Feel fobbed off by doctor- help please

[Tomatoketchupontoast]

i knew I had a hormonal imbalance. My periods only come 3ish times a year and I get other hormonal symptoms too. I’ve been to the doctors over 20 times and they refuse to do anything and said I don’t need it as im not trying for a baby. I was once told to be grateful for rarely getting periods as ‘some women would kill to be in my position’

I went for a private test and the results threw up extremely low oestradiol, basically non existent in my system. I went back to my doctor with it who couldn’t explain why it’s basically non existent and said it’s nothing to worry about and that until I’m trying to convince I shouldn’t worry about it. I can’t really afford to go to a private doctor and it was a stretch affording for the blood test in the first place

I tried to google it and can’t find much either. I’m not anorexic, I’m a healthy weight (BMI 21.5) I’m active but not overly so, I’m not on any other medication or anything that would cause this

does anyone else have low oestradiol or know anything about it?

Tell them you are trying for a baby and have been doing for 2 years.

You don’t have to get pregnant at the end of the investigations.

yes I’m sure the doctor won’t notice the lack of that information in the last 2 years of medical records

I know it's not easy in today's world but can you change doctors? At least see another doctor in the practice if you haven't already. You have to be really insistent and pushy with a GP these days. I hope you can get it sorted or get some answers.

How old are you? Could you be menopausal

24 x

Absolutely not my area of expertise, but it sounds like its not in the guidance to teat it unless it is preventing you conceiving. This can be a reason for not doing the blood tests in the first place, because the outcome wouldn't change treatment plan.

This can occur when any potential treatment could have unintended consequences. So for example/with assumptions: at the moment you have very irregular periods, this has always been case, you are otherwise well and not having fertility problems. If they initiate hormone replacement this MAY increase your risk of cancer. So say 2years time you develop a cancer, the doctor on finding it realises you've been prescribed a hormone replacement that is outside of guidance and possible for no actual benefit. This isn't going to be easy to justify. The justification can't be that the patient requested it since patients can't demand a particular treatment, it must be of a known benefit OR known to be benign.

It sounds like you've sought the opinion of multiple doctors for this problem and your GPs don't feel there's an indication to treat. If it's something you're still intent to persue then it would be asking if there's a specialist you could be referred to if this hasn't occurred already but then it can be that this isn't indicated either in which case the referral would be rejected.

You go back and politely but firmly say you want to be referred to gynecology. That you are a young woman, you want to have a baby (leave out the bit about when), that it’s important for you mental and physical health that your body is working correctly- which it is eg women with PCOS are more vulnerable when untreated to infertility, obesity, mood disorders, diabetes etc.
Be firm but polite.
Do not take no for an answer

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22354-low-estrogen#:~:text=your%20sexual%20development.-,Low%20estrogen%3A,sexual%20desire%20and%20hot%20flashes.

Reading this you should definitely go back. You're only 24.

This makes me so annoyed. A 24 yo man with low testosterone would be taken quite seriously (affects mood, sexual function etc). Balanced female hormones are fairly essential to female well being!

I used to often have very long gaps between periods when young, op. They didn't settle down until I started a family after which they came every 30-35 days. There was nothing wrong with me, just how I was.

I was fobbed off at your age. Endometrial hyperplasia happens because of the build up on lining arising from lack of periods. It is important to find out the reason for your lack of periods. Please see another doctor and ask to see a gynaecologist. I was later diagnosed as having polycystic ovaries at 30, but it didn't show in blood tests. An ultrasound showed I also had a bicornuate uterus. I also had an underactive thyroid. You need checking for metabolic conditions that could affect your cycles, and an ultrasound to view your ovaries and uterus.

It’s relieving to hear other people have bad similar and it’s probably just normal! I just felt fobbed off about why I didn’t have any oestrodiol (barely any) and the doctor couldn’t explain why, maybe I’m just being silly but I felt that if I was a guy asking about male hormones it wouldn’t have been brushed off so quickly

Hi OP this sounds so familiar, have you posted about it before?

its very important to get it checked out because it potentially has serious consequences for your bone health in later life doesnt it? push now for gynae referral as waiting lists are very long. Has he checked your thyroid and pituitary function or do you has any endocrine history in your family?

But if you don't want a baby, why does it matter? I had a similar diagnosis in my early 30s. I had only gone to the doctor in the first place just to check there was no sinister reason for my lack of periods. Once I knew there was no cancer etc, then I realised that I had my answer and the job was done. I haven't seen a doctor for anything gynaecological in the 25 years since (even tho periods did come back for a few years in my late 40s).
Not everything needs to be medicated & we waste far too much time seeing doctors. If you feel well, then enjoy your life!

It only matters if you care about avoiding premature bone density loss, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, vaginal and urethral atrophy, impaired glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, and all the other aspects of female health that oestrogen is responsible for beyond making babies…

I went down the private gynae route.

@Hbh17 clearly does not understand the purpose of estrogen. The last thing I'm sure the Op wants to develop is heart disease, osteoporosis or bloody atrophy.

Change doctor OP.

You're basically being told your female hormones are not balanced but not to make a fuss.

Surely your life must be affected adversely in other ways also?
mood swings/hair/ skin/ libido/ energy levels/ brain fog ?

Are they really saying a woman’s hormones are only important if she wants a baby but otherwise to just get on with it?

Maybe just tell them you want to try for a baby now.

Im flabbergasted!

Also OP, do you have an assertive friend or relative that can come along with you to your appointment ?
You might not get fobbed off so easily if you someone with you.
As previous poster said, you need investigations as to WHY you have low oestrogen. You need a gynaecologist referral.

You need to read up on the overall beneficial effects of oestrodials on the female body and go back to the doctor. There's a lot in the book "Hormone repair manual" which I've just read but that's aimed at peri/menopausal women so I'm sure there's another one out there.

Osteoporosis!!

Being post menopause sans HRT I'm appalled that a 24 year old is being dismissed

The op's GP can order a blood test which will show if she is perimenopausal (maybe she has had a blood test), but I didn't get the impression that she was, just that she had big gaps between periods. I think I said earlier that I did when I was young, they settled down after I'd had a child and I wasn't perimenopausal before 50. There was nothing wrong with me.

its not about being perimenopausal, having low oestradiol can be due to delayed puberty or disrupted/absent cycle (which may in turn be down to weight loss/stress/excessive exercise/hypothalamus or pituitary dysfunction) and the reason why having normal levels is important in your teens and early 20's is because this is a crucial time for bone development .....finding the cause is important because not getting the right amount of bone laid down now predisposes to osteoporosis in later life ( it's one of the reasons why people with anorexia are at risk of fractures and osteoporosis). Hopefully the GP has done the relevant tests to exclude endocrine causes.