Good evening, NHRT is something I've never heard of until I saw Dr. Erika on PBS and she recommended this site (Thank God). I've been on depo-provera on and off for 2 years (endometriosis is now gone). My last 3-month shot was Mar '04 and has now worn off. My symptoms have been: - morning/afternoon sweats, - waking up in the middle of the night freezing, - morning anxiety, - all overbody body aches, and - feeling worn out and very tired. My questions are (any info would be greatly appreciated since I am new to NHRT): 1) From the symptoms above, do I really need NHRT or will the test results have that answer? 2) What are the correct tests the doctor should perform, what are they for, and what do the results mean? 3) I've read alot about saliva testing, what's the difference? 4) My Gyn said in Mar '03 that he thinks I may be entering into menopause. What NHRT is best for a woman entering into meno and/or what is normally prescribed the for the first time NHRT patient? I appreciate any suggestions you may have. I would like to be prepared when I go to my visits next month. My Gyn works with a compounding pharmacist close by so that is an obstacle I don't have to worry about. I am also getting a bone density test done next month. Thank You Very Much, XOXO, Tina

Please, if anyone can help me get a better understanding of what I should need to ask the doctor, please reply. I do not have a good understanding of what the tests are would also like to know what the results of them mean. If it were not for this site, I would never have known about natural HRT and I am excited now that I am not taking anything synthetic any longer. Thanks in advance for your help. Tina

I'm tested (blood) for estradiol, progesterone and testosterone levels. The actual levels depend on where in the cycle you are. At ovulation and later, levels (they drop just before the period starts, and are low during the period) should be highest, but the range of normal is very wide. Estradiol levels below 50 are generally troublesome, often menopausal. Dr. Gillespie recommends you "baste, not marinate" with estrogen, and says to keep your levels between 90 and 120 or so. If you are in the latter half of the cycle and you did not ovulate (common in peri), your progesterone will be very low. They can tell if you are still ovulating by your progesterone level. Low testosterone levels will generally cause a lack of sexual desire. The problems with testing is that because the levels of normal vary so greatly between women, you don't know what is high or low for YOU. So they say get tested before peri to know if you were a high or low estrogen producer to begin with, so they know how to replace. But I think you'll know by your symptoms, and you'll know when you are properly replaced by how well your symptoms respond. I would personally not take hormones if I could tolerate the symptoms, which I cannot presently. I take the absolute minimum dose that knocks out my headaches, and put up with the remaining symptoms, rather than increase.

Aimee, Thanks for you reply. I have never tried natural hormone replacement therapy before. Since the depo has worn off, I have not had a period. When I stopped it before, it took 8 months to have a period. I have not had a doctor run tests on me since the late 80's and I was considered "normal" then. If I am inbalanced, I want to go with natural HRT - never again will I allow a doctor to prescribe synthetic hormones again. Thank you & take care, Tina