DO BCPs affect test results?

lsedtal · 02-23-2006, 09:58 PM

Nearly 20 years ago an endocrinologist ran some tests. The only thing he found was that my testosterone was double what it should be. This was before I started talking BCPs. I was not diagnosed with PCOS at this time. He put me on Aldactone. I took it for a while then quit. I eventually started taking BCPs. Last year I asked my ob/gyn to test me for PCOS. She said all the numbers were ok and could not refer me to an RE because of this (insurance reasons). So, is it possible that having the tests done while on BCPs affected some of the results?

I'm not sure I have PCOS but would like to find out for sure. I have weight around the abdomen, hair loss, mood swings, dark patches of skin in arm pits and groin, a few small skin tags and I'm pretty sure I am at least insulin resistant. But I'm already living a low carb lifestyle.

purplerose · 02-24-2006, 01:09 AM

My gyno will not test my hormone levels because I've been on BCP's for two years. She says they would have stabilized my hormones so I would likely get normal results even if my hormones without BCP's aren't normal.

lsedtal · 02-24-2006, 06:20 PM

Thanks for the info. That's kind of what I thought since the test 20 years ago was so out of whack. I plan on going to an RE later this year to find out for sure one way or the other.

starlite · 02-24-2006, 10:11 PM

I had my endo appt. last week and went to do the blood test right after. I've been on Yasmin from March 2004-June 2005, then on 2 other types, and back to Yasmin last month. My doc said it was fine that I was taking bcps and didn't have to stop for the tests. He was somehow able to read through all that? Even though you might not be able to go to an RE, can you go to a regular Endocrinologist? My ins. won't cover reproductive docs or meds, but if you're going to get your hormones straight I wouldn't think they could deny it.

lsedtal · 02-27-2006, 07:48 PM

I've been told by other women living near me that the endocrinologists here don't know much about PCOS. I found an RE in Houston that I would like to go to. I may have to just make the RE my primary care physician so it is covered by my insurance. I'm just glad that she accepts my insurance.

Thanks!

emma42 · 03-03-2006, 06:30 PM

Hi,

I had tests done while on Yasmin, and just recently on nothing--no birth control or meds.

On Yasmin, my LSH/FSH was normal. My testosterone was around 50 and my estrogen was non-existent but that's normal while on the pill because the pill supplements your natural estrogen w/ synthetic estrogen and that synthetic estrogen is not measured by the estrogen test. Still, it was a shock to see my estrogen number had me in the menopausal category.

W/O BC Pills, my LSH/FSH ratio was off and consistent w/ PCOS. My testosterone was elevated in the 70s. And I did not get my estrogen tested. I admit to still being curious about my number there.