Progesterone may help block DHT

[gothique11]

I was doing some research about Progesterone, and apparently can help block DHT (Dihydrotestosterone). Although, it probably isn't good enough on it's own, it could help with people having high T issues or hair loss issues during their transition.

But, form what I'm reading, Prometrium  is the better stuff to use (or better yet, the patch since some of my sources say the levels through the pill aren't high enough on their own), and not Provera (which is slightly different, chemically).

Of course, I don't know if Progesterone on it's own is powerful to do the same thing as spiro in terms of feminization, but it might help with hair problems (help reduce body hair and help prevent male pattern baldness).

"Spironolactone has anti-androgen activity by binding to the androgen receptor and thus preventing it to interact with dihydrotestosterone." (Quoted from Wikipedia) And I think that's what most people are put on (there are other anti-androgens out there as well that others use).

Although, when talking to my Endro, he says that he doesn't think it does a whole lot in terms of femininization and rarely prescribes it for that reason (unless you have an issue with growing breasts, since P might help with helping the glands to develop in the breasts; it's interesting to note although on it's own it probably won't femininize or be a complete blocker, but it might help with hair issues, and glad development. It also doesn't bring down T levels, it just prevents T converting into DHT, which can trigger male pattern baldness).

Anyway, here are some links I found with my research. And yes, I know some of it regarding mens health (prostate) and hair loss.

http://www.npis.info/canmenbenefit.htm

http://members.aol.com/profchm/rahman.html

http://www.hairlosslearningcenter.org/hair-loss-content/topical-hair-loss-treatment/DHT-inhibitors.asp

http://www.altmednetwork.net/mhealth/art_prostate_horm.html


My experience with Progesterone isn't a whole lot. I took it for a year, but I'm not sure if it did a lot, but it could have helped in the early stages. Some people claim that Progesterone can help with breast glandular tissue development, especially in the early stages of HRT.

But I also found that I was hungry all the time on Progesterone, and the changes were slowly coming. When I went off progesterone, I started changing pretty fast, my stomach fat started to go down pretty quickly, my muscle mass went down pretty fast, and I started curving out a lot and putting on more fat in feminine areas. My breasts keep growing, as usual, and I haven't noticed any major differences other than they seem to hurt a lot more 'cause they like to grow much more. As for my glands and breasts, they are pretty well developed but I had growth before HRT. So, I am unsure if progesterone helped or not. Some people it helps out with breast development.

Info on side effects: http://www.project-aware.org/Managing/Hrt/progesterone.shtml

Some people report positive effects with progesterone, some report no effects, and some people report negative effects -- so TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR about progesterone, do not self-medicate or self-adjust your medications. This is just for research purposes only!


--Natalie


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[Keira]

Gothike, I actually mentioned this in another thread recently.
Can't recall which.
Progesterone blocks 100% of DHT.
The problem is that progesterone has a short half life
and the levels needed to block DHT all the time are quite high.
Also, getting constant levels which current progesterone
administration mode is difficult.
That's why pregnant women have such nice hair
estrogen lengthens the hair growth cycle (hair gets denser)
progesterone blocks DHT, hair gets denser.

[seldom]

Progesterone also encourages growth outside of just blocking DHT too.  Its the effect of the hormone itself.

Progesterone if done with DHT blockers and anti-androgens, works wonderfully.  Thats why androcur works so well too...progesterone.

It does have a short half life.  But I have noticed a HUGE difference being on it in terms of both thickness and texture.  I should have started it earlier, but I put it off until after I knew my levels (sorry I HAVE to DIY it, my clinic has a strict no progesterone policy).

Basically speaking, as far as regrowing hair its essential.  And its not just because it blocks DHT, it blocks DHT and encourages growth. 

I mean as much as you are against DIY, sometimes clinic policies force some of us to DIY.  Its the only way I can do this inexpensively in the states.  I am seeing a doctor regularly, but he is bound by the policy. 

[Kate]

what I'm now trying to establish in my own mind is whether transdermal in general is much more effective requiring less dosing than the "liver passing" orals?

It's just a different way of getting E into your system. Transdermal delivery is more efficient than orals, so the initial dose is lower... but in the end, the same amount ends up in your blood with a patch as with a pill (depending on pill dosage and patch size of course).

~Kate~

[Keira]

I wouldn't stop Finesteride (don't tell him that's all). For a TS, its as benign a drug as can be
since all the side effects have to do with male fertility and potency and sometimes small
breast enlargement because the increased free testosterone gets aromatised into estrogen.
None of these is of any bother to us.

Progesterone is not realiable enough in the dose we take and with the available administration mode to be used to block DHT. If a progesterone patch existed, maybe that would make it possible, but it doesn't. Finesteride and Dutasteride is the best bet for stopping/reversing hair loss.

Bio-identical estrogens taken as Orals are only going to cause a slight problem with liver clotting agents in BIG doses if the pill is swallowed. Not likely you'll be taking that from the doc. If you put it under your tongue to be disolved, you reduce your already low risks substantially. The ones to worry about is ethinilestradiol (EE) and premarin. EE is by far the worse estrogen anyone can take; and especially a smoker.

Actually, with patches the serum level of estrogen is lower than with orals or injections because it would take many patches to reach the same level which is both expensive and not often done (though many use 2). The main advantage of patches is zero first pass effect on the liver and the fact you don't have to pop pills all day long like me!