To Start With Progesterone or Straight to Estrogen?

[Xiris]

So today I went to my first appointment with my endocrinologist and he gave me 2 options on how to start hormones.

EDIT: I have chosen to go on with the Progesterone. Thanx for the input ^^


1. Go straight onto estrogen.
OR
2. Start on Progesterone for 2-3 months before starting estrogen to quickly reduce testosterone levels and prime breasts for maximum tissue growth. (leaning towards this)

Explanations:
One reason he recommends Progesterone to start on without estrogen first is so the testosterone can be reduced first in about a 1 month period as opposed to 6-9 months if i started the estrogen now. This could be good so the estrogen might have a faster uptake since there is a very reduced level of testosterone to battle in the start.

Also, in theory according to findings in a study on girls entering puberty, Progesterone may help prime or prepare the breasts for maximum growth when estrogen is started. Which is good because it will give me the maximum sized natural breasts... in theory.

The only downsides to the Progesterone is it can increase appetite and has been known to sometimes cause depression and emotional issues, more-so then estrogen would. Plus, it means starting on estrogen in October/November instead of now.

I do have to say I am leaning towards starting with Progesterone for 2 months.

Before someone says it, I know this is my choice and I am posting this just looking for some feedback and opinions from people who may know more then me about the subject.

Thanx,
Xiris

[caitlin_adams]

Out of curiosity, is an anti-androgen part of the plan?

[Xiris]

Out of curiosity, is an anti-androgen part of the plan?

No, it is not.

[Lisbeth]

I have never heard of this kind of regimen. I was started on estrogen first and added progesterone 3 1/2 years later.

[V M]

That's a new one on me also    It was about a year or so on E before I went on P

[MarinaM]

I think I've heard of UK doctor's doing this. Okay, since you know this is your choice and have acknowledged that to be the case, if I were given the same option I would start straight away with estrogen.

I started with spiro and no E, my body and brain thanked me by ramping up the anxiety hard core for about two weeks (please someone shoot me levels of anxiety). I don't know why...

Progesterone will have a similar effect, it will nail your levels of sex hormone to the floor, and you may be able to handle that by itself, but it is a powerfully effective depressant as well. I figure you're eager to have this under way in the most effective way possible, and I understand, but your chemistry is about to change, and I'm sure you will notice very soon with either method.

[JungianZoe]

Progesterone will have a similar effect, it will nail your levels of sex hormone to the floor, and you may be able to handle that by itself, but it is a powerfully effective depressant as well.

Xiris, pay close attention to that bolded part, please.  If you want to see firsthand what progesterone can do to someone's mental state, look no further than what happened to me last night:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,102982.0.html

I can't even fathom where my brain was.

[Xiris]

In reply to the above, this method with Progesterone is a newer method and the endo I am going to is one of the first in the US to start using it in this way.

[Sunnynight]

Although I haven't heard of the method your doctor plans on using, my doctor has me on progesterone and estrogen. I think P has really helped with breast development. I've gone up to about an A and a half to B cup in 9 months. I've seen more results than my peers who are on estrogen and a blocker only.

It's important to consider other side effects, like other posters have said.

[Francis Ann Burgett]

That's interesting. I'm meeting back with a new physician in just a few days. I'm told he has prescribed HRT for some 20 years for numerous MTF. I plan to just let him prescribe or inject whatever he thinks. I'm told he likes the injection method. Before I had discussions with an less experienced physician & his HRT really was not as succeful as I had hoped.

[Ann Onymous]

Xiris, pay close attention to that bolded part, please.  If you want to see firsthand what progesterone can do to someone's mental state, look no further than what happened to me last night:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,102982.0.html

I can't even fathom where my brain was.

Much seems to depend on HOW one gets the progesterone...provera (a synthetic) seems to be the problem as relates to depression.  I do not recall anyone having issues with compounded or micronized progesterone (ie. Prometrium or Microgest).