Community Conversation => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Transsexual talk => Testosterone => Topic started by: AnxietyDisord3r on August 10, 2016, 06:45:15 AM Return to Full Version
Title: My endo didn't even check estrogen/estradiol levels
Post by: AnxietyDisord3r on August 10, 2016, 06:45:15 AM
Post by: AnxietyDisord3r on August 10, 2016, 06:45:15 AM
She wanted peak only, didn't care about trough, and only looked at T levels in isolation. We went up only a little on dose, which I'm comfortable with but it's weird not knowing the rest of the picture. I know I don't have super high E levels going on right now because I'm not symptomatic for that, but ...
I do not have faith in this doctor at all. I also dislike her because it doesn't seem to occur to her that patients have emotions. We're people, not a class project. (She really gives that A+ student vibe.)
Is there a way I can find out the rest of my levels? Do I need to go back to my PCP for that?
I do not have faith in this doctor at all. I also dislike her because it doesn't seem to occur to her that patients have emotions. We're people, not a class project. (She really gives that A+ student vibe.)
Is there a way I can find out the rest of my levels? Do I need to go back to my PCP for that?
Title: Re: My endo didn't even check estrogen/estradiol levels
Post by: V on August 10, 2016, 07:11:22 AM
Post by: V on August 10, 2016, 07:11:22 AM
I can't really suggest anything that might help, but I never had an 'endo', is this a US thing?
In fact looking back, I honestly don't remember having much blood work. I certainly don't know what my hormone levels are, not sure they've been checked in the 16 years since I transitioned.
I wonder what they are? Although, the car I now drive doesn't have an engine temperature gauge, so I'm blissfully in the dark about that too, and it made me wonder, if I am not having any problems, do I even need to know?
In fact looking back, I honestly don't remember having much blood work. I certainly don't know what my hormone levels are, not sure they've been checked in the 16 years since I transitioned.
I wonder what they are? Although, the car I now drive doesn't have an engine temperature gauge, so I'm blissfully in the dark about that too, and it made me wonder, if I am not having any problems, do I even need to know?
Title: Re: My endo didn't even check estrogen/estradiol levels
Post by: Dena on August 10, 2016, 08:46:01 AM
Post by: Dena on August 10, 2016, 08:46:01 AM
T can be tested at most any lab but estrogens may not be tested at all labs. In addition, female levels normally range between menopause levels to above the levels we used to transition and are very dependent on the time of the month. If you T levels are sufficient, the estrogen will be suppressed unlike us where estrogen may not suppress T. If you wish to have your estrogen levels checked you would need to have a blood draw every 2-3 days for a month to get the full picture. The chart will show you the difficulty.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Estradiol_during_menstrual_cycle.png)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Estradiol_during_menstrual_cycle.png)
Title: Re: My endo didn't even check estrogen/estradiol levels
Post by: JustASeq on August 10, 2016, 12:51:09 PM
Post by: JustASeq on August 10, 2016, 12:51:09 PM
Another thing to note is estrogen cannot be measured accurately at a cellular level via blood testing. For this reason my primary care physician has never measured my estrogen level.
Title: Re: My endo didn't even check estrogen/estradiol levels
Post by: AnxietyDisord3r on August 10, 2016, 03:56:02 PM
Post by: AnxietyDisord3r on August 10, 2016, 03:56:02 PM
Okay, good to know.
Title: Re: My endo didn't even check estrogen/estradiol levels
Post by: FTMax on August 11, 2016, 01:19:56 PM
Post by: FTMax on August 11, 2016, 01:19:56 PM
At my pre-T lab work, my doctor tested for both T and E. When we ran labs every quarter of my first year on T, she only tested T. She only tested me again for E right before and right after my hysterectomy to see how that would effect my dosage.
If you're masculinizing well enough and not having bad side effects, it may not be worth checking it at this point. If you're curious, you can always call your PCP and have them order the lab test. You'd have to get more blood drawn, but they should be able to do it.
If you're masculinizing well enough and not having bad side effects, it may not be worth checking it at this point. If you're curious, you can always call your PCP and have them order the lab test. You'd have to get more blood drawn, but they should be able to do it.