Monitoring hormone levels is very important to the quality of life of the patient.  It can be most easily done by monitoring symptoms.  However, simply monitoring one's symptoms is not ideal because an excess of a hormone may produce the exact same symptom as a lack of it.  This is why lab tests like saliva tests are important.  

Please refer to the ‘Male or Female Symptoms List’ for signs of deficiency or excess of hormones.
You may need to increase or decrease the dose of hormones you are using. Hot flashes may be a sign of deficient or excess hormones.

If you do aerobic exercise you will metabolize (use up) hormones much more rapidly. If you do not exercise regularly you will need very small amounts of hormones.

Hormone creams (especially progesterone) applied to the skin can accumulate in fatty tissue over a period of months and you may end up releasing high levels of progesterone into your system. Other people do not absorb hormones as well or develop a tolerance to the hormones.

Signs of Progesterone Excess

1. Hot flashes
2. Sleepiness
3. Mild Depression
4. Breast Tenderness
5. Abdominal Bloating
6. Water Retention

You may choose to apply the hormone cream to the mucous membranes of the labia and vagina where the hormones are well absorbed and will not accumulate. This method of application also delivers hormones to the bladder and vagina eliminating the need for separate creams.

Signs of Estrogen Excess*

1. Full, painful, or growing breasts
2. Fingers and ankles swell
3. Feeling ‘uptight’, irritable, anxious
4. Weight gain, hunger
5. Vaginal bleeding or spotting

Signs of Estrogen Deficiency

1. Breasts lose fullness, begin drooping
2. Skin dries out Rings feel tight (water retention)
3. Foggy thinking (especially in the am) Clear mind Confused, mildly depressed ‘Just don’t care’
4. Difficulty sleeping, restless, night sweats
5. Vaginal dryness, urinary urgency

You may increase or decrease the amount hormones as needed. This may be a very small amount (.05 gm or .05cc) if the cream is concentrated for mucous membrane application. You may want to consult with your compounding pharmacist.

Most hormone creams are balanced with regards to the estrogen/progesterone ratio. If you experience vaginal bleeding the estradiol may need to be decreased or the progesterone may need to be increased. Remember, the amount of hormones you metabolize (use) is very dependent on exercise and activity. Diet is also critical to hormone balance. Eliminate the refined carbohydrates in your diet. Eat whole foods, fruits, and vegetables. Chronic stress will make hormone balance impossible. Be aware of how stress affects your hormones and your health.

All of these reasons and more are why monitoring one's hormone levels are so important. 

You must play an active role in your medical care and health.

*May also be signs of Progesterone Deficiency

Source: http://www.hormonebalance.org/