forest 

Hi there #trans and #biochemistry fedi, do you know any way of taking your own blood for getting lab results that show the effects of #HRT in the blood?

As in: I'd want to check my own hrt levels and get a result saying how high my #estrogen / #estradiol, #testosterone and other relevant levels are in my blood. For doing that I'd assume I somehow need to draw my own blood and then either analyse the blood myself or send it to a lab for analysis who will get back to me with my results.

If you know any other way of determining those values that doesn't involve drawing blood, please let me know!

What would also be important is that this doesn't cost much as I'd like to take several samples to track progress (or lack thereof) over a period of time.

Relevant information: I'm situated in BW, Germany.

Boosts are highly appreciated!

#askfedi

Aug 6, 2023 at 4:45pmWeb
Show threadAura V.Aug 6, 2023
@taminaminam Are you ready to try to get your hands on a number of things that are either prescription only or otherwise generally only sold to medical professionals? Granted, this is only as far as I'm aware, but analyzing it yourself isn't gonna happen. (Not without somehow getting a massive overkill chemistry analyzer anyways.) It's questionable whether a lab would accept something you've drawn yourself. As for drawing it yourself...
Show threadMadAug 7, 2023
@taminaminam from my understanding, there are 2 quantitative hormone assays done. 1 of them is mass spectrometry, which just involves a really fancy expensive machine. The other is an enzyme linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA), which is a super common biochemical tool. Generally, ELISAs are run on 96 well plates, and results are either determined by how brightly colored the reaction ends up being, or by how fluorescent. Sadly, both kinds of assay kits are in the $200-700 range
Show threadforest Aug 7, 2023
@madasrabbits while getting myself a mass spectrometer and actually understanding the readings probably wouldn't be feasible, that'd just be really fucking cool
Show threadforest Aug 7, 2023
@madasrabbits the thing you're referring to in your other reply is an ELISA then if I'm assuming right?
Show threadMadAug 7, 2023
@taminaminam yeah, Elisa kits are in the 200-700 USD range, plus they require some equipment which is also not too accessible, sadly
Show threadMadAug 7, 2023
@taminaminam wait actually I see no reason why this kind of thing wouldn't work, if you wanted to spend the money (and risk the dysphoria)
https://www.inito.com
Inito Fertility Monitor | Track Your Fertility Hormones At Home | Get Pregnant Faster

Inito Fertility Monitor finds the days when you are most fertile to maximise your chances of getting pregnant.

Show threadforest Aug 7, 2023

@madasrabbits ooo that's interesting!

Since the reason for wanting to test those values is dysphoria caused by hrt just not working properly, it wouldn't actually cause that much dysphoria.

Do you know if it actually works with hrt? Because if I recall correctly there's some tests that test via your spit that don't actually work with hrt and just test your bodies own production

Show threadMadAug 7, 2023
@taminaminam it looks like that one is a urine test
Show threadInga stands with 🇺🇦 🇵🇸Aug 7, 2023
@madasrabbits @taminaminam I am not an endo, but they say it measures E3G, which according to FDA "estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G)" "E3G is produced when estrogen breaks down in your body. It accumulates in your urine around the time of ovulation and causes your cervical mucus to become thin and slippery".
So I'd conduct some additional research to check if E3G levels correlate with E2 levels for transfems.
Show threadforest Aug 7, 2023
@IngaLovinde @madasrabbits thanks, yeah that's what I was worried about