Estrogen supplements before HRT

[Erin Kay Howell]

I was wondering what everyones thoughts were on taking low dose E supplements before starting HRT.

Is it worth it?
Would it interfere with getting prescribed HRT?
What are the consequences of taking the supplement without a blocker?
Are low dose E supplements grounds for postponement of HRT?

[Sarah Louise]

You will get many different opinions.

My opinion is you will be wasting money.

[Jennifer Snowskier]

I agree with Sarah, not only are you going to waste your money it will probably give you false reading on your blood tests and it is a waste of time. Please do it the right way. I self medicated for about 18 months, the E levels were too low and did nothing positive for me and the anti androgen's were doing damage to my kidneys. I wasted all that time because I was too scared to come out and tell people I was transgender. Get good professional help.

Good luck.

[Joanna Dark]

 Low dose E will have an effect but it will take a lot longer. I'm not really sure what you mean though.

[JennX]

I was wondering what everyones thoughts were on taking low dose E supplements before starting HRT.

Is it worth it?
Would it interfere with getting prescribed HRT?
What are the consequences of taking the supplement without a blocker?
Are low dose E supplements grounds for postponement of HRT?

What do you mean by supplements? Saw Palmetto, Black Cohosh, Yohimbe Root, Herbal Tea type stuff? If so, it's not worth it.

[Kelly J. P.]

 Herbal supplements are virtually always a waste of money, while something stronger like birth control or estrace would probably be a waste of time in conservative doses.

Your doctor will probably ramp your doses up at the same rate regardless of whether you take them or not, or when you take them, so they will do little for your progress. Provided the dose of genuine estrogen is high enough, it's possible that you may see some of the effects, but it's typically best to start off really low as a safety precaution... which is what your doctor will be doing with you.

I don't think taking supplements will interfere with being prescribed HRT, but there's not a whole lot of benefit to it in the short term.

[Beth Andrea]

They worked for me. I took them for about 6-8 months prior to HRT.

Saw Palmetto, Red Clover extract + lotion, (unnameable supplement), "extra strength" menopause supplement = early breast development (breast buds, tissue under/near the armpit, slight but noticable increase in breast size and sensitivity)

Once I started HRT, I stopped all herbals. After one year, I'm just a skosh under a "B" cup.

Some get effects, some don't. I have no idea why, but I had the money to burn (I think it was about $25-$30 USD/month) so I thought, "What the heck...no harm in trying."

[Ltl89]

They worked for me. I took them for about 6-8 months prior to HRT.

Saw Palmetto, Red Clover extract + lotion, (unnameable supplement), "extra strength" menopause supplement = early breast development (breast buds, tissue under/near the armpit, slight but noticable increase in breast size and sensitivity)

Once I started HRT, I stopped all herbals. After one year, I'm just a skosh under a "B" cup.

Some get effects, some don't. I have no idea why, but I had the money to burn (I think it was about $25-$30 USD/month) so I thought, "What the heck...no harm in trying."

I know people who have said they have seen effects as well. 

However, I myself have tried Saw Palmetto and saw no results.  Also, as a vegetarian who tries to be a vegan as possible, I drink lots of soy milk and use lots of soy products.  While they claim it increases estrogen in the body, I have never had any visible effects. 

Erin, my suggestion is to wait for HRT.  You will be starting soon enough (summer, right?) and it will likely be wasting money that could be saved for other transition expenses.  Besides even if it did work, the effects would be so minimal that you wouldn't see them in that short time frame.  But that's just my opinion.

[Erin Kay Howell]

Thank you for your comments!

I only have 32 days until my endo appointment but I figured... what the heck id try them. However in retrospect it was probably a $20 loss ill just have to eat and wait.

Im getting so impatient its stupid.

[Ltl89]

It's not stupid.  I feel the same way.  My first appointment is Monday and that feels like a year out from now.  It sucks to have to be patient sometimes.

[Beth Andrea]

Thank you for your comments!

I only have 32 days until my endo appointment but I figured... what the heck id try them. However in retrospect it was probably a $20 loss ill just have to eat and wait.

Im getting so impatient its stupid.

It's a loss only if you don't take them. If they're unopened, you may be able to return them...but they may help alleviate the 32 day wait by allowing you to "do something", even if ultimately it doesn't work.

Do you know what your T levels are? Mine was very low when I started taking the supps...

[Erin Kay Howell]

I have no idea where my T levels are at right now.

When I was referred to my endo the doctor never checked.