Peri-menopause....are all those tests necessary?

coffeeandcream · 03-04-2013, 08:51 AM

Hi....

I have been having night sweats for about a year now. I started on an OTC Progesterone cream at night and it helps, but not totally.

My doctor wants me to have blood work, there are about 5 different tests and I have heard it can cost a lot, even with insurance.

I just don't want to take the tests and then she just says "Oh, continue with the cream"

Any advice is appreciated...thanks

Stevie Renee · 03-04-2013, 09:06 AM

I have no idea but I am curious, what are the names of the tests? I would like to research and see what comes up. Did they give you a list of names?

Well wishes!! I have been going through some stuff myself. Turned 49 last fall. I really do not want to be uneducated and do something I will regret. lol

I also read a lot about bio hormones too...in of all peoples book, Suzanne Summers hormone book.

Erin57 · 03-04-2013, 09:50 AM

Did your Dr. specify what the 5 tests are? I have tests run for Thyroid, Vit D, B12, Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone. Sex hormones test costs me $79 out of pocket every 3 months. Without proper testing you have no idea where you started and if the therapy you are using is working. Our bodies are regulated by hormones and Thyroid is the master conductor. I think bloodwork for finding out your levels on all hormones is money well spent.

coffeeandcream · 03-04-2013, 10:57 AM

She already does thyroid, B-12, D... all that...these are just the sex hormoes that I am wondering about.

FSH
Estradiol
Progesterone
Total Testosterone

coffeeandcream · 03-04-2013, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin57

Did your Dr. specify what the 5 tests are? I have tests run for Thyroid, Vit D, B12, Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone. Sex hormones test costs me $79 out of pocket every 3 months. Without proper testing you have no idea where you started and if the therapy you are using is working. Our bodies are regulated by hormones and Thyroid is the master conductor. I think bloodwork for finding out your levels on all hormones is money well spent.

Wow....that's great, I have read that people have paid up to $500!

coffeeandcream · 03-08-2013, 07:29 PM

Ok....I got my labs back.

Testosterone 64 HIGH
FSH 4.8
Estradiol 718
Progesterone 1.7

I was worried about the high testosterone, but she didn't seem concerned.

Erin57 · 03-09-2013, 04:38 AM

Good to see that you had this done. Are the other hormones in range?

coffeeandcream · 03-09-2013, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin57

Good to see that you had this done. Are the other hormones in range?

Kind of....LOL

The ranges were for different times in your cycle, pregnancy or post menopause. I had an ablation so I do not have a period anymore, therefore I have no idea where I am in my cycle.

The Estrogen was high, compared to the references, yet it was not flagged as high??

dawnyama · 03-22-2013, 10:04 AM

I had my hormones tested just recently too. I am on pellets and taking progesterone. My estrogen was high---when asked what I could do to bring it down I was told indol 3 carbinol was a great supplement to take for it. Dr Oz said that DIM was really good for it as well. Well the doc he on explaining hormones said it was good to take LOL. Anyway, after my first night of taking the progesterone lozenge (the doc I see does NOT believe in creams at all!) I could barely wake up this morning. I hope that it is temporary and doesn't mean that I have to decrease the amount I am taking. I re-test my hormone levels in a few weeks (April something I forgot when) to see if what I am doing is working. I cannot wait to see if it is working as I cannot tell, with the exception of the grogginess this morning.

03-04-2013, 08:51 AM	#1
coffeeandcream Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 362 Gallery: coffeeandcream Stats: 228/188/160 WOE: LC Start Date: October 2012	Peri-menopause....are all those tests necessary? Hi.... I have been having night sweats for about a year now. I started on an OTC Progesterone cream at night and it helps, but not totally. My doctor wants me to have blood work, there are about 5 different tests and I have heard it can cost a lot, even with insurance. I just don't want to take the tests and then she just says "Oh, continue with the cream" Any advice is appreciated...thanks

03-22-2013, 10:04 AM	#9
dawnyama Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 21,175 Gallery: dawnyama Stats: 154/???/115 5'4" WOE: Hhcg/Rwhatever P2 Start Date: 6/1/09	I had my hormones tested just recently too. I am on pellets and taking progesterone. My estrogen was high---when asked what I could do to bring it down I was told indol 3 carbinol was a great supplement to take for it. Dr Oz said that DIM was really good for it as well. Well the doc he on explaining hormones said it was good to take LOL. Anyway, after my first night of taking the progesterone lozenge (the doc I see does NOT believe in creams at all!) I could barely wake up this morning. I hope that it is temporary and doesn't mean that I have to decrease the amount I am taking. I re-test my hormone levels in a few weeks (April something I forgot when) to see if what I am doing is working. I cannot wait to see if it is working as I cannot tell, with the exception of the grogginess this morning. __________________ Dawn in SC

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03-04-2013, 09:06 AM	#2
Stevie Renee Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 13,582 Gallery: Stevie Renee Start Date: July 2000	I have no idea but I am curious, what are the names of the tests? I would like to research and see what comes up. Did they give you a list of names? Well wishes!! I have been going through some stuff myself. Turned 49 last fall. I really do not want to be uneducated and do something I will regret. lol I also read a lot about bio hormones too...in of all peoples book, Suzanne Summers hormone book.

03-04-2013, 09:50 AM	#3
Erin57 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,183 Gallery: Erin57 Stats: 220/149/? 5'9" WOE: IF/LC/WW whatever it takes Start Date: April 2010	Did your Dr. specify what the 5 tests are? I have tests run for Thyroid, Vit D, B12, Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone. Sex hormones test costs me $79 out of pocket every 3 months. Without proper testing you have no idea where you started and if the therapy you are using is working. Our bodies are regulated by hormones and Thyroid is the master conductor. I think bloodwork for finding out your levels on all hormones is money well spent.

03-04-2013, 10:57 AM	#4
coffeeandcream Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 362 Gallery: coffeeandcream Stats: 228/188/160 WOE: LC Start Date: October 2012	She already does thyroid, B-12, D... all that...these are just the sex hormoes that I am wondering about. FSH Estradiol Progesterone Total Testosterone

03-08-2013, 07:29 PM	#6
coffeeandcream Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 362 Gallery: coffeeandcream Stats: 228/188/160 WOE: LC Start Date: October 2012	Ok....I got my labs back. Testosterone 64 HIGH FSH 4.8 Estradiol 718 Progesterone 1.7 I was worried about the high testosterone, but she didn't seem concerned.

03-09-2013, 04:38 AM	#7
Erin57 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,183 Gallery: Erin57 Stats: 220/149/? 5'9" WOE: IF/LC/WW whatever it takes Start Date: April 2010	Good to see that you had this done. Are the other hormones in range?