The Prostate and Hormones

[stephanie_craxford]

I was reading some articles in an old Medical Encyclopedia and came across a reference that mentions that the risk of prostate cancer can be reduced with female hormones.  It didn't mention which female hormones and under what circumstances males would be taking them.

I also found this - High fat consumption is a possible risk factor. Diets low in animal fat and protein decrease the risk. Substances that may offer some protection include vitamin E, selenium, and lycopene from tomato-based foods. Some have postulated that high soya consumption may be protective because of the ingestion of plant phytoestrogens.

Anyone have any other info?

Steph

[Sara]

Stephanie, I used to have many problems with my prostate being too large and many gay and bisexual people have the same issues. I can say first hand that the antiandrogens have helped my problem as one would expect being on hormones for 5 years. They also lowered my heart rate so that has to be good.

As with any long term benefit there is a downside, if you decide for some reason that you do not want to be on hormones and decide to revert back then of course back come all the problems.

Sara.

[stephanie_craxford]

Thanks for the info Sara.  I recently found out that my biological dad died of prostate cancer, along with other things, so I've been curious.

if you decide for some reason that you do not want to be on hormones and decide to revert back then of course back come all the problems.

Well that's one thing that will not happen and I can safely say that I will never revert back as that would be quite impossible for me, not matter what.

Steph

[Sara]

Yeah prostate cancer, testicle cancer who would want that. Get rid of them all I say.

Sara.

[Sheila]

I remember that when a person had problems with their prostate that the medication would give them some breast growth, part of the side effects in many men. I have also heard that once you go on estrogen hormones that you probably wouldn't have any problems with your prostate. I still have mine after my SRS, the doctor said that it would be good for my orgasms and that it will make them better. I really didn't care as I didn't plan on haveing relationships with a man. I had my physical and they took a reading on my prostate gland and it was like I didn't have one. They told me that I probably wouldn't have any problems there, but need to check it in my annuals anyway. So I bend over one way then the stirrups. LOL
Sheila

[amberctm]

I don't really even understand what the prostate does. is it specificly for sexual function? 
Amber

[Sheila]

The prostate is a gland of the male reproductive system. The prostate produces some of the fluid for semen, which transports sperm during the male orgasm.

Normally, the prostate is quite small—it is nearly the same size and shape as a chestnut. It is located in front of the rectum, just below the bladder, and wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out through the tip of the penis. The prostate is made up of approximately 30% muscular tissue, and the rest is glandular tissue.

I pulled this up on Google
Sheila

[Sara]

Amber, I might be wrong but I think the prostate is there to help the testicles produce fluid for the sea men (hehe) and then force it up the telescope at almighty speed. It also has a bit to do with administering T (not sure how much). I am not a doctor but here is what they had to say:

The main function of the prostate is to supply fluid for the sperm during ejaculation. PSA is produced by the prostate gland.


Sara.

[rana]

I watch a TV show "Remote Area Nurse", about the lives of people in Islands between Australia & New Guinea.
Situation came up then, that one of the characters had prostate cancer, and one of the cures - or maybe somthing that could slow/halt the progression of the disease was the taking of female hormones.  This show is fiction, but I would assume that it has a basis in fact.
I guess taking female hormones shrink the testes, so why not the prostate gland - is all part of the same system

[HelenW]

I've been reading a bit about prostate problems, the issue has recently come up for me.  What I've learned is that the prostate enlarges as men get older and that the drugs used to treat this condition today are designed to prevent testosterone from being converted into another hormone that enlarges the organ.  This other hormone is also responsible for male pattern baldness so the drug in question is also used, at lower doses, to regrow hair on bald men.

So, it stands to reason that if you counteract the production of testosterone using Spiro and Estrogen and the like, that the other hormone's presence in the body would be reduced to practically nothing, thus promoting prostate health.

I've read about other health problems in men that female hormones tend to make better but it seems that for every benefit there's a corresponding risk.  Oh well!

helen

[stephanie_craxford]

Exactly Helen,

I've read about other health problems in men that female hormones tend to make better but it seems that for every benefit there's a corresponding risk.  Oh well!

Taking female hormones seems to reduce illnesses associated with the male but in turn MtF run the risk of developing breast cancer by taking the same hormones.  Can't win for loosing

Steph

[Sara]

Stephanie, there are a whole heap of things that can happen to your health, even on treatment like gasto intestinal upsets, liver and kidney problems and so on. The prostate can grow so large it closes off your blood supply (not good) The same meds or similar are used to treat this horrible desease and yes you can get breasts prone to breast cancer and lose sex drive, have shrinkage of everything you knew as a man. This would be extremely upsetting for men.

Sara.

[stephanie_craxford]

Good job I'm a woman

Steph

[Sara]

Stephanie, right you are.

Sara.