One of the most common things we hear in our industry is, “I had my levels checked because I’m having these symptoms, but my doctor says my levels are normal.”
You aren’t alone.
Interpretations of lab values range from provider to provider. Reference ranges for labs are also ever changing, with normal being one set of values one year to another set of values the next. It doesn’t help that the ranges are so large for levels that are considered “normal”.
Keeping this in mind, it’s also important to note that no specific lab level will mean that you feel great. Hormone levels are a balance of each other, and each person needs different levels to feel the same as their counterparts.
For example, the reference range for “normal” male testosterone levels is between 300 - 1,000 ng/dL. That’s a pretty big range!
As you can imagine, some men will feel great at 500, others won’t feel great until their levels are 800. The “feels great” range is different for everyone. Diet, exercise, and sleep are also large factors in testosterone levels.
This also applies for women. Many women feel pushed off by doctors because they are not technically menopausal, but instead peri-menopausal or on the brink of a hormonal fluctuation.
For women, the “normal” testosterone levels are between 15 - 70 ng/dL. When women are on HRT, they usually feel best at levels 100 - 200 ng/dL. The same is for estrogen, with “normal” levels being 30 - 400 pg/dL. Again, depending on the person, some women feel much better and stop experiencing symptoms of low estrogen at much higher levels.
So, being classified as “normal” by lab results does not mean that you could not benefit from HRT.
Hence, the reason our industry exists.
We focus more on finding that optimal “feel good” level for each person. With our treatment regimens being completely customizable to each person, we are able to dial in your dose to help you feel your best!
If you have any questions, or would like to get your levels checked, feel free to give us a call at (785) 424 - 7233.
