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[floraljo]

Hi,
BMS chair has said in their unit they like oestrogen to be no more than 600: https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/menopause-doctor-women-asking-prescribe-unsafe-levels-hrt-social-media-2554733

My oestrogen before hrt was 113-1600 and has been 650-3000 since starting. I don't want tolerance to develop.

I'm confused by the article.

My last blood test showed oestrogen was 2050. Menopause gp told me to increase my dose from estradot 50 to 75 because my mood has become low again and other symptoms. But I don't know if that's right given high oestrogen already or if actually I should be decreasing to 25 or just trying the birth control pill if my fluctuations are so high. It's so hard when there's so much conflicting info.

What are peopled thoughts on that range and have other people had specialists increase dose even when oestrogen is high? Thanks

[sheila99]

I can't read the article without paying. If you're in peri levels are often unhelpful because of your own spikes and troughs which can be huge. The nhs usually goes on symptoms so most of us don't know our levels.

[floraljo]

Thanks.
The chair says that in her clinic they don't like oestrogen to go over 600 so presumably they are checking oestrogen levels there for women on hrt.

[discogirl]

Sheila99, you can register for free and read the article you don't have to pay.

It's a really interesting and very well balanced article xx

[Sage 🍃]

You don't need to register. Long-press the 'aA' icon in the address bar to activate reader mode if you have Safari browser or similarly on other browsers. 

Very interesting indeed, thank you 😊

[Nas]

I’ve read the article.
It makes interesting and thought provoking reading.
As disco says, well balanced and argued i thought.

 Never in history, has menopause been so openly discussed and highlighted. Women need to be able to take control of their bodies and minds and be able to make informed choices about how to manage this change of life.

Well worth a read.

[Hurdity]

Please note that estradiol levels are measured in two different units - pmol/l which is the more usual one we discuss on here and how the NHS measures levels and pg/ml which is what was quoted in the article. To change pg/ml to pmol/l you multiply by 3.671 so the starting level Dr Briggs quotes for someone on HRT (200 pg/ml) is very high indeed ie 734.2 pmol/l !!! I mean to me that is ridiculous!! Methinks an error has crept in somewhere?

For info Dr Paula Briggs runs and NHS clinic and a private clinic. It seems to be the thing in private clinics to measure oestrogen levels which is not considered necessary in NHS settings except under special circumstances.

Floraljo - your oestrogen before hRT was fine - it does go low at certain point in the cycle but HRT will top it up so that the low point is not quite so low. At very high doses apparently the cycle can be suppressed.

Depending on your age then yes - it may well be that a contraceptive pill will suit you better if your mood becomes low at certain points in the cycle and it look like this is not due to low oestrogen if it ranges between 650 and 3000 pmol/l - and yes 3000 is high though this would  presumably be just at the ovulatory peak.

Hurdity x