The Progesterone cycle

[Apples Mk.II]

Well, day #03 of the cycle. Still feeling quite calm, but now my breasts are hurting a bit. Yay, I guess. I'm going to hope it's actual growth and not high prolactines (no fluid discharge).

[judithlynn]

The first time I transitioned, my doctor and endo put me on a 18 day Estrogen only then 12 day Estrogen & Progesterone cycle. After about the 3 month period I really started to notice the difference, especially as I was by then living with my best girl friend Alison and some how we both appeared to sync. At the end of my E only cycle I started to get quite irritable with strange cramps and that's about the time my girlfriend started to get her PMS and period. I knew by the third cycle immediately when I should start on my Progesterone plus regime and I really needed it. It became a real craving. But after the full 12 days of it I was always glad to cycle back  to Estrogen only.  During my combined days, my breasts started to get a lot fuller especially on the sides of the breasts and  after being assigned a Nurse Practioner by my Doctor, the NP showed me how to massage the breast tissue which I then did 4 times daily in circular motions. I was also putting on  fatty tissue especially on the upper thighs and bottom.  After my 4th cycle I also started to feel quite bloated in my breasts and my Nurse Practioner explained that was the effect of cycling and  the fact that I was increasing the milk ducts and lobuli. The main side effects were a dull headache during my combined period normally just the first 4-5 days which Alison always use to say that my body was mimicking her period pains!.  After my 6th cycle, my Endo and Nurse Practioner advised me to considered induced lactation as by then the combined disage onafter 6  cycles  had given me quite a lot of milk production, with my breasts quite full (I went from a full A Cup to a small C Cup.  She recommended I acquire a Double breast pump and express the milk during my combined cycle. She recommended  lactation twice a day for 15 minutes each day on the double pump for the first 6 days then increasing to 6-8 times a day of 12 minutes at a time. After about a week, I was regularly expressing milk and the more I did it the more production I got and the more full my breasts became.

Unfortunately I had to change my doctor and Alison moved to another job  in a different city and with my new Doctor, she didn't like the idea of me taking Progesterone concerned about the possible mental side effects, so I was advised  to stop the cycling. These days I am on a Estrogen only moderate dosage daily. Development the second time around has been much slower

[KayXo]

Well, day #03 of the cycle. Still feeling quite calm, but now my breasts are hurting a bit. Yay, I guess. I'm going to hope it's actual growth and not high prolactines (no fluid discharge).

As far as I know, the only progestogen to raise prolactin significantly is cyproterone acetate (Androcur).

[Joan]

If bio-identical progesterone is given in injectable, then it will only last 1-2 days as it has a very short half-life. So, it's probably not progesterone. I'm thinking it's probably Depot-Provera, a progestin, (medroxyprogesterone acetate) which tends to cause depression and irritability in some OR, less likely (but still possible), 17alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate (Proluton-Depot), another progestin.

It's very important to make the distinction between progesterone and its analogues for others who read us. There is a significant difference between these compounds.

Thanks for that, that was really useful.  I had my last injection two weeks ago with progesterone, and this time this part of the cycle has been hard.  Since Tuesday I've dropped like a stone and have been having some very dark thoughts

I had an estrogen depo today and after seven hours I feel much better.  I guess the E levels had dropped off.  It's never been that severe before.

I asked the nurse today whether it was progesterone or progestin and she was adamant it was progesterone.

Interesting what you say about the half life.  Next time I see the endo himself I'll ask him for final clarirification.

[KayXo]

If it's bio-identical progesterone, then it makes no sense to do an injection every 2 weeks.

http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-53416-Progesterone+in+Oil+IM.aspx?drugid=53416&drugname=Progesterone+in+Oil+IM

"How to use Progesterone in Oil intramuscular
Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using progesterone and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
This medication is given by injection into a muscle as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. "

The reason you may have started feeling lousy is because the E levels dropped too much and that is why I usually advise, based on my own readings, to inject E weekly, I actually get them every 5 days now.

Contraception. 1980 Apr;21(4):415-24.
A comparison of the pharmacokinetic properties of three estradiol esters.
Oriowo MA, Landgren BM, Stenström B, Diczfalusy E.

"Peak plasma levels of estradiol and estrone were reached in approximately 4 days following the administration of estradiol cypionate and in a significantly shorter time (approximately 2 days) following the administration of both the valerate and benzoate. One hour after the injection of the esters, the average percentage increases in plasma estradiol and estrone levels were significantly higher in the valerate and benzoate groups compared to the subjects receiving estradiol cypionate. The average duration of elevated estrogen levels was shortest in the benzoate group (4-5 days) followed by the valerate (7-8 days) and cypionate (approximately 11 days). In none of the subjects studied were elevated estradiol and/or estrone levels encountered 2 weeks after the injection of the various esters."
 

[Apples Mk.II]

As far as I know, the only progestogen to raise prolactin significantly is cyproterone acetate (Androcur).

I have the before / after measurements on prolactin from when my CA dose was doubled. Upped a bit, but still in tolerable levels.


Damn, sleeping eight hours is mandatory now. If I don't do it, I fall aslep in the moment I sit down. five days.

[Joan]

And thank you again, KayXo.  That's very interesting.

I'm on valerate and that information fits how my mood has changed between the two IMs. 

Also thanks for the info on the progesterone.  Not quite sure what's going on there.

I really don't want to go through how I felt this week too often, so it might be time to talk to the endo about how to modify the dosage and interval.

[Apples Mk.II]

Last day of my cycle. In the end, just the calm, more natural libido but without being horny all the time and improved sleep remain. The itch in my breasts and nipple soreness did not last a lot more.

Also, I never got any more emotional, bitchy, etc. In fact, it's as if I have an "emotional limiter" right now, feeling like I am in control all the time.