High FSH & LH but normal oestrogen - aged 37 still having periods

[Lily1986]

Has any one else had a high FSH and LH blood result? Oestrogen normal.

I’m 37 years old, I have very severe stage 4 Endo and adeno with a lot of bowel involvement, multiple surgeries and excisions but disease continues to return within months. Disease causes infertility so I’ve never had children.

My periods have been irregular since my surgery 5 years ago where my left ovary was removed and both tubes.

Sometimes I get period every 2/3 weeks and other times I go 3 months without one.

I very often flare up between periods and in pain of varying levels daily, usually worse than during a period (although they’re excruciating).

Anyway I’ve recently had hormone blood tests and my FSH (72!) and LH (47) have come back saying post menopausal range. My oestrogen level was on the low side of normal.

How can this be possible if I’ve still been having periods? Plus the fact I’m 37.

I knew my AMH levels were low 5 years ago when I investigated IVF and they said it wouldn’t be possible as less than 3% chance of success.

Very confused. I believe the tests aren’t accurate and will need a retest but just wondered if anyone else had experienced same.

[BloomingMarvellous]

Perimenopause and menopause can make your readings go all over the shoot. Unless you are an exception you won’t know what they looked like across your cycle when you were “normally “ cycling prior to that. Age is irrelevant on this one although medics won’t necessarily have that to the forefront of their minds ; some women get POI in their teens.

You don’t mention whether you are on a form of hormone therapy either which can affect your results but it would appear that the tests indicate things are moving towards menopause. It takes a while to adjust and for your cycle to peter out - for some it doesn’t esp with endo you can feel the shifts in your being even though you might not bleed many years post menopause.

You might want to go to Louise Newson’s website and explore the podcasts and learning resources there which also tackle POI so you feel better placed to have discussions and understand some of what’s happening for you. Menopause hormone dysregulation can really aggravate endo with its seesawing and is no picnic. It can be nudged on early by Covid too. Likewise you might want to explore other ways to support your system with nutrition try Katie Edmonds Heal Endo to help with the massive shifts.

[Lily1986 in reply to BloomingMarvellous]

Thank you so much for replying, especially with so much useful information.

I’m not on any hormone therapy anymore, since having Mirena coil out 2.5 years ago and prior to that I can my second chemical menopause stint with oestrogen patches but that was 3 years ago now.

The last time I had my hormones tested was just under 2 years ago, all normal except oestrogen a little too high.

That makes sense that there’s been surges as Endo has felt very active lately.

GP surgery called yesterday to advise the GP wants to ring and discuss results early this morning.

Thank you also for the pages you mentioned I will most definitely have a good read of those and follow them.

It will be interesting to see what the nutritionist recommends too, I have to follow a low fibre diet due to how damaged my intestines are from disease (2 years ago I was admitted to hospital having been making daily smoothies full of berries and i never realised they were the worst possible thing I could have been eating as my body couldn’t digest anything with a skin or seeds). This may well change in future though if I have stoma during next surgery I’d hope to be able to eat a normal fibre diet again.

Thank you again, I really appreciate it ❤️❤️

[BloomingMarvellous in reply to Lily1986]

You are really welcome. It’s such a confusing place isn’t it ? Worth reading the Heal Endo stuff even though your body is along the journey there are basics which apply across the board. Hope it goes well.