Blood Work Results.

I think get bloodwork results via the mail is one of the most impersonal decisions doctors make. I realize, they will (rarely) do that with bad results. But it still feels so impersonal.

Got my bloodwork back, a quick rundown:
HCG Preg - Negative (No babies!)
DHEA-Sulfate Serum: 221 (Normal, range is [18-391])
17-OH Progesterone: 57
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin: 11 (Low, range is [30-135])
Testosterone Total:  27 (Normal, range [11-59])
Testosterone Free: 7.0 (Normal, range [0.8-7.4])
Prolactin: 8.4 (Normal, no range given)

Then she did a comprehensive metabolic panel which all came out with normal ranges.

At the end she wrote,
"Allison - All lab tests normal - you have PCOS. Please start the birth control pills."

Not the nicest way to receive her official diagnosis. But, at least I got the results, and didn't have to call and hassle anyone. She wrote "OK" next to the one low lab value, and when I googled it, (trusty wikipedia!) it said -
Conditions with low SHBG include polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes, and hypothyroidism

However on another page I read it said nothing of PCOS and said,
Decreases in SHBG are seen with obesity, hypothyroidism, androgen use, and Cushing’s disease. 


The stats I read said that "SHBG" is low in about 50% of PCOS cases. Which seems to be match up with what she was saying. My DHEA levels were normal. So I'm not really sure why they popped up higher on the previous blood work.

Discouraging news on the front of wanting to have kids someday and it also being a predictor for insulin resistance.