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Help with ratio...

by Tiffany
(Texas)

Wray...I felt that I needed to clarify after sending my last question. Sorry, to sent multiple questions.

I got my blood results back from my estradiol and progesterone. I had the blood work done on day 16, because I ovulated on day 10. It seemed very early to me, but I'm certain that was when I ovulated.

The results were:

Progesterone 6.9 ng/ml
Estradiol 88 pg/ml

Because I ovulated on day 10, I thought that my progesterone would be peaked at day 16. Dr. said that these numbers were fine and were within range. I am not sure how to calculate the ratio though. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Comments for Help with ratio...

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Nov 03, 2010
 Help with ratio...
by: Wray

Hi Tiffany The luteal phase is always 12-14 days long in all women. To check if you did in fact ovulate on day 10, count the days to when your period first starts. If it's 12-14 days, then that's when you ovulated. Therefore day 16 is when you should have had the test done. I've given below the ranges for progesterone and oestrogen.....
Progesterone (serum)
Female (follicular) < 1 ng/ml
Female (luteal) 5 to 20 ng/ml
Medline Progesterone
Oestradiol (serum)
Female (premenopausal) 30 - 400 pg/ml
Medline Oestradiol

So yes your levels are within range, although your progesterone is at the low end. But it's not the quantity present that's the critical factor, but the ratio between the two. Yours works out at 78.4:1, I've found to feel well it needs to be over 600:1. We know this from before and after saliva tests we run regularly. So it's no wonder you feel as you do! I can't remember if I told you how much to use, but I recommend between 100-200mg/day. For more info please read our page on How to use progesterone cream. If you're not using it, or have to increase the amount, please see our page on Oestrogen Dominance. This can occur when first using it, or increasing the level. I'm going to post this answer on both pages, in case you miss one. Take care Wray
Nov 04, 2010
 one more question!
by: Tiffany

Thanks so much for the response. I'm hoping I'm on the way to feeling better!! Thanks for your site and for all the help and wisdom.

So, would it be okay to use the progesterone cream every day for a few months in order to get stable and then to start cycling it?

I would like to get pregnant again at some point in the not to distant future and if I understand correctly I most likely won't ovulate if I use the progesterone cream daily. Once I start cycling it, I should begin ovulating as normal?
Nov 08, 2010
 one more question!
by: Wray

Hi Tiffany Pleased it was of help. Yes it would be fine, I suggest 2-3 months. I don't think it will be necessary to go further, but you will be able to judge how you feel by then. If you feel you should continue, then do so. You are correct, progesterone can stop ovulation if a high enough amount is used. But unlike the synthetic contraceptives, it is replacing the progesterone you would normally be making if ovulating. And comes with no adverse side effects! Bar the initial Oestrogen Dominance. Please scroll down to the very bottom of this page here. You'll find info on using progesterone as a contraceptive. You'll notice Dr Dalton says "A low dose (100-200 mg) of progesterone from Day 8 of the cycle". Most people are horrified when I say a minimum of 100-200mg/day should be used, she thinks that a low dose! She's written some wonderful books which are well worth getting. Take care Wray
Jun 17, 2014
 Help with progesterone/estrogen ratio
by: Anonymous

After a frightening 3 weeks of all over body tremors, weak muscles (continually contracted and shaking), brain fog, and overall heavy body throb (bp and pulse normal), my extensive lab work is coming back normal and I am being treated for anxiety. I am responding well to Clonazepam .5mg twice a day. The only thing that is confusing is I did not think I was going thru a stressful time other than my normal fast paced life and blindsided by 3 weeks of frightening symptoms. Below are my hormone levels. Is it possible estrogen dominance triggered the anxiety due to less sedative effects of GABA when less progesterone? Progesterone .3 ng/ml or multiply by 1000 to get 300 pg/ml
Estrogen: 168 pg/ml or divide by 1000 and .168 ng/ml
Regardless of which units used in ratio, I get 1.786 : 1 Progesterone/Estrogen ratio
300 pg/ml = X (progesterone)
168 pg/ml 1 (Estrogen)
While I am responding to benzos isn’t it better to treat the root cause and not the symptoms? Or should I not treat with progesterone and just accept this is what a woman’s body naturally does as she approaches menopause. Please double check my calculation and would appreciate your opinion on estrogen dominance in this situation. Thank you in advance.
Jun 20, 2014
 Help with progesterone/estrogen ratios
by: Joy

Hi there

I fail to see how a ratio of 1.78:1 is normal which is what your progesterone/estrogen ratio is. It should be 600:1, no wonder you are feeling dreadful! Please read the Estrogen Dominance page as most of your symptoms are caused by excess estrogen.

Such a pity that the medical field do not spend time reading the study research papers, they would rather have everyone on anti-depressants, especially when they do not know how to resolve things. Benzo drugs are extremely addictive – see here. Please read the Anxiety page too.

I take it that you are in Peri-Menopause which is a difficult time for most women but it need not be. Progesterone will help to balance things and prepare you for Menopause, so NO, you do not have to battle and suffer as you have been.

Do you know what your Vitamin D level is as a deficiency reduces the benefits of progesterone, it is also connected to every single cell and it’s formation in our bodies making it vital.

Hope this helps.
Jun 22, 2014
 P:E ratio not accepted ??
by: Anonymous

My endocrinologist said my hormones fall within normal and regarding P:E ratio "You can not find such a thing in standard endocrinology text books or peer reviewed medical journals. Useful menopause websites for public by FDA etc do not mention anything about it." So, I see my internist on 6/30/14 and I suspect she will not accept treating low progesterone either simply because I had to beg her to do the hormone panel and unclear why it meant so much to me to have done. There are many sites and blogs of woman that were going through the same symptoms I was and progesterone has helped their anxiety yet it does not seem this is largely accepted in the medical field or at least not yet, agree? In the meantime, I have started using progesterone and taking GABA supplements. Although Clonazepam did stop the tremors, muscle weakness and feelings of "drunkenness", I do not want to stay on Clonazapam long term but I do not want this to come back again!! I will say eliminating caffeine has also been very helpful as I think it was a trigger for my anxiety.

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