I have been taking Ovcon 35 most of my life including the 1st year of menopause--and loved it.
In the 18 months I've been off it, I have tried first oral estradiol, then transdermals at ever increasing doses. Problem is, I still have symptoms(night sweats, joint pain). I recently had my SHBG tested and it was 314, whereas the upper normal is 110. It now fits into place. All of the estradiol is being bound to the SHBG with insufficient being bioavailable. Either my liver is overreacting or it's 'remembering' the pill level. Either way it's a big problem. What I'm thinking of doing is taking ethinyl estradiol again, since little of that is bound to SHBG(though it does raise the level), so presumably it'll be bioavailable. Anyone else have this problem??
Also, levels of ethinyl estradiol(EE) are not measured in blood tests, so are there any tests that indicate that HRT is working? Perhaps FSH levels?
Full Version: High SHBG--no free estradiol!
Hi Sloane
I thought SHBG increased when on BCP - due to high circulating oetsrogens - why yours is still high I dont know?? I was on BCP for most of reproductive life - I think that is why peri is hitting me so hard now. High SHBG will also lower bioavaiable testosterone too wont it?
I was tested for LH/FSH and thyroid hormones when checking for onset of peri and after 3 months of HRT - they seem to be a good measure of whether your pituitary thinks there is enough oetsrogen/prog around - although in peri levels can fluctuate so it can be hit and miss is you are still cycling
Mele
I thought SHBG increased when on BCP - due to high circulating oetsrogens - why yours is still high I dont know?? I was on BCP for most of reproductive life - I think that is why peri is hitting me so hard now. High SHBG will also lower bioavaiable testosterone too wont it?
I was tested for LH/FSH and thyroid hormones when checking for onset of peri and after 3 months of HRT - they seem to be a good measure of whether your pituitary thinks there is enough oetsrogen/prog around - although in peri levels can fluctuate so it can be hit and miss is you are still cycling
Mele
QUOTE (Mele @ May 14 2006, 02:42 PM) 
Hi Sloane
I thought SHBG increased when on BCP - due to high circulating oetsrogens - why yours is still high I dont know?? I was on BCP for most of reproductive life - I think that is why peri is hitting me so hard now. High SHBG will also lower bioavaiable testosterone too wont it?
I was tested for LH/FSH and thyroid hormones when checking for onset of peri and after 3 months of HRT - they seem to be a good measure of whether your pituitary thinks there is enough oetsrogen/prog around - although in peri levels can fluctuate so it can be hit and miss is you are still cycling
Mele
I thought SHBG increased when on BCP - due to high circulating oetsrogens - why yours is still high I dont know?? I was on BCP for most of reproductive life - I think that is why peri is hitting me so hard now. High SHBG will also lower bioavaiable testosterone too wont it?
I was tested for LH/FSH and thyroid hormones when checking for onset of peri and after 3 months of HRT - they seem to be a good measure of whether your pituitary thinks there is enough oetsrogen/prog around - although in peri levels can fluctuate so it can be hit and miss is you are still cycling
Mele
Hi Mele:
Yes, SHBG does increase on on BCP, though EE does not bind to it, so lots 'free' and bioavailable. Trouble is, mine didn't bounce back.
High SHBG does cause lower 'free' testosterone too, but this can be treated by adding testosterone.
Thanks for the info on the LH/FSH/thyroid testing to see if HRT is 'working'. Can I ask what your levels were that were deemed satifactory?
Sloane
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