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Should progesterone and estrogen be tested on the same day?

by Kerri
(UK)

I'm 45 and suspect I have had hormone problems for most of my life. I am super emotional all of the time, but this turns into irrational anger before my period, then drops into black despair almost immediately afterwards. I have zero motivation and struggle with horrible insomnia. Changing to a healthier diet and lifestyle in the last few years has helped somewhat, I am now pretty regular with cycles between 27 and 31 days.

I have been doing further research recently and am now testing to see if I can get some answers. As I am in the UK and have had no joy with my doctor, I've been using a private company to do blood tests (I was not aware of saliva tests). I want to work out the pro/est ratio before I start using the cream.

The company I use suggested that progesterone should be tested 7 days after ovulation (approx day 21) and that estrogen should be tested on day 3 of the cycle, so this is what I have done. But upon reading this website, I don't see anyone else doing it like that on here, so my question is should they be tested at the same time in order to get the correct ratio? Will it give me incorrect numbers if I use these tests?

I appreciate your help and any suggestions.
Many thanks.

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Jan 31, 2019
 Should progesterone and estrogen be tested on the same day?
by: Joy

Hi Kerri

Progesterone levels should be tested approximately 7 days after ovulation or before bleeding. I see no reason why estrogen can't be tested at the same time, many women do. However, use the test results that you have had done to work out the ratio. Have you read the Hormone Testing page?

You are also in Peri-Menopause which can be a terrible time. If you are going to try progesterone cream, please read the How to use Progesterone Cream and Estrogen Dominance pages. Between 100-200mg progesterone is needed. Anything less than 100mg will aggravate estrogen receptors.

Many people tend to forget about the importance of Vitamin D3. A deficiency reduces the benefits of progesterone. Nothing less than 5,000iu's per day is needed. Optimal range is between 70-100ng/ml. Magnesium and vitamin K2 with no soy are important co-factors needed when taking vitamin D3.
Jan 31, 2019
 Should progesterone and estrogen be tested on the same day?
by: Kerri

Thanks Joy.

My vitamin D test came back very low at 18 ng/ml, so I have purchased some 10,000 iu and will get started on that now. I have been taking magnesium and the other co-factors in preparation. I was just concerned that obviously on day 3 my estrogen will be lower than if I had taken the test on day 21...so surely that will affect the result.

Is there not a preferred day to get the correct ratio, or will it show as high either way?
I understand that as I'm still menstruating regularly, I should start the cream after ovulation, which is coming up soon. So I just wanted to clarify first.

Thanks again for your help.
Jan 31, 2019
 Should progesterone and estrogen be tested on the same day?
by: Kerri

Update: I have actually just got my results back for estrogen on cycle day 3 and it shows as 32 pg/ml, which is not high at all. If I work out the ratio as per this website it comes to 796/1. So definitely not estrogen dominant. This does not tally with my symptoms at all though, so maybe I should retest on day 21, what do you think?
Feb 18, 2019
 Should progesterone and estrogen be tested on the same day?
by: Kerri

Just wanted to update again:

I did another test for both progesterone and estrogen on the same day (7 days before my period) and the results were very different - with my ratio coming out at only 56:1. This tallies much more with my symptoms and has given me the confidence to start the cream.

I wanted to post and let people know, to show how important it is to test on the right cycle day and to do both at the same time. In case anyone else from the UK had been instructed differently.

Am hopeful that I'll now start to see some improvements.

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