Symptoms only in Follicular Phase (leading up to ovulation)
Posted , 4 users are following.
I've researched high and low and am at my wits end. For 3 years now, since my son was born, I have been experiencing horrible symptoms in the first two weeks of my cycle, from period leading up to ovulation. I am moody, depressed, sometimes lightheaded, fatigued, headaches, head tension / sore behind eyes, leg aching. It lifts after ovulation and despite always having PMS before this, I feel great in my luteal phase. It’s like switching from black and white back in to technicolour. I am 35, I have low AMH (1.85pmol) and high FSH for my age (10.5). I am TTC also to no avail tor 18months, I do not know if this is connected. I’ve been told my hormones are low; Day 3-5 Estrogen 89-120pmol, Day 21 bloods show Progesterone between 26-40 nmol and Estrogen between 290-400 pmol. I’ve tested these many months. I have Hashimotos and mildly under active thyroid which I’m medicated for, only identified this year. I am looking to see if anyone has experienced this or if you can point me in the right direction as to what this could be?
My own theories are:
- Low Estrogen, struggling to rise adequately and experiencing symptoms of low Estrogen in follicular phase when it should be high. Maybe I’m approaching perimenopause and sensitive to changes.
- As Estrogen rises it could be increasing TBG and causing hypothyroid symptoms. I have come across three other women complaining of this in thyroid forums but couldn’t get in touch with them, and two were also in perimenopause.
- Estrogen dominance - I am technically this but the symptoms I read about always refer to luteal phase, not early in cycle.
I cannot put up with this forever, this is affecting my life so much, I would appreciate any help or insights. I’ve been to Endocrinologist, Doctors etc. to no avail. I just keep getting told that all women having to put up with hormone fluctuations.
I had a difficult delivery, an induced labour when my son was born as well as blood loss, a transfusion and anaemia. I don't know if any of these things could have triggered this.
0 likes, 3 replies
rachel54558 eve92484
Posted
Hi
Have you considered that you may have premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)?
I have POI basically i start preimenopause is my 20 and now at 31 am postmenopausal i.e i have not had a natural period in over 3 years. if preimenopause symptoms start before you are 40 you need to be checked to make sure your ovaries are still working. This is normally done by doing 3 hormone test each 1 month apart. They meant to be at the same point in your cycle but when i had mine done i was not have period every month. My FSH was also high for my age , which is what made my GP recommend a visit with a gynecologist. Also certain genetic conditions or autoimmune disorders mean your more likely to develop POI.
Hope this helps
Rachel
eve92484 rachel54558
Posted
Hi, thank you for reply! I have not received this diagnosis yet but my AMH was 3.8 in Nov 21, then 2.5 in Dec 21 then 1.85 in June this year so I do feel it is plummeting! My AFC was 8 antral follicles when checked in Feb, scared to check it again! I had a scan one month to check if i released an egg properly and they said I did, I also still have regular cycles although my last period was extremely light which i know is another sign of low estrogen. I am starting fertility treatment next month which will force everything into action, it will also raise my estrogen so I guess if I feel better that month with higher estrogen I'll know low estrogen is causing my symptoms.
That must have been so tough for you, did you have similar symptoms when you were going through it? Do you remember what day of your cycle you had to get tested and what they tested? I could try get some tests done ...
rachel54558 eve92484
Posted
It was very difficult at the time .I was 23 at the time i was diagnosed. I learnt to come to terms with . My symptoms were irregular periods but when it started happening my period actually got closer together. So they went from exactly every 28 days to every 18 days. I had bladder issue, need to pee a lot , weight gain, period was different every time e.g flow and hot flushes. I also had mood swings and period pain but i always had that. By the time they started the test my cycle was every two to three months so i think it was meant to be in the middle of my cycle but i remember actually have a period during one if times my blood was taken. My GP was completed useless she thought i Polycystic ovaries but once i saw a gynecologists he knew straight away it was POI.