 |
 |
 |
|
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
||||
Re: ALLY HIGH testosteroneFrom: Celeste (anonymous@obgyn.net)Thu, 20 Dec 2001 14:54:47 -0600 (CST)
At Thu, 20 Dec 2001, Pam wrote: > Pam, hang in there. You have elevated testosterone, but it is treatable. Unfortunately, bcps can often fail to bring it down. Yours was probably on the increase from your PCOS. IMHO you should be seeing a regular endocrinologist. They can help you manage this for the longterm for your life. A reproductive endo is interested in helping you get pregnant and most of the stuff they use is not intended for the longterm. Sadly, most ob/gyns are in over their heads on how to help us with PCOS, so her referral to a specialist is a good thing for you--just make sure you are seeing the right one. Testosterone in women should be below 30. The old thinking was below 60, but they know better now. When it is above 200 to begin with, they suspect a tumor on your adrenal gland (sits above the kidney), not an ovarian tumor. So don't worry about your ovaries! I highly doubt you even have an adrenal tumor. But your total number of 957 sounds like a mistake since the sum of the two (free plus bioavailable) should be about equal to the total. Whatever. Chances are your insulin has continued to rise, or your brand of bcps did this to you, or even both together. If it is a brand of bcp that is a triphasic, they do not fully shut down ovulation in us and actually allow more cysts to form, sometimes at a greater rate than without the bcps. You form new cysts on your ovaries due to this, and each one of them is putting out more testosterone into your blood. This isn't immediately dangerous, but what you should take away from this is *your treatment isn't working*. You should be on insulin sensitizer therapy, which is safe for the longterm and can help you preserve your fertility by minimizing cyst formation on your ovaries. In particular it sounds like Avandia can help you (alone or with Glucophage/Metformin) because it is the ONLY thing that helps high testosterone come down. It worked a miracle on me, so I can vouch for it. Testosterone is really good at shutting down ovulation, and you may become fertile if you go on any insulin sensitizer therapy that brings it down. The most important thing PCOSers need to know about bcps is that we should be on monophasics (ie the dose is the same in all 21 of the active pills) rather than triphasics (3 different doses in those 21 pills). There are lots of different brands and this is what you need to make sure you ask about. If you get your system back in balance and can ovulate on insulin meds, you will want to make SURE you are not on a triphasic bcp because there is a HIGH chance it won't protect you against pregnancy. Hope this helps; let us know how it goes!!
>I just got back from my OB/GYN. I've been going to her for 3 months now
-- Celeste
|
|
Return to ![[ PCOS Discussion Forums ]](../../images/pcos_at_obgyn.gif)
Technical Problems: webmaster@obgyn.net
Last Updated: Mon May 19 17:02:00 2008
Women's Insurance Checklist from Auto Insurance Quote
home | medical professionals | women | industry | forums | international