HRT update

[Andreja Silvija]

Hello everyone! Merry Christmas if you are reading today. I know I have been kinda only using susan's when it suits me, but I want to let you all know I am doing okay. Anyway, here is how my HRT has progressed since starting a month and a week ago.

First off, I have lost a lot of muscle tone and strength. I sometimes have to do physical labor at work, e.g load trucks and pull pallets loaded with boxes, and I get very tired and sore quickly since starting hrt. So everything seems to be going good with muscle mass loss. My jaw also is noticably softer.

My skin is becoming softer and smoother with each week. I also had a minor problem with black heads on the sides of my nose that is going away quickly. Skin is a lot drier now however, maybe due to winter though.

Having aforementioned erectile issues yaddie yadda..

I haven't really noticed anything with fat distribution or body hair as of yet. But, before I forget, my breasts have been developing pretty much since I started. My nipples are already perky and sensitive. Not painf to touch yet, but you can sure feel it. They are starting to bud noticably and can be seen if I wear I a tight shirt.

I don't know what I should expect at 5 weeks, but I know at least my medication is working. I go back to see my endocrinologist for the two month check up on the 27th of January. I am going to ask him about orchiectomies and if he can refer me to the right person as I have no clue where to begin. My physchologist didn't seem to have the resources to help me surprisingly. I see her again on the 10th so I may ask again. Believe it or not but one of the top google searches for louisville orchiectomy transgender leads to one of my threads on here. Totally face palmed when I saw it.

Ah before I forget and run off, I have noticed some mental changes. I have always been a bit of a cry baby but now I laugh really easily and almost at anything. At least chuckle or giggle. So by extension I am smiling a lot more often.

I have been called young man and bud a lot more often now so I must be at least looking younger in the face. I'm still growing out my hair and presenting as male. Laser might be helping a lot too with age.

[KayXo]

Skin is a lot drier now however, maybe due to winter though.

Bio-identical progesterone can help with this.

[Andreja Silvija]

Yeah, I'm on Provera right now. It's kind of hard to find a non biased article on natural vs synthetic progesterone/tin. I haven't had any depression or mood issues on Provera yet so I think I'll keep taking it for the time being. Just weird having to moisturize the sides of my ribs lol.

I'll still ask my doctor about it and see what he says. Getting my orchiectomy set up is my main concern at the moment. Not sure how I ask him for a referral to the right doctor.

Well thanks for replying. I know it was a wall of text but at least I wasn't completely ignored.

[KayXo]

Provera was shown to increase breast cancer incidence and clotting issues in a large study on ciswomen. So far, it seems this is not the case with bio-identical progesterone.

[Andreja Silvija]

From what I've read, bio-identical progesterone has not been fully studied. Nor is it largely approved by the FDA. I will ask my endo about Prometrium however and hear what he thinks. Just will have to wait until the 27th.

Currently, I am aware of the risks of Provera and would gladly take the risk, in order to fully transition.

Thank you for replying and getting me to think a bit more about my medication. I am also on Spiro and Estrace.

[KayXo]

If Prometrium wasn't approved by the FDA, it would be not be sold in the US which it is. 

Also, I've come across SEVERAL studies (in the hundreds, thousands) on bio-identical progesterone. Just look through pubmed.com...in humans, mice, rats, monkeys, etc. One study in particular found that short-term, progesterone did NOT increase breast cancer risk in contrast to progestins such as Provera.

Also, progesterone has been produced by the human body for millions of years, whereas when we take Provera, we are putting a foreign substance into our bodies which increases chances that complications occur. It may have some effects comparable to progesterone but overall, it's quite different, one just needs to look at the molecule.

[Andreja Silvija]

I mentioned Prometrium because it is approved by the FDA..

I know the difference between synthetic and natural progesterone. I'm just not going to be fear mongered into a different medication when I said already I would ask about it... I'm sure my endocrinologist knows about natural progesterone.

[KayXo]

My intention is only to help others and make lives better.