Question about HRT

[Artesia]

I have seen a couple people mention progesterone what is this pill?

I have, of late, been disappointed with my feminization, and was wondering if adding this or switching to this would help. 

I know that I'm supposed to be patient, but I have been patient about everything for 40+years, while ignoring myself.  I am now out of patience, for everything.

[sarah1972]

I am cycling Progesterone (as a pill). 14 days on, 14 days off. The idea is to closer resemble a female cycle.
One thing I have noticed is breast soreness is usually more intense during the two weeks on Progesterone.
My doctor said it is not entirely proven but it cannot hurt either and based on my results I would say it helps...

[LizK]

I know the there is some contention amongst different Drs about the effectiveness of this other than to swell you up with fluid. I guess what you really want is something to promote breast growth. I have heard anecdotally (as described aby Sarah) about bigger breasts but each Dr I have asked has told me it is not really of any long term value. I have a new HRT Dr who at this stage is not talking anything but Oestrogen her thoughts may be different. I have just had bloods done so will see on Monday what she says.

I think breast growth has more to do with Genetics...traditionally it is said you will end up one cup size less than your sisters or Mother.

[KayXo]

traditionally it is said you will end up one cup size less than your sisters or Mother.

With absolutely nothing to substantiate this, no scientific evidence. Just a claim that spread with time with no one ever questioning this.

I am cycling Progesterone (as a pill). 14 days on, 14 days off. The idea is to closer resemble a female cycle.

Also not substantiated as no studies have shown that cycling results in better feminization. Cycling to the extent that women do these days is also a "new" thing, since the advent of the birth control pill so there is really nothing natural about it. Traditionally, women had much less cycles and spent most of their time being pregnant and breastfeeding. This can be inferred from data in aboriginal, more traditional cultures.

I take it continuously. Breasts do temporarily swell up and if you keep on taking it, breasts will remain swollen. Progesterone stimulates the development of alveoli and lobules in the breast so as to prepare the gland to produce milk for the baby. This may contribute to the swollen appearance and fuller, rounder breasts as well as increased fluid retention although in the body, progesterone should reduce water retention due to its antimineralocorticoid effect (similar to spironolactone).

Additionally, it helps counter dry skin/hair, brittle nails, may improve mood/sleep patterns, memory and help with increased fat deposition. I found it made my skin glow (similar to testosterone as it can stimulate skin oil production), my hair looks more shiny/healthy but orally, the amount of metabolites produced make me quite sleepy and even sometimes depressed so I'm taking less these days. It can also slow down digestion, impair appetite (although the opposite is also observed) and make you look bloated. Constipation may be an issue. In general, progesterone is quite safe but as with anything, there are risks but they are usually very mild and rarely serious.

My doctor said it is not entirely proven but it cannot hurt either and based on my results I would say it helps...

There have been absolutely no studies examining the impact of bio-identical progesterone in transwomen. We don't know is the absolute truth. Interestingly though, those who refuse to prescribe progesterone often will prescribe another progestogen to reduce testosterone, cyproterone acetate. So, on the one hand, they are opposed to the use of a progestogen and yet prescribe one.

[Soli]

I have seen a couple people mention progesterone what is this pill?

I have, of late, been disappointed with my feminization, and was wondering if adding this or switching to this would help. 

I know that I'm supposed to be patient, but I have been patient about everything for 40+years, while ignoring myself.  I am now out of patience, for everything.

there are three main sexual hormones, Testosterone, Estrogen and Progesterone

obviously, cis men mostly deal with T
cis women deal mostly with E and P
essentially, a typical cisgendered women's month is divided in two parts, 2 weeks dealing with E, and 2 weeks dealing mostly with P, as the progesterone comes after the ovulation to prepare eventual lactation. The famous PMS comes when some women have a hard time dealing with the switch of hormones, from almost only E to mostly P

I think many trans don't take P for its feminizing effect is said to be less and weak (correct me if I'm wrong)

but I saw a difference in the shaping of my breasts when I added MPA (medroxyprogesterone), which is the synthetic (and cheap) form of P, that most people here I guess would not suggest taking (because of unwanted effects). I also discovered that taking too much MPA reduces my E drastically, so I stopped taking it a while, but my breasts almost disappeared (the little I had), my nipples back to their original male shrunk form... So I called back my dr, started again MPA but in a cycle, 14 days a month, and less in total, and that seems to have done the trick and I got a good breast growth. But then again, was the breast growth directly and solely linked to my MPA intake? I don't know, maybe not after all.

Definitely though, with MPA, my skin was less dry, so for many months I had to deal with very dry elbows 2 weeks a month.

I got a new prescription last week and switched to bio-identical progesterone, just started monday my 2 weeks with P. My first impression is that it's impact is more subtile than MPA. It does make me very sleepy in the hour that follows swallowing the capsules, I didn't notice that with MPA. Also I suspect that the problems I had with my gut past months and constipation, was related to MPA, I don't know if bio P will have less effect on that part...

my sister who is cis gendered and post menopause, was prescribed both E and P, and her doctor told her it was very important to take both, that it's the combination of the two, P and E, that gives results, I don't know what the grounds of this are, but I feel there has to be something there since cis women do spend half their month dealing with P and E together, and I myself feel it does give better result than only E.

[KayXo]

my sister who is cis gendered and post menopause, was prescribed both E and P, and her doctor told her it was very important to take both, that it's the combination of the two, P and E, that gives results, I don't know what the grounds of this are

Because she most probably has a uterus and E alone leads to excess uterine (endometrial) proliferation (and increases the risk of uterine cancer) which is countered by the use of a progestogen.

[LizK]

With absolutely nothing to substantiate this, no scientific evidence. Just a claim that spread with time with no one ever questioning this.

I don't actually think anyone said it is scientifically based.