Trying to understand FSH, brain fog and possible effect of darkness deprivation

[Bonnie B.]

Hello again, I posted before with concerns about fertility but now I have more solid information and a couple of questions.    

My Day 3 FSH tested at 6.1 and Estradiol was 39.  I did do an antral follicle count, twice.  The first time was 12 total and the second time was 9 total.  I was told all this means I am likely to experience menopause at 43, and become infertile 'very soon'.   Do you agree, and do you think that a 6.1 FSH is already starting to climb and can jump up sometime soon - or is it difficult to predict?  I'm 35 and a half.

Also, I have had recurring brain fog ever since a 3-week, irregular period in September.  Although my period and other symptoms have normalized, the brain fog has not.  Do you think it could be caused by low estradiol?  What tests should I ask for?  I am experiencing this almost constant low-grade brain fog and bad sense of direction and am slow doing math in my head.    

When would be the best day in cycle to test for progesterone deficiency?   I have a test already reserved.  

For almost a year prior to this I had crazy hours and worked all night with lights on and only slept a little bit during daylight hours.  I was never in the dark, ever.  And almost no sleep.   Now I have fixed this and am sleeping well again, through the night.   Could this have caused hormonal imbalance and/or ovarian decline?  Is it possible the antral follicle count will get better if I start to sleep normally?

Thank you so very much for your time, I asked my doctors questions but they just said I'm not post-menopausal ranges and that's about it.

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

A. A day 3 FSH value of 6.1 and estradiol of 39 certainly sounds like you could still get pregnant, though there is no guarantee.  There is no known test that tells you what age you will experience menopause. That includes the tests and ultrasounds you have done. So the idea that someone can say you will go through menopause at age 43 is incorrect and just a guess. If your doctor is certain he/she is correct, ask them for the reference paper that has a study or directions on how to exactly calculate menopause.  

Your

[Bonnie B.]

Thanks Mary,  that's very interesting.  I am pretty sure I experienced at least a couple of anovulatory periods in a row, so maybe that would have depleted my progesterone and maybe it hasn't been restored yet.  I don't know, I will get tested and see, but I will definitely check out your book recommendations.  I never had brain fog before, but it feels like I'm on some sort of medication like theraflu or something.    Thank you again.

Bonnie

[Mary 53]

Hi,

I hope you get some answers. I have a few thoughts. I posted recently (From Mary 53 to Fonda) and you will see if below about oh, less than half way. I mentioned a few things about progesterone (more info about how this hormone is mixed up often with the synthetic product, Progestin) ...but, I know that I got great relief from brain fog when I started the progesterone. It took over a month, but my body had been depleated of the hormone for some time by the time I started it. I have been on it for six years. I seriously remember the week I started to get relief. I had not felt so well in ages. I had been on supplemental estrodial (bioidentical) too at the time, but needed the progesterone deperately. I often wonder if one of the reasons for my low fertility (we have one child, age 21) was low progesterone...but, I am Rh- too, so I may never know.

Do pick up Northrup's book on Menopause (mentioned in that other post)...it is about that and so much more. You might get some answers there.

Take care,

Mary