Lab results - looking for opinions [PLEASE READ 1ST POST]

Hello,

Looking at your results, the most notable finding is the low estradiol level. This could suggest that you didn't ovulate during your last cycle, which might be the underlying reason for your irregular periods.

Your LH is slightly low, but the LH to FSH ratio is 1:1. That’s actually a good ratio; when we look for PCOS, we typically watch for a skewed ratio, though an imbalance in ovulation isn't the only indicator of the condition.

You may want to follow up with thyroid hormone testing or any other specific panels your gynecologist recommends to round out the picture.

Best regards. 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Hi there,

Your labs mostly show low estradiol levels, which could mean you didn't ovulate during your last cycle—that might be the key to why your periods have been irregular.

LH is slightly low, but the LH to FSH ratio is 1:1, which is actually a good sign (doctors look at this when checking for PCOS, which can cause ovulation issues, though it's not the only marker).

You should probably follow up with thyroid hormone tests and whatever else your OB-GYN recommends.

Best regards. 🙂

First off, thanks so much for the reply 🙂

Hmm... why the thyroid?
I'm asking because I've dealt with some issues there... my TSH was over 8, but I've been on Euthyrox for months now and according to my latest results, things have stabilized and are back in the normal range.🙂

So, is that low estradiol caused by the thyroid, or what? 🤷

Thanks,🙂

P. S. — about that ovulation part... if it turns out I'm not ovulating, 🙂 what kind of impact does that actually have on my body?

Dear,

I asked about your thyroid hormones because thyroid issues can often go hand-in-hand with menstrual cycle irregularities. However, if your hypothyroidism is being managed effectively with medication, it shouldn't be the primary culprit behind your cycle changes.

I should also mention that these results don't definitively prove you're having anovulatory cycles. Estradiol levels fluctuate quite a bit throughout the day, so judging based on a single snapshot isn't accurate. Plus, during this specific phase of your cycle, estradiol levels are naturally very low anyway. Please don't misunderstand me—this isn't proof that ovulation didn't occur, though it could suggest it missed a beat last cycle. It’s certainly not a certainty.

That’s why I believe you should follow up with your gynecologist as they recommended. Since gynecology isn't my specialty, I wouldn't dream of performing a deep dive into this; please take my interpretation as mere speculation rather than a diagnosis. Your doctor will provide the definitive word.

Anovulatory cycles can lead to reduced fertility and changes to the uterine lining (the endometrium).

Best regards. 🙂

Hi everyone, I could use some help interpreting these urine culture results. I’m not quite sure what this means, and I won't be able to see my doctor today.
Here is what it says:

Saprophytes
Sediment field of view (x 400) < 10 leukocyte high ref interval 0

Thanks 🙂

With all due respect,

Saprophytes are simply bacteria that naturally inhabit our skin and mucous membranes; they live alongside us. Unlike pathogenic bacteria, they don't cause disease, so there's no need for treatment or any reason to worry.

What symptoms led you to get a urine culture done? This matters because seeing leukocytes in the urine (leukocyturia) can sometimes just be a sign of contamination—essentially, an improperly collected sample.

Maria Fisher46 said:Look,

Saprophytes are just bacteria that naturally live on our skin and mucous membranes alongside us. Unlike pathogenic bacteria, they don't cause disease, so there is no need for treatment and certainly no reason to worry.

What symptoms were you actually experiencing that prompted a urine culture? This matters because seeing leukocytes in urine (leukocyturia) can often just be a sign of contamination from an improperly collected sample.

I was just in for a routine checkup at a clinic in Washington, D.C., where they told me there were bacteria in my urine and suggested I get a culture done.

So, I submitted a new sample (at a lab here in my own city)... and I've transcribed those results here.

If you aren't experiencing any symptoms (and I'm assuming you aren't), there’s really no reason to start antibiotics. It’s highly likely the lab result was just a false positive caused by contamination—perhaps the sample touched skin during collection, or maybe it wasn't a midstream catch, meaning the end of the urethra wasn't properly flushed out.

I have no idea what went wrong since I was careful to provide a proper urine sample, but regardless, thanks anyway! 🙂

I’m just wondering—if we're talking about yeast, does it actually settle in the mouth or specifically on the tongue, and can you even spot its presence through a standard throat swab? 🤷
My doctor is under the impression that if they're showing up on the tongue, they've already moved into the throat too...

Amy Long6 said:I was just wondering—can oral thrush actually settle in the mouth or on the tongue, and would a standard throat swab pick up its presence? My doctor mentioned that if it's showing up on my tongue, it means it's present in my throat too, too. I guess I'm just trying to wrap my head around how that works. 🤷

If you have oral thrush, a doctor should be able to spot it during a standard, honest physical exam. Honestly, even in tiny amounts, fungi are easiest to catch through a microscopic exam. If you go in for an oral and throat swab, they’ll likely find them—not just from the raw results, but because a microscopic smear analysis is pretty much always part of the process anyway.

Sophia White8 said:If you have oral thrush, a doctor can spot it during a standard, decent exam—really, it’s quite straightforward. Even in tiny amounts, fungi are incredibly easy to detect under a microscope. If you're getting a swab of the mouth and throat, they'll almost certainly find them; it's not just about the swab itself, but because a microscopic smear is always part of the process.

Thanks for the input, but what I’m really trying to get at is—is it actually possible to have oral yeast infections without them being present in the throat? Here’s the situation: based on my symptoms, the doctor decided it was definitely fungal and sent me off for a throat swab. I actually begged her to just write me a referral for an oral swab (for the tongue) right then and there, but she refused... said there was no need, and insisted that if the fungus is in the mouth, it’s 100% in the throat too.

Can someone please take a look at my 9-month-old's blood work? I found a movable lump on the baby's neck—probably some kind of thyroglossal duct cyst, though the doctors aren't totally sure yet. We’ve been talking to ENT and maxillofacial specialists, and now we're supposed to take these results to a pediatric hematology clinic at the children's hospital. I'm really hoping they can give us a straight answer once they see everything. Here are the results from today's exam:

Quick rundown from the pediatrician: 9-month-old male, doing fine overall, no fever, skin and mucous membranes look normal, no weird rashes. There's a palpable, round, movable, and painless lump on the neck in the midline, right in line with the cricoid cartilage, about 1 cm big. No signs of meningeal Sy. Throat looks clear. Lungs sound fine. Heart rhythm is steady, tones are clear, no murmurs... basically, everything else seems okay.

Ultrasound findings: Above the thyroid, in the midline at the level of the hyoid bone, there's a cystic mass with a thick wall (3.1 mm) measuring 12 mm in diameter.
The thyroid itself is normal size, homogeneous, normoechoic, with normal lobe and isthmus size.

Blood work - deviations from reference ranges:

Neutrophil granulocytes 17.1 (23 - 66)
Lymphocytes 71.3 (18 - 60)

CBC - differential
Besides those high lymphocytes and low neutrophil granulocytes mentioned above:
Eosinophil granulocytes 12 (0 - 6)
Reactive lymphocytes 3 - should be 0

Biochemistry
creatinine 32 (35 - 62)
ALP 508 (25 - 500) ??

Thanks in advance for any help!

Dear Justin Morris46,

Please provide the total white blood cell count so we can calculate the absolute counts for each specific type. Those numbers matter significantly more than just the percentages. Also, please transcribe the full CBC—I need the actual values for every individual leukocyte type, not just the ones flagged as being outside the reference range.

Has the little one dealt with any viral infections lately?

Maria Fisher46 said:Hey Justin Morris46,

Could you let us know what the total white blood cell count was? We need that to calculate the absolute counts for each specific type, which matters way more than just the percentages. Also, please transcribe the full CBC—meaning the actual number for every single leukocyte type, not just the ones that fall outside the reference range.

Has the little guy had any kind of viral infection lately?

The baby was born at 38 weeks (3500 g/53 cm) and had a brief bout of physiological jaundice. Other than that, he’s never been sick. He eats normally and his weight gain is looking good. Only thing is, he snores at night like an adult man. I mentioned it to the pediatrician, but she said it’s totally normal for babies 🤷.
One more thing... whenever he gets really excited and starts laughing, he starts hiccuping every single time. The pediatrician didn't see a connection there, but maybe it's worth noting 🤷.

Full CBC:

Erythrocytes 4.52 (4.00 - 5.00)
Hemoglobin 124 (109 - 138)
Hematocrit 0.360 (0.320 - 0.404)
MCV 79.6 (73.8 - 89.4)
MCH 27.4 (24.3 - 29.2)
MCHC 344 (300 - 350)
RDW 12.8 (11.9 - 16.2)
Reticulocytes 36 (20 - 94)
Reticulocytes 7.9 (4.0 - 19.0)
Platelets 324 (150 - 450)
MPV 10.2 (6.9 - 11.3)
Leukocytes 10.0 (6.0 - 16.0)

Neutrophil granulocytes 1.72 (2.50 - 7.20)
Lymphocytes 7.15 (2.00 - 6.60)
Monocytes 0.53 (0.22 - 1.51)
Eosinophil granulocytes 0.55 (0 - 0.70)
Basophil granulocytes 0.08 (0 - 0.20)

Neutrophil granulocytes 17.1 (23 - 66)
Lymphocytes 71.3 (18 - 60)
Monocytes 5.3 (5 - 13)
Eosinophil granulocytes 5.5 (0 - 6)
Basophil granulocytes 0.8 (0 - 2)

CBC - Smear
Segmented neutrophil granulocytes 17 (23 - 66)
Lymphocytes 62 (18 - 66)
Monocytes 6 (5 - 13)
Eosinophil granulocytes 12 (0 - 6)
Reactive lymphocytes 3 (0)

ABN (total neutrophil count) 1700

Glucose 5.1 (3.9 - 7.0)
Urea 3.8 (1.0 - 7.5)
Creatinine 32 (35 - 62)
Sodium 139 (134 - 142)
Potassium 4.8 (3.0 - 7.0)
Chloride 101 (96 - 108)
Calcium, total 2.56 (2.15 - 2.80)
Bilirubin, total 4 (< 20)
Bilirubin, conjugated 2 (< 3)
AST 45 (26 - 75)
ALT 22 (11 - 46)
ALP 508 (25 - 500)
GGT 9 (1 - 39)
LD 302 (150 - 360)
Ferritin 28 (7 - 140)
CRP 0.1 (0.1 - 2.8)

No swollen lymph nodes on the body. The little guy is drooling a lot because his teeth are coming in. Other than that, everything seems fine, so I'm thinking the weirdness in the bloodwork might be tied to that lump/cyst under his neck.

Thanks so much 🙂!

Linda Smith69 said:He was born at 38 weeks (about 7.7 lbs / 20.8 inches) and just had a brief bout of physiological jaundice. Other than that, he’s been a healthy little guy. His appetite is great and his weight gain is right on track. The only thing is, he snores at night like a grown man! I brought it up with the pediatrician, but she just brushed it off, saying it's totally normal for infants 🤷.
One more thing... whenever he gets really excited and starts laughing, he breaks out into hiccups. Again, the pediatrician didn't see any connection there, but maybe it actually matters 🤷.

Full blood work results...

The labs suggest it might just be a minor viral infection. Otherwise, everything looks clean. See an ENT.

Linda Smith69 said:No swelling in the lymph nodes. Just some extra drooling because he's teething. Everything else seems fine, so I suspect those blood work fluctuations are linked to that lump/cyst under his neck.

Thank you very much. 🙂!

I don't think those minor fluctuations in the leukocyte differential are linked to the mass on the neck—the one we previously discussed as potentially being a midline cervical cyst. It's true that such cysts can occasionally become infected, but if that were the case, there would be clinical symptoms present, and you wouldn't see these specific changes in the blood work.

That’s why I’m leaning toward my initial assumption—which Colleague Sashica also confirmed—that this finding is likely just a trace left behind by some viral infection. It probably passed through clinically inapparent, meaning it slipped by without any noticeable symptoms.

It would be wise to run these tests again after some time has passed. I’m confident they’ll come back normal then.

Greetings. 🙂

vividsailor7 said:The labs suggest there might be a minor viral infection going on. Otherwise, everything looks normal. See an ENT.

Thanks a ton!

Maria Fisher46 said:I don't think those slight shifts in white blood cell counts have anything to do with the lump on the neck (which we discussed earlier might be a midline thyroglossal duct cyst). It's true that those cysts can get infected sometimes, but if that were the case, there would be actual symptoms, and you wouldn't see these specific changes in the blood work.

So, my best guess—which is what I suspected and what my colleague also confirmed—is that this result is just some trace of a viral infection that probably passed by without anyone even noticing it.

It’d be a good idea to redo these tests after a little while; I'm pretty sure they'll come back totally normal then.

Best regards. 🙂

Thanks so much! We'll definitely redo the blood work. I'm assuming to nail down a diagnosis for a thyroglossal duct cyst, we need to check thyroid function through blood tests too 🤷. The cyst doesn't seem infected—the skin looks fine and the little guy isn't showing any symptoms at all.

vividsailor7 said:You're very welcome.

MPV 6.23 ( 6.8 - 10.4 )
Total Calcium 2.60 ( 2.14 - 2.53 )
Total bilirubin 22.9 ( 3 - 20 )
Alkaline Phosphatase 43 (60 - 142 )
Creatinine clearance 89.1 (90 - 138 )

24-hour urine volume is 3600 dU(ml)

Parathyroid hormone results:
PTH INTACT 7.3 ( 1.0 - 6.0 )

Since I moved quite far away for work about ten days ago, I haven't had the chance to just drop in and see my doctor. Honestly, finding the time to get these tests done is becoming a bit of a struggle given my current workload and schedule. Do these specific results require any immediate attention?

Thanks, and wishing everyone great health in the New Year!

Austin Jackson55 said:MPV 6.23 (6.8 - 10.4)
Calcium, total 2.60 (2.14 - 2.53)
Bilirubin, total 22.9 (3 - 20)
Alkaline phosphatase 43 (60 - 142)
Creatinine clearance 89.1 (90 - 138)

24-hour urine volume is 3600 mL

Parathyroid hormone results:
PTH INTACT 7.3 (1.0 - 6.0)

Since I moved far away for work about ten days ago, I haven't had a chance to just drop by and see my doctor. It’s actually been a huge struggle to get these tests done because of how much work I have on my plate and my schedule. Do these results require more immediate attention?

Thanks, and wishing everyone great health in the New Year!

This isn't an "emergency room right now" situation, but you absolutely cannot afford to ignore it. You need to follow up.

Beyond seeing a nephrologist, you need to get an ultrasound of your thyroid and parotid glands. Based on those results, you might need an endocrinology consult. You also need to repeat these labs, along with checking Calcium and Phosphorus in a 24-hour urine sample, Calcium +++, and so on.

Linda Smith69 said:Thank you all so much! We will definitely run another CBC. I assume that to reach a final diagnosis for a thyroglossal duct cyst, we need to check thyroid function via blood tests 🤷. The cyst isn't infected; the skin there looks normal, and the little one isn't showing any symptoms.

A diagnosis for this kind of cyst is typically made through physical exams and ultrasound; rarely, a biopsy or other imaging like a CT might be necessary. A definitive diagnosis is only confirmed after surgical removal and a histopathological exam (looking at the tissue sample under a microscope).

While a thyroglossal duct cyst is essentially a developmental hiccup in the thyroid gland, it doesn't necessarily mean the thyroid isn't functioning properly. Testing thyroid hormone levels should be done based on clinical necessity.

Best regards. 🙂