Quote from: KayXo on December 01, 2014, 02:53:36 PM
Cisfemales typically reach levels up to 650 during their menstrual cycle (mid-cycle peak) and up to 75,000 during pregnancy.
My comparison was to the average cis female level over the course of a typical month; I am well aware that it varies.
QuoteIf indeed such high levels were harmful, we would see the death rate of females be MUCH greater than males which is clearly not the case.
Not necessarily, for two reasons: 1) T has been linked to heart attacks and strokes, so it stands to reason that the higher death rate of males could be explained by their higher T levels, not lower E levels. Even if E were bad (which I am certainly not implying), it could simply be that T is even worse. 2) Such high levels exceed the amount that females typically live with long-term, so while E may be good in moderation, it could still be dangerous at excessive levels.
QuoteOn levels below 1,000, my feminization was poor, I didn't feel good and now on levels much higher, I feel 1000% better, my blood tests are coming back normal, everything is just great.My skin has markedly improved, my face is fuller, body is more curvaceous.
The problem with strokes is that everything really is just great until the day they happen.
Even at a relatively modest level (near 60), my skin became drier and more sensitive to sunlight, and I saw a couple of new flat moles. It is hard to see how having 20 times as much would be good for skin, when having even this much has caused my skin to deteriorate in every way except softness. E does soften skin, but when it is burning and aging with little provocation, that is mild consolation.
QuoteIn fact, they noted that the treatment could prevent the onset of thrombosis, was protective.
Well of course, high doses of E will be protective in men because they suppress androgens; this probably signifies the harmful effects of T more so than the protective benefits of E.
QuoteInterestingly, also, pregnant women who experience VERY high levels tend to have a lower rate of breast cancer incidence, the more pregnancies, the lesser the rate although we can't, for sure, infer a cause and effect relation but still...if really, high levels were dangerous, we should not observe this.
The informed consent form I signed for HRT required me to acknowledge that it could induce breast cancer. The legal experts seem concerned.
QuoteWhat levels are ideal for one may not be ideal for the other.
I agree; some people are more sensitive to its effects. However, if most doctors are unwilling to prescribe it at such high levels, and their professional associations warn against doing so, then they are obviously concerned about serious risks, and such concern among medical professionals does not arise without good scientific evidence.
QuoteStrokes and such have usually been observed with progestins not bio-identical (like Provera) and the use of oral non bio-identical estrogen. I think it's important to specify this.
The Endocrine Society does not seem to think bio-identical hormones are any safer, and there seems to be a lack of large-scale studies to prove otherwise.
QuoteI personally question this because how then do people who are completely insensitive to androgens (CAIS) survive and they seem to do quite well too, appear healthy, etc. Personally, I think it's important to have just enough of either hormone in our bodies to feel and look good...how much varies from one person to another obviously. I'm not a doctor, of course but these are my thoughts...
I agree with this. Ideal levels should be based on individual needs, and the assumption that some T is necessary is overly simplistic. I would personally love to see how I would respond to a T level that is low by female standards.
QuoteI find that post-op, with very little T but with high levels of E, I have lots of energy, libido, etc. No problems. Cyproterone sometimes tends to kill libido too much because I think it lowers dopamine on top of aggressively blocking/reducing androgens.
Dopamine is also important to mood, and mood affects energy. Anti-androgens like cyproterone and spironolactone also can cause dehydration, which reduces energy. Therefore, it would be wrong to assume that a decline in energy from taking such a medication would necessarily be because of their anti-androgenic effects. There are many other factors also affecting energy, like sleep, diet, and exercise. There are plenty of people who feel good without much T.