I've been told by two different doctors that it doesn't do any good to do blood levels of female hormones during perimenopause because they fluctuate too much. I've also read that cortisol levels should be checked when you're feeling "good"--which is definitely not now! : ( So my question is, I'd really like to know what my hormones are doing, but don't want to beg the doctors to check them if it won't do any good. I'm also on low dose bcp (just starting month two, and not having fun). So is it a good idea to insist on getting hormone testing? If so, when is the best time for someone who's already started bcp?

All I can tell you is that I was told no no no many time on blood tests because I wasn't old enough to have hormone troubles. When I finally did have one by a doctor that would listen I had extremely low P, extremely high T, and the rest were kind of all over the board too. If someone had JUST LISTENED ONCE to me I could have potentially felt better three years earlier. Do what you want and tell them you want to be tested whether or no, sure it might not show up the first time or the second but only you know how your body feels. Take a journal and watch your symptoms compared to your cycle and I bet you will start to put two and two together.