High levels, Low levels

[CanisKitty]

I have searched high and low, and I cannot find out whats going on with me. I get my period for 2 weeks then its gone for 2 weeks. Very heavy, very painful. If I have intercourse with my fiance when I am not on my period, I start bleeding for about 3 or 4 days (definitely endometrial bleeding). I'm sitting here looking at my hormone levels from my last 2 blood tests and I am just baffled. My family doctor says PCOS, and I do have quite a few small cysts in my ovaries, but my hormones just don't match up with PCOS.

Test Results 3rd day of Cycle

Estradiol - 235 pmol/L
FSH - 1.8 U/L
LH - 1.0 U/L
Progesterone 16.6 nmol/L

Mid Cycle Results Day 15 (I guess it was day 15. Since I get my period every 2 weeks its hard to tell when my cycle really is) This test was taken 6 days after my period stopped, but since I'd had intercourse, I had been bleeding for 3 days when the test was taken.

Estradiol - 176 pmol/L
FSH - 3.7 U/L
LH - 6.9 U/L
Progesterone - 3.2 nmol/L

What on earth could be causing something like this? My doctor keeps saying PCOS PCOS but I think that's his way of saying "Well gee...I don't really know"

Please help!

[Scott Roseff MD]

Hi,
Please do me a HUGE favor - Here in the U.S. we use different units of measure for the hormone levels (for example, we use pg/ml for estradiol). You are using "S.I." units --- Please convert them to the same units we use in the U.S. and re-post your inquiry thereafter.

Thanks!
Dr. Roseff

[CanisKitty]

I don't now how...and I can't find the conversions online either...

Thank you anyway

[Scott Roseff MD]

You're welcome anyway.

Dr. Roseff

[CanisKitty]

I think I got it! I hope so anyway. Here are the converted test results...I hope I got this right.

Test results day 3:

Estradiol - 64.02 pg/mL
FSH - 1.8 mIU/mL
LH - 1.0 IU/L (mIU/mL)
Progesterone - 5.22 ng/mL

Test results midcycle (day 15):

Estradiol - 47.94 pg/mL
FSH - 3.7 IU/L
LH - 6.9 IU/L
Progesterone - 1.01 ng/mL

If these units still aren't right...could you let me know what units they should be in so I can attempt the conversion one more time?

Thank you

[Scott Roseff MD]

Hi,

Those are indeed the units we use in the U.S., so if you did the math right we should be OK with my comment, below:

You listed your progesterone level as 5.22 ng/ml on cycle day 3, and that's NOT normal. Progesterone should be low, generally less than 1.0 ng/ml, on cycle day 3 (so something is amiss).

By cycle day 15, estradiol should have risen significantly, so a level of 47.94 pg/ml is abnormally low.

If those are truly your hormone levels, then something is out of balance and it would be in your best interest to see a qualified specialist who can get to the bottom of your problem(s). As an aside, I've had several patients from the UK travel to see me for such issues (and they went back home pregnant!!!).

Hope this helps,
Dr. Roseff in Florida

[CanisKitty]

Should I see a gyno or an ednocrinologist or both? Here in Canada, it takes ages to see a doctor. Should I try to get a rush appointment, or wait the 6 months to a year that it will take so see a specialist? I can see a gynocologist in about a month or two, but an endocrinologist will take MUCH longer.

We aren't planning on having children yet, but I am concerned that this will continue to get worse and destroy my chances of fertility altogether. We are willing to have children now if that's the only way we can have our own. Right now, I have zero interest in adopting, or using donor eggs, I'm sure I will change my mind in the future if we are unable to conceive.

Thank you very much.

[Scott Roseff MD]

You should see a reproductive endocrinologist.