Very High Estradiol in blood test

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new2bc
new2bc Member Posts: 559
edited February 2015 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After


I am 51 years old and have been on Tamoxifen since last July. I recently had my hormones checked by blood test and my estradiol level was 763 which is very high. It also showed that I am not in menopause. I have not had a period for 3 months now. I have read that blood test is not very accurate and it is a snapshot. I am looking to see if I can have a 24 hour urine test but majority of doctors do not offer it.


Do you think I need the Lupron shots? Do I need to have CYP2D6 test to see if Tamoxifen is being absorbed? I had hot flashes for 2 months but this month I have none. I recently purchased a supplement that has broccoli extract, Dim and I3C in it but I have not started taking it. Would this supplement help bring the estradiol levels down?


What should I do? My primary doctor did not even want to talk to me when I asked the nurse about my high estradiol. Any help or suggestion from anyone is appreciated. I will contact my oncologist to see what he thinks. Thank you for your help.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited November 2013


    new2bc, I would definitely pursue more information, whether your onc can help, or whether you need to find another doc (e.g. a hormone expert) to add to your team. (I suspect your PCP didn't want to talk to you about it because he or she doesn't know anything about hormones, and probably couldn't answer your questions.)


    Most conventional docs will not be familiar wth the 24-hour urine test (Complete Hormones Assessment), which is used by naturopathic, integrative and function medicine docs. Also, just fyi, my insurance only covered about 1/2 of it, and it's pricey.


    I'm not a doctor, but the supplement you mentioned sounds healthy for anyone, assuming it's just a cruciferous vegetable derivative. Or, you could simply add broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage, etc., to your diet several times a week.


    But good for you for being in touch with what's going on with your body and asking these questions! (((Hugs))) Deanna

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  • new2bc
    new2bc Member Posts: 559
    edited January 2015

    I just want to update to share that I have found out why sometimes the estradiol level is too high especially in premenopausal women. Since Tamoxifen stimulates the ovaries, it sometimes creates cysts in the ovaries. Women with cysts have a higher estradiol level than women without cysts. This is documented in this link:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10206289

    An ultrasound can reveal if there are cysts in the ovaries so please visit your ob/gyn.

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited January 2015

    Thanx for coming back to update your post new2bc (altho you're not that new any more!). This information may reassure the next gal who searches "high estradiol" - including the link to that article should also help her advocate for herself with the doctors: good job in finding answers & providing rational advice.

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  • new2bc
    new2bc Member Posts: 559
    edited January 2015

    Hi vlnrph,

    Thank you very much for posting. I want to add that the link above mentions that high estradiol mostly happens to women who are premenopausal and did NOT have chemo. I came across another person in these forums who had the same situation like me with high estradiol.

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  • new2bc
    new2bc Member Posts: 559
    edited February 2015

    I am adding another link that someone else found regarding Tamoxifen, ovarian cysts, and high estradiol. This study is not as old as the one I posted earlier.

    hyi165 607..611 - 607.full.pdf

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