Posted by katekite on August 1, 2002, at 10:17:10
In reply to Re: Perimenopausal Symptoms And Depression, posted by angel1 on August 1, 2002, at 6:50:08
Hormones do fluctuate and estrogen, progesterone and testosterone and FSH may come back in the normal range until after periods stop altogether. FSH slowly increases before periods stop but it certainly fluctuates enough to get normal readings.
I agree about seeing an endocrinologist.
If they want to do testing you will need to be off the birth control pill for at least a month to get good results.
The first birth control pill one tries may not be the best. A higher dose of estrogen or a progesterone only pill help some women most. Also if your mood was stable on the Pill you tried but you were still tired with low libido and not much get up and go (drive) you may be someone who feels better with testosterone also added back. The ovaries produce estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. When we take a birth control pill it suppresses all of our ovarian hormone production. This means we are artificially creating a deficit of testosterone, which often leads to mildly low drive and energy. Having said that, tons of women are on Pills with no testosterone and do fine, so its probably a fine tuning type of thing and wouldn't necessarily make a dramatic difference. Have no idea how big a deal it is or isn't, just that the idea to let women have their testosterone back has just become conventional in the last 5-10 years or so (since before that women were not really thought to get much benefit from it). A gynecologist or endocrinologist would be able to tailor a Pill (or who knows, maybe other hormone therapy) to your specific needs.
Take care,
Kate
poster:katekite
thread:114661
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020731/msgs/114780.html