Hi Oriah,
I don't mind that you "burst" my bubble. What matters to me is facts. When I provided this information, I only relied on two reports which indicated that norgestimate was androgenic (and not anti-androgenic), these two reports being
1) Maturitas 46S1 (2003) S7–S16
Classification and pharmacology of progestins
2) CLIMACTERIC 2005;8(Suppl 1):3–63
Pharmacology of estrogens and progestogens: influence of different routes of administration
Also, it was noted in them that norgestimate was derived from levonorgestrel, which is androgenic. BUT, I should have investigated further. I'm sorry for having provided only partial information and I'm grateful to you for having provided the above information. Upon further research, here is what I found...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15625768"The progestins norgestimate and norelgestromin exerted a
very low androgenic activity. Our data suggest that norgestimate and its metabolite norelgestromin possess
weak androgen-like properties. The use of these compounds for clinical application may be of great advantage in the treatment of breast cancer as well as hyperandrogenism in women."
From insert of birth contraceptive pill containing norgestimate
"Receptor binding studies, as well as studies in animals and humans, have shown that norgestimate and 17-deacetyl norgestimate, the major serum metabolite, combine high progestational activity with
minimal intrinsic androgenicity."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1324552?dopt=Abstract"The contraceptive progestin norgestimate (NGM) has a high affinity for uterine progestin receptors and
a lack of affinity for androgen receptors similar to that of natural progesterone."
"Serum levels of sex hormone binding globulin, an indicator of androgen-estrogen balance, also increased significantly with NGM/EE in accordance with
its low androgenic activity."
Contraception. 1998 Sep;58(3 Suppl):23S-27S; quiz 67S.
Uniqueness of oral contraceptive progestins.
Carr BR.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas"classification of oral contraceptives according to their level of androgenicity. Under such a system,
norgestimate, desogestrel, and norethindrone would fall into the low category. (...)while norgestrel, norethindrone acetate, and levonorgestrel would fall into the high androgenicity category."
I removed doses so that if higher doses are used, then androgenicity increases, most probably. Depends how much norgestimate is used.
Hum Reprod Update. 1995 May;1(3):231-63.
Classification and comparison of oral contraceptives containing new generation progestogens. Newton JR.
University of Birmingham, Women's Health Care Trust, Edgbaston, UK."Of particular relevance here may be the recent finding that approximately 20% of administered norgestimate is metabolized into levonorgestrel."
Levonorgestrel is androgenic.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2189281"Norgestimate is similar to progesterone in not significantly stimulating ventral prostate growth in immature rats, whereas levonorgestrel, gestodene, and desogestrel are significantly androgenic in this model. Further evidence of
norgestimate's minimal androgenicity is its lack of affinity for human sex hormone binding globulin in vitro."
Although, this finding was in rats so there may be variations across species.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15379365"This double-blind study compared the efficacy and tolerability of a combined oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone with a preparation containing EE and norgestimate in the treatment of acne vulgaris"
"
both preparations increased the level of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and decreased the levels of androgens, changes typically associated with acne improvement."
The preparation containing drospirenone proved to be superior on certain counts, either to due its non-androgenic nature whereas norgestimate is weakly androgenic or because drospirenone's anti-androgenic strength is greater. I'm not sure.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8808163"The newer progestogens desogestrel, norgestimate, gestodene, dienogest and nomegestrol share the common property of having weak or no androgenic effects, but there is great variation between agents in their pharmacokinetic properties and hormonal activities"
And there is another link which shows norgestimate to be androgenic at a certain dose but since the dose is mentioned, I cannot provide this link.
Overall, then, based on your study and various findings, it appears norgestimate, on the whole (net effect of anti-androgenic and androgenic effects) exerts minimal/weak androgenic action.
I apologize for not having given a more accurate, global assessment of norgestimate. I should have checked further. Mea culpa.
BUT, how exactly are you getting your norgestimate??? Isn't it usually only in birth control pills which are known to increase clotting risks way more than bio-identical estradiol because they contain the estrogen, ethinyl estradiol? If this is the case, then I question its use because there are much safer alternatives, equally effective for feminization.
