Testosterone Levels Too High

[audreytn]

Last appointment my endo said my Testosterone levels were too high.

I'm only taking estrogen and spiro (because of rules, I will leave out the dosages). 

should I be taking progesterone as well in addition to the 2 others?  If so, what brand is recommended? 


I've also been told if my t-levels are too high, I won't be able to get my surgery until they come down. 

I have no insurance, can't afford it and currrently unemployed. 

I'm going to see my endo tomorrow morning.  Would like to know what I'm talking about when I go to see her.

[sam79]

Hi Audrey. Well I don't think progesterone will help you with T levels. And early on, benefits from progesterone are debatable. As for not being able to get surgery with high T, I'd think that's perhaps not true. It's strange that you were told that...

In terms of lowering T, you may be one of the lucky individuals ( like me ) whose body doesn't respond to spiro at all. I had to switch to Androcur, which I've found amazingly effective, and I'm still at half the normal dose. Although I'm not sure Androcur is available in the US. There are still other options though which your endo should be able to discuss with you if spiro isn't doing the job.

[kathyk]

.... Although I'm not sure Androcur is available in the US. There are still other options though which your endo should be able to discuss with you if spiro isn't doing the job.

As Sammy said androcur isn't approved in the US and it won't be prescribed.  But there are other antiandrogens that work extreamly well.  First discuss your Spiro dose with the Endo and ask her if it needs to be increased.  It may be that simple.  And since you're unemployed ask her if you can get your prescriptions from the approved Walmart drug list for a $10 prescription to cover a 3 month period.  Walmart has various doses of E and Spiro in that list.  Unfortunately you may have to get a double prescription for an adequate dose.

[audreytn]

im a veteran so i get my healthcare and prescriptions through the VA hospital. 

[amber1964]

I did a few smart things in my transition and one of them was not to waste a lot of time on spiro. It just doest work very well, its really a blood pressure medication.

Three months after starting hormones I had an orchiectomy. Test problems solved. It is a simple procedure and with no exaggeration I would say my body feminized twice as quickly. Even my breasts grew at a surprising rate, much more than my doctor had ever seen.

Anrocur works as well. But Im sure its not legal in the US. It is effetively permanent sterlization though, but then so is an orchi.

I know, it seems scary and permanent but if you are taking hormones it makes no sense to have estrogen fighting the testosterone. Hormones also make permanent changes.

[amber1964]

Sorry, I should have added. Progesterone will do nothing except increase your health risk from the estrogen. Many doctors wont even prescribe it and the science behind its use for feminization is dubious at best. I would stay far away from it.

[Bardoux]

Actually progesterone does act as a quite effective anti-androgen along with it's other benefits. The health risks and minimal benefits people may have told you about, are probably referring to studies using old forms of the medication/delivery.

[amber1964]

I will have to disagree with you on progesterone. I also do not base my information on what other people have told me, I am more than competent and educated to refer to original studies. As an anti androgen it has very limited properties, but if you post a link I would be interested in reading it. The increased risks of stroke and thrombosis, especially in FEMALES over age 40 are well documented and not in dispute. Perhaps less so for those young or born male bodied. Far, far safer to take Androcur or to have an orchiectomy, but to each their own.

[amber1964]

I have yet to run across a study that provided any significant support for the inclusion of any form of progesterone in HRT for trans females. If you have a link, I would be interested in reading it.

[amber1964]

I would look forward to it. Not important to me at this point but I like being up to date.

[audreytn]

it's a shame people can not read.

NO insurance, no money, unemployed and desperately looking.  I'm a veteran, so I'm kinda limited on what prescriptions I can take. 

all this stuff that isn't FDA approved here in the states is a moot point.  So why even suggest it? 

on the orchie...NO MONEY/NO INSURANCE or this would have been done a long time ago. 

spiro is maxed out per VHA directive guidelines. 


Met with my endo this morning, we're gonna try Primarin and see how that works.  no changes to spiro or anything else. 

[Randi]

Premarin has caused lots of problems with both cis and trans women.  The Women's Health Initiative study was discontinued because of those problems.  I think if they had used estradiol instead of Premarin they would have observed fewer problems.

I wish you luck and health.

Randi

Met with my endo this morning, we're gonna try Primarin and see how that works.  no changes to spiro or anything else.

[Cindy Stephens]

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

I would never push or trash a regimen or drug that any of the girls are prescribed.  I do think it wise to really do the reading put our by respected medical societies.  See the Wikipedia entry for "Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy" (BHRT) article for where to do further research. 

"The International Menopause Society, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, The Endocrine Society, the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), United States Food and Drug Administration, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Medical Association, American Cancer Society and the Mayo Clinic have released statements that there is a lack of evidence that the benefits and risks of bioidentical hormones are different from well-studied nonbioidentical counterparts; until such evidence is produced the risks should be treated as if they were similar; and that compounded hormone products may have additional risks related to compounding. A major safety concern in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is that there is no requirement to include package inserts, despite the potential for serious adverse effects (including life-threatening adverse effects) associated with HRT. This can lead to consumers' being deceived (and harmed), as they are misled into believing that BHRT is safe and has no side effects. Regulatory bodies require pharmacies to include important safety information with conventional hormone replacement therapy (CHRT) via package inserts."  From the Wiki.

I take medroxyprogesterone depot as my primary AA.  I can't take spiro.  Unfortunately, I see many comments about it that are simply not true.  Medroxy is used as the primary drug for chemical castration of sex offenders as it decreases testosterone levels dramatically.  Please Google "chemical castration" for numerous articles on that subject as well. 
Medroxy may not be appropriate for you, but my research on the subject indicates that it is correct for me, it is relatively safe, effective, inexpensive, and works.  Most of all it is very well studied while the bioidenticals have not been.