Here are guidelines involving various tests for PCOS and it's symptoms. Please keep in mind that this forum is *not* intended to replace your physican. Any results, normal or abnormal, need to be discussed with your Doctor. Also keep in mind that PCOS is most often a disease of exclusion, and that the symptoms and chem levels of PCOS women vary greatly.
Fasting Blood Glucose:
US Values: From 70 to 109 mg/dL: normal
From 110 to 125 mg/dL: impaired fasting glucose (pre- diabetes)
126 mg/dL and above: diabetes
Canadian values: 3.6 - 6 mmol/L
*REVISED DIABETES GUIDELINES: Oct 24/03 - Expert Commitee indicates decreasing the IMPAIRED cutoff to 100 mg/dL could catch more people at risk for developing diabetes.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/463433 Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH): Tested on Cycle Day 3 and normal is 3-20 mIU/ml
Luteinizing Hormone (LH): Day 3 is < 7 mIU/ml. A normal LH level is similar to FSH.
FSH and LH ratio: is 1:1 in normal women and ratios of 1:2 or 1:3 can be seen in PCOS ladies, mine was 1:6 at one time. An LH higher than FSH is one indication of PCOS.
Free Androgen Index: This is another ratio of body chemicals. It is the Testosterone in nmol/L divided by SHBG (Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin. Normal is up to 8.5 in both US and Canada.
Free Testosterone: Tested on Day 3. US Values: Normal is .7-3.6 pg/ml. No longer available in Canada (Free Androgen Index is a better measure of bioavailability of testosterone).
Total Testosterone: Tested on Day 3. US Values: 6-86 ng/dl is considered normal. Canadian value: .45 - 3.70 nmol/L.
Fasting Insulin: . US Values: A fasting insulin of 10-13 mIU/ml generally indicates some insulin resistance, and levels above 13 indicate greater insulin resistance.
Triglycerides (TG): US Values: Borderline high is 200-400mg/dl, high is 400-1000, and very high is >1000. Elevated levels are a risk factor for coronary artery disease. Canadian Values: .6 - 2.3mmol/L
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL): This is the "bad" cholesterol. In someone with one risk factor for heart disease, < 160 mg/dl is recommended, with 2 risk factors < 130, and those with documented coronary heart disease the target is < 100. Canadian Values: 1.7- 3 mmol/L.
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL):
This is the "good" cholesterol which may be increased through a healthy diet and exercise. The HDL level is usually estimated by taking total cholesterol and subtracting LDL, rather than by direct measure. But a guide is > 34 mg/dl as a normal value. Canadian Values: .9-2.0 mmol/L.
Androstenedione: Tested on Day 3
US values: .7-3.1 ng/ml
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEAS) : tested on Day 3
US Values: 35-430 ug/dl.
DHEA's are easily converted to male hormone in the body, and an elevated DHEAS level may be improved through use of dexamethasone, prednisone, or insulin-sensiting medications.
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG): tested Cycle Day 3
US Values: 18-114 nmol/l.
Increased androgen production often leads to lower SHBG.