Quote from: Robbyv213 on May 31, 2024, 06:23:27 PMBut you can increase your risk for blood clots, dvt, stroke and other things commonly associated with higher estrogen levels.
This is what I am talking about. Read my lips:
There are NO studies of transgender women using bioidentical hormones and suffering any of these without some prior medical or family history. All of these so-called risks are based on extrapolating data from the WHI study which does not apply. You can't see horse estrogen causing cancer and automatically assume human estrogen does too. If so, then pregnant women around the world would be getting cancer. They don't... unless they have a prior medical or family history.
I have been down the herbals, creams, and bovine ovary route. I spent a lot of money with a company, sponsored by an MD, and making all kinds of claims. Not only are the claims false, there is no scientific evidence supporting those claims. I did the research. Now, let's use a bit of logic. If Bovine ovary, or any other herbal, is so effective, why aren't the big pharmaceutical companies pushing it? It doesn't work.
Herbals rely on phytoestrogens, which are plant-based, not human-based. They are not bioidentical. They present such a weak estrogen, that they have little to no effect. They also will bind to the estrogen receptors and block prescription estrogen. You are better off not using them together. Creams are not well-formulated to penetrate the skin to get where they need to go. The receptors in the cells are not on the surface of the skin, they are deep in the tissue. Creams have a very difficult time getting that deep through all the layers of skin and fat. Not enough of it gets through to be effective and can block the receptors to prevent the stronger hormones from reaching their target.
Another marketing ploy is promoting DHEA, wild yams, pregnenolone, and other precursors to the actual hormone. The ploy is that by adding all the ingredients, your body will make the hormones themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth. You are mixing up a bunch of things that have little quality control on dose and purity, and zero regulatory oversight. That is just dangerous. If people want to go that route, that is their decision but I would strongly urge them to go the medical route where the meds are regulated, quality controlled, and the effects on your body can be monitored.
When I was first exploring these things, I had an online gaming friend in London. I won't name-drop but she is a well-known transgender gamer. I had been asking her advice as I was trying different things. She warned me very sternly to stop playing games with my health. She explained why what I was doing was wrong, it would not work, and said the only EFFECTIVE way to do this is through medically-prescribed hormones. I researched what she told me and confirmed that what she said was fact. Shortly after that conversation, I told my doctors that I was ready to start FHT (Feminizing Hormone Therapy).
Just because my biology is not responding the way I would like it to, is not the issue. I still rely on best-quality meds and follow-up monitoring so I know if they are working or not. If my target level is 200 or 250 (I have been told both of those), fine but I have only been above 100 once in four years. This is why we keep adjusting doses, changing brands, and so forth. The struggle continues but it is far from over.
