Estrogen And Shbg

[Guest Ceri]

Hiya, I'm new here so I apologise if I've posted this in the wrong section.

I've been on hormones now for a couple of months and recently had a blood test, for some reason my GP didn't request an estrogen test which I thought would be required to find out if I was on the right level of hormones.

I'm waiting for a date for my next meeting with him but it could be weeks away and reading and trying to understand the results of my test is driving me nuts

From doing a bit of background reading it seems my testosterone level is fine at 0.2 nmol/L as is my free androgen at 0.6. My FSH at 0.2 iu/L and LH at less than 0.1 iu/L also look okay.

The bit that gets me is the SHBG, mine is 32.5 nmol/L which from what I understand is a normal "male" level.

Putting it very simply, from what I've read, SHBG is responsible for mopping up and effectively neutralising various hormones inside of you. The higher the level, the less "free" hormones to go to work and make changes. In tests on typical MtF's the SHBG is usually elevated, in some articles I've read by 100% and others by around %500 .

The articles I've read state that while taking Estrogen, elevated SHBG is to be expected even though by definition a lower level sounds better to me. So my question would be, am I taking enough Estrogen ? because it appears what I am taking is having no effect

Thank you for any replies in advance.

Ceri

[Sally]

Hi Ceri,

One of the things that we can not discuss here is dosages - that is to be taken up with your doctor.

I can tell you that for the most part in the first couple of months for most people there are almost no visible changes - Lizzy is a major exception to that one, she sort of exploded, I guess blossomed would be a more appropriate term into womanhood almost over night.

Donna Jean will be along shortly and she can tell you the effects for the first month - I haven't started yet - but it is very soon, I finally found a doctor and my therapist has had that letter ready from my third session (finances are a real drag).

Don't worry, when you see your doctor next, he can make any adjustments that are necessary - that's why he's involved.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Ceri]

Hi Sally,

I realise that dosages cannot be discussed which is why I posted the results of my blood test and not what I'm being prescribed.

It was the fact that my test came back without an estrogen level which I sort of expected, made me look into the figures that did come back. I was able to find explanations of what most things meant but was totally confused by the SHBG. I know my doctor will explain all in a few weeks but I'm just one of those impatient people that like to understand whats in front of me

Thank you for your reply anyway.

Ceri

[Sally]

Ceri,

If I had even the slightest idea what any of these numbers mean (and even the initials!) I would tell you haow to take this - but I don't have the slightest clue.

Maybe when I start my hormones, I'll learn - but I doubt it.

That's why I pay the doctors.

I would have thought that someone would have wondered by - we have a number here in the medical professions who should know this stuff!

Just keep checking and maybe I'll get a chance to research this.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Exploding Lizzy here! Sally is a nut - I just reacted early and rather drastically, for some reason. I am about 3 1/2 months into HRT and wow . There is something else going on we think. I felt everyone needed an explaination on that.

But what is unusual is people my older age sometimes don't get results so fast or at all. My body seems to want to be female, says my therapist, and heck, let her have what she wants!

I never knew about the SHBG part- thanks for an informative topic.

[Guest Jackson]

I would have thought that someone would have wondered by - we have a number here in the medical professions who should know this stuff!

Sorry I've not been around as usual. Grad school has a way of somehow stealing my time.

So, I've learned something today (Do I sound like Kyle and Stan from South Park yet?). I actually found the website for the reference lab that my hospital uses. I'm saving that to my bookmarks.

Anyway, SHBG does bind the sex hormones. But the reference lab standards really don't vary too much between males and females. And 32.5 nmol/L is within both ranges. Now their manual does mention that with estrogen administration and testicular feminization one would expect a higher SHBG.

Now with the treatment protocol that my physician uses just measures testosterone and estradiol levels for MTF, not SHBG. So my advice would be to ask your GP what his reasoning was to get a SHBG and not an estradiol and what his target SHBG is. If you don't want to wait, just give his office a call and someone should be able to call you back with the information.

[Guest Little Sara]

From doing a bit of background reading it seems my testosterone level is fine at 0.2 nmol/L as is my free androgen at 0.6. My FSH at 0.2 iu/L and LH at less than 0.1 iu/L also look okay.

The testosterone seems to be extremely low (for either male or female, though for male that would be catastrophic heh) if it really is 0.2. And 0.6 in that light doesn't seem to make much sense though, Total T should be higher than bio-available T.

Now with the treatment protocol that my physician uses just measures testosterone and estradiol levels for MTF, not SHBG.

The same here, I haven't even heard of SHBG before.

[Guest ~Brenda~]

Hi Ceri,

To be honest, this seems like a question for your doctor. We are not qualified physicians (at least I don't this there are any physicians in the forum, but I could be wrong). I don't know anything about hormones since I don't take any.

I hope you find the answers your are looking for,

bernie