Progesterone

[Apples Mk.II]

I had a blood test yesterday. In seven days we will know if I am back to normal.

Apparently, I have natural high testosterone, and lowering it is hard unless dangerous amounts of AA are used. The increase in Testosterone from the P should be negligible in normal persons, but I'm not one....

[Shawn Sunshine]

My Nurse Practioner changed her mind about giving my progesterone (bio identical version) until I am on a good dose of estrogen and spiro, I think that sounds pretty wise, but I hope its not a PERMANENT decision.

[franie]

My Endo told me that progesterone  only works after breast growth is mostly complete the P then will help round (fill)out the breasts.

[Jessica Merriman]

My Endo told me that progesterone  only works after breast growth is mostly complete the P then will help round (fill)out the breasts.

Don't tell mine that, They are lapping it up like a cat with a bowl of milk!  I never thought I would experience any growth like I am having. My Endo swears by it. Just shows the different trains of thought among health care providers I reckon. 

[Wynternight]

I just found out that insurance approved my progesterone RX so I'll pick it up today and start tomorrow. I'll let everyone know how I do. 

[Rachelicious]

I'm finally on P as of like a week ago - much more for the cognitive effects than physical. It's a clear difference already!

[Allyda]

I'm having great growth without it. I'm already a B cup at 8 months and two weeks even with low estrogen levels. I told my booby's "it's okay to slow down now," lol!

Ally

[Apples Mk.II]

1 month without Progesterone:

E: 2952 PG/ml
T: 62.4 ng/dl (Before: 74)
Prolactine: 94.4ng/ml


We can conclude that progesterone gives me a small boost in testosterone. It would not be a problem if my T was so damn high. I either manage to get a higher dose from the E or lose 3 kg.

[emilyking]

No, no, no, no! progestin are contraindicated in HRT for cis or trans folks. WPATH and the Woman's Health Initiative (one of the largest study demonstrating an association between progestin and breast cancer) do not support the use in transgender HRT

The "progesterone thread" rises its ugly head every so often at Susan's...at the end of the day people will do what ever they want, and they would believe what ever they want, but as a women of sciences I would not recommend its use.

Wha if your intersexed?
My family medical doctors and I believe I have PAIS.  I asked my hrt doctor, but she didn't give me an answer yet (I think she wants to see my new blood work first)?

[KayXo]

For those taking progesterone, can you share how your skin/hair is and how you feel when taking progesterone versus when you were just taking estrogen? The pattern you have noticed over time.

I've always thought that progesterone made skin and hair softer/smoother, gave one an improved sense of well-being BUT I've noticed that since doubling my dose, my hair appears to be less soft and shiny, skin is drier and veins are slightly more prominent and although quite calm, I will admit to sometimes feeling slightly depressed. I do love the temporary euphoria progesterone gives me but overall, my feeling is that estrogen is more what gives my skin/hair its smooth/soft/shiny complexion, keeps me energized/motivated and yet calm.

Something else I noticed was waking up every few hours at night whereas sleep seemed to be much more continuous before, I think. Strange since progesterone is alleged to improve sleep and cure insomnia. 

[Wynternight]

For those taking progesterone, can you share how your skin/hair is and how you feel when taking progesterone versus when you were just taking estrogen? The pattern you have noticed over time.

I've always thought that progesterone made skin and hair softer/smoother, gave one an improved sense of well-being BUT I've noticed that since doubling my dose, my hair appears to be less soft and shiny, skin is drier and veins are slightly more prominent and although quite calm, I will admit to sometimes feeling slightly depressed. I do love the temporary euphoria progesterone gives me but overall, my feeling is that estrogen is more what gives my skin/hair its smooth/soft/shiny complexion, keeps me energized/motivated and yet calm.

Something else I noticed was waking up every few hours at night whereas sleep seemed to be much more continuous before, I think. Strange since progesterone is alleged to improve sleep and cure insomnia. 

I've only been on it for six days so I can't say if any physical effects are due to the P or the E (which I started 8-31) but my skin is softer and the euphoria is really nice whilst it lasts. I had trouble sleeping the first few nights but I've taken my sleep med the past two and have had some of the most amazing sleep ever. I do feel calmer and more level and between the P and Spiro my blood pressure is the best it's ever been. I haven't noticed any changes to my hair but I'd need to do a scientific study of washing and abstaining from the use of products for a few days to see how it feels. Sadly I have prominent veins so that hasn't changed at all. They get very noticeable when my arms and hands are in a depedent position but hopefully the shifting of subcutaneous fat helps that. I'm starting a doubled dose of estrogen Saturday so we'll see how it all works together.

Speaking of progesterone - time to take my morning dose!

[Riley Skye]

I've been on progesterone since early last November. I've found that it has helped breast growth tremendously. even though they're just awkward teenage titties, as I affectionately call them, they look like any normal pair of breasts. I thas really helped them grow and shape up nicely for me. Keep in mind I'm now 23 and all women in my family have big boobs.

[Delsorou]

When I first started, I was given oral estrogen only.  I ended up having to switch providers, but the new one was not used to treating trans patients and as such, much more open to my input.  Helped that I presented myself very knowledgeably and used medical terminology.  After some initial trial and error I started on injectable estradiol valerate and progesterone with oral antiandrogens.

Since I was on progesterone most of the time I've been on HRT I can't give a very good comparison.  I do know that I had really good results for that time.  About 6 months ago, I started modifying the injections to cycle the progesterone, so I'm not on it all the time.  I have noticed a perceptible reduction in breast growth since that time.  This could also be attributable to some delays in supply and injection, however.

I am intrigued by the number of people here who seem to use pellet implants.  I initially discounted these as I assumed they would provide extremely low doses suitable for postmenopausal cis women seeking to counteract osteoporosis and thus not provide sufficient doses for MTF HRT purposes.  The whole reason I went injectable vs other transdermal routes is that I wanted to reduce my interaction with it - I can forget it except for once or twice a week.  Thinking about it once every 3-6 months would be even better.

I am very very interested in the details on these, as well as people's levels while using them.  Please feel free to PM me if you use pellets, I really want to know more details so I have something to bring to my doctor.

[KayXo]

Clearly, from everything I read so far, progesterone (or progestogens, in general) seems very useful for breast growth especially and perhaps the reason why so many transsexual women don't achieve enough breast growth and often resort to implants is that progesterone was not taken or not enough of it since some doctors believe it is unnecessary.

[Delsorou]

Clearly, from everything I read so far, progesterone (or progestogens, in general) seems very useful for breast growth especially and perhaps the reason why so many transsexual women don't achieve enough breast growth and often resort to implants is that progesterone was not taken or not enough of it since some doctors believe it is unnecessary.

It's not just that.  Progesterone is useful, and has a variety of effects on breast tissue.  However in the majority of people, neither progesterone nor estrogen will produce particularly impressive tissue growth in the absence of HGH and IGF-1, which are elevated during puberty and decline to a fraction of those levels during the early to mid twenties.  This combined with genetic factors leads to the wide variability in breast growth response.

So it's not just uneducated doctors, it's our bodies too.

[TessaMarie]

Clearly, from everything I read so far, progesterone (or progestogens, in general) seems very useful for breast growth especially and perhaps the reason why so many transsexual women don't achieve enough breast growth and often resort to implants is that progesterone was not taken or not enough of it since some doctors believe it is unnecessary.

Personally, I am taking micronised progesterone more for the emotional & mental effects.  Those have been life changing for me.

There has been some continued breast growth since early February.  It does feel like some of it might be due to the micronised progesterone I am taking, although it might be just firming up what is already there rather than actually increasing the size.  They do feel more solid now.  Of course, that might be due to the ongoing effects of the estradiol I have been taking since mid-June 2013.

Regardless of whatever physical effects it may be having, the emotional & mental benefits are too great for me to consider not taking it.  Thankfully, my doctors agree with this.

Tessa

[Wynternight]

I take micronized progesterone twice a day; once in the morning, after breakfast, and once a nght about an hour before bed.

[KayXo]

However in the majority of people, neither progesterone nor estrogen will produce particularly impressive tissue growth in the absence of HGH and IGF-1, which are elevated during puberty and decline to a fraction of those levels during the early to mid twenties.

I also always thought that our lack of breast growth compared to ciswomen could be due to low levels of IGF-1 and HGH compared to what they are during puberty BUT what to say of ciswomen who experience significant breast growth during pregnancy, some of whom developed very little during puberty? These are older women, up to age 40, experiencing significant breast growth! Both HGH and IGF are low.

My estradiol and (most probably) progesterone levels are typical of early pregnancy at the moment and I must say I've developed quite a bit thus far and it's only been a few months. More than in my previous 9-10 yrs on hormones (mostly oral).

Of course, there is genetics but I think that, perhaps, high levels of both hormones could lead to significantly more breast growth in the majority of us. The problem is that very few of us experience such levels due to doctors' fear of risks associated with such levels although my doctors (family physician and endocrinologist) don't seem to mind and facts, in my humble opinion (I'm not a doctor) speak for themselves...Most women become pregnant at least once in their lives and don't seem to die or suffer from health problems more than men do. In fact, cardiovascular incident seems to be less in pre-menopausal women. Are women who have more babies and go through several months of very high levels of hormones, again and again, more prone to illnesses, death and so on? Doesn't seem like it. In fact, experts have noticed that risk of breast cancer is less in women who have more children. 

In the end, it's up to the doctor to decide what is best for the patient and the patient should always follow. But, I think that if doctors prescribed routinely bio-identical hormones in a way to achieve quite high levels of BOTH hormones in all transgendered women, preferably by means of injections or pellets due to convenience/ratio of hormones (although personally I would be wary of pellets due to too constant levels desensitizing cells), then we could have perhaps witnessed a greater rate of transwomen satisfied with their breast growth and less resorting to breast augmentation.

This is just my opinion and I only wish to add to this discussion. By no means am I advising anyone to do anything. I'm not a doctor, just a layperson wanting to add their 2 cents. As always, I welcome the opinion of others.

I take micronized progesterone twice a day; once in the morning, after breakfast, and once a nght about an hour before bed.

I also take mine twice a day but always with some (fatty) food to increase absorption. I also eat a little grapefruit every day in hopes this will also increase progesterone's bioavailability. 

[Wynternight]

I take mine with fatty food as well.

The past few days I haven't had the euphoria but it's made me bloody drowsy. Work today has been a trial as far as staying awake.

[Rachelicious]

In the end, it's up to the doctor to decide what is best for the patient and the patient should always follow.

Good discussion about the progesterone itself and its effects, but I disagree with this point. Even specialized doctors don't always have the answers, and doctors often have differing opinions. Know when to trust and when you need to help them guide you.