Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Well I just got my test results from the lab, and will be seeing the Doctor about my results on Friday the 15th  ???

So according to this test which was done by the Mayo Clinic (samples were sent there) I have 46 XY Chromosomes but abnormal levels of hormones.

Here are my levels

Progesterone  is 0.15 and the reference range is 0.20 to 1.40 ng/ml

My Estrone Estrogen Levels are 74 and the reference range is  10-60 pg/ml

My Testosterone (T) is 198 and the reference range is 240-950 ng/dl

My Testosterone (F) is 8.1 and the reference range is 9-30 ng/dl

My Testosterone Bioa is 105 and the reference range is 61-213 ng/dl


So I will know more hopefully what the doctor can say. I have the condition of micropenis and gynecomestia along with all this so something is obviously going on here.  :-\

I will let you all know what the doctor says, I am curious though do these hormone levels mean anything at all?

Please keep us updated.

Wow you will feminize with little effort if desired.

I had similar T & E levels before HRT. And somewhat enlarged breast tissue and little body hair. Yep... Something is going on is what several endos told me. And without spending thousands on detailed DNA & chromosomal testing, I'll never know what exactly. Oh well.

HRT works great on us though.   ;)

A lot of men have low testosterone, and it's no major issue. It's even very common in older people, as testosterone production goes down with age in general. And with lower testosterone comes higher estradiol, most likely, since they "fight" one another.

A micropenis can either be unrelated (intrauterine perturbation) or related directly to low testosterone. I would tend to think that it's the former, since you aren't so far from the normal levels, and I find it likely that your levels were normal in your twenties and thirties.

As for gynecomastia, it can actually appear on its own if you are overweight. And it's also a normal and relatively common effect of having low testosterone, even more so if you are overweight.

I see nothing abnormal about this.

Quote from: A on June 12, 2012, 01:19:08 PM
A lot of men have low testosterone, and it's no major issue. It's even very common in older people, as testosterone production goes down with age in general. And with lower testosterone comes higher estradiol, most likely, since they "fight" one another.

A micropenis can either be unrelated (intrauterine perturbation) or related directly to low testosterone. I would tend to think that it's the former, since you aren't so far from the normal levels, and I find it likely that your levels were normal in your twenties and thirties.

As for gynecomastia, it can actually appear on its own if you are overweight. And it's also a normal and relatively common effect of having low testosterone, even more so if you are overweight.

I see nothing abnormal about this.

If you were an otherwise healthy 18 year old male (for example and in my case)... And my total serum T level was around 200 ng/dl... With elevated E levels... Then yeah... Something is up. This is not normal.

No abnormal genital development in my case... So I can't comment there.

I know, but we're not talking about an 18-year-old...

Those numbers represent a "snapshot" of your hormonal profile, StS.

They are not unlike my average, pre-hrt levels.  The biochemistry of hormone levels in the body is complicated science, and many inter-related systems and glands are involved.  We are talking not only testicles, but the pituitary gland near the brain, the adrenals glands, the thyroid, the liver, etc.

You would do well to have your E, T, and P levels tested on a regular basis.  I do it every 3 months.

Quote from: A on June 12, 2012, 01:19:08 PM
A lot of men have low testosterone, and it's no major issue. It's even very common in older people, as testosterone production goes down with age in general. And with lower testosterone comes higher estradiol, most likely, since they "fight" one another.

A micropenis can either be unrelated (intrauterine perturbation) or related directly to low testosterone. I would tend to think that it's the former, since you aren't so far from the normal levels, and I find it likely that your levels were normal in your twenties and thirties.

As for gynecomastia, it can actually appear on its own if you are overweight. And it's also a normal and relatively common effect of having low testosterone, even more so if you are overweight.

I see nothing abnormal about this.

The poster doesn't give enough information if his condition is true gynecomastia, with excess glandular tissue, or pseudo-gynecomastia, with just excess adipose (fatty) tissue.  The test the doctors use is to pinch around the areola with the thumb and fingers, to feel for the lobules and milk ducts.

Quote from: A on June 12, 2012, 01:19:08 PM
A lot of men have low testosterone, and it's no major issue. It's even very common in older people, as testosterone production goes down with age in general. And with lower testosterone comes higher estradiol, most likely, since they "fight" one another.

A micropenis can either be unrelated (intrauterine perturbation) or related directly to low testosterone. I would tend to think that it's the former, since you aren't so far from the normal levels, and I find it likely that your levels were normal in your twenties and thirties.

As for gynecomastia, it can actually appear on its own if you are overweight. And it's also a normal and relatively common effect of having low testosterone, even more so if you are overweight.

I see nothing abnormal about this.

Well I have had breasts since I was 16 years old. I got teased all the time by the guys and it never stopped while I was at the boys ranch in the shower. I also had a doctor confirm this along with my micropenis, It is super small and It has always been that way regardless of my weight. I am going to also be doing a semen analysis as well that the doctor ordered.

The truth is though no matter what is going on there a large part of me that feels female, and only sometimes do I feel male. I already know a person can actually have a female or male brain or a mix, so I still am not at all like the average heterosexual male.

Quotetrue gynecomastia, with excess glandular tissue, or pseudo-gynecomastia

I have had it confirmed that I have true gynecomastia, but its not super large like pseudo-gynecomastia that I have seen online

AT the age of 21 I was 195 Lbs, When I was 16 I was 165 Or So  I did gain weight and I am heavy now but I always had the symptoms, and I am 40 now.

Quote from: ShawnToShawn on June 12, 2012, 04:10:19 PM
Well I have had breasts since I was 16 years old. I got teased all the time by the guys and it never stopped while I was at the boys ranch in the shower. I also had a doctor confirm this along with my micropenis, It is super small and It has always been that way regardless of my weight. I am going to also be doing a semen analysis as well that the doctor ordered.

The truth is though no matter what is going on there a large part of me that feels female, and only sometimes do I feel male. I already know a person can actually have a female or male brain or a mix, so I still am not at all like the average heterosexual male.


I have had it confirmed that I have true gynecomastia, but its not super large like pseudo-gynecomastia that I have seen online

AT the age of 21 I was 195 Lbs, When I was 16 I was 165 Or So  I did gain weight and I am heavy now but I always had the symptoms, and I am 40 now.

At 12 I lactated which is not uncommon.  (Actually thought I would turn into a girl.)

Anytime I took hormones my breasts would grow.

When I changed my hormones for good I grew normal functional breasts.

Body hair never changed with hormones. None.

Never grew hair around my mouth or on chest. 

I exercised a lot and was very muscular.

T levels were normal and E was never tested until recently.

Who knows.

Quote from: wendy on June 12, 2012, 12:05:52 PM
Please keep us updated.

Wow you will feminize with little effort if desired.

Really? Hmm, what factors would suggest that exactly? How much will i be able to feminize?

Well, I'm not an expert, but I think that if you already have some breast development, in terms of fat as well as other structures, it should make it easier for HRT for one.

It's not that abnormal in regards to t. My and my grandfather both got tested for t albeit separately and we got a much lower range than that. I think the estrogen is the only thing on the abnormal side as low t is pretty common.

Are you sure the results say: 46 XY ? Normal male humans have a total of 46 chromosomes, 44 autosomes and 2 sexsomes. During fertilization you get 22 autosomes plus X from Mom, and 22 autosomes plus a Y from Dad for a grand total of 46 chromosomes.

If you have 46 autosomes and XY, then you my girl have 2 extra chromosomes, which could explain abnormal hormonal levels

Quote from: ShawnToShawn on June 12, 2012, 05:39:26 PM
Really? Hmm, what factors would suggest that exactly? How much will i be able to feminize?

Genetics play biggest factor.

If your mom and sisters have pear shapes then you would probably get a pear shape on hormones.

If you are young enough and have good amount of hair on head then you could grow some hair back.

If your beard is not heavy then you could remove it easier.

If your shoulders are not too big then hormones will reduce muscle mass and give you more feminine shape.

People that experience biggest changes from hormones are very feminine and very masculine.

Those that are rather androgynous do not look as different to society when go on HRT.

Quote from: peky on June 12, 2012, 07:07:04 PM
Are you sure the results say: 46 XY ? Normal male humans have a total of 46 chromosomes, 44 autosomes and 2 sexsomes. During fertilization you get 22 autosomes plus X from Mom, and 22 autosomes plus a Y from Dad for a grand total of 46 chromosomes.

If you have 46 autosomes and XY, then you my girl have 2 extra chromosomes, which could explain abnormal hormonal levels

No it says no Chromosomal abnormalities on the paper here.  46,XY, normal male  , and I laugh at the normal part, because I am not normal even though my mom would like to think so. I love her still though

Quote from: ShawnToShawn on June 12, 2012, 07:39:10 PM
No it says no Chromosomal abnormalities on the paper here.  46,XY, normal male  , and I laugh at the normal part, because I am not normal even though my mom would like to think so. I love her still though

Yes, normal, I stand corrected.

If you are overweight, you probably just have a lot of aromatase. Aromatase pretty much "lives" in body fat and it is what converts testosterone to estradiol. Therefore it's possible (even probable if you are overweight) that you do not have any intersex condition, it is simply chemical imbalances in the body due to your overall health.

Quote from: ShawnToShawn on June 12, 2012, 05:39:26 PM
Really? Hmm, what factors would suggest that exactly? How much will i be able to feminize?

A lot of it has to do with the hormone receptors in your body and how they react to your own hormone levels.

Even small, beginner doses of AAs and E immediately caused renewed breast growth for me.  Over the years (pre-hrt), I have noticed that I had sore nipples from time to time, and breasts that grew a little, and then sort of went dormant.

My skin also saw changes quickly.  Other things (like fat "redistribution, not as fast).  I blogged about.  See "Jamie's World."

Quote from: Alainaluvsu on June 12, 2012, 11:44:54 PM
If you are overweight, you probably just have a lot of aromatase. Aromatase pretty much "lives" in body fat and it is what converts testosterone to estradiol. Therefore it's possible (even probable if you are overweight) that you do not have any intersex condition, it is simply chemical imbalances in the body due to your overall health.

My breasts were not much smaller 10 years ago when I was 250 and I am 6 feet tall, even when I was 200 they were just too big for a typical male. The doctor already examined me again and confirmed what I have.

I just want to make it clear that I'm not denying what you have. All of these are valid conditions/statuses. All I'm saying is that their coexistence makes perfect sense to me without there being any underlying condition. "Something is definitely up" is not necessarily true. Whilst those coincidences are worth investigating, I really wouldn't be so sure that there's a core issue linking them.

By the way, even "true" gynecomastia can be pretty normal. It appears a lot in teenage boys, especially if they are on the fat side, because their body over-converts testosterone to estradiol. It is said that in the vast majority of cases, it subsides by the end of puberty, but it is also said that it can remain that way, and not be a true indication of anything, right? In other words, in my book, it's "normal" albeit rarer.

So yeah, I just wanted to say... Don't worry. I think the most likely situation is that you have nothing of concern.

Ahh ok then that makes sense, so what about my progesterone levels, why are they so low?

I have a really good doctor, and in fact I wish I could take her with me when I move to the Bay Area  ;D I mean she is really that good.

I trust that she will be able to tell me what everything means in detail.

Yes, I believe that would be best. My medical knowledge is limited to say it nicely.

I'd think that low progesterone for a male is no major issue since it doesn't serve any important purpose in a genetic male, hence why most doctors don't prescribe it with HRT. But maybe it does have a purpose in males and I hadn't any idea~

Quote from: ShawnToShawn on June 13, 2012, 08:15:03 AM
Ahh ok then that makes sense, so what about my progesterone levels, why are they so low?

I have a really good doctor, and in fact I wish I could take her with me when I move to the Bay Area  ;D I mean she is really that good.

I trust that she will be able to tell me what everything means in detail.

In genetic males if they haven't taken HRT their progesterone levels are usually low.

Quote from: A on June 13, 2012, 08:18:05 AM
I'd think that low progesterone for a male is no major issue since it doesn't serve any important purpose in a genetic male, hence why most doctors don't prescribe it with HRT. But maybe it does have a purpose in males and I hadn't any idea~

You are absolutely right.

Ok so what happens when a person begins hrt, then what happens to progesterone?

Eh, no idea. If you're not taking any, it shouldn't move much. Maybe go up very slightly through less competition with testosterone or something. But most likely nothing.

For information on progesterone and what I think about it ('cause I agree with that person): http://www.gires.org.uk/assets/Medpro-Assets/Progesterone.pdf (http://www.gires.org.uk/assets/Medpro-Assets/Progesterone.pdf)

Quote from: ShawnToShawn on June 13, 2012, 08:42:12 AM
Ok so what happens when a person begins hrt, then what happens to progesterone?

Some believe progesterone helps with breast development.

I found micronized progesterone to be useful.  Synthetic progesterones are much cheaper and last longer but gave me unwanted side effects.

........................

Do you enjoy your breasts?

Would you want them to grow bigger?

Do you have small hands and feel as well? I have similar issue.

Quote from: peky on June 12, 2012, 07:07:04 PM
Are you sure the results say: 46 XY ? Normal male humans have a total of 46 chromosomes, 44 autosomes and 2 sexsomes. During fertilization you get 22 autosomes plus X from Mom, and 22 autosomes plus a Y from Dad for a grand total of 46 chromosomes.

If you have 46 autosomes and XY, then you my girl have 2 extra chromosomes, which could explain abnormal hormonal levels

You misinterpret what '46,XY' means. The '46' refers to the TOTAL number of chromosomes, not just the autosomes. For instance, a person with Trisomy X (three X chromosomes) has a 47,XXX chromosomal makeup.

/chromosome obsessed for some reason