Does Progesterone help?

[Wendy]

Wow the advise is mixed on Progesterone!

Some authorities say progesterone is a waste of money.

Others say it counteracts too much "E".

In fact I read taking too much E can increase the chances of prostate cancer!
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I took microgest daily my first year and then stopped because it was expensive and I did not know if it helped.  I was tired the first year and was not sure if the microgest contributed to me being tired or the reduction in T made me tired or both. 

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Here's my questions:
1.  Should you take progesterone every day to counteract the bad effects of E?
2.  Many meds have a progesteronic effect such as Spiro and Androcur.  Does taking Spiro substitude for progesterone?
3.  I think black cohosh is a herbal progesterone.  Will black cohosh substitute for microgest?
4.  Progesterone is sold as a cream.  Is that effective? 
5.  Does progesterone help in proper breast development?
6.  Does progesterone help increase libido?
7.  Some advise to take microgest for 10 days a month.  If microgest is the best form of progesterone what frequency should it be administered? 

My guess is microgest is good for you every day since it does not boost T and it counteracts too much E but it is very expensive. 

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

[Butterfly]

It made me develop hair in unusual parts.  Really thick hair.  My doctor said it was the progesterone so he discontinued it.  I dunno if I'm the only one that has experienced this or if it happens to everybody.  The hair growth stopped after the discontinuation though.  So in my case, it wasn't helpful but jeopardized the efforts I had made to get rid of hair.

[Wendy]

It made me develop hair in unusual parts.  Really thick hair.  My doctor said it was the progesterone so he discontinued it. 

Excellent input.  I do not like hair in unusual parts of the body.   My first chest hair (singular) was at age 40 and I shaved it off in the shower.  I did grow a few chest hairs around the areolas last year which might have been influenced by progesterone.  I thought it was just hormonal wars in my body.  I would be very disappointed if all of a sudden I grew a bunch of chest hairs!  Currently most chest hairs are permanently gone.

The tally is:
No: 1
Undecided: 1
Yes: 0

I guess I should have made a tally.

[tinkerbell]

In my case, I was never prescribed any provera.  My endo who is also my gender therapist (she has twenty years of experience with TS people BTW) doesn't believe in progesterone in the treatment of transsexual women.  Why? because in her experience, progesterone tends to cause masculinization effects on some women, and hence their estrogen regimen has to be increased to potentially dangerous levels (especially if the patient is over forty years of age)

Progesterone occupies an important position in the pathway of hormonal synthesis.  In addition to being the precursor to estrogen, it is also the precursor of testosterone and the all-important adrenal cortical hormone cortisol.  Cortisol is essential for stress response, sugar and electrolyte balance, blood pressure and general survival.  In short, progesterone serves to promote survival and development of the embryo and fetus.  It acts as a precursor to many important steroid hormones and helps to regulate a broad range of biological and metabolic effects in the body.  During chronic stress, progesterone production is reduced as the body favors cortisol production to reduce stress.  This is an important point which we will look into later.

Functions of Progesterone

Progesterone acts primarily as an antagonist (opposite to) to estrogen in our body.  For example, estrogen can cause breast cysts while progesterone protects against breast cysts.  Estrogen enhances salt and water retention while progesterone is a natural diuretic.  Estrogen has been associated with breast and endometrial cancer, while progesterone has cancer preventive effect.

I'm sorry that I can't provide the source of this quote, but it contains dosage information which may encourage some people to self-medicate.  Wendy, I am PM'ing you the link in case you are interested in reading it further.

tink

[gothique11]

I'm taking Prometrium (progesterone). I've been on it since I started HRT, so I can't tell you if it does anything or not. I know of some people who have tried provera (progestin), which is different than Prometrium. I can't confirm this, but I've heard that provera can convert to T, but Prometrium doesn't.

As far as I know, if someone decides to try progesterone, Prometrium is the better choice. I don't know if there are any actual studies regarding trans use and how effective it is or not.

[Wendy]

The only reason I bring this up is your spiro objections & now your progesterone Q's. I recently switched off the spiro in favor of Cypro (just two weeks ago) and aside from a little weight gain (water from no more diuretic?) and a general sleepiness (which I always need anyway) I feel better than ever, my breasts are definitely tender & swelling again (which is nice considering only about a "A" these days) and I suspect "my gain" is in my legs which, being the least exercised part of me, are beginning to appear much more rounder and feminine than ever before . . . 

Hips?? Not sure what's the story there but when SO starts to get worried and actually offers to take ya "bra shopping" surely something's working right and Cypro is considered by many to be well suited to "our cause" and the best available to date!  LOL

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Kiera, my boobs are nice B's and I have not had one comment from anyone.  Either people are blind or polite.  My married male friend down the block told me I look great and asked if I lost weight when I was taking a walk today....   I noticed you talked about leg increases.  My calfs are bigger by one inch and I had no idea why they should be bigger. I need my legs to get smaller not bigger!  I have thunder thighs already.  I have been strangely happy but quite alone....  My daughters use my credit card for Victoria's Secret and guess who gets the coupons?

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Tink  I have read a lot regarding the masculizing effects of synthethic progesterone.  Thanks for your links.  The article did support natural progesterone for health reasons.

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Gothique  I did take the genetic form of natural progesterone (prometrium) for one year and did not take it this year.   I have read that natural progesterone does protect the prostate from estrogen.  This would be good for me and if done right could work to my advantage.

Thanks all.

[taru]

Wow the advise is mixed on Progesterone!

Progesterone helps some people and doesn't help others. Whether it is worthwhile depends on the person. Also there is much confusion when people take synthetic progestins like MPA which have different effects than progesterone and don't make a distinction between them.

1.  Should you take progesterone every day to counteract the bad effects of E?

No. Progesterone is added to GG hrt to protect the uterus from too many E effects.

2.  Many meds have a progesteronic effect such as Spiro and Androcur.  Does taking Spiro substitude for progesterone?

Androcur has weak progesteronic effects, but not as much as taking progesterone (at reasonable dosages). Not quite sure about spiro.

3.  I think black cohosh is a herbal progesterone.  Will black cohosh substitute for microgest?

No. Read e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_cohosh

4.  Progesterone is sold as a cream.  Is that effective? 

Yes. Although capsules may be easier, but a question of preference.

5.  Does progesterone help in proper breast development?

It helps breast to mature in some people, in some people it does not seem to help. There is lots of conflicting data about this.

6.  Does progesterone help increase libido?

It helps some people also in that department.

7.  Some advise to take microgest for 10 days a month.  If microgest is the best form of progesterone what frequency should it be administered? 

For some people a steady rate is the best, some people get the best effects by cycling progesterone.

I think that with progesterone it makes sense to take notes what effects it has, try different forms and most importantly listen to your body.

[lisagurl]

Progesterone is part of a normal hormone balance. There are normal levels that should be maintained in a post op female.  Blood tests will determine what dose you need. I notice no side effects prometrium.

[LynnER]

I dont know ofr sure if it helps or not.....  But for me, E and P works a whole heck of allot better than E and S or any other AA...  my natural T level is very low so *shrugs*

With E alone or E with an AA I had verry little in the way of physical results... but with P I had and am again having some wonderful growth LoL....  I guess its a case of to each there own.....

[gothique11]

My T is very low two, in fact, I had my Sprio dose cut in half since I first started HRT. And my T levels keep going down with the P and E. I just saw an Endro a few weeks ago (it takes forever to see the endro and get approved if you're trans -- a year for me, so I've been going to my family doctor for meds).

The Endro isn't going to change my meds, however, he mentioned that he suspects that the P and E are doing something. He rarely prescribes P, but it seems to be doing something to me. He's keeping me on the spiro, but he said with me the spiro is basically just acting to stop hair growth hormone (FSH). I seemed to get the impression from him that Spiro doesn't really do as much for pushing T levels down compared to E. And P seems to help it go down.

I'm not sure if my doctor is going to cut my spiro again or not, but we are just seeing how the levels play out for the next while. Plus, surgery isn't too far along so playing with meds right now doesn't make much sense anyway.

--natalie

[Wendy]

Lynn and Natalie you seem to be having good results with natural Progesterone.

Progesterone cream seems to be a good strategy for me.  P cream does seem to increase my libido and is probably easier on the liver than pills.

Thanks all!

[sarah ann]

I have been taking  progesterone for abut two and a half years and so far no problems as of yet i all so take Estragon and doing well on both and other hormones  my breast have not grown any as of yet