Weird blood test discovery O_o

[Myself]

Doctor and I found my estrogen levels go from 50-60 in middle of the month to around 200 +- at end of months O_o Without changing dosage at all, doing blood tests the same way each time.

Anyone noticed something like that?

I am much more depressed, moody and FREAKY at middle months when (kinda like last few days) when estrogen is low then much better, happier and calmer during end/start of months..

But I can't find any reason for dose to vary this way..

Edit: T levels also vary but their change is so tiny (my T is usually around 0.2 / 20 depends how you look at it, if it goes up it won't go over 0.3 / 30).
T increases when estrogen is lower if I remember..

[rejennyrated]

You might want to have full bloodwork, an ultrasound pelvic exam and a full set of genetic profiles done.

You might just be intersexed and not know it. I was. It's not that common, but it certainly isn't unheard of to go undetected until puberty or later, particularly if you only have one of the partial forms of it.

There are several androgen receptor genes to ask them to check. I would list them but I honestly cant recall them all from memory I think one is called 5AR - but hopefully someone else can supply the info - anyone care to chip in on this and supply a list?

It's NOT enough just to check the sex chromasomes. You can show up as normal XY blood karotype and still be intersexed if you carry any of the genes associated with androgen insensitivity.

Then again to play devil's advocate, I have heard that some people do fluctuate like that without any obvious explaination, but I would certainly think about getting screened for IS conditions.

[Myself]

I don't care if I am intersexed or not.. I want a bit of sanity O_o
Post Merge: March 20, 2010, 10:55:56 AM
sorry thanks for the reply and information.. just going a bit crazy lately :/ Did you have this kind of estrogen changes and REALLY bad mood swings while it's low?

I never had a blood test of estrogens before Anti-T but when I was on anti-T my estrogen was quite low too. ( a bit below male minimum marked here)

I had heightened prolactin since ever but I have no idea why and it's probably not related, there are plenty of conditions that can cause that..

[rejennyrated]

I don't care if I am intersexed or not.. I want a bit of sanity O_o
Post Merge: March 20, 2010, 10:55:56 AM
sorry thanks for the reply and information.. just going a bit crazy lately :/ Did you have this kind of estrogen changes and REALLY bad mood swings while it's low?

I never had a blood test of estrogens before Anti-T but when I was on anti-T my estrogen was quite low too. ( a bit below male minimum marked here)

I had heightened prolactin since ever but I have no idea why and it's probably not related, there are plenty of conditions that can cause that..

Don't apologise. I understand that feeling very well. When too many things are in the air all at once it's absolutely natural to resent any more uncertainty.

The thing is it very probably is all related which is why you do need to ask the right questions and get the answers to them, otherwise you will go on chasing your tail and getting into a metaphorical medical pickle where nothing makes much sense.

If you were IS and had some residual internal female parts they could be interacting with the HRT. In which case you need to know so that the regimen can be adapted to work better with, rather than against your body.

The result doesn't change WHAT you do, just how you do it.

So it's in your interest to find out the truth, although I understand that it may not be the answer that you want to find.

To answer your question, yes I too have always had mood swings, although not quite as bad as you seem to be having. Sadly that is just the luck of biology. If you look around at natal females some have worse PMT than others. You clearly are one of the unlucky ones for which PMT is quite severe.

I sympthise fully!

[Myself]

Thank you

I will ask my gynecologist then to look into it a bit more because it's driving me crazy. Yesterday I woke up feeling good, then cried for an hour, then felt better,, started studying, started feeling irritated and sad again, couldn't focus, felt happy at the evening.. finally today I managed to finish one chapter, and today didn't lack mood swings either :/

I don't have a problem finding out I don't have internal organs of female or that I am not intersex by any test, I don't question my gender identity at all, just trying to pass a day feeling good somehow (and hopefully being good too!). I know it will probably be over in a few days.. and this just adds to the "nonsense" going on because I am pretty sure it is not supposed to happen.

[gothique11]

That happens to me too. It doesn't matter on my dose, my E levels (and LH and FS levels) will change a lot depending on the time of the month, usually by hundreds of units. It confounded my doctor too, since he's never seen it. I've had that happen both pre and post-op.

As for intersex, that is a possibility, although a lot of doctors don't know how to deal with that or what to do. I've run into that problem with my doctor.

[rejennyrated]

That happens to me too. It doesn't matter on my dose, my E levels (and LH and FS levels) will change a lot depending on the time of the month, usually by hundreds of units. It confounded my doctor too, since he's never seen it. I've had that happen both pre and post-op.

As for intersex, that is a possibility, although a lot of doctors don't know how to deal with that or what to do. I've run into that problem with my doctor.

Well I'm a case in point.

In my case the fact that I was already taking progesterone, and cycling my hormone dosage meant that we were able, with a bit of fiddling, to get the cycles more or less in sync and adjust the dosages so that everything remained within normal ranges at all times. It takes a bit of time to get it right but it can be done.

[Myself]

That happens to me too. It doesn't matter on my dose, my E levels (and LH and FS levels) will change a lot depending on the time of the month, usually by hundreds of units. It confounded my doctor too, since he's never seen it. I've had that happen both pre and post-op.

As for intersex, that is a possibility, although a lot of doctors don't know how to deal with that or what to do. I've run into that problem with my doctor.

Do you also go crazy for few days a month?

[rejennyrated]

Do you also go crazy for few days a month?

I think we all do... it's only the degree which varies slightly. I have definite and clearly identifiable PMT symptoms and my partner can always tell when I'm "starting".

[gothique11]

yeah, I pms and get cramps. o_0

[Arch]

yeah, I pms and get cramps. o_0

Sorry to break in, but this made me laugh.

I was at my gay men's group a week or so ago. It's a big group, so we keep adding chairs and cramming everyone in. I was feeling protective of my personal space that day, so I was trying to carve out some room between me and the guys around me. The fellow to my right said, "Feeling cramped?" "Yes," I replied, "I always feel cramped here. Must be that time of the month." We both laughed, and he made some remark about having hot flashes (I think he is in his sixties). I almost said something like, "Oh, I had hot flashes for a couple of years...don't you hate it?" I caught myself and said instead, "Gee, is that what I have to look forward to?!"

Of course, he doesn't know I'm trans.

[FairyGirl]

Do you also go crazy for few days a month?

god yes I get it just about every 24 days. My breasts are sore, I cry at everything, I feel bloated and gain water weight, sometimes my face breaks out, I get migraines. the symptoms evolve but the whole thing lasts a little over a week. I live in a house with 2 menstruating women and I always know when they are about to start because I get the same symptoms. There are some PMS vitamins I take (B6 and zinc) that help a little. But by far the strongest symptom is definitely the rollercoaster emotions.

[rejennyrated]

god yes I get it just about every 24 days. My breasts are sore, I cry at everything, I feel bloated and gain water weight, sometimes my face breaks out, I get migraines. the symptoms evolve but the whole thing lasts a little over a week. I live in a house with 2 menstruating women and I always know when they are about to start because I get the same symptoms. There are some PMS vitamins I take (B6 and zinc) that help a little. But by far the strongest symptom is definitely the rollercoaster emotions.

That is one of the most interesting replies so far because of course there is some observed data suugesting that sometimes a group of closely knit females living in close proximity will tend to synchronise their menstrual cycles. It's by no means a proven effect in humans, but it is intriguing.

[Nigella]

Intersexed is a real possibility, I too have PMS and had hot flushes before HRT (50yr old, lol). I still get PMS and I do have a neo vagina not fully formed that was only found last year. I suspect that a number of trans people are in fact intersexed. It makes sense really and perhaps transsexualism is an intersexed condition if the scientific theory of brain mismatch to body is right.

At the end of the day it doesn't make much difference except how my SRS will be done. I have a regime of HRT that mimics a female cycle and that helps.

Stardust   

[gothique11]

Yeah, if you live with other women you'll synch up. Happens to me. I also break out at that time.

[Silver]

That is one of the most interesting replies so far because of course there is some observed data suugesting that sometimes a group of closely knit females living in close proximity will tend to synchronise their menstrual cycles. It's by no means a proven effect in humans, but it is intriguing.

It does happen, I can say from experience. Takes 1-2 years usually to synchronize. It still baffles me that MTF women have menstrual cycles though.

[rejennyrated]

It does happen, I can say from experience. Takes 1-2 years usually to synchronize. It still baffles me that MTF women have menstrual cycles though.

Well in my case, and in Stardust's case, it's probably something to do with actually having being intersexed... and although I don't know enough about them to say for sure it may well also be so for the others.

[Princess_Jasmine]

I posted a topic about us having a monthly cycle in this thread:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,69765.0.html

It's true. My therapist who is very educated about our issues and hormone research has already informed me this is a symptom of us taking estrogen. We have a monthly cycle. That week when you are feeling cranky,depressed, and having horrid cramps is your "period" and your body apparently wont process as much estrogen. You might even notice a strong or fishy odor down there at this time of the month.

However, the time you are calm, relaxed, feeling like yourself again is when your body is processing estrogen correctly and the hormone level therefore reads higher. The estrogen levels continue to rise after your period ends until they reach their peak level. Once they reach their peak, they start to drop again and again until you start your period again.

This is just how a genetic female's body works when it comes to hormone usage. We are so lucky to have cycles but also cursed in a way with all its side effects of constant changing hormone levels, but its something I would put up with any day just to experience what a girl is supposed to go through

[Myself]

how can you have cramps without uterus? doesn't make sense to me.

Right now I am having stomach pains but I think I just ate something. I don't see in any way in the world how it can be related. Maybe I am just a bit more stomach sensitive because last 2 days I had a bit of pain too (due lighter than today), but I doubt it's related as THERE IS NO UTERUS!

Painful breasts are probably related though :/ (started today)

[rejennyrated]

Some intersex people do have a uterus - it's just absolutely TINY - often less than 1cm across and has never developed fully. Which is why it takes a really thorough ultra sound pelvic exam to find!