is my bloodwork from last time. And well, a complete list of all my works, i think he left out one.



He also refuses to prescribe me progesterone on the basis that apparently it increases risk of breast cancer, even though I have read the opposite.

Also, off topic, how do you add pics to under your name, and add gender?

[KathyLauren]

Also, off topic, how do you add pics to under your name, and add gender?

Go to Profile then Forum Profile.  On the Forum Profile page, you can upload an avatar picture, and you can specify your gender.  I think you need to wait until you have 15 posts before you can do that.

[PurplePelican]

It's very handy to know your LH and FSH levels if you are taking a HRT protocol that doesn't include an antiandrogen. These levels will indicate if your T is being adequately suppressed or not, or whether an adjustment is needed for E dose.

Exactly, all my other pituitary hormones are fine. So yeah......My creatinin is sometimes a tick high, but thats because in Transgender women, a lot of the time that is the case. 

And how are your adrenal glands going - they are the poor sods who end up on the receiving end of all those gonadotropins?

[jade_d]

It's very handy to know your LH and FSH levels if you are taking a HRT protocol that doesn't include an antiandrogen. These levels will indicate if your T is being adequately suppressed or not, or whether an adjustment is needed for E dose.

And how are your adrenal glands going - they are the poor sods who end up on the receiving end of all those gonadotropins?

I get those tested by my rheumatologist ( I have Morbis Bechterew ) and all are good. I get blood taken from three different doctors, if something would be up, Im sure one of them would notice. I just was confused why he was saying something about the two that dont matter.

I am on a pretty basic regimen of Spiro and Estradiol Hemihydrate. I do also take Enbrel, a TNF blocker as well that supresses my immune system a bit. How that effects my transition I dont know, I do know that my body absorbs the HRT meds very welll tho, so it could be from that? Been taking it for 16 years.

[KayXo]

He also refuses to prescribe me progesterone on the basis that apparently it increases risk of breast cancer, even though I have read the opposite

He is confusing progesterone and other progestogens such as medroxyprogesterone acetate which do increase risk.You need to share the studies with him, that's all. I can pm you the links.

[LilDevilOfPrada]

I was on blockers spiro and fin with estradiol for about 4 months then we realized had no effect on me and we changed to the pricey stuff haha. out of my 7 years on HRT 1 was with progesterone and I made milk so I stopped but a breasts doctors orders as she was concerned haha.

He is confusing progesterone and other progestogens such as medroxyprogesterone acetate which do increase risk.You need to share the studies with him, that's all. I can pm you the links.

I must whole heatedly disagree here, any progesterone gives these risk, my doctor is a world leader in endocrinology and utterly refused to put me in the risk until I do a very pricey check for the cancer gene. Lets just be fair trust your doctor for medical advice not us randoms on the internet!

[jade_d]

I was on blockers spiro and fin with estradiol for about 4 months then we realized had no effect on me and we changed to the pricey stuff haha. out of my 7 years on HRT 1 was with progesterone and I made milk so I stopped but a breasts doctors orders as she was concerned haha.

I must whole heatedly disagree here, any progesterone gives these risk, my doctor is a world leader in endocrinology and utterly refused to put me in the risk until I do a very pricey check for the cancer gene. Lets just be fair trust your doctor for medical advice not us randoms on the internet!

From what I have researched, he is indeed confusing them. Progestins were used in a mega study up until 2002 which caused an insane increase in breast cancer by 74 %. Bioidentical progesterone however has been proven to actually fight breast cancer, and prevent estrogen dominance. It also helps recruit new estrogen receptors and can help with immune system, skin electicity, mood, libido, increase follicle creation on the scalp for more dense hair, sleep, and energy.

These doctors who are concerned are running off of the studies that are nearly 20 years old using synthetic progestins and synthetic estrogens.

Also, it shouldnt be taken all the time, because it competes with estrogen, it should be done cyclic. like 10 days out of every 30.

I dont trust doctors blindly, my doc is also one of the top endos in germany, but when it comes to hrt, is really pretty hopelessly stuck in the past.

He refused to give me AA's at first because he doesnt " prefer " to do that, with no basis for it. So I had to get my dentist which was my boss to prescribe it at first. Then when he saw that my levels were nigh perfect he started to prescribe them, then there was the issue i described in the OP, and he realized that he made a mistake. I listen to doctors , but I also am very educated on the human body and physiology, and if I think a choice was made in error, I will contest it.

[jade_d]

He is confusing progesterone and other progestogens such as medroxyprogesterone acetate which do increase risk.You need to share the studies with him, that's all. I can pm you the links.

I already sent him a few, but would whole heartedly appreciate more. =D.