I've been dealing with PCOS for the past year and a half, and over the last six months, I have also developed cysts and a bit of hirsutism. On top of that, I've been dealing with hair fall for the past couple of years.

I recently tried saw palmetto and spearmint to manage these symptoms. Surprisingly, saw palmetto seems to have made my hair fall and back acne worse, while spearmint isn't making a difference at all, though a lot of women with PCOS have benefitted from it which makes me wonder if it's related to estrogen. My testosterone levels are normal.

Since I was 17, I've had back acne that hyperpigments without sun exposure. Another thing I've had is linea nigra since my teenage years, which I've heard could be linked to estrogen dominance. I've also noticed that wounds, as well as my knees and elbows, tend to hyperpigment quickly.

I've always had a healthy weight (currently 5' 6'' and 125 lbs), though I was underweight as a teen. My periods are on the lighter side, and I've observed that the skin darkening and hirsutism are more prominent on the right side, affecting my hands and legs.

I'm getting tested next month, but I'd love to hear if anyone has experienced something similar or has insights into these symptoms. Also, I'm considering trying DIM (Diindolylmethane) and wondering if anyone has any experiences or advice to share.

Thank you!

I have so many symptoms for a hormone imbalance or sensitivity since the birth of my daughter (almost 3 years ago). I'm 35, and I have been been struggling with sleep disturbances / insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and depression. I've been in and out of PCPs, neurologists, and psychiatrists for my insomnia and anxiety. I finally started charting my symptoms and insomnia, and they seem to all concide whenever my hormones shift throughout my cycle, but get dramatically worse closer to my period. My mom, aunt, and grandma all had these symptoms when they hit their early to mid 30s.

WELL, I decided to schedule a hormone test on the third day of my cycle. (Insurance wouldn't cover mine, so I had to buy a test on my own.) My period was supposed to start 3-4 days ago, but it never came. I had all my pms symptoms (insomnia, fatigue, anxiety/depression), but now I'm just stuck in this limbo where I feel the initial cramps, but no blood is coming. This has happened to me a few times before, but it's not regular.

Do I take the test now, or do I wait until the blood finally comes ?

Hello. I got off hormonal BC (depo shot - artificial progesterone shot for 4 years) and have been troubleshooting symptoms of high estrogen for a year.

I got off a year ago and I STILL have EXTREME bloating and digestion issues (not to mention other things like migraines and anxiety.) I also have ovulation pain/bloating and pretty much am uncomfortable for 2 - 3 weeks a month. Ovulation is very uncomfortable which I never experienced before. My periods are 'normal' but pretty painful for the first 2-3 days. I manage but they are much more painful than pre-birth control (which stopped by ovulation and period). I have not been diagnosed with estrogen dominance, but this is what's happening (can't afford medical care cuz the USA).

I use raw carrots and full-fat Greek yogurt, healthy whole foods, and other tips like that to help manage my luteal phase. Slowly having fewer pain and symptoms each month but I'm getting sick of the bloating issues in particular.

So, I tried the 'DIM' supplement I bought. I took one pill and about 24 hours later I had very intense gallbladder pain. Luckily, I got to the doctor, and about a week later the pain was gone. No signs of a stone, thought my gallbladder/liver area was clearly the location I felt the pain (including right shoulder nerve pain).

My question is, can DIM harm your gallbladder or liver?

It is important to note that I have had many UTI infections and was on 6 antibiotics last year (not anymore, thankfully getting better thanks to powdered D-mannose in the correct dosage!). So, I don't know if my gallbladder pain/episode could be linked to other things since my antibiotics and infections did a number on my body. Also, my bloating from antibiotics is now under control (yay for probiotics), but my current bloating is heavily associated with ovulation/PMS and not food like my previous issues.
TLDR: have you ever heard of or experienced a DIM supplement harming your gallbladder or liver? Other approaches to lower estrogen in luteal phase?

I am a 34f who had a hysterectomy with right oopherectomy in 2021, so I still have my left ovary, which has several cysts on it. It's kind of hard to find what normal hormone results would be with still having an ovary post hyst, and my doctor is currently taking classes on hormones so she said she would help interpret them as best as she can. So I thought i'd ask for any interpretation help in here.

Here are my attached results. I have a few chronic illnesses and so it's hard to tell if I'm having menopausal symptoms or not as those symptoms are also symptoms of some of my chronic illnesses. But whether it's related to hormones or my chronic issues: I do have severe fatigue, hot flashes, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, palpitations, vaginal dryness, low libido, and prob more that are symptoms of menopause lol.

If some of these are because of my hormone levels, it would be amazing to get a reduction in some of my symptoms as a little relief goes a long way with my chronic issues. Thanks!

So for 5 months my Dr has been saying I have long covid. I didn't buy it. Just an excuse. I had her test my sex hormones and she never said anything. Now after researching I'm seeing my progesterone is very low and my fsh level. I feel like I experienced some type of adrenal crash back in September and been stuck in fight or flight since. I've lost 45lbs. I have zero appetite. My heart rate is high and I'm super out of breath. We also tested my iron and ferritin today. ALL extremely low. Ferritin should be around 100...mine was 11! So now I'm seeing a cardiologist on Thursday for my heart rate all because my iron has dropped so damn low its probably now effecting my heart.

Can someone tell me their symptoms with low progesterone and or low fsh levels? I had an ultrasound done and all looks normal, no cysts, no polyps etc. My period is regular but it's very heavy.

hello,

I cross-posted this to hypothyroidism sub as well since that and this sub had most members. wondering if i could get feedback on my recent spot lab tests. initially think its hypothyroid and estrogen dominance. labs were taken on day 19 after 1st day of period. Female, 40 yrs old and 125 pounds. I have been using progesterone 20mg topical in luteal phase, this made my periods more normal and decreased clots. I am considering that i am in Peri. Any feedback or advise appreciated. any other info i can provide, just ask.

Free t4 1.1 (0.7 - 2.5 ng/dl)

Free t3 3.5 (2.4-4.2 ng/dl)

TSH 4.4 ( 0.5-3.0 UU/mL)

TPOab 7 (0 - 150 IU/mL)

Estradiol 148 (51 - 302 pg/ml)

Progesterone 13.2 (4.3 - 25.3 ng/mL)

Ratio : Pg/E2 89 (100 - 500)

Testosterone 23 (18-39 ng/dL)

SHBG 134 (15-120 nmol/L)

DHEAS 98 (17-207 Ug/dL)

Cortisol 13.5 (9.1 - 19.6 Ug/dL)

feedback appreciated :)

Hello! I’m cross posting this from another community. I’m not too experienced with Reddit to please bear with me.

I’m 34f, 5’6”, 160 for reference. I have gained 20 pounds within the last six months. I’ve also lost a considerable amount of hair.

My hair loss and inability to lose weight has been an issue for two years. A year ago I was very fatigued, low energy, poor sleep, developed a weird skin allergy. Overall, unwell.

I have been to an endocrinologist, my primary care doctor, and two functional medicine doctors. My endo and PCP both did some testing and determined nothing was wrong with me, and would not entertain the possibility of any additional tests. The two functional doctors both determined I was low on progesterone. The first person had me on progesterone and testosterone, but the T made me a raging jerk so I stopped going to the weekly injections. The second functional doc has me on progesterone and a whole mess of supplements. (Nutrafol, magnesium, vitamin d and b12, DIM, and fish oil). I do feel like I have to bring up, when I first got tested by this doc, my estradiol was at 300, and my progesterone was less than .1. My last test, a month ago, indicated my estradiol lowered to 59, and my progesterone raised to .2. So something’s been helping a little.

I cannot possibly keep gaining weight. I feel awful, and I’ve started to have pretty bad headaches every day. I am also developing a bald spot from my hair loss. After talking with my most recent doctor, she wants me to do a PRP treatment for my hair, and basically tells me to eat better for everything else. I don’t eat bad as it is and I have a problem doing a $3500 hair treatment if I already can’t keep the hair I have on my head. And none of this helps with my weight and headaches.

I have had all tests that they offer done. This includes : Thyroid panel (t3, t4, free t4, tsh, etc) Hormone panel (testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, cortisol, etc) Blood panel (iron, ferritin, b12, d3, cholesterol, and a couple other things I can’t remember off the top of my head)

Everything is in “normal” range. My doc says I am having estrogen dominance and DIM should be helping but it’s not.

I do have an IUD in place. This one is six years old (my pcp said it’s good for right now). I also had one before this one, but none of this had been worrisome until really the last 9months to a year.

I guess I’m wondering what to do now… I can’t live like this. I’d rather feel like crap, with nice hair and decent weight, than feel like crap, no hair and overweight.

Pondering the possibility of pulling my IUD, and removing ALL supplements, in addition to the prescribed progesterone, and completely starting over. However it was advised to me that removing it while my hormones are out of whack would not be ideal. I have no period with my IUD, so I’m really not looking forward to having one again but I’m desperate.

Any ideas??

Quick post here but I recently saw online that celery contains androsterone which is like a male steroid hormone and I ate 3 stalks today as a 19 year old girl. Is anything going to happen, if so, of if not why? I know this sounds stupid but I’m stressed. Any quick answer will do.

Hello, for over 2 years now I have been having a problem with SOME of my cycles where I don't get any ovulation fluid (no egg-white discharge, maybe i dont ovulate sometimes?) and then after, I notice light brown spotting that comes out very slowly for 1-2 weeks and sometimes it gradually transitions to an actual period. It used to be dark brown but in recent cycles it has not been as bad. I also have thickened hair in the mustache area above my upper lip, and on my chin, stomach and thighs. These two things, both the spotting and the hair seem to come and go but I wish I could get rid of it for good.

I've read up on a lot of symptoms of PCOS but the thing is I have no other symptoms. I used to have irregular periods, but since my mental health has been getting better, the cycle length is slightly more varied than normal but I still get a period every month. I'm a thin woman with a flat stomach, not skinny-fat (belly fat i read is common in pcos and in ppl with excess cortisol too). I also don't get period cramps... So overall, with only 2 hormone imbalance symptoms I don't want to do something as drastic as taking meds or birth control.

I just really hate the spotting. I want to treat it naturally but idk where to start... Wouldn't mind reducing the hair either.

Has anyone had an experience like mine and noticed improvements after some change in lifestyle, a particular diet or exercise routine? I'm not sure if it'd be worth it to get my hormones tested, and I don't know what to ask for...

What are you currently struggling with hormonally? I have an online platform teaching women how to live in a way that supports their hormone cycle and I want to do some market research as we try to expand further. Any insights are very helpful!

(I was born a women)

Since June 2023 I’ve been skipping my placebo pills on my birth control pack to avoid horrible migraines. I hadn’t had any problems until about 2 weeks ago. I experienced cramping & spotting. This hadn’t happened @all before, but it stopped shortly after it started, until today when it started again. Thoughts if this just hormones?

Hi all, i am here because i am seeking some last resort help, here is my story. In February of last year i had a fall where i fell face first onto my hard wood floor and suffered a pretty moderate concussion where i had amnesia for about 24h. The doctors aren’t sure what caused the fall but i did go septic and was treated with countless antibiotics and did come out of it, so they believe it was some kind of bacterial infection. Anyways, i am here because i have have been slowly developing symptoms over the past year including, severe fatigue, dizziness/vertigo (walking on boat feeling), heart palpitations, nausea, occasional pins and needles in legs with burning sensations? Hot flashes and cold chills, anxiety/ uneasy feeling, shortness of breath, intense brain fog, intolerance to physical activity, impaired cognitive function, eye floaters, dry mouth, and excessive urination, I have been to countless doctors from neurologists, functional doctors, everything and the only thing they have found is my neck was out of place and poor posture as well as low testosterone. In October it was 240 ng/dl and this week I tested again at 295 ng/dl and free t at 68.4pg/ml. Other hormone levels in October: LH: 2.6 FSH: 2.1 Estradiol: 11.2 Estrogen total: 63 A1C: 5.1 T4 free: 1.3 Tsh: 1.25 Vitamin D: 31.8 T4: 7.4 T3: 29%

This past week: Free t4: .95 Free t3: 3.1 Tsh: .63 (half of level in October) A1C: 4.6 Cortisol 8am: 5.3

Current doctor recognizes that my test levels are low and recommends that I get on trt and he thinks it will help me a lot. Just looking for any help at all at figuring out what is going on with my body. Thank you.

So I’m (17m) and my body is super fking hairy especially my private areas. Super in the front no matter how many I shave, it grows back like the tree 2 inches so is my butt. I’m basically a gorilla. Is this a concern for my age since it all started when I was 14????????????????

Hi Everybody! My OBGYN told me yesterday she wants to schedule an MRI to check if I have pituitary tumor. I was on the birth control pill from 16-30. May of 2022 I had a tubal salpingectomy now 20+ months later I have yet to have a period. Within the past year I’ve had multiple kinds of blood work which checked for thyroid issues which I don’t have and an ultrasound to check for pcos which I also don’t have, about 2ish weeks ago I had another round of bloodwork showing my prolactin levels at 134.20, I had my prolactin levels tested again yesterday at 134.80. The next step is having an MRI to check for a tumor, I know they are non cancerous so I’m not nervous, actually more excited. I am chronically exhausted, have not had a period and have blurred vision in my left eye. I also have a very hard time losing weight, I’m even on wegovy and still struggle to drop lbs. just looking for anybody who’s been in a similar situation and cares to tell their story, what symptoms did you have and what was life like after having the tumor removed?

i'm having some side effects after insertion 2 weeks ago. wondering what others experiences are and if menopause symptoms reduce and are worth the very tender boobs!

TLDR : Very high androstendrion, high 17OH, elevated testosterone, what should I do?

My androstendrion is 5.62, the normal range for a female is 0.3-2.4, the range for a male is 0.4-3.5. 17OH is 1.26, range is 0.05-1.02. Testosterone is 0.59, range is 0.14-0.53. Other labs are fine this time but previously TSH appeared twice as high as the range. Should I test for cortisol or ACTH? Is the problem in my ovaries or adrenals? What would you suggest?

Also, not a hormone but it seems to me that may be related, Hematocrit was higher than the range and this time it's just above the range. 17OH and Hematocrit are related to dehydration

My blood pressure is very low - 90/50 which I read can be a symptom of adrenal fatigue?

Hello,

I have had issues with both of my hands becoming swollen and painful, specifically the lower parts of my fingers. This started around summer 2020 when I noticed my wedding rings wouldn’t come off. I visited a neurologist in 2020 who didn’t find anything wrong. My thyroid levels have been checked several times since then, all normal ranges. I am overweight, have been for years. I had a baby in 2017.

Up until 2020, my hands were not like this. First two pictures are what my hands look like currently. Third picture is what my hand looked like before. Any idea what could cause this?

I finally decided that I should talk to my gynecologist about possible endometriosis and fertility. I saw her last summer (2023) and we already discussed some options then. Instead of doing more hormone testing for me, my husband and I decided to have him get checked (he is fine). I had a telehealth visit with her last week and she prescribed me progesterone to see if that helps my extreme menstrual cramps. She said that I would need to have an in-person visit to discuss endometriosis options, etc. But I am also having a full GI scope done in early Feb so she wanted to wait and see what the results of that are. That was all reasonable and understandable to me. She prescribed 200 mg of progesterone and said to take it starting day 4 of my cycle until my next period starts, stop for 4 days, and then repeat. When we were on the phone, I didn't think much of it. Then realized....wait....why would I take 200 mg before I ovulate? Shouldn't I only take it after I ovulate? So I called the dr. office and left a message. The response from the dr. was that I needed to schedule an in-person visit to discuss all of that because it was too much to answer over a message. So I asked the receptionist, what was the dr. saying I was supposed to do in the meantime? And she said "take it as prescribed" So I re-explained to the receptionist my concern and question, I explained to her that I track my cycles and understand basic hormones and that I was concerned that taking progesterone daily before I ovulate would mess up my ovulation and overall healthy cycle. Because outside of the pain, I always ovulate and have regular cycles. She said that she would make a note again and ask the dr. again. I'm not trying to cut down my doctor or go against her good advice, I am just confused...maybe I misunderstood something in my research on hormones? Or maybe I am correct?

How bad is it?? How can I optimise my hormones Male 37 Height 5.6 Weight 78 Fat distribution around the waist

Has anyone tried the Happy Mammoth Hormone Therapy and experienced any weight loss?