Any Post Menopausal Ladies with High Testosterone - Thyroid UK

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Any Post Menopausal Ladies with High Testosterone

LeiL profile image
LeiL
12 Replies

I got the shock of my life this morning when the lab sent via email a test result. It shows that I have a testosterone level of 81 (range 3-67). I placed a call to my Endo and she agreed a woman my age (63) should not have testosterone levels that high.

Just think all I had planned to discuss with her were the muscle aches and neuropathy I’m experiencing from Tirosint-Sol and Tirosint. Now going down a totally new diagnostic tree. Additional have high Basophils and low Neutrophils.

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LeiL
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LeiL profile image
LeiL

For Informational purposes: I sent this question to a Second Opinion Endocrinologist at a renown hospital and this is the reply I received.

“I see that your total testosterone is high, but that the free testosterone is normal. This could be due to your recent thyroid hormone excess, which causes the liver to make more Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), which is the protein that carries testosterone around in blood. I recommend that the total and free testosterone levels be rechecked in another two months to see if this does not resolve with restoration of normal thyroid status. You should probably also bring this to the attention of your gynecologist.”

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw in reply toLeiL

Mmm. I think that’s a stretch. Yes, improving thyroid hormone levels would raise testosterone but not to that extent—certainly not to a level that would exceed that found in a pre-menopausal woman. And reading back through previous posts, I can’t see that your thyroid hormone levels have been particularly high in recent months. How high did they go?

There could be something else going on—an adrenal issue potentially or ovarian cyst.

LeiL profile image
LeiL in reply toJazzw

My levels in Feb were out of bound. TSh was .019 , T4 was 2.0, but of course T3 was not optimal and I have a lot of Reverse T3 (28) I believe. I have ovarian cysts that yes I must look into. I now do not have good blood glucose controls and the endo won’t prescribe anything to support.

LeiL profile image
LeiL in reply toJazzw

Found this information. Unfortunately for me, adding T3 may have caused more liver damage.

restartmed.com/shbg/?gclid=...

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw in reply toLeiL

Have you ever had your cortisol levels checked?

I’m also wondering, giving your collection of symptoms, whether you have a pituitary issue.

LeiL profile image
LeiL in reply toJazzw

24 hr Free Cortisol was 191 out of 65-200. Metabolized Cortisol was 2414 where it should have been between 2750-6500.

LeiL profile image
LeiL in reply toJazzw

Jazz, Spoke to my doctor yesterday and she is ordering a CT scan of the bran looking for pituitary adenomas.

LeiL profile image
LeiL

My last cortisol check was Dec 2020 and was low in morning. Pregnanediol, Estone, Estradiol, DHEA was below leuteal range and Testosterone 4.39 (2.3-14) on a Dutch Test.

jamesal0 profile image
jamesal0

Hi Liel Not saying you do have but google polycystic ovaries. My daughter, wife and mother inlaw have - hence why I know anything .

LeiL profile image
LeiL in reply tojamesal0

Oh yes, I have multiple cysts on my ovaries which I have regularly scanned. My symptoms fit so well into insulin resistance though

jamesal0 profile image
jamesal0 in reply toLeiL

My daughter takes Metformin

LeiL profile image
LeiL

2. High blood sugar

According to the journal Diabetes Metabolism Research and Reviews, women with high blood sugar levels of type 2 diabetes have higher chances of high testosterone. When insulin increases it can stimulate the ovaries to produce testosterone, especially in women with PCOS. So, to lower your testosterone level naturally, keep your blood sugar level in check.

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