low estrogen level at 37
Fri, 2009-07-17 09:47
Hello, hope you can put some light into my puzzled mind.
I am 37 y.o., no medication, and planning to concieve. I have been suffering from constant fatigue, brain fog, poor vision perception, depression, delayed carcadian phase dissorder, headaches,low BBTs, very low self-esteem and non existent libido ( just to name a few )for the past 6 months now. I also found out that i have heavy metal esp.copper overload and my gynecologist told me that I have fibroid. My serum TSH is normal. I was suspecting estrogen dominance. Well did not I get a big surprise when the results of my baseline saliva hormone test came back. My estrogen levels are so low that even post menopausal women would be concerned! On the other hand my progesterone levels are fine or better to say P4:E2 ratio is 473:1 (ref.range 200-300:1). I am very confused, because I thought that low estrogen is associated with menopause where no more folicles exist to mature, leading to anovulation (therefore low levels of progesterone)... I will know more about levels of my FSH and LH on monday which will tell wether I am dealing with premature ovarian failure. However I am puzzled because until now I have been charting my BBT and except that my BBT seemed to be slightly lower in follicular phase ( 35,9 - 36,2 degrees celsius)I seemed to ovulate (beautiful temperature rise to up to 36,5 degree celsius)and my luteal phase lasted up to 14 days. My cycles may vary from 29 to 33 days in length. I thought my problems to concieve may be due to insufficient levels of progesterone.
Please could you explain to me what this low estrogen in my case mean? Have I been ovulating or not? Will I ever concieve? Or am I menopausal? By the way yes it is true I have not been able to monitor my cervical mucus very well ( I always been on a dry side girl) and saliva fertility microscope never showed much of ferning either. I have not been able to find any relative information on the internet, so I will really really appreciate your explanation and advice if possible. Thank you for your help in advance. Regards Ady
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Hi Ady,
How exactly did you know you have low estrogen? What were the levels?
The reason why I ask is because I'm wondering if I have low estrogen. I've had day 3 tested and day 21. FSH on day 3 was 7.9 and progesterone is low at 24 nmol on day 21.I'm 28 yrs old. I hardly have any cervical mucus and if I do, it's very scant. I have never seen a ferning pattern on the saliva test thing however, i do surge everymonth. I also have headaches often after ovulation and also feel very depressed. I also used bbt charting and my temps are all over the place. The endocrinolgist says that i am ovulating according to the charts but i can't determine a clear coverline.
My endocrinologist doesnt seem to think there is anything wrong as 24nmol confirms ovulation. However, given the lack of other indicators, since estrogen creates CM and changes in saliva, I'm wondering if the 'egg recruitment" isn't sufficient to sustain implanation/pregnancy and therefore the reason for low progesterone in the luteal phase.
My girlfriend also had the exact same symtoms as me.. no CM, no ferning, LH surge and low progesterone (18.5nmol) She got pregnant on the second round of clomid. She had ferning while on clomid
I'm going on my first round of clomid in the coming month. I'm hoping the clomid will do the trick! Let me know how your testing goes and if my scenario appears to be similar?
Further to my response, I am no doctor but this is what makes sense to me. During the follicular stage of the menstrual cycle, FSH stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen. The higher the FSH during the beginning of the cycle, the harder your ovaries are working to produce mature eggs and hence lower ovarian reserve. Then LH triggers the ovary to release the mature egg. The egg turns into the corpus luteum and produces progesterone in the second half of the menstrual cycle. I would think... but i'm not sure, but what would make sense is if your body isnt producing enough estrogen to make viable eggs, then your body won't be producing enough progesterone to implant and sustain pregnancy. Again, I am no doctor but this explanation is what makes sense to me. I'm not sure how progesterone levels would be normal without have the estrogen levels normal.