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High Estradiol and/or
High Progesterone |
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Are high estradiol and or high progesterone levels seen
in any of the twelve Menopause Types®? Answers, by Dr. |
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Quick Answer: |
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High estradiol and high progesterone
are not true representations of a Menopause Type®, but may
indicate perimenopause, exogenous hormones or an endocrine pathology. |
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Estradiol |
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In the postmenopausal woman,
estradiol levels may remain adequate or they may be low. Excessive estradiol
levels may be seen during perimenopause (while the body is trying to adjust
to the change of menopause). |
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If there are low progesterone levels
there may be a relative hyperestrogenism, but truly high estradiol
levels after the change can be traced to specific endogenous or exogenous
causes. |
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There may be high estradiol levels
if a woman is on any type of hormone replacement therapy, but that is not her
true, underlying Menopause Type®. High levels under those
circumstances are due to exogenous estrogens. |
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Endogenous causes of
hyperestrogenism may be due to any number of endocrine related pathologies.
These include endogenous obesity, diabetes, Stein-Leventhal and adenomatous
hyperplasia. In these situations the hormonal pattern is reflecting the
pathology, and is not a true representation of the Menopause Type®
that woman actually has. Once the endocrine pathology is managed, the true
Menopause Type® becomes evident. Management of obesity and management
of abnormal blood sugars will frequently change the hormone patterns of
estradiol, progesterone and testosterone. |
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Progesterone |
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In similar fashion, the typical
postmenopausal patterns seen in progesterone are that they may remain adequate
or they may be low. Excessive progesterone levels may be seen during
perimenopause (while the body is trying to adjust to the change of
menopause). In light of the fact that the adrenal glands are the primary
source of progesterone in the postmenopause woman, it is no surprise to high
levels as the adrenal glands are “recruited” to help with the transition of
menopause. |
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The presence of truly high
progesterone levels after the change can be traced to specific endogenous or exogenous
causes. (Truly high progesterone levels should be validated by a serum test.
At his point in time, there continues to be many “false highs” of
progesterone when saliva testing is done.) |
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There may be high progesterone
levels if a woman is on progesterone replacement therapy, whether orally or
topically, if the dose is too high, or she is absorbing the dose extremely
well. In these cases, the high progesterone level is not her true, underlying
Menopause Type®. High levels under those circumstances are due to exogenous
progesterone. |
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Endogenous causes of
hyperprogesteronism may be due to an endocrine pathology such as adrenal
hyperplasia. In these situations the hormonal pattern is reflecting the pathology,
and is not a true representation of the Menopause Type® that a
woman actually has. Once the endocrine pathology is managed, the true
Menopause Type® becomes evident. Management of adrenal hyperplasia
can change the hormone patterns of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone. |
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What
about Testosterone? |
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In contrast to estradiol and
progesterone, where high levels may indicate perimenopause, exogenous
hormones or an endocrine pathology, testosterone levels may be excess in
certain Menopause Type®. This may be due to a genetically
predisposed deficiency in 21-hydroxylase, which has been associated with
functional androgen excess. |
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Summary |
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If high estradiol levels are seen on
a lab test is suggests that perimenopause is still taking place. The presence
of exogenous hormones or an endocrine pathology must also be considered. |
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Dr. Joseph
J. Collins |
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YourMenopauseType.com,
Inc. |
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