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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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