Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: JenniRP70 on October 13, 2017, 08:06:33 AM

Title: Worrying drop on Oestradiol!
Post by: JenniRP70 on October 13, 2017, 08:06:33 AM
At a previous blood levels test, my serum oestradiol was 1270pmoil/L (346pg/ml) back in July, but the October level has dropped significantly to 318pmol/L (87pg/ml)!  This is way below average and I'm wondering if the change in tablets has caused this drop.  I was on Estrofem but switched to Estradiol at the beginning of September!  I didn't feel right with the Estradiol and certain feelings I was experiencing dropped off, such as sore nipples, so switched back to Estrofem a week ago!  My serum T levels have dropped further and are quite low @ 0.6nmol/L (17ng/dl).  The latest tests didn't have free testosterone, but in July that was 0.005nmol/L (0.2ng/dl).

Has anybody else experienced such a massive change, and negative at that?
Title: Re: Worrying drop on Oestradiol!
Post by: Deborah on October 13, 2017, 08:22:30 AM
Estrofem and Estradiol are the same thing.  Estrofem is just a trade name.  So if you continued with the same dosage then a drop in blood levels was likely simply due to timing of the blood test.   After you take a dose your blood levels rise quickly and then also begin to drop quickly within hours.  So a blood test soon after a dose will result in much higher levels than a blood test 12 hours later. 


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Title: Re: Worrying drop on Oestradiol!
Post by: JenniRP70 on October 13, 2017, 09:38:53 AM
Thanks for that.  I'm trying to think how soon after dosage it was, and I might not even have had the morning dose at the point of donation, around 9am.  That would explain it if the previous night dose was taken around 10pm.

Thanks again.  I was panicking that something was going horribly wrong and was almost in tears so clearly not if my emotions have me welling up over a drop in blood levels  :laugh:
Title: Re: Worrying drop on Oestradiol!
Post by: KayXo on October 16, 2017, 10:23:52 AM
Quote from: Deborah on October 13, 2017, 08:22:30 AMAfter you take a dose your blood levels rise quickly and then also begin to drop quickly within hours.

If taken sublingually. Orally, levels gradually rise, with levels usually peaking at around 3-8 hours, depending on the person and then slowly drop.

QuoteSo a blood test soon after a dose will result in much higher levels than a blood test 12 hours later.

Not in the case of oral intake where levels may be higher 12 hours later vs. 1-2 hours after, as confirmed by some studies.

In any case, levels fluctuate so tend to be unreliable. A better marker is how one feels and physical changes.