Hi
Please can you advise what the estradiol level should fall into when having ovarian suppression and an AI. My cancer centre don’t keep any kind of track on it so I asked my nurse, who is in gp and does my Zoladex shots, to order a blood test. She was happy to order the test and give me the print out but neither of us know how to interpret the results. My estradiol level came back as 57….should it not be undetectable on this combination?
Thanks
Hi Helen39,
Thanks for your post.
As you may be aware there are different drugs that can be used to try and achieve ovarian suppression. As you’re on an aromatase inhibitor (AI) and goserelin (Zoladex) you do not need regular blood tests to check your ovaries remain switched off (suppressed). Regular blood tests are however required if a drug called leuprorelin (Prostap) is used in combination with an aromatase inhibitor.
We’re unsure how long you have been on ovarian suppression for. But within about three weeks of the first goserelin injection, your oestrogen should be lowered to a level similar to that of a post-menopausal woman (a woman who has been through the menopause) and your periods will normally stop. This effect is generally temporary and will only last for as long as you’re having goserelin. If your periods have not stopped it’s important to tell your treatment team as your ovaries may not be suppressed enough.
As you’ve had a blood test to determine your oestrogen levels you can discuss this with your treatment team. They will be able to give you more information about what level of oestrogen is appropriate for the length of time you’ve been on treatment and your individual situation. You can also discuss any concerns about this with them.
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