Birth Control Pill - effect on libido and mental health

[BengalWoman]

Update time.

I've been off BC for over a month. I just got back my blood test and I was hoping for some input from other members.

LH 5.6
T 14
DHEA 79.1
Estradiol 83.1

Thank you!

[SlimmerMe]

Update time.

I've been off BC for over a month. I just got back my blood test and I was hoping for some input from other members.

LH 5.6
T 14
DHEA 79.1
Estradiol 83.1

Thank you!

T....is 14? what "type" of testosterone BW was this? I have looked and looked over my test BW and do not see anything that resemble this number---so---would love to know what 14 represents....thanks

[Vettester]

T....is 14? what "type" of testosterone BW was this? I have looked and looked over my test BW and do not see anything that resemble this number---so---would love to know what 14 represents....thanks

Total testosterone serum - Not positive, but I think their ref. range at Kaiser is something like 6-to-80. So again, it's like one of us guys having a 300 score and the doctor tells us everything is "normal", within range. I know women need a healthy amount (not elevated) of testosterone just like men do. I would presume even somewhere in the middle, call it 40 or 50 would be beneficial for for a female, but this is a completely different department then what I'm used to dealing with.

Does your lab work show Total Test Serum? If so, curious what your score is. -Thanks

[SlimmerMe]

Total testosterone serum - Not positive, but I think their ref. range at Kaiser is something like 6-to-80. So again, it's like one of us guys having a 300 score and the doctor tells us everything is "normal", within range. I know women need a healthy amount (not elevated) of testosterone just like men do. I would presume even somewhere in the middle, call it 40 or 50 would be beneficial for for a female, but this is a completely different department then what I'm used to dealing with.

Does your lab work show Total Test Serum? If so, curious what your score is. -Thanks

okay...just called the doc..(nurse) and she told me my TOTAL T is 50 (just tested last week actually) ....and that my Free T is .8....and that my doc thinks that the Total T Bloodwork is a waste ....yes... that is what she said....but she did not tell me why he said this since she could not nail him down for an answer...but I asked her to find out why he thinks testing for Total T is a waste---I do know this about my doc: he is VERY aggressive in treatment....he is.,,,for example he is upset with me for not taking 3 units of HGH ED! ...plus he walks the talk too..he has less than 10% BF and is wound tight...very very tight....and REALLY into anti-aging---and has sorta a rebel reputation too....

ps: if I am reading my BW which he has scribbled all over the place...(from my 1st round of BW test back in January)...I think he wants for my DHEA to be 350! I could be wrong....but...I would not doubt it...

[Vettester]

okay...just called the doc..(nurse) and she told me my TOTAL T is 50 (just tested last week actually) ....and that my Free T is .8....and that my doc thinks that the Total T Bloodwork is a waste ....yes... that is what she said....but she did not tell me why he said this since she could not nail him down for an answer...but I asked her to find out why he thinks testing for Total T is a waste---I do know this about my doc: he is VERY aggressive in treatment....he is.,,,for example he is upset with me for not taking 3 units of HGH ED! ...plus he walks the talk too..he has less than 10% BF and is wound tight...very very tight....and REALLY into anti-aging---and has sorta a rebel reputation too....

ps: if I am reading my BW which he has scribbled all over the place...(from my 1st round of BW test back in January)...I think he wants for my DHEA to be 350! I could be wrong....but...I would not doubt it...

There are a few different types of doctors mindsets. Most of the time, as many of the guys here will attest, it's the doctor who treats the score, not the patient, which in most cases means little if any treatment for the patient who is at the low end of the charts. Slimmer, in your case, I like to refer that type of doctor mindset as the 'bull in the china shop doc'. It's the opposite of the other type, where the doctor tends to feel enough ain't enough. Usually the docs who practice that aggressively are usually closely associated with a internal compounding pharmacy, which in turn has major incentives on product sales. In fact, a doctor and/or consultant to the doctor could theoretically have a major portion of their compensation package tied up in sales distribution of products. Let's face it, that's where the margins are. Can you imagine the markup on your compound creams?

As far as the total test goes, that's just plain crazy. As I read it, your free test is about 1.6%, which is pretty normal. The amount of actual free & bio-available testosterone is for the most part dependent on the actual amount of the total serum. You could deviate this with lowering your SHBG, but for the most part you will have the same percentage whether your total test serum is 50 or 25. So if your total was 25, your free test would be .4 (based on if your score is measured in ng/dl), but your percentage would remain fixed at/around 1.6%. I would love to hear your doctor's rationale on why the total serum score is a "waste."

Just send me the extra GH that you don't want - Problem solved

[PPC]

Just send me the extra GH that you don't want - Problem solved

I'll get in line for the GH leftovers. I would like me some of that.

[SlimmerMe]

by the way....there are no left overs....I got the very last drop! going cold turkey for awhile....

[PPC]

okay...just called the doc..(nurse) and she told me my TOTAL T is 50 (just tested last week actually) ....and that my Free T is .8....and that my doc thinks that the Total T Bloodwork is a waste ....yes... that is what she said....but she did not tell me why he said this since she could not nail him down for an answer...but I asked her to find out why he thinks testing for Total T is a waste---I do know this about my doc: he is VERY aggressive in treatment....he is.,,,for example he is upset with me for not taking 3 units of HGH ED! ...plus he walks the talk too..he has less than 10% BF and is wound tight...very very tight....and REALLY into anti-aging---and has sorta a rebel reputation too....

ps: if I am reading my BW which he has scribbled all over the place...(from my 1st round of BW test back in January)...I think he wants for my DHEA to be 350! I could be wrong....but...I would not doubt it...

Slimmer was your total T at 50 a natural number or was that while using T cream? 50 is a nice score. Your free T is okay...some would like it higher but if you're taking HGH, there can be almost a layering effect and less T is needed. They are both repair hormones, so less T is needed by the body.

I would not try to get your dhea any higher than it is. Most BHRT docs that I have read aim to get female dhea around 200. If you go much higher than that and include exogenous T aswell, there can be some personality aggression that occurs and some physical side effects. Not saying that is always the case though.

[SlimmerMe]

Slimmer was your total T at 50 a natural number or was that while using T cream? 50 is a nice score. Your free T is okay...some would like it higher but if you're taking HGH, there can be almost a layering effect and less T is needed. They are both repair hormones, so less T is needed by the body.

I would not try to get your dhea any higher than it is. Most BHRT docs that I have read aim to get female dhea around 200. If you go much higher than that and include exogenous T aswell, there can be some personality aggression that occurs and some physical side effects. Not saying that is always the case though.

thanks PPC!!!....what kind of side effects with high DHEA....other than aggression which I was told I had this summer by a close friend oddly enough...what physical sides? please elaborate...

[PPC]

thanks PPC!!!....what kind of side effects with high DHEA....other than aggression which I was told I had this summer by a close friend oddly enough...what physical sides? please elaborate...

Acne is a biggie. Oilier skin. Body hair growth. Chin hair growth. Sometimes these physical symptoms won't manifest but the personality ones need to be watched. I didn't get body or chin hair growth but I did get some new pubic hair - strange.

I noticed less tolerance, more aggression. I am usually laid back and mostly patient with my family. This changed. I felt like I was no longer willing to put up with anything from anybody. Way less passive. I'm very close to my brother, he told me I had turned into a 'be-itch'. Lowering doses really helped with all of this.

[PPC]

Update time.

I've been off BC for over a month. I just got back my blood test and I was hoping for some input from other members.

LH 5.6
T 14
DHEA 79.1
Estradiol 83.1

Thank you!

First thing I'm seeing is your T. Pressing forward in life with a total that low will be difficult. But we don't want to get away with ourselves because you had only been off birth control for one month at the time of the testing.

It may be hard to tell what these levels mean....have you had a period since the pill? If so, do you know what day of your cycle these tests were taken? That will help clue us in.

While E (estrogen) at 83 may be okay during your period....at any other time it is too low. Most premenopausal women stay above 100, sometimes well over 2-300 and then dip just below 100 for their period. Think back to how you feel at your period. Most of us have low mood due to low E levels causing lack of seritonin. We have more aches and pains. Most of us feel our worst at that time. You don't want to be in that state constantly.

Dr Elizabeth Vilet offers the following numbers as a good guage for E levels for premenopausal women. You'll notice we have 2 estrogen peaks. Most women try to test on day 18-21 to catch their second peak. If you are only 83 during that time...you are likely missing out on better well being and health.


menstrual phase (days 1-4) 80-90
follicular phase (days 4-14) average 200
follicular phase peak 350-500
follicular phase average (days 14-26) 200
luteal phase peak 200-300
premenstrual phase (day 26-28) E2 drops sharply (she does not give numbers for this drop)

Your T level: If a premenopausal woman is a natural low T type - not much natural muscle tone or body hair, then she may be in the 20-30 total T area. A healthy range is 40-60 but many athletic women are naturally quite a bit higher than that. Some labs have the top of the level at 100. My mom just got her total T levels back while on T cream and they were 87. Her doc was pleased and her libido is real high.

Your level is similar to what many untreated menopausal women have. Maybe it will take a few more months off BC, your ovaries will wake up a little more and your numbers will come up. This current T level may be even higher than what you were on BC. If nothing changes in the next little while, then I think your life will really improve by adding these hormones that are on the very low side.

I don't see a progesterone level...did your doc test that? It will be important.

Your dhea level is low. Optimum is close to 200 for a woman. Are you supplementing with any dhea right now?

Most importantly, how do you feel? Are you doing okay?

[BengalWoman]

First thing I'm seeing is your T. Pressing forward in life with a total that low will be difficult. But we don't want to get away with ourselves because you had only been off birth control for one month at the time of the testing.

It may be hard to tell what these levels mean....have you had a period since the pill? If so, do you know what day of your cycle these tests were taken? That will help clue us in.

While E (estrogen) at 83 may be okay during your period....at any other time it is too low. Most premenopausal women stay above 100, sometimes well over 2-300 and then dip just below 100 for their period. Think back to how you feel at your period. Most of us have low mood due to low E levels causing lack of seritonin. We have more aches and pains. Most of us feel our worst at that time. You don't want to be in that state constantly.

Dr Elizabeth Vilet offers the following numbers as a good guage for E levels for premenopausal women. You'll notice we have 2 estrogen peaks. Most women try to test on day 18-21 to catch their second peak. If you are only 83 during that time...you are likely missing out on better well being and health.


menstrual phase (days 1-4) 80-90
follicular phase (days 4-14) average 200
follicular phase peak 350-500
follicular phase average (days 14-26) 200
luteal phase peak 200-300
premenstrual phase (day 26-28) E2 drops sharply (she does not give numbers for this drop)

Your T level: If a premenopausal woman is a natural low T type - not much natural muscle tone or body hair, then she may be in the 20-30 total T area. A healthy range is 40-60 but many athletic women are naturally quite a bit higher than that. Some labs have the top of the level at 100. My mom just got her total T levels back while on T cream and they were 87. Her doc was pleased and her libido is real high.

Your level is similar to what many untreated menopausal women have. Maybe it will take a few more months off BC, your ovaries will wake up a little more and your numbers will come up. This current T level may be even higher than what you were on BC. If nothing changes in the next little while, then I think your life will really improve by adding these hormones that are on the very low side.

I don't see a progesterone level...did your doc test that? It will be important.

Your dhea level is low. Optimum is close to 200 for a woman. Are you supplementing with any dhea right now?

Most importantly, how do you feel? Are you doing okay?

PPC - Thanks for your help! I'll try and answer all of your questions.

The blood test were done 6 days after the start of my cycle. (Done for 3 days).

The doctor did not test progesterone. I asked her but no response yet.

I am not supplementing DHEA at this time. But can do easily.

I do not feel like me! Libido sucks and life wears on me. And these damn doctors that are suppose to be helping everyone just put up road blocks.

Do you take pregnanolone? That too I can do easily.

Again thanks for all of your input.

[PPC]

PPC - Thanks for your help! I'll try and answer all of your questions.

The blood test were done 6 days after the start of my cycle. (Done for 3 days).

The doctor did not test progesterone. I asked her but no response yet.

I am not supplementing DHEA at this time. But can do easily.

I do not feel like me! Libido sucks and life wears on me. And these damn doctors that are suppose to be helping everyone just put up road blocks.

Do you take pregnanolone? That too I can do easily.

Again thanks for all of your input.

By the time you took this test, estradiol should have been rising. Six days after the start of your cycle, E is in an upward trend. If 83 is indicative of your upward trend then help may be needed along the way with a compounded E cream with both estradiol and estriol. Raising your E levels helps you cope with the stress of life. Things are jjust gloomy with low E. But you may want to give it a another month or two and see if your own ovaries want to put out more. I think you will end up needing a good doc that specializes in female hormonal issues (the AA type). There will definitely be a need to test for progesterone.

DHEA can help with lagging libido in females. I don't think it goes as far as T does to get it up there but I noticed a mild libido boost when I started using it. It's just good to take anyway since it is a powerful immune booster and helps protect against breast cancer.

Most women cannot tolerate more than 20 mg of DHEA. Acne is the first sign that you are going too high. My dose is 10mg per day. I use a brand that has bioperine in it for better absorbtion. I have tried increasing the dose 3 times and I always end up with acne on my chin when I do, but that's just me. Going back down to 10 mg - the acne disappears. It seems to take about a month on a certain dose to notice results and side effects.

I have tried using pregnenolone. I did a trial with a lipid matrix brand that is supposed to bypass the liver. The dose was 150 mg. I did fine until I was in the part of my cycle where I have to add my progesterone. The combination of these two was too much for me. I got headaches, brain fog and my cycle got messed up. I believe my dose was too high. Pregnenolone apparently swims downstream into progesterone so I was just overdosing on that likely. I need to try again at a better dose sometime like 50 mg.

Pregnenolone will not raise your estrogen or your testosterone and those are the ones you are lacking on your tests. It may help with your cortisol and progesterone. Using a low dose probably would not hurt you but won't fill the othe other gaping holes.


I believe using exogenous T will ultimately help your libido and energy levels. Sometimes it takes a while for T receptors to open up and for one to 'feel' the changes. You have not had much circulating T in your body for a long time so it will be interesting to see how long it takes for your receptors to open up and for cell changes to occur if you start using T.

My Mom used a T cream for 6 months with no libido change, but then it gradually climbed and now she is constantly chasing my Dad LOL. I noticed the effects of T much sooner than that. I actually had to lower my dose due to hypersexual feelings and a bit of a personality change that occured. T is a powerful hormone in females it seems and it is a big brain space changer. On too high a dose, I was less tolerant of my children and more ready to be combative with my husband - awful. There is that 'just right' dose for every individual but it's not always the easiest road getting there. It's worth it though.