Can anyone advise?
I had hormone blood tests done using a home test kit - just because it was cheap and I was ordering something else at the time. I was curious about my testosterone as I was recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis and have read low testosterone could be a factor - as could low oestrogen. Of course osteoarthritis is more common in women from ages 50-70 🙄
I realise these are a snapshot of one moment. I'm due an HRT review so didn't know if I should push for testosterone - or got private to get it - and thought the blood tests would help me decide. I was also curious to know if I was absorbing estrogen. I took the test just after a new patch was applied. I've since read you should do it on day 3. Does that look okay for taking blood an hour after the patch went on? what does the progesterone results mean. It says it is normal for post-menopausal but also says the low and optimal range is way above what mine is. I'm still having sporadic periods. A few per year. I'm 52.
I hate this guessing game. If you go to a private clinic do they take bloods a few times and get you on the right dose of HRT or is it still judged on symptoms.
Thanks for any help or signposting here.
Oestradiol 598.0 pmol/l
<505 Post Menopausal
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) 67.40 U/l
25.8 - 134.8 Post Menopausal
Luteinising Hormone (LH) 41.5
7.7 - 58.5 Post Menopausal
Progesterone 4.59 nmol/l
<0.401 Post Menopausal
<102 Low
102 - 496 Optimal
Prolactin 132 mIU/l
Test Result Units Reference Range
497 - 700 High
>700 Very High
Testosterone 0.638 nmol/l
≤0.1 Low
0.101 - 1.42 Optimal
>1.42 High
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) 60.70 nmol/l
≤27.1 Low
27.11 - 128.0 Optimal
>128.0 High
Free Androgen Index 1.05
≤0.19 Low
0.2 - 3.63 Optimal
>3.63 High