Progesterone

[Sammy]

From my lecture notes as given by our consultant obstetrician - Progesterone also has the following physiological effects. It relaxes ligaments. It lowers the blood pressure by around 10 points by dilating blood vessels thereby decreasing peripheral resistance, but it increases cardiac output by increasing the stroke volume, which is a necessary adaptation to protect the placenta from excessive pressure which could damage it. The chorion needs a good supply of low pressure rapidly moving blood to function.
Finally it is psycho-active and has a calming effect on the mood preparing the woman for motherhood.
Yes it can help to increase breast development - but actually, as you can gather, there are a LOT of reasons to take it aside from that. Just one reason why I think that those doctors who fail to prescribe it are probably not think about the benefits in the round, and instead are concentrating too much on its role in protecting against endometrial neoplasm.

Thank You for providing this info . Indeed, those effects are by far too many to be just brushed away. And that part about relaxing ligaments does explain why I suddenly have again my teenage dexterity and flexibility. I wonder if I could do splits again...

[DanicaCarin]

Thank You for providing this info . Indeed, those effects are by far too many to be just brushed away. And that part about relaxing ligaments does explain why I suddenly have again my teenage dexterity and flexibility. I wonder if I could do splits again...

Just don't try the splits in that crazy cute skirt in your profile pic!

[Jill F]

I go on P next Friday!  I hope it works, and I'll keep you all posted.

So far on HRT, my mood has already greatly improved.  The sturm und drang of T grinding away at my brain every day was awful.  Anything to get my T level even lower sounds great, and anything to make the breasts grow would be greatly appreciated.   I'm still shy of a 'B' cup and would like to end up around a 'D'.

[Ashey]

I've been taking Provera orally for a month now and I can't say I've really noticed any side-effects. My mood seems generally the same as it used to be, aside from the overall satisfied feeling from finally being on hormones. In fact, it took me 2-3 weeks to really believe ANYTHING was happening, but now I think I'm feeling the changes. Libido decrease aside (not sure if that's from the E or not), I feel more aware of my breasts and nipples now, and they've been getting a bit sore and tender the past few days. Maybe I'm just lucky that I haven't had the ill-effects of it so far? I'll keep on it at least until my next appointment in February. After that I may consider either cycling the Provera or switching to Prometrium if I feel I'm not progressing like I should. Of course I'll also see what my endo says about it all.

[Doctorwho?]

I've been taking Provera orally for a month now and I can't say I've really noticed any side-effects. My mood seems generally the same as it used to be, aside from the overall satisfied feeling from finally being on hormones. In fact, it took me 2-3 weeks to really believe ANYTHING was happening, but now I think I'm feeling the changes. Libido decrease aside (not sure if that's from the E or not), I feel more aware of my breasts and nipples now, and they've been getting a bit sore and tender the past few days. Maybe I'm just lucky that I haven't had the ill-effects of it so far? I'll keep on it at least until my next appointment in February. After that I may consider either cycling the Provera or switching to Prometrium if I feel I'm not progressing like I should. Of course I'll also see what my endo says about it all.

I know I always preface my comments by pointing out that I am only a medical student and not yet fully qualified, but on this occasion I mean it even more than usual. What follows is based on my own personal experience and opinion rather than anything that I've been officially taught. That said I have discussed my views with one of my lecturers and they did agree that I was probably correct.

I would suggest trying an alternative to Medroxy Progesterone Acetate (provera) - its only virtue is that it is cheap. It is a very very old formulation and if you take it you will be unlikely to get all of the "spin off" benefits that I listed in my earlier post. You may also get horrible mood swings, androgenisation, and headaches. Besides it is not really progesterone - it is a progestin - which isn't quite the same thing, and if that was not enough, your body can and will easily convert it to testosterone.

These days there are far more effective modern alternatives, the best of which is micronised progesterone, sold under various brand names like microgest, prometrium, and Utrogestan. These will give you the beneficial side effects that I mentioned, are somewhat less likely to be converted to androgens, and shouldn't give you all the undesirable effects I mentioned above either.

[boddi]

I'd recommend it but I recommend that you only use micronized P and not medroxyprogesterone acetate (provera). I'd also recommend toing 2 weeks on and two weeks off when using it.  Jessica why do you recommend Micronized p and not provera please?  Thanks

[Aruna]

I just got prescribed micronized progesterone. I was on provera but i really didnt notice much. Can anyone share what their experience was like in the first few days on starting micronized progesterone? Also did you cycle or not cycle?


Please do not discuss dosages.

[DanicaCarin]

I haven't been able to find much info on cycling or steady dose. What I have read indicated that cycling is most beneficial for the lining of the uterus and when women use it for pregnancy related issues, verses when its used to balance estrogen in menopausal women. I've been on Prometrium for 3 weeks and haven't had much in the way of side effects.

[Ginny]

Jenny - I'm just about to begin therapy and was wondering if you knew anyone like Dr O'Dea in the Chicago or Indianapolis area.  I mention this, because I live in the middle of nowhere and I'm going to guess that the local endocrinologists will not be able to provide pellet knowledge/techniques. Those would be my nearest two greater metros though.

[Jennygirl]

I will ask him for you at my next appointment during the beginning of Dec, or you are more than welcome to email him yourself! (odeamd@gmail.com) I'm sure he will help if he is able to. It might seem crazy, but someone saw my posts here and has been flying to him from London to receive treatment. There just aren't a whole lot of options out there, unfortunately.

If you aren't able to find an endo who will do something similar to his method, my best suggestion is for you to do injections, patches, or creams. Most likely, injections will be the easiest to find in your area. You will have some mood effects from it due to upward & downward hormonal shifts, but at least it is healthier on the body and feminizes much more effectively than oral.

[calico]

Jenny I have been reading your posts as well, and have also been reading Dr.O'deas website and think I may actually go to him as I don't believe I am getting the most beneficial treatment I can. The information on the website is a lot to take in but is very helpful and informative. From what I have read I to believe there just isn't enough knowledgeable care available out there either. My current endo while nice and has been treating the community for quite some time she take the same approach for post-op and that is the menopausal approach.  So I will see about getting the funds and make a trip to see Dr.Odea

[Jennygirl]

That's great calico! If you go to his LA office let me know if you want to meet up for lunch!

I have to see him in about 3 weeks for my 5th implantation. The way he does it is pretty nice, you can kind of fudge the date however you need or based on how you feel.

After the 2nd implantation (one of the times I chose to up my dose), I did feel a drop in estrogen as I got closer to the 3rd. He said come right in (even though it was 3 weeks until my next scheduled dose) and we upped the dose even further. I love this guy, and I love implant day! And now he offers progesterone pellets so there is no need for anything but the implants.

I can't speak from my own experience about his post-op care, but I'm sure he's great

[calico]

I called the san jose office today actually the conversation was very pleasent and I look forward to going I just wish they dealt directly with insurance but to me its not a deal breaker I still intend to go. An db they gave me an idea of cost wise to so... now just to get it in order I am thinking maybe going to him in january or feb as the lastest meeting up for lunch would be cool!

[Ginny]

Thanks Jenny!  I also just took a look at plane tickets from OHR to LAX and a round trip for a day would be about $250-300. I will be starting to see a therapist on Monday and will hopefully try for HRT near March/April! There's a backup to see dermatologists in this area and I can't get a cyst removed from my face until the end of February, and didn't know how hormones may interact with that removal. 
On a side note, would it be better to rent a car for a few hours/day or just take a taxi?

[DanicaCarin]

My Doc prescribed a pill that can be used orally/vaginally, or rectally. Vaginally/rectally are both good methods that go directly into the blood stream. Yeah it sucks sticking "stuff" up there, but it works better than orals. So if you can't get implants, nasal spray, patches, or creams, the vaginal/rectal route works great. Except for the whole sticking it up your butt part.

[boddi]

Does anyone know if progesterone helps with vaginal dryness? I have anecdotally heard from one person that it may...Thanks.

[Oriah]

IBTW, bioidentical means it is the IDENTICAL chemical structure to the one produced in the human body.

this

[SnowDrop]

I tried progesterone and stopped.  My doctor advised me it didn't have any real merits in MTFs but i persisted.  Instead I took it, had mourning sickness like nausea the entire time I was on it and ddint notice any changes.  I did some research myself and every claim has its own merits, it helps, it doesn't help, it hurts more than helping.  So in the end i decided to put less junk in my body and do without it.

[Paige]

I tried progesterone and stopped.  My doctor advised me it didn't have any real merits in MTFs but i persisted.  Instead I took it, had mourning sickness like nausea the entire time I was on it and ddint notice any changes.  I did some research myself and every claim has its own merits, it helps, it doesn't help, it hurts more than helping.  So in the end i decided to put less junk in my body and do without it.

Hi SnowDrop,
What version of progesterone were you on?

[SnowDrop]

I'd have to look in my records, i believe it was medroxyprogestrone, maybe?  I remember nausea, sickness, no breast development and mood swings galore.  I more or less felt pregnant all the time.