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Average Levels Of Progesterone And Estrogen Throughout Menstrual Cycle? Have Mood Swings During Periods
Question: My qwery: what are the average levels of progesterone and estrogen throughout a woman's menses cycle. I want to see how the results rise and fall though the cycle.
I propose that my wife has PMDD. I realized this because all of her mental episodes occur during the luteal phase of her menses. It begins and ends with the phase. This condition has disabled her for 10 years now. She cannot work and cannot function normally in society during this phase. She wants to lay in bed and die. It is a horrible way to live. Very few Gynos treat for such a severe disorder. We have an appt with a specialist at UCLA in a few weeks but I want to do some homework before i go. I know this is not an exact science and that the amount of hormones range. I know it goes up and down at certain times of the cycle. I will then take this data and compare it with daily testing of my wife's hormones to determine if her ratio of estrogen to progesterone or the actual levels are entirely inconsistent with the norm. If they are, and I am sure we will see that they are, then maybe our doctor at UCLA can use this info to figure out proper treatment.
-XXXX
I propose that my wife has PMDD. I realized this because all of her mental episodes occur during the luteal phase of her menses. It begins and ends with the phase. This condition has disabled her for 10 years now. She cannot work and cannot function normally in society during this phase. She wants to lay in bed and die. It is a horrible way to live. Very few Gynos treat for such a severe disorder. We have an appt with a specialist at UCLA in a few weeks but I want to do some homework before i go. I know this is not an exact science and that the amount of hormones range. I know it goes up and down at certain times of the cycle. I will then take this data and compare it with daily testing of my wife's hormones to determine if her ratio of estrogen to progesterone or the actual levels are entirely inconsistent with the norm. If they are, and I am sure we will see that they are, then maybe our doctor at UCLA can use this info to figure out proper treatment.
-XXXX
Hi XXXX, sorry for your problems.
I would like to inform you in brief about the menstrual cycle and hormonal fluctuations. As far as exact values are concerned there is always a range in medicine no absolute cut off.
By convention, menstrual cycles are counted from the first day of menstrual bleeding. Stimulated by gradually increasing amounts of estrogen in the follicular phase, discharges of blood (menses) slow then stop, and the lining of the uterus thickens. Follicles in the ovary begin developing under the influence of a complex interplay of hormones, and after several days one or occasionally two become dominant, (non-dominant follicles atrophy and die). Approximately mid-cycle, 24–36 hours after the Luteinizing Hormone (LH) surges, the dominant follicle releases an ovum, or egg in an event called ovulation. After ovulation, the egg only lives for 24 hours or less without fertilization while the remains of the dominant follicle in the ovary become a corpus luteum; this body has a primary function of producing large amounts of progesterone. Under the influence of progesterone, the endometrium (uterine lining) changes to prepare for potential implantation of an embryo to establish a pregnancy. If implantation does not occur within approximately two weeks, the corpus luteum will involute, causing sharp drops in levels of both progesterone and estrogen. These hormone drops cause the uterus to shed its lining and egg in a process termed menstruation.
I would like to inform you in brief about the menstrual cycle and hormonal fluctuations. As far as exact values are concerned there is always a range in medicine no absolute cut off.
By convention, menstrual cycles are counted from the first day of menstrual bleeding. Stimulated by gradually increasing amounts of estrogen in the follicular phase, discharges of blood (menses) slow then stop, and the lining of the uterus thickens. Follicles in the ovary begin developing under the influence of a complex interplay of hormones, and after several days one or occasionally two become dominant, (non-dominant follicles atrophy and die). Approximately mid-cycle, 24–36 hours after the Luteinizing Hormone (LH) surges, the dominant follicle releases an ovum, or egg in an event called ovulation. After ovulation, the egg only lives for 24 hours or less without fertilization while the remains of the dominant follicle in the ovary become a corpus luteum; this body has a primary function of producing large amounts of progesterone. Under the influence of progesterone, the endometrium (uterine lining) changes to prepare for potential implantation of an embryo to establish a pregnancy. If implantation does not occur within approximately two weeks, the corpus luteum will involute, causing sharp drops in levels of both progesterone and estrogen. These hormone drops cause the uterus to shed its lining and egg in a process termed menstruation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
You did not answer my question. My question was: what are the average levels of progesterone and estrogen throughout a woman's menses cycle. I want to see how the results rise and fall though the cycle. I understand there is a "range" but when you have a "range" you also have median values. How do you know the progesterone increases in the luteal phase unless it has been measured? I would like to know the average measurements of these hormones. That is my question. If you are unable to answer it then perhaps you can refer me to a text or journal which will contain this information? I am going to have my wife's hormones tested daily for an entire cycle. I need some sort of "normal" to gauge it against. My guess is that in the luteal phase my wife's progesterone level is going to stay low when the norm is to go higher.
The normal progesterone level for the first half of the menstrual cycle is generally less than 2 nanograms per milliliter. This occurs before ovulation.
During the luteal phase, the normal progesterone level after ovulation is generally between 5 to 20 ng/ml which goes to peak in mid-luteal phase.
On the other hand, the normal range of estrogen varies based on patient's age. Typically a woman aged 20 to 30 will have an average level of 149 pg/ml (pictograms per milliliter). A female aged 31 to 40 will average a level of 210 pg/ml. Women over the age of 40 and not been in menopause will be having an average level of 150 pg/ml. These average levels can vary again on different days depending on each female's menstrual cycle.
Regards and wish good health.
During the luteal phase, the normal progesterone level after ovulation is generally between 5 to 20 ng/ml which goes to peak in mid-luteal phase.
On the other hand, the normal range of estrogen varies based on patient's age. Typically a woman aged 20 to 30 will have an average level of 149 pg/ml (pictograms per milliliter). A female aged 31 to 40 will average a level of 210 pg/ml. Women over the age of 40 and not been in menopause will be having an average level of 150 pg/ml. These average levels can vary again on different days depending on each female's menstrual cycle.
Regards and wish good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vasanth
thank you. Do you know of any specific text or journal that explains this in more detail?
Dear XXXX, I can give you a list of text books.
1. XXXXXXX text book of endocrinology
2. de groots text book of endocrinology
3. XXXXXXX text book of obs and gyne
4. harrisons endocrinology
so on; but if you allow me I would like to tell you that concentrate on your wife's management rather than the cause of her problems. That will help both of you.
Hope you do not mind my that. Yet, I will be happy to answer should you have other enquirers.
regards!
1. XXXXXXX text book of endocrinology
2. de groots text book of endocrinology
3. XXXXXXX text book of obs and gyne
4. harrisons endocrinology
so on; but if you allow me I would like to tell you that concentrate on your wife's management rather than the cause of her problems. That will help both of you.
Hope you do not mind my that. Yet, I will be happy to answer should you have other enquirers.
regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
My game plan at this point is to figure out where her progesterone and estrogen is. I am going to have her tested daily for about 40-50 days to make sure I get her whole cycle. Then we can plot out where they are. I think we are going to find that she is significantly lacking in progesterone during the luteal phase. If that is the case then I hope a specialist will be able to recommend treatment- probably progesterone supplements or cream??? Otherwise I can only think of a full hysterectomy with removal of ovaries and the suicide if we don't do something... thanks
Dear Sir,
I think that would be something like embarrassing your wife and yourself. You can start the treatment straight away and that is called therapeutic trial and see the results. That is a softer approach and definitely better.
Regards!
I think that would be something like embarrassing your wife and yourself. You can start the treatment straight away and that is called therapeutic trial and see the results. That is a softer approach and definitely better.
Regards!
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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