Background: I'm in Canada with early menopause at 42 confirmed by 3 high FSH tests spaced over months and extensive other tests to see why my periods stopped. Gained 50 pounds in short order before being diagnosed. Just turned 44 today! Been on HRT estrogel and Prometrium (same as Utro) for just over a year. Played with both cyclical and continuous (can't handle progesterone withdrawal). Sticking with continuous. Been on Androgel 1% since January for absent libido--not really helping but energy level is great. Getting a Mirena in the fall.
In the spring, I had days where I felt GOOD. Like my old self. Like something previously missing was finally in place. I was taking 3 pumps estrogel then. But back came night sweats back and lost a little bit of weight. Seems like I had a burst of my own hormones and then they dropped and things felt like they were changing. I added another pump estrogel, up to 4 because of the sweats. My GP and my OB-GYN were not in favour of this, but this forum said I'm young and need more and they don't know what they are talking about. My boobs got sore, I had a bleed (not surprising because I had increased to 4 pumps) and I dropped back down to 3. OB-GYN reluctantly gave her blessing to 3 pumps (she said because that's the equivalent of birth control pill) but wanted an estradiol test when COVID settled down. In the meantime, I've been on 3 pumps. No night sweats. Tried dropping to 2 and became withdrawn and emotionally explosive at work (to put it politely). Back to 3 pumps. Feeling vaginal dryness and still absent libido despite 5 months testosterone--thinking maybe it's converting to estrogen if that's not optimized yet. Back to 4 pumps but split 2 in morning, 2 at bedtime. That's brings us to today.
Got blood work done yesterday, and the results mean I'm sure to get a chastising phone call from the OB-GYN
-estradiol 3126 pmol/L (test repeated and confirmed)
reference range:
follicular 77-921 pmol/L
mid-cycle 139-2382 pmol/L
luteal 77-1145 pmol/L
post-menopausal <103 pmol/L
Obviously the 4 pumps is going to stop. I realize it's a single snapshot and not reliable yadda yadda yadda but the OB-GYN is very much going to use this as a guide. I think I should look at local treatment for mild vaginal dryness. I see reference to Vagifem and Ovestin, is that available in Canada? I don't have major VA problems but if there's still an inkling of it at this level of estradiol, I might as well figure out local treament.
Could anyone share their experience with supraphysioloicgal estradiol levels? Is this perhaps a case of too much bogs the receptors and too much is worse than too little? My pain is gone, which is great. That has been my primary guide for increasing dosage. Energy is great. Skin, etc all good. Sleeping well. Mentally could be a tad sharper (sometimes I feel downright stupid). Sex life and response is NOT what I would like.
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Topic: supraphysiological estradiol (Read 1015 times)