Quote from: Sydney_NYC on January 26, 2016, 09:30:44 PM
There is a very slight small chance that going on bio-identical estrogen can cause a tumor in the pituitary gland which will cause death after pro-long use. This is from a genetic mutation in the chromosomes that causes this with HRT. By going half dose for the first month, the blood levels are checked and if there is an elevated level of prolactin, then there is a danger of a tumor forming there and it's addressed.
I believe what you are talking about is a prolactinoma, a BENIGN pituitary tumor that does not spread in the body. This has NEVER been observed with taking bio-identical estradiol only, whatever levels happen to be. The only instances where I have read this happens is when ethinyl estradiol, conjugated equine estrogens, DES and Androcur are taken.
Prolactin should increase as estradiol increases. This is perfectly normal. Women have very high prolactin levels during pregnancy and breastfeeding which together can last up to 4-5 yrs, especially traditionally. Then, sometimes, they go right back to being pregnant with high prolactin levels. If indeed this was problematic, ciswomen should have decreased in number with time.
The problem is non bio-identical forms of estrogen and cyproterone acetate (Androcur) which can raise levels ABNORMALLY. I have extensively researched this and all transcases involved non bio-identical forms and/or cyproterone acetate. NEVER bio-identical estradiol. As far as I know, pregnancy and breastfeeding also don't cause prolactinomas.
I'm afraid your doctor is feeding you wrong information. Please ask her to provide you studies. I doubt you'll find one where bio-identical estradiol without cyproterone acetate, without non bio-identical forms of E caused a prolactinoma.
QuoteBy itself that is generally true, but combined with HRT the opposite happens while still reducing DHT. I asked the same question when she suggested it, but she has a lot of trans patients and she know more than most endos. When she increased my E and Finasteride while my Spiro remained the same, I dropped from 157 ng/fL of Testosterone (at 7 months HRT) to 15.2 ng/dL in 3 months. The test results proved her right.
Not quite. You increased BOTH E and finasteride.
E reduces T. This is why T decreased. Not because of finasteride, because of E. All studies clearly show finasteride only reduces DHT, there is no way for it to reduce T, it doesn't make sense.
QuoteThat is true for E and they keep those level on the high end, but it's the T specifically they want in the female range which is 15-85 ng/dL
High end for E during menstrual cycle is 400-600 pg/ml, if pregnancy is considered, 40,000-75,000 pg/ml.
Measuring T can be unreliable for a few reasons:
1) if total T, part of the T measured is not active as it is bound to SHBG
2) even if free or bio-available T, if you are taking an anti-androgen that blocks T, then part of T measured is blocked so not even effective. Test cannot determine this.
3) T fluctuates in time
4) sensitivity to T varies, so someone can do fine on 70 ng/dl, another one might fare better on 20 ng/dl.
