How avoid the increase of SHBG/ estrogen dozing question

[Guest guest]

Hello, I'm seeking some knowledge- and here's my situation:

I'm cycling regularly, never missed. Super-long, painful and bloody periods in

my teens and early 20ies. Never took any pills or treated this with synthetics-

I'm very much opposed to them. No birth control besides IUD. Much improvement

after I had a child. The periods normalized more or less. However, I had

problems with bad PMS (mostly, murderous rage and irritability) most of my life.

About 4 years ago, I started studying bioidentical hormones and found a decent

doctor who doesn't pretend he knows everything but is willing to listen and

search for answers with me.

The initial blood tests came with high normal range for E at max, on the 12th

day ~400 and very low, almost bottom P at its max (21st day). Started on

progesterone cream (rhythmic dosing, of course) with great success. PMS was

completely eradicated. No accumulation in the tissues, as far as I can tell-

maybe, because I have very low body fat (my metabolism is extremely fast and

never lagged) and I rub the cream on the thin skin areas only. No crying spells,

no weight gain, better sleep, etc. Things were great.

After a year though, my skin started getting rather dry. Reducing P lead to the

return of PMS, so I tried instead, but unsuccessfully as well, to add estrogen,

to help dryness only. For almost 2 years, any attempt to add estradiol caused

the return of my PMS problems. Also, every time I tweaked the doses any way my

cycle was changing. My understanding is that the perfect (young) cycle is 28

days. Shorter means not enough estrogen, longer means too much of it. My cycle

length, 24 days, was not quite long enoug, and the dryness, of course, indicated

some shortage of E. Also, my libido was obviously lagging compare to what it was

in my 20ies.

At this point my high E measured at ~300- obviously, not my 'young high.' So I

knew that things were changing. But finally, only about 6 ms ago- a success! I

was suddenly able to add a small amount of E- and felt way better than with P

alone- a very different outcome than my early attempts! I don't know what had

changed. Maybe, my body finally quenched its thirst for P, maybe, taking

cortisol for a few years for my adrenal fatigue (a measly 10 mg a day- and it

makes a very nice difference in my energy level) lowered my E. Encouraged, I

increased the E dose until I had no more dryness of any sort. My cycle stretched

to the perfect 28 to 30 days. I felt that my the E dose was perfect also because

my libido returned to the kind I had when I was very young. And, frankly, I felt

super feminine and loved it- all while maintaining my ambition, optimism and

aggressiveness (which was telling me that my T was tops as well.)

That continued for about 3 months and then my libido seemed started to lag a bit

again... My skin became a bit dryer, even though not as dry as with P alone in

the former days.

When I did my routine blood test (my last cycle), on the 21st day only this time

as my doc ordered- my total E came at 580 (above normal maximum- and that's on

the 21st day!), my total testosterone came as 70 (way above normal range as

well), but my FREE testosterone came only at 7! Probably, the reason why I

wasn't enjoying my sex life as much lately. SHBG wasn't measured this time but

my doc said that high E likely triggered too high SHBG - which in turn lowered

my free T (and likely, along with it, took down my free E- the blood test

doesn't show free E, but I wasn't feeling as 'estrogeny' lately.)

Sorry, for all the long details... we're getting closer... So, my doc

recommended to try decreasing E... I cut it in half. And now, only after three

weeks, my skin is dry again, my libido is still decent but my ability to orgasm

diminished (along with lubrication), and my period just started on only the 19th

day!

I feel that my body doesn't like less E anymore- but how do I avoid increasing

SGBH with it- rendering my seemingly high total E and high total T worthless by

binding most of the hormones?

I would really like to understand the biology behind this. I feel that my

problem is not as pressing as some of the members of this group, however, the

discussion of the processes involved will likely benefit everyone.

Thank you very much in advance for any info and insights,

Viki.