Levels

[jentay1367]

I just got my first 100 day levels. I was told that at 320, my Estrogen levels were at an ovulating level and this was not good as it was too high. Why is it not good?? Don't we as Trans women want elevated levels to precipitate secondary sex changes? Even if my assumption is true, it would seem those levels are quite conservative. My T levels came in at 26 PMOL...., I'm okay with that..... and assume it will go down with continued therapy. Correct?
My concern is with those E levels, it would seem they are not really that high (checked at mid- injection time on a weekly schedule) and my Endo acted as if they were at dangerous or at least disconcerting levels?? My Liver, kidney and endocrine panels all came in perfect. am I perplexed.......... or am I ignorant....? Can anyone here with any real experience lend me any peace of mind or elucidation in regards to my situation? I've been directed to drop my my E intake by 33 percent. Is that really what I should be doing? It seems that if my E levels are really that high, perhaps they should drop the AA's and leave the E injections alone. Any perspectives??? Thanks for the help guys, I just want the most bang for the buck as I get to spring ($$$$$)for all of this since my overly expensive Insurance (700.00 monthly) is totally indifferent . Lisa

[Pat]

These all seem like good questions to have asked your endo. Maybe you should give them a call.

[Jennifer Devine]

I start HRT in 10 days and I was told at Charing Cross that the ideal estrogen levels are between 400-600

[jentay1367]

I really appreciate all the responses guys, but I'm really looking for someone with practical experience that can give me some info that will clarify my path. Please limit your responses unless you have some valid and real experience or knowledge that may cause me to deviate from my present path.....or at the very least, help me to understand the path I'm on. Thanks!

[JanePeterson]

WPATH Soc recommend maintaining estrogen levels in the normal female range- if your midweek levels are high, then lowering the E dosage seems prudent to me. More E won't get you there faster, but WILL increase the likelihood of negative side effects and potentially threaten your ability to stay on HRT (possibly)...

If I were you, I'd follow whatever the doctor recommends :)

Perhaps you could discuss weekly injections vs biweekly to potentially exercise finer control? Just a though - but lowering your dose in response to above average blood tests seems very prudent to me.

[Jennifer Devine]

Dr James Barrett is the leading Clinician in the UK and when I saw him at Charing Cross in London he told me that the level of estrogen should be between 400-600.
Don't know if they do things different where you are but Jennie is right, if you are not sure then ask your Endocrinologist x
That's the last I'm saying

[Megan G]

As the others have said already each doctor will have their own target range that they shoot for. There are a lot of factors to take into account such as age, overall health etc... I seen on your bio that you are 58. That very well could be one of the factors that he feels you are too high. I have heard a few times of docs putting their clients into post menopausal range if they are older.

Many also prefer to "ramp you up" slowly and your doc may feel that your current level is too high to start off.

The best way is to ask them..

[Emma Beth]

I went in at the end of August to begin HRT myself.

That day they took a base line for me.

I got a call from my Endo and she said all my hormone levels are normal for my age and that was it.

Now, I'm going through the VA for this and I have access to the website and I can actually look at my test results.

When looking at them I began to look into how to read them and discovered that they are somewhat subjective. My Endo uses reference ranges for her results.

For example, my T level reference range is supposed to be 1.8 - 7.8. That is the normal range as I have learned for me. My Estradiol reference range is listed at 7.6 - 42.6. And yes, I'm looking at them right now as I write this.

My main point is, you need to get with your Endo and ask these questions because it seems to me that each Endocrinologist may use different guides or ranges than what others may use and only your Endo can answer these questions for you.

Not to mention as Jane has said, trust your Dr. This can be dangerous stuff and your Dr. has your best interest at heart.

[jentay1367]

Hi guys, thanks for the feedback. Those tests were taken fasting at the middle of the injection period. I inject on a weekly basis and not bi monthly as had been suggested. I'm going to follow their plan and hope for the best. I was just wondering what the prevailing opinion was. I had asked them questions and the nurse was a bit vague.......... or I was to obtuse to understand. This isn't their first rodeo so I'm gonna assume all will be fine. Anyway, if not, I can always revisit this later.

[Zooey]

Units are important. "400-600" is meaningless without units. Incidentally, 600 pmol/l is about 163 pg/mL. The endocrine society generally recommends levels not exceed 200 pg/mL. So, the ranges you're discussing are actually quite similar if not identical.

[jentay1367]

My t and e were expressed to me as pg/ml, so it looks as though it probably is too high fo mid injection numbers. As I said...all other tests came back normal...so I guess I'll go ahead and back off the e to the degree they state. I guess I'm concerned they are being to conservative and I wont get results. But it appears thats not the case here. It takes long enough to get results when everything is optimal, so I suppose I'm just being a bit paranoid.