20-01-2013, 23:48
(This post was last modified: 21-01-2013, 00:46 by JustintoMe.)
Thanks a bunch Tibetan, as always, I appreciate your suggestions.
As for my finding out the cause of my low progesterone, I choose to attempt to remedy some of my symptoms of low progesterone (listed here). I do intend to still research the causes but am unsure where to start as my cortisol blood test results were normal (12.2 mcg/dL at 8A). I've been thinking about the possibility of my having some sort of genetic predisposition towards hormonal issues as hormonal issues are common amongst the women in my immediate family.
Still I think that my doctor was right to proceed with caution and prescribe BC rather than bio identical progesterone. I doubt that the BC will prevent the real cause of my low progesterone from being seen. Also, my doctor and I are not sure how low my progesterone really is as I was tested 21 days after my appt w/ her (which was 2.5 weeks before my period during the follicular phase). My lab results state that it is normal for progesterone levels to <1.0 during the follicular phase.
SO wouldn't that mean that another blood test should be done during my luteal phase to confirm that I have low progesterone?
As stress is often a cause of low progesterone my I expected my cortisol level to be high but it wasn't. Does this mean that I can rule out faulty adrenals of the cause of my imbalanced hormones? I'm considering requesting that I have more blood tests done sooner than in 2 months, so that I have a more comprehensive picture of my hormone levels before my doc & I start trying different things.
Thinking about requesting:
-4 point saliva test to monitor cortisol levels + blood tests back up saliva test results
-Dexamethasone-CRH Test
-Estrogen test to be done during my luteal phase
-Progesterone test to be done during my luteal phase
-Referral to endocrinologist (possibly for CT scans of my endocrine glands in hopes to finding the causes of my imbalanced hormones)
-DHEA sulfate test
-Urinanalysis
-Glucose (tracking for risk for diabetes)
-FSH + LH (checking ovarian hormone output)
I am considering calling my doctor Monday morning and asking her to email me the lab paperwork so I may have the tests done this week.
I know that because my doctor specializes in integrative medicine she is starting me on vitamins (rather than prescribing bio-identicals) in hopes that this with help my body function more normally.
As for my finding out the cause of my low progesterone, I choose to attempt to remedy some of my symptoms of low progesterone (listed here). I do intend to still research the causes but am unsure where to start as my cortisol blood test results were normal (12.2 mcg/dL at 8A). I've been thinking about the possibility of my having some sort of genetic predisposition towards hormonal issues as hormonal issues are common amongst the women in my immediate family.
Still I think that my doctor was right to proceed with caution and prescribe BC rather than bio identical progesterone. I doubt that the BC will prevent the real cause of my low progesterone from being seen. Also, my doctor and I are not sure how low my progesterone really is as I was tested 21 days after my appt w/ her (which was 2.5 weeks before my period during the follicular phase). My lab results state that it is normal for progesterone levels to <1.0 during the follicular phase.
SO wouldn't that mean that another blood test should be done during my luteal phase to confirm that I have low progesterone?
As stress is often a cause of low progesterone my I expected my cortisol level to be high but it wasn't. Does this mean that I can rule out faulty adrenals of the cause of my imbalanced hormones? I'm considering requesting that I have more blood tests done sooner than in 2 months, so that I have a more comprehensive picture of my hormone levels before my doc & I start trying different things.
Thinking about requesting:
-4 point saliva test to monitor cortisol levels + blood tests back up saliva test results
-Dexamethasone-CRH Test
-Estrogen test to be done during my luteal phase
-Progesterone test to be done during my luteal phase
-Referral to endocrinologist (possibly for CT scans of my endocrine glands in hopes to finding the causes of my imbalanced hormones)
-DHEA sulfate test
-Urinanalysis
-Glucose (tracking for risk for diabetes)
-FSH + LH (checking ovarian hormone output)
I am considering calling my doctor Monday morning and asking her to email me the lab paperwork so I may have the tests done this week.
I know that because my doctor specializes in integrative medicine she is starting me on vitamins (rather than prescribing bio-identicals) in hopes that this with help my body function more normally.