I had a semi-annual blood test and all the levels are within the normal ranges, but I got an email from my doctor that I don't appear to be taking my hormones regularly and she wants to talk to me about that-I have had brief interruptions due to problems getting my prescriptions filled but she has been aware of these short gaps, so this is concerning

the progesterone level was much higher last year even though still in a normal range the fall off is noticeable and the testosterone level is very low but slowly creeping up, the estrodial is slowly falling off  -I take my medications first thing every morning

so since the other results are normal (no problems with my kidneys or anything) what could cause this? 

as I lay awake at three in the morning worrying about these things, and not being a doctor, I'm thinking the most likely causes are

a) that it's related to the Rogaine (for slight male pattern baldness) which is a over the counter medication I started applying a couple months ago which does seem to work on hair loss for me
b) over the past year I have increased my physical activity -I swim a mile 5 days a week, walk several miles a day and bike ride 30 miles several times a week, all at a comfortable pace
c) I've started a calcium and vitamin D  supplement (by doctors orders) and stopped taking "fish oil" (it seemed like a waste of money)
d)I've put on about 10 pounds and I really haven't lost any noticeable muscle mass but I do have some breast development (I'm obese, so that's part of it but "almost a b cup")
e) I use alcohol rarely and that hasn't changed and I quit smoking years ago, so that's not a factor

so any thoughts?

Also not being a doctor it is hard to say, however this site suggests that excessive environmental estrogens (xenoestrogens, including synthetic HRT estrogens), excessive exercise (doesn't sound like yours is excessive though) and/or stress may all play a part. http://drjuliedurnan.com/7-signs-you-may-have-low-progesterone/

Speak more with your endo or doc.

I am not a doctor either , i fact i had asked questions here too , but i am thinking you could not worry from one test only , you can repeat them if they are very different . If not maybe it is just a matter of absorbtion and metabolism . Especially if you take them orally the absorbtion and levels can vary , also the way your body use them . The Progesterone can convert in many hormones inside your body and your current situation could've sligtly changed the levels .

Also i would like to tell about the calcium and vitamin d , usually all the calcium supplements are hurting you instead of helping as they are marketed . You could try homemade bone broth , sardines , dairy- if you can eat them or even some vegetable sources . Also vitamin D should be in the d3 form and liquid , but better still you can take the ( Fermented ) Cod Liver Oil . It is expensive but it is much better than the regular fish oil , its content is not denatured , balanced with vitamin A and also have the omega 3 acids preserved  .

thanks -I called my doctor and it turns out what she wants to talk about is all the "short gaps" of getting my medication -Express scripts is throwing up all kinds of road blocks to getting my patches in a timely manner (at $300/ month it's obvious why) and now every month they require another authorization from the doctor to fill the prescription so it's a lot of work and hassle for the doctor I'm sure.   I'm guessing since I can't go on pills at my age, well.... I don't really like the alternatives to patches, but i see her in a couple weeks and we'll talk about it, because I really need the estrodial-thanks for the advice

One alternative could be implants.
Both bioidentical estrogen and bioidentical progesterone are available as implants.

Here is further info:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,192044.msg1713877.html#msg1713877


hugs