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Low Hormone Levels at 20 years old
LissieLou22 posted:
Bear with me, as I'm still trying to organize these thoughts in my head..
Originally I called my doctor's office because I had my period for ~3 weeks. I told them there was the possibility that I dropped one of my birth control pills, because I couldn't think of another reason why I would have my period for so long. Normally I take actives only in the birth control pack because I have Type 1 Diabetes (for 19 years) and my periods make my blood sugar completely unpredictable. They asked me to come in to do blood work just to make sure everything was okay in case I had not missed a pill.
Fast forward to today when I had my appointment to review the blood work. My estrogen and testosterone levels were low, and my progesterone level was 0. I also had very low B12 and Vitamin D. I was somewhat shocked when the doctor told me this as I had expected to go in and have them tell me nothing was wrong, I'm only 20 years old for goodness sake. He asked if I wanted to try out HRT, which I was hesitant to because I've heard side effects can be brutal. Of course he only stated the positive things it would do for me - more energy, higher sex drive, lowered depression and anxiety (which I've been being treated for for about 5 years) etc.
So my 2 questions are this:
1. Why would my hormones be that low at my age? What kind of repercussions does this have for my future- i.e. childbearing?
2. Is HRT a good idea? The sounds of the effects coming from the Dr are great, but other places I've read, not so much.
Originally I called my doctor's office because I had my period for ~3 weeks. I told them there was the possibility that I dropped one of my birth control pills, because I couldn't think of another reason why I would have my period for so long. Normally I take actives only in the birth control pack because I have Type 1 Diabetes (for 19 years) and my periods make my blood sugar completely unpredictable. They asked me to come in to do blood work just to make sure everything was okay in case I had not missed a pill.
Fast forward to today when I had my appointment to review the blood work. My estrogen and testosterone levels were low, and my progesterone level was 0. I also had very low B12 and Vitamin D. I was somewhat shocked when the doctor told me this as I had expected to go in and have them tell me nothing was wrong, I'm only 20 years old for goodness sake. He asked if I wanted to try out HRT, which I was hesitant to because I've heard side effects can be brutal. Of course he only stated the positive things it would do for me - more energy, higher sex drive, lowered depression and anxiety (which I've been being treated for for about 5 years) etc.
So my 2 questions are this:
1. Why would my hormones be that low at my age? What kind of repercussions does this have for my future- i.e. childbearing?
2. Is HRT a good idea? The sounds of the effects coming from the Dr are great, but other places I've read, not so much.
2 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Low Hormone Levels at 20 years oldBear with me, as I'm still trying to organize these thoughts in my head..<br /> <br /> Originally I called my doctor's office because I had my period for ~3 weeks. I told them there was the possibility that I dropped one of my birth control pills, because I couldn't think of another reason why I would have my period for so long. Normally I take actives only in the birth control pack because I have Type 1 Diabetes (for 19 years) and my periods make my blood sugar completely unpredictable. They asked me to come in to do blood work just to make sure everything was okay in case I had not missed a pill.<br /> <br /> Fast forward to today when I had my appointment to review the blood work. My estrogen and testosterone levels were low, and my progesterone level was 0. I also had very low B12 and Vitamin D. I was somewhat shocked when the doctor told me this as I had expected to go in and have them tell me nothing was wrong, I'm only 20 years old for goodness sake. He asked if I wanted to try out HRT, which I was hesitant to because I've heard side effects can be brutal. Of course he only stated the positive things it would do for me - more energy, higher sex drive, lowered depression and anxiety (which I've been being treated for for about 5 years) etc. <br /> <br /> So my 2 questions are this:<br /> <br /> 1. Why would my hormones be that low at my age? What kind of repercussions does this have for my future- i.e. childbearing?<br /> <br /> 2. Is HRT a good idea? The sounds of the effects coming from the Dr are great, but other places I've read, not so much.
Anon_475 responded:
It's a pity that HRT gets such a bad rap ... there is actually less hormones in HRT than in youir BC pills. The bad stuff you hear about HRT concerns older, post-menopausal women not women your age. Listen to your doctor - he knows your medical history. Look at all the advantages HRT could give you!
Report This| Share this:Low Hormone Levels at 20 years oldIt's a pity that HRT gets such a bad rap ... there is actually less hormones in HRT than in youir BC pills. The bad stuff you hear about HRT concerns older, post-menopausal women not women your age. Listen to your doctor - he knows your medical history. Look at all the advantages HRT could give you!
Jane Harrison Hohner, RN, RNP responded:
Dear LissieLou: Whoa! While I definitely agree with An_475, there is something important to clarify. Did your MD draw those blood tests while you were on birth control pills (BCPs)? If so, that would explain the hormone results. Progesterone levels should be low because the BCPs suppress ovulation. Moreover the synthetic estrogen and progesterones used in BCPs may not register on the average blood tests for estrogen ("estradiol") or progesterone. Women using BCPs also have suppression of testosterone levels--some formulations of BCPs do this more than others.
Alternatively, if you had been off BCPs for weeks before the hormone levels were drawn, your MD may have been concerned about possible premature menopause (Premature Ovarian Failure). This uncommon condition has been linked with other autoimmune conditions (and I am assuming that you have Type 1 DM not Type 2 diabetes).
LissieLou, you are asking all the right questions, but you deserve to know exactly what your actual diagnosis is. If you have POF, that can impact child bearing. Here is a link to my blog about this:
http://blogs.webmd.com/womens-health/2009/02/missed-periods-premature-menopause.html
If you have not seen a GYN, take you lab results and go. If you have seen a GYN, take your labs to a reproductive endocrinologist. They can help you sort out the diagnosis as well as the treatment options.
In Support,
Jane
Alternatively, if you had been off BCPs for weeks before the hormone levels were drawn, your MD may have been concerned about possible premature menopause (Premature Ovarian Failure). This uncommon condition has been linked with other autoimmune conditions (and I am assuming that you have Type 1 DM not Type 2 diabetes).
LissieLou, you are asking all the right questions, but you deserve to know exactly what your actual diagnosis is. If you have POF, that can impact child bearing. Here is a link to my blog about this:
http://blogs.webmd.com/womens-health/2009/02/missed-periods-premature-menopause.html
If you have not seen a GYN, take you lab results and go. If you have seen a GYN, take your labs to a reproductive endocrinologist. They can help you sort out the diagnosis as well as the treatment options.
In Support,
Jane
Report This| Share this:Low Hormone Levels at 20 years oldDear LissieLou: Whoa! While I definitely agree with An_475, there is something important to clarify. Did your MD draw those blood tests while you were on birth control pills (BCPs)? If so, that would explain the hormone results. Progesterone levels should be low because the BCPs suppress ovulation. Moreover the synthetic estrogen and progesterones used in BCPs may not register on the average blood tests for estrogen ("estradiol") or progesterone. Women using BCPs also have suppression of testosterone levels--some formulations of BCPs do this more than others.<br /><br />Alternatively, if you had been off BCPs for weeks before the hormone levels were drawn, your MD may have been concerned about possible premature menopause (Premature Ovarian Failure). This uncommon condition has been linked with other autoimmune conditions (and I am assuming that you have Type 1 DM not Type 2 diabetes).<br /><br />LissieLou, you are asking all the right questions, but you deserve to know exactly what your actual diagnosis is. If you have POF, that can impact child bearing. Here is a link to my blog about this:<br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.webmd.com/womens-health/2009/02/missed-periods-premature-menopause.html">http://blogs.webmd.com/womens-health/2009/02/missed-periods-premature-menopause.html</a> <br /><br />If you have not seen a GYN, take you lab results and go. If you have seen a GYN, take your labs to a reproductive endocrinologist. They can help you sort out the diagnosis as well as the treatment options.<br /><br />In Support,<br />Jane
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