HRT alternatives phytoestrogen/ bioidentical hormones

[lucy aylett]

ive heard of phytoestrogens there natural estrogen that exists in certain foods. some foods have quite a lot in them such as flax seed and soy has anyone heard of anyone using a phytoestrogen high diet as a supplement to actual medical hrt

additionally are there any over the counter medications anyone has heard of containing estrogen that have a desired alternative effect and work instead of or in conjuction with hrt

[Oriah]

A phytoestrogen rich diet will actually detract from traditional HRT, as the phytoestrogens, and the pharmaceutical estrogens will compete for receptors.

That said, my entire HRT regimen is all herbal, so it is possible.....

[Cindy]

The difference is the same as a Ferrari versus a pogo stick. To be honest they are a waste. See a medic and get proper treatment.

[Heather]

  I've heard the "dud" phytoestrogens can stay in your system for many months and neutralize any chance you might have of a decent HRT response.

Oh I don't know about that I was taking phytoestrogens for six months before starting hrt. While I believe now I was throwing my money away on them but I don't think it has hurt my chances with my response to hrt. 

[lucy aylett]

what about on there own and not in regards to regular hrt treatment what sort of results have people seen from them.

[Cindy]

You will get very little compared to proper HRT. On HRT I had obvious effects in days, body changes in a few weeks and now I'm totally remodelled physically and mentally, and safely.

Why bother with playing?

Get the job done correctly

[lucy aylett]

well as far as i know the only treatment i know involves a saringe the problem with that is almost everytime i have an injection i have a mass panic attack in fact 3 times its caused me to have a heart attack doctors now have to put me under with gas just for a blood test so you can see my issue

[Heather]

what about on there own and not in regards to regular hrt treatment what sort of results have people seen from them.

I took them on and off since I was twenty and yes you can get some results. But really with the amount of doses required and the money involved you really better off with traditional hrt. Yes I did have some breast growth over the years but really it was nothing to get all excited about.
The truth is if I could do this all over again I would have started hrt instead of the herbal. The only reason I was taking the herbals was because I was too afraid to go discuss this with a therapist then. It is a whole lot cheaper and safer to just go with normal hrt. You will get far better results

[Heather]

well as far as i know the only treatment i know involves a saringe the problem with that is almost everytime i have an injection i have a mass panic attack in fact 3 times its caused me to have a heart attack doctors now have to put me under with gas just for a blood test so you can see my issue

hrt does come in pills now you will have to have blood drawn for the blood tests but that's once every couple of months.

[Cindy]

well as far as i know the only treatment i know involves a saringe the problem with that is almost everytime i have an injection i have a mass panic attack in fact 3 times its caused me to have a heart attack doctors now have to put me under with gas just for a blood test so you can see my issue

This is totally incorrect, I have no injections and I suggest you see a gender therapist who can explain the real treatment protocols available .
You are risking destroying your health on poor information.

If you have had a heart attack then it is even more critical that you are under supervised care.

Over dramatising the situation won't help either!

Calm down and get good advice rather than being misinformed.

Cindy

[lucy aylett]

is that really true if so thats the single best news i have had well ever i think when it comes to the option will the doctor inform you of this or do you need to enquire

[Ave]

Just get some legit meds, they're cheaper and much more potent.








Edited for improper language.

[Ltl89]

One of my girlfriends took these natural meds for a few years before she was able to get real hormones.  Her opinion is that she feels like they worked, but never noticed anything in particular.  And she took these, I believe, prior to when she was 18.  I'm doubtful these will do much for you.  If you are looking for hormones, there are better ways. 

I'm terrified of injections myself, so I go the pill route.  It's been working for me.  Let me know if you have any other questions. 

[lucy aylett]

i do indeed intend to use tradional hrt. ive been tiptoeing around the subject in my own mind for two reasons one is my fear of needles the other is my family situation. i realise that even if i used some form of alternative the changes would evidently become noticeable and even though my mothers side of the family would be fine with whichever decision i make my dad and his side would disown me and completely hate me. i realise this makes him not a great father and i should do whats right for me and my mental wellbeing but he is my dad after all and i love him and dont want him to hate me

[Devlyn]

Lucy, here is a link to our Wiki on estrogen. You can see it comes in pill, patch, gel, and the dreaded injections and implants. You should be able to find a solution that works for you. Hugs, Devlyn

https://www.susans.org/wiki/Estrogen

[Cindy]

Honey,
Once you are on hormones your body changes. I cannot pass as a guy. I'm 38b, 30 waist, 36 hips. I can't fool anyone. If you go on hormones they will feminise you.

Seek the help of a gender therapist. Your problems are not the hormones and that is why we need therapists to help.

[Ltl89]

i do indeed intend to use tradional hrt. ive been tiptoeing around the subject in my own mind for two reasons one is my fear of needles the other is my family situation. i realise that even if i used some form of alternative the changes would evidently become noticeable and even though my mothers side of the family would be fine with whichever decision i make my dad and his side would disown me and completely hate me. i realise this makes him not a great father and i should do whats right for me and my mental wellbeing but he is my dad after all and i love him and dont want him to hate me

My family was also my biggest roadblock.  I never wanted to let them down.  In a way, I was always my familys pride and joy being the only "boy".  Having accomplished quite some feats at my young age, despite recent setbacks, my family always believed that I'd go far in life.  Well, I still will, but it's not the same dream they had.  It's understandable that parents have expectations and hopes for their children; however, it's not our responsibility to live their dreams.  We have our own life to accomplish and go through.  Yes, coming out was hard and will continue to be, but I am so happy that I am moving forward.  For the first time in years, I feel like I am somewhat free.  I'm no longer going to be bound by others and it is an amazing and liberating feeling.  Most families will come around in time.  The progress I have made with my mother is slow but very nice.  To finally be able to hug her again and tell her I love her has been one of the greatest gifts I could ever have.  Time heals wounds and families that are strong will stay together.  It's hard, but there is faith.  I'm sorry to ramble, but your post touched me and reminded me of something I would have said in the past.  I wanted to share that it can and will get better.

[Jamie D]

ive heard of phytoestrogens there natural estrogen that exists in certain foods. some foods have quite a lot in them such as flax seed and soy has anyone heard of anyone using a phytoestrogen high diet as a supplement to actual medical hrt

additionally are there any over the counter medications anyone has heard of containing estrogen that have a desired alternative effect and work instead of or in conjuction with hrt

Hi, Lucy - here is what the noted endocrinologist, Dr. John O'Dea of Los Angeles, wrote about phytoestrogens:

Plants produce weak phytoestrogens with generally defeminizing influences that have no role to play in the feminization of transsexuals. Plants like the wild yam do not produces significant feminizing estrogens, although they do produce plant hormones capable of being converted synthetically into estrogens and progestins.

Though they may have some utility, a cost/benefit analysis will suggest that using bioidentical hormones is a much better way to go.  Hope this helps.

Edit:  There are several methods to deliver estrogen to your system, besides injections; pills, patches, creams/lotions, implants (once every 3 to six months).

[Rosa]

I'm confused about the difference between phytoestrogens and bio identical estrogens. I understand that phytoestrogens are plant based. On a website from an endo I was looking at it says they use bio identical estrogens that are derived from yams. Maybe it's common but I was a little surprised to see an endo using estrogens from yams.

[Jamie D]

This might help, Rosa:

Bioidentical Hormones Defined

    In medicine and physiology, a "bioidentical" compound (e.g. hormones) is a laboratory-synthesized molecule whose structure is identical to a compound that the human body produces naturally. Conversely, "non-bioidentical" compounds are those molecules that, whether made in a lab or extracted directly from a non-human organism, function like human body compounds but have a different molecular structure.

How Are Bioidentical Compounds Made?

    Human estrogen and progesterone are based on a simple four-ring carbon skeleton that are common across both the plant and animal kingdom. Compounds found naturally in yams and soybeans have a specific molecular structure that allow scientists to easily convert these plant compounds into molecules that are bioidentical to forms of estrogen and progesterone produced by human cells. Even though they are produced in a lab, these plant-derived compounds are still bioidentical.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/about_5041275_definition-bioidentical.html#ixzz2bbZcQEbx