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[Popmummy]

Hello
I have an appointment with the meno clinic (Naomi Potter) in a few weeks but in the meantime I was hoping someone can give me an idea of what these blood test results mean.

I have had them because I didn’t feel right on 3 pumps. I’ve since reduced to 2 pumps two weeks ago. Also because I want to try testosterone due to low libido.

These are my results:
Estradiol 843 pmol/l
FAI <0.15
SHBG 56.5 nmol/l
Testosterone <0.087

Thanks so much for any insight X

[bombsh3ll]

Estradiol is good, with the caveat that plasma levels are pretty meaningless on gel, as it doesn't give stable levels. It peaks quickly then leaves the bloodstream equally quickly.

So if you had tested earlier or later in the day you could have very different estradiol levels.

It is therefore better to go by clinical response or perhaps secondary markers such as FSH or SHBG.

SHBG is normal, doesn't suggest overtreatment.

Your testosterone is virtually non existent.

[Dandelion]

Hello
I have an appointment with the meno clinic (Naomi Potter) in a few weeks but in the meantime I was hoping someone can give me an idea of what these blood test results mean.

I have had them because I didn’t feel right on 3 pumps. I’ve since reduced to 2 pumps two weeks ago. Also because I want to try testosterone due to low libido.

These are my results:
Estradiol 843 pmol/l
FAI <0.15
SHBG 56.5 nmol/l
Testosterone <0.087

Thanks so much for any insight X

You could put them in ChatGPT - that's what I did as I didn't understand my first lot of T results.

[Popmummy]

Thanks for replies. I didn’t consider ChatGPT - will look into it.
Bombsh3ll - yeah I thought they looked low! Maybe that explains a few things!

Pity NHS unlikely to prescribe testosterone 🤔

[chopsuey]

If it's for low libido you ought to be able to get it on the NHS.

[joziel]

Depends where you live. I can't get it for any reason where I am (on NHS). Only from Newson.

[Popmummy]

I’ve made an appointment with Menopause Care as they arranged my blood tests. I could try and see if NHS would prescribe, but to be honest, the wait will be an age!

On another note, my SHGB is normal so not sure if that means, overall, I don’t need testosterone. I hope that’s not the case though.

[bombsh3ll]

Your SHBG doesn't determine whether you would benefit from testosterone or not.

This is a clinical indication.

A low SHBG can occur in the setting of high testosterone, but is not diagnostic of this as there are other potential causes and testosterone can be measured directly so it doesn't need to be inferred from SHBG.

If the SHBG is high, this can mean any testosterone you have is getting bound up by this protein so there is less biologically active testosterone available.

However this is more of a theoretical concern than a clinical issue, and giving testosterone can also lower the SHBG.

In any case neither of these situations apply to you, and it is certainly worth a therapeutic trial of testosterone, whether for libido or other symptoms suggestive of hypoandrogenism.

It either helps or it doesn't, and you can then decide whether or not you want to continue it, but if you never try, it might have really helped and you won't know.

[Popmummy]

Had my appointment and have been prescribed androfemme. I chose that rather than gel, while I trial it. Like you say Bomb3hell, nothing to lose by giving it a go. The doctor said that only around a third of women benefit from it, but I’m happy to give it a go.