I just received the results on my latest hormone levels taken at 13 months post-op. My estradiol level is the same as previous tests this past year, which seem a bit low to me. My endo though says not to mess with my feeling of wellness, so she doesnt want to adjust it.

My results are in the range for post-menopausal women. Does anyone have any opinions if these are levels are good for ladies in my age range 53?

Test Results:
Estradiol: 23 pg/mL
Testosterone, Total 13 ng/dL

I feel okay, but libido is quite low.

thanks

Hmm idk but that seems low to me. My e levels sit around the 250 range after my orchie

Hi Valerie,

May of 2010 I eliminated the T production.  In June of 2010 I had the T tested and it was 9 ng/dl.  My endo continued the estradiol at doses prior but stopped spiro, progesterone, and Avadort.   She asked me, "How is your libido?"  I replied, "What is libido?"  She wanted to give me small doses of T but that did not appeal to me.  She told me to take 50mg of over-the-counter DHEA.  In March of 2011 my T was up to 26 ng/dl.

I have chatted with other endo's and they told me the libido resurfaces with T about 30.

I am 56 and still have a low libido but it is higher than last year.

I am sure your endo will give you a low dose of T if you want. 

Maybe exercise will help naturally boost T and improve libido?

My E is much higher than yours (around 200); however, I would guess I take more E than you.

the free T level seems curiously absent (mine is 0.2 ng/dL), that might be part of the issue.

E level seems low to me also, although there isn't really a reason to up it to development levels unless you don't have enough breast growth (mine is 57 ng/dL).

It seems other women here have mentioned that Progesterone has helped increase their libido. I can't say from experience because I haven't gotten any. Can anyone comment?

Post-op trans women should take small amounts of T to bring their T level back up to normal levels for a natal female.  Now, I'm not talking about taking as much as trans men do, but in very much smaller amounts.  (I would like to go into detail to further illustrate this point, but I am restricted to do so by this site's policies)  A natal female's T levels are between 20 to 50 ng/dl and the amount of T you would supplement to get in that range would not re-masculinize you.

This little amount of supplemental T would not only help your energy and libido, but if you have had SRS, it also would help your prostate produce lubrication for vaginal penetration.

Quote from: HitOrMiss. on June 03, 2011, 07:58:42 PM
It seems other women here have mentioned that Progesterone has helped increase their libido. I can't say from experience because I haven't gotten any. Can anyone comment?

We added micronized progesterone into my regimen earlier this year (I'm ~14-15 years post-op).  There was a little bit of a kick on filling out the breasts more than previously but I cannot say I saw a positive change to the libido.   

Quote from: Ann Onymous on June 06, 2011, 12:19:42 PM
We added micronized progesterone into my regimen earlier this year (I'm ~14-15 years post-op).  There was a little bit of a kick on filling out the breasts more than previously but I cannot say I saw a positive change to the libido.   

I have considered introducing Progesterone into my HRT regmen, which at this point primarily consists of Premarin vaginal cream. Psychologicallly I'm leery of taking Testosterone, even though in small dosages I'm sure it would be fine.

I attribute my low libido to age, hectic career, and to not having a partner that turns me on. When I'm with someone that turns me on,
then I don't have any libidinal issues.

That does seem pretty low Val, even for just maintenance levels. I think before HRT, my E levels were at 25

Quote from: HitOrMiss. on June 03, 2011, 07:58:42 PM
It seems other women here have mentioned that Progesterone has helped increase their libido. I can't say from experience because I haven't gotten any. Can anyone comment?

I have taken micronized progesterone for about 5 years.  I have good breast development at about 40C.  My endo told me that progesterone is of no value and I stopped taking it 3/2011.   I have my quarterly appointment late 6/2011.  I have little decrease in libido.  I have no libido.

However I would like for someone to hold me, kiss me and give me some attention even without a libido.  Since that is not the case I remain uninformed of my feelings.

In two weeks I see my endo.  I fully expect a small dose of T would increase my libido.  I will reject her suggestion because it would be wasted.  If you have a partner and you are not warm to that partner than maybe take a low dose of T.  I do have an issue taking any T because it caused me an issue.

For reference single digit T levels is that of male/female of single digit age.  Therefore an 8 year old male or female will have a T level of around 8mg/dl.   Their libido is also very low.

Quote from: Valeriedances on June 15, 2011, 05:04:57 PM
My endo agreed my Estradiol level is way too low (23 pg/mL). She doubled my dosage, which is still less than I was taking pre-srs.

I've been on the same dosage for over a year now. I wonder what increasing it is going to feel like? Will I even notice it?

Valerie,

My endo kept the estradiol at the same level she had it before surgery.  I feel good at this level.  I also take a baby enteric coated aspirin every evening.   

I think my dosage is higher than some of the people I personally know. 

I am also trying to stay at the same E level....however, guessing a lower dosage is required for such. I have to go see my doc soon to check my levels to see if we have to up or down the dose again

Quote from: Debra on June 16, 2011, 11:23:49 AM
I am also trying to stay at the same E level....however, guessing a lower dosage is required for such. I have to go see my doc soon to check my levels to see if we have to up or down the dose again

Debra the post-op dosage is typically the low end of the pre-op dosage.

Actually I know the correct dosage for me.  If I cry 50 times a day it is too high.  If I feel less than optimal it is too low.

Yeah I can usually feel if it's too low but i like to get the levels checked anyway.

And it's just crazy hard to figure out injection levels....it takes more time than oral, it seems.

If i may ask, what dosage of estrogen are you taking each day?

You can't I'm afraid. It is against the site rules to talk about specific dosage.

My post-op dosage is surpisingly only slightly smaller than the pre-op dose. And my levels are doing just fine. Just saw the doc last week.

My T is back up to 30ng/ml which is good, not too much but not too little and my platelettes (clotting) were the lowest they've ever been!

Debra,
any idea how to convert your total T of 30 ng/ml ==> nmol/l

Equally, one could convert my total T of 0.7 nmol/l ==> ng/ml

To convert between grams and moles, one needs the substance and its molar mass.
So one would need the molar mass for T...
Tricky.

BTW, std. female range "total testosterone" is 6 – 86 ng/dl

Axelle

I think a possible problem with most doctors is they treat us as post-menopausal women and try to keep us on a lower dose that results in a lower libido, lack of breast development and a whole other range of issues more so if they don't prescribe P. This common female range that is spouted is in the lower end of a natal female range more over I for one am not a natal female (unfortunately) nor post-menopausal. I've done away with this "idea" that one's dose should be lowered post-op. but that's just me >_<

My pre-op dose was X mg of Progynova (Estradiol Valerata) together with an anti androgen (Androcur). My T was on the low range and my Estrogen was between 200-300, sometimes above 300. Post-SRS I discontinued the anti androgen and continued taking the progynova. I recently had a blood test and my gyno said everything was fine. (just 6 weeks post-op). So in fact my post of dose of E has not been lowered, I only stopped taking the anti androgen. My libido is normal, sometimes I have no desire and at other times I get aroused easily. For me it is a mood thing.

Libido is influenced by a number of things, most importantly hormone levels. Some say that you have to add small doses of testosterone to increase it. I recently came accross a term 'Estrogen Dominance', which means that there is relatively lots of E compared to low levels of Progesterone. The article I read said that estrogen dominance may cause low libido as well. I'm not sure about it, since I have no experience. But maybe it is interesting for someone reviewing this thread to research it further.