What Should My Hormone Levels Be? | Empowering Midlife Wellness

There are many opinions and a lot of controversy about the ideal levels for postmenopausal hormone replacement, so today I'm going to share what I've learned from the science, as well as my own personal experience as a patient and from thousands of patients in our own practice. I'll be talking about ideal levels for estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, as well as discussing thyroid and cortisol levels. Enjoy!

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[robertthrailkill]

I am a practicing Biote physician and your presentation is excellent. So glad you quoted actual test numbers. I check labs with each pellet dose. Agree with the testosterone values. I tell patients that I will target 100 as a minimum value. I have found about 20% of post menopausal women do better with total testosterone closer to 200. It is really gratifying to have a new patient with testosterone less than 20 and then see them 3 months later over 100 and almost a new person. I too have had a few patients refusing a lower dose of testosterone.

[astralarchaeology]

Gosh I wish you were my doctor! My menopause “specialist” didn’t even try to optimize my levels based on my symptoms. She wanted to go straight for the ultrasounds and the painful biopsies because I was having spotting post menopause while newly on HRT. It never occurred to her that perhaps my estrogen was too high. Just listening to videos like these help me realize that I was on the highest dose of estrogen patch available. So, Instead of starting me off at the lowest and working up, she hit me with max estrogen. So I cut my patches in half and the breast tenderness went away and so did a lot of the bloating. I’m giving myself a few months to determine if i need even less.

[SagiDragon]

This was amazingly informative, detailed and concise. I’ve watched a few channels looking for levels for all the hormones mentioned in this single video! I have an appointment with an endocrinologist shortly so I’m going in very well informed. So grateful to you 🙏🏽❤️💕

[mihaeladog]

I always said last time I fet young was at 38. Now, ten yrs later, I realize my peri started right after 38. It was so sudden, at 40 I was feeing like 80 .After 45 I started to wish death with passion .The mental struggle was worst than the physical one. I was hating everyone, husband the most, and at 48 I started to look for a divorce lawyer. I suffered 10 yrs from 38-48 😩: suicidal depression, brain fog to embarrassment, joint pains and pain all over my body, irritability, feeling miserable low useless, angry all the time and making my husb life a hell.
I’m 49 and been on HRT for 9 months and I am back to myself, all problems gone like magic, I feel betrayed my my own body, manipulated, a marionette on the strings for the past 10 yrs . And no dr would tell me I needed to fix my hormones 😩 .

[benniececiliamattox]

I’ve been researching hormone replacement pellets and this is by far the best channel for concise information. I’m 73 and just diagnosed with osteoporosis and have noticed a rapid decline in my skin and muscle tone. I’m looking forward to a healthier life and more energy. Maybe I’ll get back some nice skin and bone density. Thanks for your professional/research based information.

[Skinthatglows]

Forget the levels! Treat your symptoms. I suffered from peri all of my forties and told my gyno every year and she always said “ your to young to be going through peri” your levels say your fine. Found a new gyno who specializes in menapause and now I’m educated and on HRT with no testosterone and living my best life. So treat symptoms and forget about the levels. No Dr. will ever make me fell like I’m crazy again. Advocate for yourself because your the only one that knows your body and what your feeling.

[humaalimd]

I’m an MD and even I learned some pearls
Ty dr. Hardwick

[cheryltaylor]

I so appreciate your presence and how you are educating me in a way that no one else has!

[donnawhitecotten]

I am so happy I came to see you this week. Love you and your clinic staff! I just want to thank you for doing this research and then explaining it to us in a way that makes so much sense. Thank you for being an advocate for us menopausal women 🥵🙂

[faithf]

stated! I am tired of UTIs…having a temp yuk! Antibiotics. Yuk. Thankful for your UTI information ❤

[Candleflower]

Dr.Susan thank you soooo much for this. Am 69 and was put on HRT 8.5 years. A year ago asked my PCP for a level - she said it wasn’t necessary as I was on a typical dose (and I’d been taking just half the dose originally prescribed) but she agreed and estrogen was 557. She said it was high but would be since I’m supplementing. Got a second opinion from nurse practitioner and she was aghast, said should be no more than 100, preferably 60. I’ve listened to so many podcasts but no one mentioned actual numbers and I didn’t know who to believe. I had no menopausal symptoms and was only taking for osteoporosis, and after a broken femur I got a DEXA after 7 years and it was the same, so had to be the HRT as I get little exercise. I was reluctant to go off it, but have been for a year and have been getting nervous re the bones, good to know I can keep it at 60 and still get bone protection. I feel no different on or off the hormones even with such a wide range. (NP took level after I was off awhile and it was 100) Thanks again!

[cathy]

Fantastic video. Great info! Great, clear presentation! Thank you!!!🙏

[getherWeAreWAND]

I'm 47 and peri- menopausal my Testosterone levels are 430 and my Estradiol level is 281. I'm trying to fix my mojo and these results make me question if these levels have anything to do with it. I'm working off of my labs from a year ago, I am going to get my blood work done again next week. However my hair loss has decreased I am on really good vitamins however I do feel a whisker growing, only one for me that's one too many. My voice hasn't changed but my sex drive is non existent. It's like an old friend that I want back! My doctor was awful and specialized more in males then females. I'm so grateful to have found you.

[VeritasElysium]

Great information! I honestly wish that those providing hormone replacement therapy were as knowledgeable and understood the nuances of the hormone ranges. Watching a video like this helps me understand better, but it's frustrating because not everybody’s on the same page. In a different video, I heard that pellets do not actually release evenly over time. Another OBGYN doctor discussed this. The company claims that they are released gradually, but they actually spike, go down again, and then go back up. Maybe this is better or worse than creams, but it's still not a consistent dispersal over time.

[getherWeAreWAND]

Your skin looks amazing! I wish I could see more of your skin. You look younger then 6 months ago. I just found you and only saw a video of yours from 6 months ago.

[kathyg]

What a great informative video! Thank You! Learned a bunch.

[MaureenMccarthychun-dgqk]

Dr. Smith,
Enjoy your information, thank you. I recently discovered you.
I think everyone should be treated individually. Different preferences and hormone responses to the pellets.
I have taken pellets for years.. And prefer my testosterone at 500. I cannot take estrogen or progesterone as I've had a breast cancer ER+ PR+
Testosterone .. Is a game changer for me. Love your info..

[ksr]

Oh my gosh. So much great information. I do HRT, estradiol and progesterone. It's been a life saver. I'm going to check in to testosterone with my Dr. I cannot gain hardly any muscle from working out and have almost zero libido. Thank you!

[ruthrouchard]

This was soooo clear and helpful! Thank you!

[thetotalpackage]

This was the most helpful video ever! I shared it. I'm peri and estrogen is 325 so high, breast tenderness. I tool 300mg of progesterone and tenderness is going away. I will get my t3 and testosterone checked