Is Aromatase a viable alternative to direct estradiol hrt?

[Lexi~]

Hai everyone. First time ever posting on this site and I've made an account specifically for asking a question I couldn't find an answer to. So I've been doing a lot of reading around here and other sites, and for the first time I couldn't find any direct answers already out here to a question I have. Anywho my question regards Aromatase. I found out from Wikipedia earlier tonight that genetic women actually produce testosterone first and then convert it into estradiol with the Aromatase enzyme. This got me wondering if it wouldn't be easier and possibly safer to take the enzyme and use it to naturally convert my own testosterone into real estradiol instead of taking a fake estrogen extracted from horse urine. (Another shocking discovery I found out in the same article.) I tried searching on Google for existing forum posts on the subject as I usually do rather than make my own, but unfortunately all Google could pull up was more or less related posts where somebody's reply happened to include the name of the enzyme. So for once I'm actually having to step into the spotlight and ask it on my own. So if any of you gals more experienced than me would like to educate me about the possible pros and cons of using Aromatase as an alternative to more traditional hrt ingredients I'd be most grateful. And of course this is purely for educational purposes. I'm not far enough out of the closet to do anything besides wearing feminine outfits and attempting to pass on webcams to friends who don't know that I got dealt the wrong set of cards in life. Thanks in advance for your help. <3

[UPDATE] thank you everyone! I had no idea that horse stuff was no longer in use or that t-cells would get in the way of the aromatase. Pretty much all the info I had to go on was what little I found in one Wikipedia article that described different kinds of estrogen as a chemical and said hardly anything at all on what someone could realistically expect by introducing aromatase into the male body. Pretty much the only things it did mention was that some people have been born with a rare condition where their body naturally generates too much or too little for their assigned sex and ended up somewhere in between... Kinda what spurred on the question. Well at least now I'm one bit smarter than before.

[Cindy]

I know of no one taking Premarin any more, the standard is pure Estrogen.

Taking Aromatse will do nothing as it does not block the T receptors, and the half life is too short.

When you go to an endocrinologist they will assign you correctly.

Yet another reason that self medication is bad for you, dangerous and often ineffective.

[kelly_aus]

I'll second what Cindy said..

Aromatase will do little, if anything, for you. I've kinda gotta wonder where your research came from.. Equine-based estrogens have not been widely used in quite some time..

[ImagineKate]

Most HRT today uses 17-beta estradiol made from plants. Most use either hemihydrate or valerate (injections). Premarin is rarely used anymore.

[Railgun]

Well Aromatase can work, but firstly not for everyone (it depends on the total amount of testosterone in your system - converting a tea spoon more ice to water, won't melt an entire ice berg away) and secondly changes can be eeeextreeemly slow compared to adding extra Estrogen to the system.
If you really want a transition in a reasonable time, you're better of with the usual prescribtions.
And if you fear damage to your systems you can leave the T-Blockers away. That will slow down your progress for some months (til the Hypothalamus lowered the T production of your testicles in response to the higher overall sex hormone levels) but it won't damage your liver as much.

[Jessica Merriman]

As a Paramedic trust me. Go the legally prescribed way and only with bio identical hormones. Anything else is playing with a loaded gun. Premarin and Ethinyl Estrogen= Danger and there is a reason it and synthetics are no longer used. The risks of DVT, CVA and cardiac issue's are through the roof. Herbals-NO. Aromatase-NO. Supplements-NO. Medical monitoring, lab work and bio identical hormones-YES,YES,YES! Trust me on this one.  🙂