Just quick ask abt best time for hormone tests in relation to cycle,etc please?

[Jo5454]

Hi, I always test thyroids & other vits,etc once a yr, first thing, fasting.

Due to periods takingva drastic change mid Nov, one lasting 3 1/2 wks, 2 wk gap, then one for few days.break for 2 weeks, etc, this last time had one for wk, break for week & started again. Hit 50 last yr, so presuming it's down to that. Dr said to keep a record.

I've ordered an advanced blood test this time by blood draw instead of fingerprick. My main concern is trying to get hormones tested at right time of cycle, but then again not sure what's what cycle wise!

I've got test booked for 8.30, which now looks like it'll be day 9 of cycle.

There's a chance to change to this wk, which would be day 4 of cycle but only 11clockish available which I know is not best for thyroid,but main concern this time is hormones, as coukd ask Dr for thyroid if need be.

Due to trying to get this test included on a voucher for iron profile which is soon to run out, I haven't got much time to play with,does anyone have suggestions please?

I'm not in great health, trying to correct b12 neuri symptoms with monthly injections, due to functional defic raise ferritin, thyroid results only 30% through range last time, etc.

Many thanks...

[greygoose]

jimh111 knows about this. I'll give him a shout: jimh111

[Jo5454 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks very much

[greygoose in reply to Jo5454]

Your welcome.

[Kerry124]

hi I had something similar when I was 47 and had various tests at the hospital including a uterus biopsy. My doctor suggested this just to check there was nothing sinister going on. Everything was fine and I was told I needed the marina coil to help. Quite frankly the coil made things worse and I begged them to remove it after 15 months. It does suit some women and my friend has had 3. However I ended up with an inflamed cervix so was then fast tracked by the NHS for another uterus biopsy and a cervix biopsy. Not very pleasant but you listen to what the doctors say and take their advice. Anyway I eventually found out I actually had an over active thyroid aka Graves disease. It took doctors 2 years to actually diagnose me and I was given HRT to help which I didn’t take because my mother died of BC.

My advice to you is get everything checked out by a gynaecologist and ask your doctor to do a full thyroid function test. I don’t think it’s worth checking your hormones because at your age they will be all over the place. Just to add I am 65 now and still suffering with Graves because it’s a lifetime condition but at the moment I am in remission for the third time and feeling very well 😀

[Jo5454 in reply to Kerry124]

Hi, thanks very much for taking the time to share that. Sorry to hear it took a long time to get to the root of it all.I've already got the test now which contains hormones, to be fair I wanted to test iron profile, active b12, vit d & thyroid, & red cell width, etc, so with a voucher the hormones are jusrlt extra. I've read it can very useful to check.prokactin in terns if pituitary health, which gas been suggested on here with my thyroid being up and down, and testosterone worth a check? But as you say, appreciate hormones change from day by day, partic at my age!

I tried to fix in with the hosp getting tested between day 3 and 5 as suggested, but that was a no go this wk and with hormones surprising me, it's gard to plan ahead. Apot is Mon on day 9ish so all I can do is explain and see what it throws!

Yes, I will do these, then approach Dr again. Have been under a lot of stress losing 2 close fam members recently & with trying to recover with this b12,etc have given it a few months to see.

No I wouldn't be keen on hrt either with several family members having had & lost to breast/bowel cancer. So sorry to hear you lost your Mum to it x

Did thyroid tests confirm Graves for you? Sounds like a bumpy ride, but glad to head you are feeling well now.

Thanks again...

[jimh111]

doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2017....

Get confused by this but it strikes me for consistent results if using a six week interval they should aim for the lunar equivalent of first quarter and the following last quarter, rather than new moon and full moon.

Just shows how stupid blind reliance on TSH is.

[Kerry124 in reply to jimh111]

Hi Jim

I was told when I was 52 that a hormone test revealed I was not in the menopause. When you are pre-menopausal your hormone levels can fluctuate a lot. I actually went through the menopause at 58. I think every woman is different and I know I am an unusual case. I actually took a pregnancy test at 50 because I had not had a period for 6 weeks. I now know all my problems were caused by thyroid disease. I did look at your link but I don’t see how it can help sorry x. Perhaps you can explain it to me?

[Kerry124 in reply to jimh111]

I just read that link again those 2 women were in their 30s so I think they might be different to women in their 50s what do you think?

[jimh111 in reply to Kerry124]

I'm on holiday so I only glanced at your post. I feel sure it will be a bit different in your case but this isn't my speciality!

The bottom two graphs in Figure 1 shows how TSH varied in two women during the menstrual cycle. You can see that it's twice as high mid-cycle.

It's standard practice to test TSH every six weeks after diagnosis. In the case of a menstruating woman this could give very misleading results if she was alternatively tested at beginning and mid-cycle.

Shows how hopeless endocrinologists can be

[Kerry124 in reply to jimh111]

I agree that’s why I don’t see any now

[Jo5454 in reply to jimh111]

Thanks again Jim, and for taking the time when you're on holiday, that's very kind. My Tsh has been up and down for years so guess this coukd explain why! Was listening to some interviews with a GP wgo runs a thyroid clinic a d she says they are told not to test things like T3 and in my experience told same about Iron Profiles as they either don't understand what to.do with results and in terms of thyroid can't treat with t3. So don't think there's much chance if being advised tsh can vary like that in regards to cycles??

My test will fall.on day 9 now, couldn't fix in with hosp any other way and everything's a bit erratic to forward plan so will see what comes up...thanks again

[Jo5454 in reply to jimh111]

Thanks Jim, that's all very interesting!

[mistydog]

Ask your Dr for a referral to a gynaecologist. They have to do it.

[Jo5454 in reply to mistydog]

Thank you, will get these results in hand, whether helpful or not, guess the thyroid, iron profiles, vit d, etc even if hormones not, then approach Dr again. Have had stressful time so have been seeing if this settles, plus if my iron is low I've noticed before I gave more frequent periods. Think it must be hormones playing a part thus time, am now feeling very warm after being a very cold person!Thanks again...