Hormone Level Test, is it possible to get one after meno?

Absolutely!! I moniter my estrogen levels like a hawk! (But you probably don't have to- I do because I'm not on the Arimidex. It's unlikely you have reason to worry.)

When the ovaries become non-functional due to menopause or ooph the adrenal glands begin to produce estrogen, which is what the Arimidex blocks. With the A and the ooph it's unlikely that you need to be checked but there's no reason not to. You can get your estradiol levels checked with a blood test. This is the form of estrogen that doctors use to determine risk and as the sole measure of whether A is working or not. If you want to get more in depth, there is a urine test (a little harder to get covered by insurance but not impossible) which measures the ratios of good to bad estrogen (even for us the good estrogens are pretty much ok) and it's just a little more detailed. Like if your estradiol levels are a little high but your ratios are really good, it's not a big deal, but if they're bad you can take steps to correct.This is a little more alternative and your Dr may scoff or say they haven't heard of it. Most estradiol tests don't go below 7, so you're likely to get a result which is just "less than 7". But that's fine because that's plenty low enough!

I hope this helps- sorry if it's way too much info, I spend a lot of time thinking about this stuff!

For those of you who have had your estrogen levels checked, would you mind sharing what they were? I am curious because I am using an Estring due to terrible dryness and constant UTI's. I am on Femara and my baseline estradiol was <2 (before estring). It then went up to 24, 21 and dropped to 7in September. The last est one from Dec 1 was up to 84 (!) which my onc thinks must be a mistake and we are waiting for the results of a repeat test. She can't understand how this could happen unless perhaps my ovaries are waking up (which we both doubt at age 55).

 As weird as this sounds, I also wondered if soybean oil could cause such an increase. After I got the high result I started trying to figure out what, if anything, had changed. The only thing I found was that I had bought a new Vit D3 supplement that were gel like and when I checked the ingredients I realized it was D3 in soybean oil. Could this be the culprit?

Thanks, Cyndi

Faithful - the way Tamox works is by blocking the estrogen from reaching the cancer cells. So, even if the Soy Oil did raise your Estrogen levels a bit, the Tamox should take care of it.

Personally, for peace of mind, I stridently avoid anything with soy in it, although interlectually I think that small amounts probably don't hurt.

Is it possible to get your estrogen levels as low as would be achieved with an AI without taking anything?  I went into chemopause at 51, probably permanent and am just wondering.  Thx

Thanks ck55 and kerrymac, I was just happy in the end to know about the soy in the vit D.

It's really odd though considering they give so maney bc patients vitD-3, you think they would

caution us about the soy oil! Oh well live and learn. SherriG how estrogen pos were you if I can ask? I was almost 100% , I think I was mabey 1% progesteron, probably why I am so paranoid about the estrogen and having the blood test at 3 month check ups. Thats really why I did the ooph, I just wanted to get as much estrogen out as possible. I think they should give you a hormone level test sherriG, although if it countinues  to work for you is'nt it like a safety net?

I don't get hot flashes ever, is that wierd? ck55 I would like to here how your blood work comes

out,  I pray it will be just where it is suppose to be!!!

I tend to ramble, and I am realizing I am a horrible speller!!

Thanks ladies for your wisdom

Faithful

Thanks