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[dangermouse]

I doubt it’s that simple, sadly. There may be a feel good ratio between O and P but that requires bespoke P. Also blood tests will vary throughout the day and your own O will rise and fall, even post meno, so very hard to know what’s what in a consistent way. It may be easier 10+
years post meno when there may be less volatility but my aunt in her 80s (not on HRT) is still aware of monthly fluctuations.

I wonder how much they fluctuate compared to perimenopause , eg would it be between 30 and 70pmol/L  or could there be 100s of pmols/L in fluctuation. During the 2 years around menopause day, my dxa scan showed decline even though I was using 2 pumps oestrogel. When I got bloods taken levels were only 80 so I wasn't absorbing and wasn't having the bone protective effects. So that's why I'm a bit obsessional now about trying to ensure I have absorbed enough and blood serum levels are the only way I can think of ensuring this. My symptoms aren't straightforward so it's hard to judge from them( I have chronic pain too which affects mood etc so it's all a tangled web)

Will definitely be less fluctuations as you get older but post meno can still have some random, crazy ones!

I am like Crispy, in that O makes me feel incredibly ill (including local) and I am post meno about 2-3 years. Progesterone cream makes me feel good for a while and then it seems to irritate my system and high O symptoms break through again so I have given up on taking hormones!

[CrispyChick]

Thanks all. This is really useful.

Dangermouse - any idea of your current/recent E level? I seem to recall you once told me you felt good at 50? I think. But I might've made that up. 

Ok. So it seems a lot go on the bones issue rather than 'feel' good. Yeah, unfortunately my poor bones won't be getting a look in. I won't be able to poison myself for bone health.

Like gilla pointed out on the LN thread, I'm a bit perplexed by the bone health value as my E was sitting at 220 on cerazette last year. And gilla refers to a study looking at bone density in those on the POP, where it keeps E levels low. The study concludes that the use of progestin-only contraceptives leading to an estradiol level between 30 and 50 pg/ml does not seem to lead to an accelerated bone loss. That's between 110 and 183 pm/ol

I guess I'm trying to establish from this thread if some woman 'feel' good at low E serum levels, irrespective of thoughts on bone loss. 

Keep the answers coming. 

[sheila99]

There are women who never feel the need for hrt so they presumably feel good on lower levels. You're unlikely to find them on here though  . I wouldn't get too hung up about osteoporosis if you don't have any genetic or lifestyle risk factors. IMO it isn't worth feeling lousy on a higher dose of oestrogen for something that you don't have a high risk of getting in the future. Perhaps a dexa scan would help you decide?

[dangermouse]

Thanks all. This is really useful.

Dangermouse - any idea of your current/recent E level? I seem to recall you once told me you felt good at 50? I think. But I might've made that up. 
 
Keep the answers coming. 

Yes, my last O test in 2021 was 44 pmol. I was still oestrogen dominant though as prog had plummeted.

[Kathleen]

Hello again ladies.


I think I mentioned on another thread that a 50 mg Oestrogen dose should result in an Oestradiol level of 200 pmol/ L. 
I believe I read that somewhere when looking at what to expect from my current regime.  I am not sure if I've remembered that correctly but the information must be online somewhere. I do recall thinking at the time the 200 pmol/L target was mentioned by my nurse practitioner so perhaps it is a standard that they look for.

As other ladies have said, the level you feel good at is probably an individual thing. Frankly just feeling good at all would be a miracle right now!

Take care ladies.

K.

[bombsh3ll]

I had estradiol levels of 44pg/ml (around 100pmol/L) - note the different units used by various laboratories - on a double dose of desogestrel (150mcg daily) for menstrual suppression.

I had no symptoms at all, however being in my early 40s at that time with both parents having osteoporosis, I chose to go back on a combined pill as soon as I could.

[CrispyChick]

Wow. These results are really interesting ladies.

Thanks so much. This is so helpful.

Thanks Dangermouse. I knew u presented as low. But didn't feel bad on it. Your results are very interesting to me. 

Sheila - I completely agree. I won't be taking hrt for any other reason, than a need to feel good.