Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Can anyone give me any info on female hormones? (off topic)

Question:

I think you need to go to the AndroGel website (http://www.androgel.com/) and read the information posted there.  You are NOT to shower for 5 to 6 hours.  Using a washcloth after an hour might be limiting AndroGel’s absorbtion.  What is wrong with just slipping a T-shirt on?  Good luck.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you are using AndroGel, I believe the instruction sheet says no contact for at least one hour or you should wear a shirt.  One of the tests they did was having couples make skin contact for fifteen minutes after application and it raised the females T level to twice the normal. Thanks for the info. I have begun taking more precautions. I am sure that is what did it, although my stupid doctor shrugged and said, "I’m sure that’s not it!" I thought I had read something about 10-15 minutes wait after putting it on. But in any case, from now on I’m waiting at least an  hour and then washing my skin off with a washrag that only I use. I’m sure I surely contaminated her. BUT would a few exposures to the tgel have caused her to break out with acne which lasted over 2 months? Would it have any lasting effects? How long before she would no longer be affected by it, assuming I am careful and do not contaminate her any more?

Response:

Thanks for all the responses. Whether or not the small amount of t-gel could have contaminated her enough to cause acne and facial hair is debatable. But in any case, I am going to be much more careful in the future, not have sex until at least an hour after, and if we do have sex only an hour after, I’ll wash off where the gel was. (Better less absorption of my gel than contaminating her…) I don’t think I need the gel for sex drive or function (though it does seem to increase these), I basically take it more for depression…

Response:

If you are using AndroGel, I believe the instruction sheet says no contact for at least one hour or you should wear a shirt.  One of the tests they did was having couples make skin contact for fifteen minutes after application and it raised the females T level to twice the normal.

Thanks for the info. I have begun taking more precautions. I am sure that is what did it, although my stupid doctor shrugged and said, "I’m sure that’s not it!" I thought I had read something about 10-15 minutes wait after putting it on. But in any case, from now on I’m waiting at least an  hour and then washing my skin off with a washrag that only I use. I’m sure I surely contaminated her. BUT would a few exposures to the tgel have caused her to break out with acne which lasted over 2 months? Would it have any lasting effects? How long before she would no longer be affected by it, assuming I am careful and do not contaminate her any more?

Response:

I’m sure I surely contaminated her. BUT would a few exposures to the tgel have caused her to break out with acne which lasted over 2 months?

Seems unlikely to me. C//

Response:

I am not a Dr. but I have research alot on all this hormone stuff.  I have read ligitimate studies where DHEA was taken in higher doses to see if it helped Hypogonadic men.  Studies also were done on women. DHEA happens to be  a pre-curser to BOTH Testosterone and Estrogen. While it  *may* raise the Testsosteronmein men, it eventaully will convert to Estrogen, and thats BAD. The feamale study revealed that on as little as 100mg of DHEA daily, it raised the women’s Testosterone enoght that they began to get hair on their body where not normal..  i.e. upper lip and a few on the face, their hair grew faster, longer than ever before. Mind you, no really haiory chests like us.  But it was enough to stop the test, and put out a warning. It was noted that the hair growth, once started never went away, it slowed, but it was still there, in a quantity greater than these women ever had. IMO the AndrGel on your body, during contact with your wife over multiple times, OVER TIME,  did in fact start the same process.  I’m looking at the T. ranges for my just completed test now… males 132-813… females are from 2.6 -12.1 or .8 to 15.5, or 27.3 to 96.9 – depending on their monthly cycle. The amount of AndroGel that could have repeatedly rubbed off onto her could have been significant.  Assuming sex a couple times a week, and normal hugs, cudles,  you porbably raised her Testosterone enough. Another thought…  think back – maybe 1-3 weeks after you started the AndroGel, did she seem to be more receptive to you…  i.e. horny? Think about it, rubbing maybe a few grams of T into her body 2-4 times a week…  doesn’t take much to get her close to what a pre-puberty teen male might be.  That is the age we seem to start the lip hair. Remember, the rubbed in T. was in addition to her own which may be on the high end too.  She should have her T. tested. Mike

Response:

If you are using AndroGel, I believe the instruction sheet says no contact for at least one hour or you should wear a shirt.  One of the tests they did was having couples make skin contact for fifteen minutes after application and it raised the females T level to twice the normal.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I realize this is off-topic, but since some of you know so much about hormones in males, I was wondering if anyone here might know something about female hormones as well (in women)? Here’s the deal: My wife suddenly began to grow a bit of hair on her upper lip (by no means a full moustache, but enough to be visible and unwelcome). And at the same time, broke out in acne around her mouth and cheeks. I had the doctor do a hormone panel on her, but I don’t really think he did all the right tests. And then he said "She’s fine." So here’s her results, if you can tell me anything from this: estradiol – 108 Shouldn’t he have checked for free testosterone? If there were an imbalance wouldn’t it be more likely to show up as a surplus of testosterone? (I’m very dumb about all this stuff? Am I wrong to suggest that she may have too much t and that this is the cause of the acne and hair growth?) One reason I’m concerned is that I use t-gel every day. However, I am VERY careful with it, following the instructions to the letter; she doesn’t ever touch me for at least 15-20 minutes or more after the t, and even that is rare. I wash my hands thoroughly after application, and she knows not to touch the discarded packets. Can anyone shed any light on this? What might cause an increase in acne and facial hair in a woman? What should the doctor have checked for? He checked a whole slew of things, but I don’t see any other hormone related stuff.[ He checked cortisol (8.6), glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, bun, creatinine, uric acid, magnesium, albumin, globulin, cholesterol (all), etc...]

Response:

What is SBGH?

It’s SHBG (my mistake).  It stands for Sex Hormone Binding Globulin. It’s a hormone that T binds to in men.  The T that’s bound to SHBG is in the Total T count, but not the free T count. Should it have been on the blood analysis in your opinion?

No, I don’t think so. So I should put the t-gel on myself at least an hour before any physical contact.

Yes.  And to be extra safe, wipe off the residue with a washcloth before any physical contact. Thank you for the info and reinforcement of what I already thought

You’re welcome. Sometimes I think this doctor says no to anything I suggest JUST BECAUSE I suggest it!

Yes, unfortunately that’s par for the course.  I’m sure it goes over fine with the folks that say "I don’t want to know all the gory details about what’s wrong with me, doc. Just give me the pill to take and I’ll take it."  And that may account for the majority of the folks that your doctor sees.  - David If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.   – A. Maslow

Response:

Similar symptoms to PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) although I’ve no idea whether it can come on suddenly – look it up and see what you think.

Good suggestion.  I understand that the new insulin sensitizers (Actos and Avandia) have been used to successfully treat PCOS.  Glucose intolerance results in excess insulin which interferes with estrogen and the menstrual cycle.  Bring the insulin down to normal and the PCOS goes away.  This means that proper nutrition and regular exercise should have the same result.  - David If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.   – A. Maslow

Response:

I realize this is off-topic…

Yes and no. So here’s her results, if you can tell me anything from this: estradiol – 108

Since you didn’t tell us her age, whether she’s pre- or postmenapausal, or the lab’s normal ranges, that number means absolutely nothing. Shouldn’t he have checked for free testosterone?

I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think so because I suspect that SBGH binds E in women and not T. If there were an imbalance wouldn’t it be more likely to show up as a surplus of testosterone?

Probably, given her facial hair. Am I wrong to suggest that she may have too much t and that this is the cause of the acne and hair growth?

I don’t think so.  Sounds reasonable to me. One reason I’m concerned is that I use t-gel every day. However, I am VERY careful with it, following the instructions to the letter; she doesn’t ever touch me for at least 15-20 minutes or more after the t, and even that is rare.

Depending upon the gel/cream, this stuff can linger above the skin for a lot longer than 20 minutes.  (I understand that gels absorb for up to an hour and creams for up to 3 hours.  And the residue may still be active after that time frame.)  My guess is that that’s the culprit.  It’s a fairly common thing for men on topical T to pass some on the their parnters.  And it doesn’t take much to have an effect.  - David If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.   – A. Maslow

Response:

Similar symptoms to PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) although I’ve no idea whether it can come on suddenly – look it up and see what you think. D.

Response:

So here’s her results, if you can tell me anything from this: estradiol – 108 Since you didn’t tell us her age, whether she’s pre- or postmenapausal, or the lab’s normal ranges, that number means absolutely nothing. Her age is 37. Shouldn’t he have checked for free testosterone? I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think so because I suspect that SBGH binds E in women and not T.

What is SBGH? Should it have been on the blood analysis in your opinion? Would it be listed as such if it were? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If there were an imbalance wouldn’t it be more likely to show up as a surplus of testosterone? Probably, given her facial hair. Am I wrong to suggest that she may have too much t and that this is the cause of the acne and hair growth? I don’t think so.  Sounds reasonable to me. One reason I’m concerned is that I use t-gel every day. However, I am VERY careful with it, following the instructions to the letter; she doesn’t ever touch me for at least 15-20 minutes or more after the t, and even that is rare. Depending upon the gel/cream, this stuff can linger above the skin for a lot longer than 20 minutes.  (I understand that gels absorb for up to an hour and creams for up to 3 hours.  And the residue may still be active after that time frame.)  My guess is that that’s the culprit.  It’s a fairly common thing for men on topical T to pass some on the their parnters.  And it doesn’t take much to have an effect.

I suspected that right from the start, and I asked the doctor about it and he dismissed it. Doctors are such jerks  (for the most part). I’ve got to get a new doctor. This guy sends me to check my t levels and only does Total T until I insist on FreeT. Then he sends me wife for a blood test after I told him the above re facial hair and acne and doesn’t even check her for T! Am I crazy, or is this bordering on malpractice? (And this guy teaches at UCLA!) (Not endo, but…) So I should put the t-gel on myself at least an hour before any physical contact. Thank you for the info and reinforcement of what I already thought (but the doctor dismissed). Sometimes I think this doctor says no to anything I suggest JUST BECAUSE I suggest it! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – - David If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.   – A. Maslow

Response:

I realize this is off-topic, but since some of you know so much about hormones in males, I was wondering if anyone here might know something about female hormones as well (in women)? Here’s the deal: My wife suddenly began to grow a bit of hair on her upper lip (by no means a full moustache, but enough to be visible and unwelcome). And at the same time, broke out in acne around her mouth and cheeks. I had the doctor do a hormone panel on her, but I don’t really think he did all the right tests. And then he said "She’s fine." So here’s her results, if you can tell me anything from this: estradiol – 108 Shouldn’t he have checked for free testosterone? If there were an imbalance wouldn’t it be more likely to show up as a surplus of testosterone? (I’m very dumb about all this stuff? Am I wrong to suggest that she may have too much t and that this is the cause of the acne and hair growth?) One reason I’m concerned is that I use t-gel every day. However, I am VERY careful with it, following the instructions to the letter; she doesn’t ever touch me for at least 15-20 minutes or more after the t, and even that is rare. I wash my hands thoroughly after application, and she knows not to touch the discarded packets. Can anyone shed any light on this? What might cause an increase in acne and facial hair in a woman? What should the doctor have checked for? He checked a whole slew of things, but I don’t see any other hormone related stuff.[ He checked cortisol (8.6), glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, bun, creatinine, uric acid, magnesium, albumin, globulin, cholesterol (all), etc...]

Response:

Filed under: Polycystic ovary syndrome

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