Progesterone - A Poll Part One

[judithlynn]

I am interested to get a view from all of those taking Progesterone on a series of Poll questions.
The first part of the poll relates to whether you are taking it continuously or cyclical
Part two of the poll relates to what positive effects of taking it you have been getting
Part three of the poll relates to negative effects of taking it

The reason for the polls is that when I first transitioned some 30 years ago, my doctors were all in favour of prescribing Progesterone as part of my HRT regime; however since recommencing HRT Therapy some 30 years later my current doctor does not believe there are any positive benefits from its use, preferring a Oestrogen HRT regime only.

I am thus curious about other peoples experiences

This is Poll Part One.

[Jessica Merriman]

One injection every two weeks. Highly recommended by my very aggressive Endo. I love it and will stay on it for some time. fills in the mental gaps that "E" can leave.

[Lady_Oracle]

I take pills daily. I notice that it helps regulate my mood at the end of every injection week

[iKate]

One pill a day. No cycling.

[DrummerGirl]

I take mine at night, before bedtime, with no cycling.

[Rachel]

One gel pill a night before bedtime under the tongue.

[Deborah]

I take one in the morning and another at night.  I've been doing this since the beginning so I can't compare to not taking it.

During my first endo appointment she just asked if I wanted it. 


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[Rainbow Bay]

At the moment I take Provera everyday. My Endo said I should take it but didn't really have a good reason why. He just said 'it's the other female hormone'. And when I told my regular doctor he had prescribed that she seemed to think it was a bad idea and said there's no science behind it having any positive effect. So now I'm confused if I should keep taking it. 




No Dosages Please

[iKate]

I think there should be another part to this poll, progestins vs bioidentical. They aren't the same.

[Debra]

I do a cream on my thigh, daily.

[Cindy]

No dosages please.


Part if not all of the confusion is that the largest survey of progesterone use in MtF published by Gorens conclude that it had no effect.

Obviously many women have an alternative opinion.

I'm meeting him next year, I have been invited to his clinic and I will put the question to him.

It is quite a surprise to clinicians when I report the opinion of 20,000 transgender people. they typically see a few. Even in large clinics it is a few hundred clients.

[Girl Beyond Doubt]

I have started HRT in 2013 with CPA and bioidentical E in gel and tablet form (micronized).
Since my surgery in 2014 I have continued with E just as before.
From May 2015 I have tried to add bioidentical P continuously, from August 2015 I have doubled the P dosage, and from November 2015 I will try cycling both E and P.

Until now I can only definitely say that P helps with my breast growth, but I do not know yet how temporary the added fullness is. I am also quite certain that it has helped me with my mood swings, I will watch carefully what happens when I start cycling.

[KayXo]

I take bio-identical P twice daily. Helps with softening skin and hair, my mood, improving buttocks definition, making me look younger, sleep well. Gives me more energy and makes breasts rounder, fuller and more prominent. Regardless of what studies may say, me and many other women have most definitely seen benefits to taking it. YMMV. By the way, several studies have noted the benefits of progesterone in women such as lowering blood pressure, improving memory, enhancing sleep and mood. Progesterone also promotes lobuloalveolar structures in the breast. 

It's also important to distinguish between bio-identical progesterone and other progestins (like Androcur) which I believe was what was under study by Prof. Gooren who by the way, his team had published an earlier study where they noted that the addition of a progestin was necessary for full maturation of the breasts. I have the paper.

[HughE]

At the moment I take Provera everyday. My Endo said I should take it but didn't really have a good reason why. He just said 'it's the other female hormone'. And when I told my regular doctor he had prescribed that she seemed to think it was a bad idea and said there's no science behind it having any positive effect. So now I'm confused if I should keep taking it. 

The AlbertaTrans website had a very good document about the difference between progesterone and progestins. Unfortunately the website was recently revamped, completely dumbed down and all useful information (including that document) was removed. The original website is still available on the Internet Archive though.

Anyway, here's some quotes from that document:

Progestins are synthetically produced.  The main form used for feminizing HRT is Provera (medroxyprogesterone).  Its original purpose was to help women shed the uterine lining at the end of their periods, in an attempt to relieve or prevent the symptoms of endometriosis (when the uterine lining is not completely shed it can cause adhesions & pain).  While Provera can assist with some development of breast lobuloalveolar tissue, it does so only in a very limited way.  Provera is molecularly similar to Testosterone, rather than Progesterone, so it exerts an androgenic effect which can inhibit mammary growth to a small degree.  Provera is not progesterone and should not be considered one by doctors or patients.  Often medroxyprogesterone is referred to as "the progesterone" on some brands of estrogen/progestogen combination medications.  This is not the case, and patients should be very careful to read the ingredients of any combination medications a doctor may prescribe for feminizing HRT. 

Provera has side effects that anyone taking it should be aware of, such as influencing the emotional state of the patient in various ways.  Provera has a well-documented reputation for aggravating and/or causing depression, all too often to suicidal levels.  Anyone who has ever had even mild depression should avoid Provera.  It also has the effect of causing wild mood swings, from giddy highs to suicidal lows, with unpredictable emotional outbursts.  Some doctors insist that these mood swings are natural for TS people to experience while on HRT, but it is not so.  They are often the reactions to the influence of Provera. 
...
Provera counters beneficial effects of estrogen on heart resulting in an increased health risk. It is also associated with a higher risk of breast cancer in genetic women than Prometrium.  Depo-Provera can cause visual disturbances. And the fact that it remains in the body for so long can be serious for people who experience side-effects.
...
Progesterone is essential for proper lobuloalveolar development in TS women.  Progestins just don't stimulate this growth to any serious degree nor does an HRT regimen of strictly Estrogen therapy.  It is normal for Progesterone to increase the size and darken the aureolas, increase the overall size of the nipples and help the breasts develop a fuller, rounder profile.

I found my own development was greatly enhanced when I switched from Provera to Prometrium.  My breasts increased significantly in volume and filled out more in the first few months on Prometrium, than the previous 18 months on Provera.  Other TS women I have talked to, tend to rave about the growth benefits of Prometrium as well.  Prometrium increases breast lobuloalveolar development far in excess of what Provera can accomplish, regardless of the dose of Provera.