QuestionQUESTION: I was on the birth control for 10 years and got off of it in Februrary. I have not had a period since. My doctor decided to test my hormone levels and the results are disturbing!
LH= <0.3
FSH= 2.8
Estradiol= 9
Progesterone= 0.6
Prolactin= 3.0
She said that my levels are that of a post menopausal woman. I'm only 27 years old!! I'm scared that this is going to impact my fertility and that I will never be able to have children. Is there anything I can do to help raise these levels? Am I endangering my body by having levels so low? Do you think this is going to cause me to be infertile?
I'm 27 years old, 5'3 and 107 lbs. Before I was on birth control, I was 17 years old and weighed about 125 to 130 lbs. Within ten years, I have become more active in fitness (walk about 2 hours a day, or run about an hour) and I have also become vegetarian. I do eat enough protein though (I just had my iron/B vitamins checked, all is normal). I don't eat a lot though. I eat about 950 calories to 1300 calories per day. It varies. Sometimes I'm busy and don't eat much. Could this as well as being very active cause my low levels? Perhaps my body thinks I'm anorexic or something? (I'm not, but my calorie levels sure are low since I've been watching them now). I've been trying to keep track. Sunday I ate 960 calories. Monday I ate 1160, Tuesday I ate 1200. Maybe my weight and calorie levels are too low? Can you tell me more about this and tell me what you think I should do? I am scared that I'll never be able to have a child! I just want to make this better.
ANSWER: KC,
I wouldn't stress too much about being permanently infertile before you have some more information. The first thought that comes to mind is your body fat percentage, since in addition to low hormone levels you've also indicated that you've not yet had a period since February.
When your body fat dips below a certain point, ammenorrhea can result, which is a stop in your normal cycle.
This is common for female athletes and those who are slender.
I'm 5' 8' and 115lbs and have dealt (still deal) with this. Like you, I sometimes forget to eat when I get busy but despite this I've successfully conceived children.
There can be many reasons why your hormone levels are low, which can usually be corrected with hormone therapy. You may also have a thyroid disorder or something of that nature which is most likely treatable.
Hopefully, you have been referred to a specialist (endocrinologist) or your doctor is doing more investigating to see what the underlying cause may be. At this point, it's too early to say, but I would rule out low body fat and have more blood work to find the root cause of your low levels and/or a plan to treat them.
Best,
Catherine
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you Catherine! I appreciate this information. I do think I have low body fat. It's between 17-19%. Is that too low? I thank you for sharing your personal experience, and it's wonderful to hear that you were able to bear children. Can I ask you, did you have to go on hormone therapy too? I'm just curious because what happens after you get off the hormone therapy, does you body go back to the way it was (low hormones)? I just wonder how the body can carry a child if it's off the hormones after being treated by them? Thanks!
AnswerKC,
Normal body fat ranges vary by several factors and there are conflicting sources for the optimal range.
In general, 20-25% is considered normal for most women. Female athletes usually have between 10-15%.
Typically, anything around 15% or lower may be too low to support a regular menstrual cycle as when you don't have enough fat stores, your body knows it would have a harder time sustaining a pregnancy and so it can interrupt your menstrual cycle as a nonessential system (it's a survival mechanism that shuts off systems you don't need to survive so you can devote more energy where you do need it.)
As for hormone therapy, no, I never went on it. I wasn't on birth control (which can change hormone levels and take up to a year to regulate themselves) either which could still be contributing to your low levels. Instead, I gained about 7 pounds and made sure to eat at least 1200-1500 calories per day.
As for whether hormone therapy would be permanent, it's impossible to say at this point, because it's still not clear what the underlying cause is for your low levels. It could be in part to the birth control still, low body fat, thyroid issues, genetics, stress, low caloric intake, etc. Without having a better idea of the cause, I could only speculate at the treatment and whether it would be long or short term. Some women go on hormone therapy while they are trying to conceive and go off in between, so it could be a possibility that this option would work for you as well.
Best,
Catherine
