So I got my first post-T blood test results in and they want me to come in to talk because apparently my estrogen levels are unusually high.  My T levels are also high (up where they are supposed to be for a guy), but they thought I might want to try and do something about the estrogen levels.  I was wondering what kind of effects my high estrogen could be having?  Would I be transitioning better if I had lower estrogen levels?  Would taking some kind of blocker help with my development?  Has anyone else been in this situation?  I prefer to take as few prescription drugs as possible, but I don't want to hold back my transition, either...

Here is a link to a resource you might take to your medical personnel, its written by a doctor:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,80762.msg564084.html#msg564084

Basically there might be a few possible explanations...
sometimes estro levels rise in the beginning because of a feedback loop...
sometimes some testo gets converted...

well you might talk with your doc about possibly getting few drugs ...


*hugs*

I've heard that having too high a testosterone level can make your estrogen level rise, maybe your dose was too high?

more T = more masculine effects. more E = more feminine effects. you want to have more T in your body than estrogen but you don't want TOO much T where it can convert into estrogen. by that point, it just becomes irrelevant how much T your body has because it is just producing the hormone you don't want. they might just lower your dose, honestly. even though it may be in the "normal male range" it might be too much for your body because everyone has a different body and how it reacts to things. i would look at my options but ultimately i think the best may be adjusting your dose, if that doesn't work then you can explore other things. it could be many things and probably has an easier fix where you don't have to take a ridiculous amount of pills or go off T.

Did you ever have your estrogen levels checked before you started T?  Maybe 'high' estrogen is where your body is used to operating.  It may have little to do with the dose of T you are administering but rather the time on T, and that your body has not yet been able to suppress the estrogen production.  It took me a few years on T for that to happen...strong ovaries and pituitary, I guess! And even then, I needed a hysto to correct that and a few other problems.  If your T level is appropriate at your dose, then I would say it might be too early to expect less estrogen to be circulating.  Our bodies try hard to maintain homeostasis, but eventually the T will become dominant.  My doctor suggested lowering my dose and injecting more frequently to help this process along, so the body gets used to having a more steady level of Testosterone.  Personally, I would avoid taking any other medications to remedy this, since it may not even be a problem...  Patience is a BIG requirement with transition! 

Quote from: HeyTrace19 on March 16, 2016, 03:46:49 PM
Did you ever have your estrogen levels checked before you started T?  Maybe 'high' estrogen is where your body is used to operating.  It may have little to do with the dose of T you are administering but rather the time on T, and that your body has not yet been able to suppress the estrogen production.  It took me a few years on T for that to happen...strong ovaries and pituitary, I guess! And even then, I needed a hysto to correct that and a few other problems.  If your T level is appropriate at your dose, then I would say it might be too early to expect less estrogen to be circulating.  Our bodies try hard to maintain homeostasis, but eventually the T will become dominant.  My doctor suggested lowering my dose and injecting more frequently to help this process along, so the body gets used to having a more steady level of Testosterone.  Personally, I would avoid taking any other medications to remedy this, since it may not even be a problem...  Patience is a BIG requirement with transition!

Yes, I did have them checked and the estrogen levels were high before I started T while my T was in the lower end for a female bodied person.  The nurse I talked to said the doc wants to see me because they are "still high" so I am assuming they don't think it's all testosterone being converted... I do hope that my body will adjust.  On the bright side I feel like I am doing pretty well for 4 months.  I have a small amount of facial hair on my chin, my shoulders have seriously bulked up, my fat has redistributed some, my face has squared up a little, my voice is almost passable...  So I don't feel super held back, but it is a bit discouraging!  I'll see what he has to say tomorrow I guess...

My T levels are usually somewhere between 700-900. My doctor has checked my estrogen levels twice to make sure my T wasn't getting converted too much when I had some cramping issues and was worried about shark week potentially coming back, and my estrogen was between 40-50 both times. Do you have an exact number for yours?

I don't think it's negatively impacted my masculinization at all, but I would like to get it lower. Shark week never did come back, I was just being a worrier. Hopefully the hysto has taken care of any remaining imbalances. I'll find out next month! Hopefully my dose goes down too

If they haven't run them already, ask for T and E tests. Like invisiblemonsters said, even if your T is within the normal range, your individual body chemistry may be converting it to E and whatever dose you're on may need to be lowered. If it's in the same range as you were previously, it may need to be raised? Maybe? Only if it your T isn't already on the high end and you're not getting any bad side effects (so have them check RBC and kidney/liver function too). Not a doctor though.

Quote from: FtMitch on March 16, 2016, 01:23:41 PM
So I got my first post-T blood test results in and they want me to come in to talk because apparently my estrogen levels are unusually high.  My T levels are also high (up where they are supposed to be for a guy), but they thought I might want to try and do something about the estrogen levels.  I was wondering what kind of effects my high estrogen could be having?  Would I be transitioning better if I had lower estrogen levels?  Would taking some kind of blocker help with my development?  Has anyone else been in this situation?  I prefer to take as few prescription drugs as possible, but I don't want to hold back my transition, either...

I had this issue. I mean, my estrogen was lower before I started T and because I've researched stuff a lot, i insisted my doc to check out my E2 levels because I felt like something was off. I felt moody, emotional, etc. etc., and then after my labs were done, my doc called me and said "you were right, these are high". I was put on anti-estrogen, at least until I've been through hysto, and then we'll check how things are working after the surgery. I started feeling so much better, when my estrogen levels started getting down. Of course it can't be TOO low, because even cismen need a bit of estrogen, otherwise your body's not functioning well.

Turns out that despite being on what is considered an average dose my T levels were super high, so he lowered my dose by 20% to see if that helps the estrogen levels.  He offered e blockers, but I said I would rather wait until my next results and see if lowering the T lowers the estrogen.  Since me T levels (the day BEFORE my "peak" day) were so darn high I think it's probably the T converting.  It's actually not THAT shocking of an estrogen level though, I think it was 46.  He doesn't think it's affected me much most likely, he just wants to get it lower and doesn't want me to be wasting T by taking more than I need to for levels of a young man.