E2 - How important (pg, lc, loss ment)

[tapper]

Hi everyone:

Can someone tell me why e2 levels are checked throughout a cycle? My RE seems to be the only one who doesn't do this. He just goes on follicle size. I've never had bloodwork done in any of the four cycles I've done.

The reason I ask is that I recently had a second trimester loss and my periods never got back to normal before I started on this cycle. I've had a very poor response (only 3 eggs retrieved from 7 follicles) which is unusual for me and I'm looking at things that have been different with this cycle and the two I've done previously by way of finding an explanation. I'm wondering if my estrogen levels were very low at the start which is why I was so hard to stim. My RE did no workup on me between my miscarriage and starting this cycle so I'm in the dark. I've done two cycles previously collecting mature eggs from each follicle and got pregnant both times so I'm thrown by this latest result.

Thanks for your help.
Tapper

[TinyTrudy]

Me again? How would we know if they are mature if we don't know the E2?
It would be the opposite if your E2 was high when you started stims because it could make you resistant to them as well as if your FSH was elevated it could make you resistant. You have every right to be curious as to what's going on.
Do you have a fertilization update? Best wishes to you

[zizzie]

well, i am having E2 levels prior to starting stims and only if it is low do i start them as it gives them an indication of ovarian activity.Before stims they want E2 levels to be low. Somewhere i read that when stimming the E2 levels are indicative of the no of follicles hence response to stims. Does this make sense to anyone? do not know if i answered your question?

zizzie

[tapper]

Thanks Trudy:

So to clarify; a high e2 at the beginning of a cycle could indicate resistance to stims. Is that right?

Originally Posted by TinyTrudy

Me again? How we know if they are mature? It would be the opposite though, if your E2 was high when you started stims that could make you resistant to them as well as if your FSH was elevated it could make you resistant. You have every right to be curious as to what's going on.
Do you have a fertilization update? Best wishes to you

[TinyTrudy]

Yeppers...if your E2 was high when you started stims it could make you resistant to them. My Re's office want's my E2 under 50 before starting stims...it's usually in the 30's or below but I know a few people that have been cancelled because of high E2's.

[tapper]

Does e2 vary month to month or is it like fsh, once it's elevated it mostly stays elevated? What kinds of symptoms do you have if your e2 is high?

Sorry to be so needy right now but this coming after a loss has really thrown me.

[TinyTrudy]

Yes it does vary just like one's FSH. Don't worry it's ok...this is what we are here for.

[EileenG]

Jumping in here because I am one of those "poor responders"...

Actually a high E2 level indicates diminishing ovarian reserve not a resistance. Sometimes people have a low E2 but an elevated FSH (another indication of diminishing ovarian reserve).

It's o.k. that your RE doesn't check your E2 levels during your cycle. The u/s can be used accurately as an indicator for mature follicles.

[tapper]

Thanks for your reply, Eileen. It's reassuring that my RE (highly regarded) isn't missing something major. I have been one of those people with low E2 and high FSH and have managed to produce a moderate amount of good, mature eggs in the past. I haven't been tested for well over a year now so I'm casting around for answers in the dark. I guess if these three eggs don't make it, I'll be having my levels checked again. I just wish I'd had them checked before this cycle so my expectations could have been managed a bit better instead of relying on past performance.

[GidgetOH]

I don't think I know the answer to your questions, but I wanted to wish Good Luck on the rest of your cycle.

Gidget