Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: LittleBoyBear on October 31, 2014, 04:50:13 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Understanding hormones/HRT
Post by: LittleBoyBear on October 31, 2014, 04:50:13 PM
Post by: LittleBoyBear on October 31, 2014, 04:50:13 PM
So, I had my first appointment to get on testosterone yesterday. (Well really my *second first appointment, but thats a long story)
The Doctor said I'm a great candidate for HRT and approved me moving forward. YAY!
So he said my bloodwork showed my estrogen level at 120, and my testosterone at 8. Apparently, thats actually sort of low for T in a female my age.
What I'm wondering about is the letters you see after the numbers say, when you google "normal amounts of E/T". ng/dl is nanograms per decaliter and seems to be how they measure T. pg/ml is picograms per millimeter and seems to be how they measure T. So, are my levels supposed to be said that way? Like, is my T 8ng/dl and my E 120 pg/ml. Why is there a difference and how can you actually compare the two, if they are using different measurements? 120 vs 8 seems like a huge difference, but it may not be, since they're different units of measure.
Please help me, I want to understand the actual changes I'm going to be making to my body and this seems essential!
-Bear
The Doctor said I'm a great candidate for HRT and approved me moving forward. YAY!
So he said my bloodwork showed my estrogen level at 120, and my testosterone at 8. Apparently, thats actually sort of low for T in a female my age.
What I'm wondering about is the letters you see after the numbers say, when you google "normal amounts of E/T". ng/dl is nanograms per decaliter and seems to be how they measure T. pg/ml is picograms per millimeter and seems to be how they measure T. So, are my levels supposed to be said that way? Like, is my T 8ng/dl and my E 120 pg/ml. Why is there a difference and how can you actually compare the two, if they are using different measurements? 120 vs 8 seems like a huge difference, but it may not be, since they're different units of measure.
Please help me, I want to understand the actual changes I'm going to be making to my body and this seems essential!
-Bear
Title: Re: Understanding hormones/HRT
Post by: Wolfy on October 31, 2014, 05:05:08 PM
Post by: Wolfy on October 31, 2014, 05:05:08 PM
I'm not sure how they measure them. But they're probably different in their own way and all that. What I would do is ask your doctor to explain the entire process to you. If you're that interested. My e was 292 and my t was 68 it's a big differences as well but as long as it's in the normal range there's nothing to worry about etc. but I'm going to ask my doc about this as well. It's actually quite interesting that you brought it up.
Title: Re: Understanding hormones/HRT
Post by: LittleBoyBear on October 31, 2014, 08:51:51 PM
Post by: LittleBoyBear on October 31, 2014, 08:51:51 PM
I'm pretty familiar with the effects the hormones have and the effects getting on Tare going to have. I need to look the timeline up again as I'll be starting T soon and want to be ready for changes and keep an eye out for anything thats not normal, etc.
I honestly thought my current testosterone level was going to be much higher. Normal for males 19+ years old is 240-950, with and average range of 270-950. For females its 8-60 with an average of 15-70. Again, mine was 8. Thats pretty low and I was really stunned. I'm excited to see what happens as that number climbs!
-Bear
I honestly thought my current testosterone level was going to be much higher. Normal for males 19+ years old is 240-950, with and average range of 270-950. For females its 8-60 with an average of 15-70. Again, mine was 8. Thats pretty low and I was really stunned. I'm excited to see what happens as that number climbs!
-Bear
Title: Re: Understanding hormones/HRT
Post by: FTMax on October 31, 2014, 09:25:10 PM
Post by: FTMax on October 31, 2014, 09:25:10 PM
This is interesting! I've got my appointment for bloodwork and such on the 14th, so I'm interested to see what my levels are like. If you manage to wrangle an explanation out of a doctor, I'd love to hear it.