Help with sex hormone results please

[Rainbow47]

It was recently recommended to me that I should get my sex hormones tested as I’ve been struggling. Am on 50 T4 and 3 x 12.5 T3 and still searching for a reason for feeling so awful and am currently going through a process of elimination in order to pinpoint the cause. My GP did the test for me and said that all was well, but I’m not sure what any of it means and thought it best to try and find out a little more. I’m post menopausal. Hope you can help as it all looks double-Dutch to me!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are your most recent Ft3 and Ft4 results

5 months ago you had pretty low Ft4 and were on 75mcg levothyroxine

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

As you’re now only taking 50mcg levothyroxine…..presumably Ft4 is now even lower, probably below range

Many people on levothyroxine plus T3 find they need both Ft4 and Ft3 at least 60-70% through range

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

On T3 - day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day with last dose 8-12 hours before test

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

What vitamin supplements are you taking

[Rainbow47 in reply to SlowDragon]

Sorry SlowDragon - I’ve confused everyone by not including the actual sex hormone results! My T3 and T4 have recently been adjusted as I thought rT3 was a problem and I’m already feeling a bit better. The sex hormone test was done more as a process of elimination than anything else. Just need to get to the bottom of my problems which could, of course, merely be down to too low a dose of T3 I believe. I’ve been doing a lot of research recently but just can’t work out what these results mean, whether they’re good, bad or indifferent! Haven’t done a standard blood test recently because I don’t think it will give a clear picture yet, though am awaiting the results of an rT3 one.

FSH - 56.5 U/L

Oestradiol - <70 pmol/L

Prolactin - 218 mU/L (<630)

Progesterone - <1.0 nmol/L

Also did separate test for

SHBG - 103 nmol/L (27.1 - 128)

[radd in reply to Rainbow47]

Rainbow47,

You need to include the ranges (numbers in brackets), and advise which day of your cycle the test was done.

[Rainbow47 in reply to radd]

That’s the problem - there were no ranges - that’s why I posted it. I haven’t a clue what it all means! I’m post menopausal!

[radd in reply to Rainbow47]

Rainbow47,

Oh sorry, yes you said you were post menopausal in your post.

SHBG & prolactin are fine. Progesterone and oestrogen are low and FSH higher as expected if you are post menopausal. These results are fine. However, if you remain symptomatic have you considered body identical HRT?

[Rainbow47 in reply to radd]

Thanks Radd - I’m not symptomatic at all now, but went through a phase of flushes and odd high temperatures and this test was to eliminate the hormones with regard to terrible fatigue and brainfog. It’s good to know someone understands the results - thank you!

[TiggerMe in reply to Rainbow47]

I'm thinking you are not getting much from these results as they are not giving you actual levels of Oestradial and Progesterone, just that you are above presumably their bottom range?.... and we all know symptoms start way before you hit rock bottom

I'm thinking higher SHBG can 'lock up' hormones which include thyroid, I'm not sure if O & P levels are frees or total though??

It's all a bit vague isn't it.... a brush off test that confirms menopause? 😕

[Rainbow47 in reply to TiggerMe]

I agree that it’s rather vague - it was an NHS test so someone must understand them! I think I’ll not worry too much at the moment. Radd seemed to have some idea, which is helpful.

[TiggerMe in reply to Rainbow47]

If you test privately you will get actual levels which would be more useful... a bit of body identical can make a huge difference, radd and I will both attest to that 🤗

[Rainbow47 in reply to TiggerMe]

Thanks Eeyore100. I’ll certainly consider a private test if I can’t get a definitive answer from this one. Don’t intend to leave any stones unturned.

[TiggerMe in reply to Rainbow47]

It's worth while as you are aiming to balance your sex hormones along side your thyroid 🤹‍♀️

[radd in reply to Rainbow47]

Rainbow47,

Only in that there’s nothing that stands out to make you symptomatic. Eeyore is correct in that SHBG is higher end of range but that is what happens when T4:T3 ratio is T3 heavy, and even with some bound you are still medicating a good T3 dose.

'50 T4 and 3 x 12.5 T3'

You say you are waiting for an RT3 result but that isn't likely to be elevated because you are low in T4. You could try reducing T3 a bit and raising Levothyroxine to give a more balanced ratio to see if that eases brain fog and fatigue. As SD has advised above many members feel better with both hormones at least half way through range or above.

Otherwise, there is thought that as all hormones work together and introducing HRT might encourage better performance of your thyroid meds. It certainly did with mine. If you didn’t want to go all out HRT you could try the oestrogen/progesterone transdermal creams to start off with and see if that helped.

[Rainbow47 in reply to radd]

Thanks Radd - I only reduced my T4 and raised T3 about 2 weeks ago because I was feeling so lousy, so feeling I should wait a little longer before taking further action. Beginning to feel more alive now but it’s still early days. Maybe I’d be better doing a private test for a definitive answer.

[radd in reply to Rainbow47]

Rainbow47,

Have you recent thyroid hormone test results to post that confirm you need a high dose of T3?

[Rainbow47 in reply to radd]

Not recent ones I’m afraid. Will be doing another test in a few weeks time once latest dosage has settled.

[radd in reply to Rainbow47]

Rainbow47,

It’s really not recommended to raise thyroid hormone doses without knowing your levels. We all have an individual sweet spot with a little room for variation but when we are symptomatic it is easy to miss that sweet spot because symptoms often lag behind good biochemistry. Also the variation span narrows the more symptomatic we become.

Post the next lot of results (with ranges) for members to comment.

[Rainbow47 in reply to radd]

Because I’ve reduced T4 I need to wait a week or two for it to settle before testing.

[sparkly]

Do you have symptoms of menopause and that is why you asked gp for bloods? They will show you are post menopause as your fsh will be high and likely your oestrogen will be low. This just confirms you're post menopause to them. If you are having symptoms of menopause and not been more than 10 years since your last period then you can still start hrt to relieve symptoms.

Menopause and thyroid symptoms can be similar and it's difficult to distinguish between the both when suffering both.

[radd]

Rainbow47,

Are you going to post sex hormone results?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to radd]

She has just done so now