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[Madge79]

Hi everyone!
Has anyone ever had their progesterone levels checked whilst taking HRT and had a high reading?
I’m getting myself in a health anxiety fuelled panic as my levels were double “normal”.
In perimenopausal so thoughts in my head were
1. Maybe my dose is too high for what I need (I’m on 100mg utrogestan vaginally days 15-26)
2. Maybe I ovulated this month and gave myself a double hit of progesterone.
3. The test I used wasn’t that accurate (it was a home finger **** one which I had issues with before as oestrogen gel in my skin affected results).

Right now I’m so paranoid that I have ovarian or adrenal cancer and that’s causing it. I’ve even then worried myself into a state thinking maybe it was cancer all along and not early menopause. (I’m 41 now - hot flashes etc started 3 years ago).

Any advice or words of wisdom would help!
TIA

[Kelrob12]

Hiya,
what were your levels? The private meno clinic told me that finger **** hormone tests weren't accurate, but used them for vitamin and other tests and were fine so can't say for sure. Although cortisol apparently isn't accurate but the opinion of this differed between labs which just left me confused at my result!  I did have my progesterone at the doctors just for reference against Estrogen levels as they usually only do it for checking ovulation.
I did also read from a site that tests hormones through dried urine that serum testing for progesterone is inaccurate, Im not sure on the science but it could mean your results aren't accurate.
Kellyx

[Hurdity]

There is no need to measure progesterone levels at all. What is normal? This has to be qualified. There is a reference range for post-menopausal women and there is a range for the menstrual cycle. If you are taking hRT then the levels are irrelevant anyway and meaningless. The progesterone dose you take is that which provides sufficient protection to the uterus to stop it over-thickening and to prevent cancer. That's all you need to think about in relation to progesterone. Any (private) doc/specialist who measures progesterone in women on HRT is just making money unnecessarily. The doc is causing you unnecessary worry! I am sure this is never done on NHS. The only reason to measure prog is in relation to fertility. Yes if you are peri-menopausal then you could have ovulated. Do try not to worry about the prog and concentrate on the benefits of HRT and how you feel generally!

Hurdity x

[Madge79]

Thanks so much this makes sense! I got the test done myself out of my own stupid morbid curiosity. I did the same with Estradiol a while back as that ended in tears with a contaminated sample and me freaking out. You would think I would learn my lesson.

I also had another thought, I use utrogestan vaginally so this can be quite messy. Chances are if ive even touched down below slightly I’ve transferred some of the hormone onto my hand at some point. Even using the applicator my fingers would touch slightly and probably pick up a direct concentrated hit of progesterone.

I think now I understand why using finger **** tests for hormones are wildly inaccurate!!!

No more home tests for me! End of!

[tootsieroll]

There is no need to measure progesterone levels at all. What is normal? This has to be qualified. There is a reference range for post-menopausal women and there is a range for the menstrual cycle. If you are taking hRT then the levels are irrelevant anyway and meaningless. The progesterone dose you take is that which provides sufficient protection to the uterus to stop it over-thickening and to prevent cancer. That's all you need to think about in relation to progesterone. Any (private) doc/specialist who measures progesterone in women on HRT is just making money unnecessarily. The doc is causing you unnecessary worry! I am sure this is never done on NHS. The only reason to measure prog is in relation to fertility. Yes if you are peri-menopausal then you could have ovulated. Do try not to worry about the prog and concentrate on the benefits of HRT and how you feel generally!

Hurdity x

Sorry for bringing up this old post but I am in the same situation.  Actually taking high dose progesterone for heavy bleeding and it is helping but my blood test results are 1009 nmol/L.  Is this normal? I heard something about people who are pregnant only having around 500 levels.  I also find the progesterone very sedating.  So do you still confirm that there's no use to testing blood levels of progesterone and to go by feeling and symptoms? thanks!