progesterone - how does it work?

[November Fox]

Hi guys.

I might be going on progesterone pills (dydtrogesteron) to combat severe pms.
I have a few questions about it.

Do you know if it interferes with testosterone? I´m guessing probably not because there are a lot of guys on T and also using progesterone, but just to be sure.

When do you take it exactly if you still have PMS and Shark Week?

Thanks for any info you can provide.
I´ll also be talking to an endo to see if it´s normal that I still have Shark Week & what´s going on with my T levels.

[FTMax]

My doctor recommends Depo Provera shots for guys who are having period issues on T. It's also progesterone based, so I think you should be good to go.

[November Fox]

Depo Provera (or any type of shots) is not a good idea for me due to crps (less injections is better) and also the fact that depo provera would linger in my body, whereas capsules are temporary. I´ve heard some people have a bad emotional reaction to depo, and just having to ride it out.

[FTMax]

Oh, I wasn't advocating shots. I was just saying they're progesterone based, so if that's what's typically recommended for someone on T, pills made of the same should be fine

[Kylo]

I currently take it. Because my Dr. gave it to me to reduce my habits of doing dodgy things to myself to avoid periods... basically knowing I would use it to stop periods completely. On the dose of T I'm currently on I don't actually need it, but I still keep it handy and take a few every now and then just in case the body is thinking of trying to build up the uterine lining for a flush out.

My Dr. specifically told me that it doesn't interfere with T, because I asked her that, and the specialist Dr at the GIC said it as well.

On my current T dose, I get zero symptoms of female cycle. This was the dose they put me on to begin with. They thought I would have symptoms so they suggested I continue to take Norithisterone for 6 months as well. The way they instructed me to take it was daily for half a month and then to allow the cycle to complete during the latter half of the month (with reduced symptoms I guess), but I don't take it that way because I literally can't stand having the period if it's at all possible to prevent it. So I would assume they can instruct you to take progesterone pills anywhere between 1-2 times daily (depending on what your Dr. says) and in a similar way to taking birth control pills to reduce the amount of bleeding and symptoms.

I can't help you with when to take it if still having any cycle because I don't have one, But at the moment I just take one every few days just in case. I don't need it daily. 

[November Fox]

Oh, I wasn't advocating shots. I was just saying they're progesterone based

Okay, yeah that´s true. I think pills are often prescribed for only a week or so per month, to combat the PMS moodswings and such, which can be due to a lack of progesterone.

@TKGW I take it Norithisterone is something similar to dydrogesterone (they are based on the same thing).
So basically they gave the advice to take it only first half of the month? The woman I talked to said that I would have to take them "before symptoms start" so I guess that makes sense.

I would be very relieved not to have a cycle at all. Maybe I can mention it to her (all her other patients are ciswomen). She basically said it´s not meant to take all the time, but I know guys who do.

[Alexthecat]

If they are just regular birth control pills there should be like 21ish of one colour then 7 of another colour. To avoid the periods you just avoid the 7 other coloured ones since they are basically sugar pills.

[November Fox]

They aren´t. Regular birth control is based on estrogen.
Progesterone is a hormone that women have partly to help keep estrogen in check. If you have low progesterone it can cause PMS symptoms.

[Kylo]

@TKGW I take it Norithisterone is something similar to dydrogesterone (they are based on the same thing).
So basically they gave the advice to take it only first half of the month? The woman I talked to said that I would have to take them "before symptoms start" so I guess that makes sense.

I would be very relieved not to have a cycle at all. Maybe I can mention it to her (all her other patients are ciswomen). She basically said it´s not meant to take all the time, but I know guys who do.

Yeah, my doctor said take it for 15 days and then wait for the cycle. After she heard what I was doing with it and knew my situation she agreed that being on T would trail off the need for it soon anyway, so it wasn't concerning her that I was taking it every 2-3 days continuously. But I have also heard of other people being told to take it in different ways for different purposes by their doc.

But if it's just to deal with pain and amount of bleeding then I guess taking the first half of the month would be most efficacious (as I was told what it does is control the amount of lining the body decides to construct... leading to it only making a thin layer and that meaning there's less to deal with later in the month, if any).

Anyone pre-T taking it who is not going to begin T anytime soon, I would advise caution with it. It will improve bad cycles and limit them (or eliminate them if you take it continuously) but it will put the body into "menopause" status with long term (over)use, which does lead to some side effects. Short term use is probably ok.