Hormone Levels

I received my lab results today, and wondered how they compare with other posters, who have had them taken, and are on hormone replacement.
I started on Prempro 3 yrs ago...<.0625 Premarin and 5.0 progestin> and switched to compounded Tri est <2.5mg> and 200 mg compounded progesterone, combined in one capsule, taken at bedtime. I'm 53 and feel great. My serum Estradiol was 16 pg/mL with <31 pg/mL the norm for women NOT on HT's. Prepuberty norms are <10 pg/mL .....so I guess that I am surprised that my Estradiol count was no higher than it is, since I am taking a pretty "hefty" dose of oral Tri est.
My progesterone count was VERY high at 14.9 ng/mL with the norms for a postmenopausal woman NOT on HT's....<0.73 ng/mL> and the reference point [.3-1.2] My NP told me that as long as I feel as well as I do, there is no problem with staying on the levels of progesterone that I am taking.
I'm just curious how other women who are on hormone replacement compare on their estradiol and progesterone lab numbers.
My testosterone was borderline low at 24, with the norm <20-80>, but my free testosterone was in the normal range, which is more important. I have no symptoms of lack of testosterone.
Nancy

Nancy,
I recently had a comprehensive hormone test. My estradiol was 28 and Estriol was 17, which my doctor considered to be extremely low. Progesterone tested at 1.0 which doc said was right on. I recently made the switch to bi-est due to my estrone level being high in conjuction with the low estradiol and estriol. Bi-est does not contain estrone and has a higher base of the estradiol and estriol. My testosterone was at .13 doc said that was in the toilet!

My opinion is that testing should only be used as a tool to go hand in hand with your symptoms. Hormones are not one size fits all and most tests have a pretty broad range. We won't all feel the same at the same level.

Hi Kim..
Thanks for your reply. I talked to my compounding pharmacist this morning, and I'm switching to 2.5mg Bi-est and 100 mg. Progesterone, combined in a capsule. I really don't want to elevate my estrogen dose if I can avoid it, but I have a serious case of osteoporosis, and would like to see the Estradiol higher than 16, like it is now!! Still can't believe that after 3 yrs on estrogen, my lab work was that low. I started on HRT's after one missed period, because of my osteo, so I just expected that my levels would be much higher, since I have no meno symptoms at all except my HRT's prevented me from getting another period at 50. I never even experienced perimenopause. My periods were always regular....every 28 days, for 5 days. Then one missed period, and I started on Prempro...and two years later, started on Tri est, last July. I've been on Fosamax for about 2 yrs.

Nancy

Nancy,
Perhaps you're not absorbing the capsules. There are other methods of delivery available. Maybe a cream or a troche??? Just an idea.

I'm not a fan of putting the hormones together. It is to hard to tweak the doseage that way. You may be too high on one and low on the other, but you can't do alot of tweaking when they are mixed together.

I'm four years post op and thought I was doing very well hormonally. I was pretty shocked at my results also. I'm due for my annual and I'm hoping that my doc will do a bone density test so I can see where I'm at. I did have one a year ago and everything was okay, but with the low estrogen levels I am a bit concerned.

They don't want me to attempt gels, creams or troche's because my osteo is so bad. I have the bones of a woman in her 90's, with BAD bones, at 53. I see endocrinologists at an osteo research center, in addition to my GYN's. . All of my doctors think that capsules are best in my case, because the doseage is consistent, rather than possible variables with absorption in other methods. I started out on two capsules last Summer, but after a month, I felt so well, that there was no reason not to combine them. I know that with my progesterone level, that the dose needed to be cut way back, and the bi est can be adjusted as needed.

Nancy