serum levels?

[FairyGirl]

I just found out today what my hormone levels were 3 weeks ago, which would have been taken exactly 6 weeks into HRT. I'm now at 9 weeks on HRT. The "E" level was a bit high my doctor said, but would be okay if I was okay with it. Well yeah, what's not to like, right?

Anyways, I have a couple of numbers to tell me what my "E" and "T" levels are, but he neglected to tell me what they were on the bloodtest I took when I first started, and I have absolutely NO idea what numbers to compare these to. A fairly exhaustive search online proved to be pretty much fruitless. I know everyone's levels are going to be different, but I was just wondering if there was some sort of average to compare to? For instance what are average male and female levels, highs and lows, etc.

Thanks in advance for any information. 

[Miniar]

If I had any knowledge to offer I would...
Sorry, I don't know.

I can take on google and see if it responds to my prodding.

[Hannah]

If your doctor was happy-ish I'd guess your estradiol was between 200 and 300 ng/dl, and your testosterone around 35. If I understand your question right, if your male body was functioning properly before hrt your Testosterone level was probably in the high end rage of 400-1000 ng/dl, with hardly any estradiol. The miracles of science.

You might think about asking for copies of your lab work. I did, and in the process of learning to read them and what means what I've learned so very much about what's going on inside. In addition to your hormone levels, the doc is probably watching your liver function and immune response, and it's pretty interesting to learn about.

[Flameboy]

There's a very useful book by Dr James Barratt, who is one of the psychs at Charing Cross GIC in London, called Transsexual and other Disorders of Gender Identity. There's a chapter on hormones written by Dr Leighton Seal, the endocrinologist at Charing Cross, which might have the information you need in it. I'm fairly new here and haven't quite got my head round the rules on posting links yet, so to play it safe I won't post a link, but the book is available on Google books.

Hope that helps!

[FairyGirl]

Thanks to everyone!   Yeah my E level is on the high end but still within the range Hannah mentioned, and T was at 23. That's a good idea to get the results and learn to read them. Actually I've been getting some pretty good results so far for only 9 weeks. I think I'm going to cry from happiness. 

Thanks Miniar, I didn't have much luck with Google but it all depends on knowing what to search for, too lol

And thank you Flameboy for the info on the book, I will check it out, I love reading about this stuff.   

[FairyGirl]

thanks Kiera didn't see that one before 

[gothique11]

How high is high?

What is your E level at?


Mine are around 2000 -- that's high.

[FairyGirl]

it appears there are at least 2 units of measurement being used here- some of it was explained by Wendy in the thread at the above link:

The doctors are very cautious.  I got copies of all the test.  She told me under 40 was good.  The results from the sheet are:
23 L  ng/dl with average adult male at 241 to 827.

Update:  Kiera gave me a bunch of statistics on her site and I worked out the conversion numbers. 

Stephi 23 ng/dl is equivalent to .79 nmol/L.  If I convert your 1.4 nmol/L for natal females then I get 40 nmol/L.

and Kiera had some conversion numbers and levels:

Steffi, normal ranges are as follows and, knowing Wendy's med routine like i do, she's well within female limits 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

for testosterone
40–59 years Male
350–890 ng/dL (12.15–30.88 nmol/ L)

Premenopausal Female
10–70 ng/dL (0.35–2.43 nmol/L)

for Estradiol
Women before menopause: 30–400 / 110–1,468

Men: 10–50 / 37–184

so a level of 2000 would definitely be high according to those conversion numbers if 30-40 ng/dl = 110-1,468 nmol/L, or a ratio of 0.272 more or less. My results were E level of 284 which if I use the same ratio = 1051 or so, about half of yours at 6 weeks. My endo said it was high but I don't know if he meant for the amount of time administered or what.

Actually I have no idea if I calculated that correctly either

[Renate]

Just wondering...

I was trying to figure out the conversion.
It seems to me to be simply based on the molecular mass of estradiol.
Wikipedia gives this as 272.38
Throw in the liters vs. deciliters bit and the factor would be 27.238

Example:

0.79 nanomoles/liter * 272.38 grams/mole * 0.1 liter = 21.5 nanograms

The result quoted above was 23 nanograms/deciliter.

Is this just a rough figure or is a higher molecular weight used?

[FairyGirl]

maybe a rough figure? Who knew this could be so complicated 

at least by these numbers I think I'm in the range of normal so not sure why my doctor said it was high. I'm getting fairly good physical results so far from what I've read that other girls here have mentioned.  I fill out an A-cup pretty well after 9 weeks, and can already see a feminine waistline taking shape. I'm a bit on the slender side so don't know if that has anything to do with it either. I just wanted some idea if I was in the ballpark yet, and it appears so.

[gothique11]

*shrugs* mine have always been high, and my T always low. The doctor says he's never seen it before, doesn't know what to do, or how to deal with my "weird biology." I get that a lot from doctors. I'm a medical mystery, apparently. LOL I know I haven't seen anyone as high on me and on the same dose of estrace as I am (I know a lot of people on higher doses than me, even post op, who don't have the same level as me... ie, my friend is on more estrace than me, but I'm about 10 times higher than her). I don't think having the extra makes me feminize any better, btw... I know plenty of ppl with much lower E doses and having no problems with feminizing.

[Jill]

*shrugs* mine have always been high, and my T always low. The doctor says he's never seen it before, doesn't know what to do, or how to deal with my "weird biology." I get that a lot from doctors. I'm a medical mystery, apparently. LOL I know I haven't seen anyone as high on me and on the same dose of estrace as I am (I know a lot of people on higher doses than me, even post op, who don't have the same level as me... ie, my friend is on more estrace than me, but I'm about 10 times higher than her). I don't think having the extra makes me feminize any better, btw... I know plenty of ppl with much lower E doses and having no problems with feminizing.

Is is continually high, or just this one reading?  Labs can and do screw things up.  Consider asking for another test to confirm the numbers.

[gothique11]

Always high E, and I've been to several labs. I've been on HRT for three years, tested every three months, and then numbers have usually been about the same. T has always been low, too, pre-op and post-op, 0.5 T, the lowest it can go. Doctor doesn't know why, he just says I have "weird biology" and can't figure me out. *shrugs*

[ZoeB]

Always high E, and I've been to several labs. I've been on HRT for three years, tested every three months, and then numbers have usually been about the same. T has always been low, too, pre-op and post-op, 0.5 T, the lowest it can go. Doctor doesn't know why, he just says I have "weird biology" and can't figure me out. *shrugs*

There's a lot of that about. I'm the opposite, ridiculously low E2 levels. But just as anomalous.

An implant and oral E Valerate, and I'm still well under 500 pMol/L.

Oh yes, 2 years post-op.







Edited to remove dosages -- Nichole -- see TOS, Rule 8C.

[gothique11]

I know plenty of people, post op even, who aren't over 500 -- if what you are on is working, then it's working. I haven't found higher levels to do any better than someone at 250. It's more about if it works or not, than levels.