Patient's question:
I took an endocrine test on the third day of my last menstrual period, and the results showed elevated E2 and T. Additionally, on the 15th day of my period, an ultrasound revealed no ovulation. (In July of this year, an ultrasound showed ovulation, but after taking several sets of traditional Chinese medicine from a private practitioner, subsequent tests showed no ovulation). When I visited a large hospital, the doctor recommended another testosterone test on the 5th day of my period. May I also retest estrogen (E2) at the same time? If both are elevated, what treatment should be recommended?First follow-up question: The traditional Chinese medicine I took from the private practitioner was for ovulation induction. Could taking the wrong medicine have led to no ovulation?
Doctor's answer:
Hello, fasting blood draw during the 3rd to 5th day of menstruation (during the period) for a sex hormone profile test (including: Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Prolactin (PRL), Testosterone (T), Progesterone (P), and Estradiol (E2)) is chosen for the test because the hormone levels at this time are at the basic follicular phase. Checking on the second day of menstruation is not advisable because many women only have a small amount of vaginal bleeding on the 1st to 2nd day of their period, which indicates that the hormone levels during the luteal phase have not dropped significantly, leading to a large margin of error. In contrast, the 3rd to 5th day of the period is stable and free of error.