Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: CGKxoxo on November 24, 2014, 10:17:01 AM

Title: Is this normal?
Post by: CGKxoxo on November 24, 2014, 10:17:01 AM
Hi,

I've been on hormones for 10 months (I started at 18, I'm now 19).

A couple of months ago I had a blood test which showed my hormone levels were well within the female range and I was very happy with the results.

However, I've recently had a new blood test and my testosterone has raised and my estrogen has decreased. I did have the blood test at the very end of my Zoladex cycle but surely they shouldn't change that much even then?

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by: Clhoe G on November 24, 2014, 10:35:11 AM
Zoladex?
That's a puberty blocker.
When Zoladex is used in people who have been through puberty there can be a slight increase in T for a while, but it will keep em at castrait levels in the female range, but as a puberty blocker it can also block natural estrogen production, so I'm not real shore why E would drop, was it all a big change or..?
Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by: CGKxoxo on November 24, 2014, 11:00:20 AM
Quote from: Clhoe G on November 24, 2014, 10:35:11 AM
Zoladex?
That's a puberty blocker.
When Zoladex is used in people who have been through puberty there can be a slight increase in T for a while, but it will keep em at castrait levels in the female range, but as a puberty blocker it can also block natural estrogen production, so I'm not real shore why E would drop, was it all a big change or..?

Yeah I've had 5 lots of Zoladex now. My testosterone levels a couple of months ago were 0.6 and now they're 1.7. My estrogen now is 163 (I'm not sure what the normal range is) but I know it has dropped. I think it was in the 200's before. I'm not sure whether because of my age and my body is still changing my body is naturally producing more T so my E needs to go up accordingly. 
Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by: Clhoe G on November 24, 2014, 11:29:17 AM
That's not a lot of T but the female range for estrogen is around 200 to 300
Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by: CGKxoxo on November 24, 2014, 12:23:24 PM
Quote from: Clhoe G on November 24, 2014, 11:29:17 AM
That's not a lot of T but the female range for estrogen is around 200 to 300

I know 1.7 isn't that much but it's quite a drastic rise from 0.6 - which is virtually nothing!

Again, I did have the blood test literally the day I had my new Zoladex implant so perhaps the old one had completely dissolved and that's why the changes are there.
Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by: KayXo on December 04, 2014, 09:44:24 PM
Quote from: Clhoe G on November 24, 2014, 11:29:17 AM
the female range for estrogen is around 200 to 300

The female range can vary from under 100 pg/ml during the follicular phase (or during breastfeeding) to up to 650 pg/ml during the mid-cycle peak to up to 75,000 during pregnancy in some women. So really, the female range is quite wide!

If you don't believe these numbers, check various lab ranges, papers, etc. My sources are trustworthy and solid.
Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by: Clhoe G on December 05, 2014, 01:30:32 AM
Quote from: KayXo on December 04, 2014, 09:44:24 PM
The female range can vary from under 100 pg/ml during the follicular phase (or during breastfeeding) to up to 650 pg/ml during the mid-cycle peak to up to 75,000 during pregnancy in some women. So really, the female range is quite wide!

If you don't believe these numbers, check various lab ranges, papers, etc. My sources are trustworthy and solid.

On what planet is the ideal range for mtf hrt in the women's pregnancy or breast feeding range, like omg
Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by: TSJasmine on December 05, 2014, 02:12:42 AM
Quote from: Clhoe G on December 05, 2014, 01:30:32 AM
On what planet is the ideal range for mtf hrt in the women's pregnancy or breast feeding range, like omg

On the planet of tumors & breast milk. Their prolactin levels would shoot through the roof lol
Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by: KayXo on December 05, 2014, 10:26:07 AM
How is the "ideal" range even established by doctors for transwomen?? We all differ in how sensitive we are, checking levels isn't accurate due to fluctuations, and doctors will even disagree on what the ideal range is...so really, in the end, one needs to find the dose, HRT combo that works best for them. For me, injections have worked wonderfully well and my levels are around 4,000 pg/ml (3 days after injection), similar to typical first trimester pregnancy numbers, just turned out that way after much trial and error. But, my numbers fluctuate so that sometimes, they are probably lower and sometimes, even higher. Blood tests have come back normal, all is good. I'm healthier than ever. :)

If indeed pregnancy would lead to tumors, we should observe a greater occurrence of tumors in ciswomen who go through pregnancy.