Quote from: RandomStrangerX on Today at 07:55:47 AM@Sarah B, @LoriDee, @SoupSarah

Thank you so much for your answers, as for I knew that I'm not alone in those feelings, but seeing it written by someone else is really, really helpful.

@Sarah B - regarding my nickname, I must admit that I didn't look up other users nicks here and just went in with something not exactly showing my desired name, etc. If you can direct me to how can I change it without creating another account, that may be helpful

Hi Ralina,

Danielle, our Admin can do that for you if you like. I will tag her on this post and she will get in touch with you.

Take care!
Lori

@Northern Star Girl

Very often, providers like to quote the Women's Health Initiative study as their guidelines. Even the FDA has warnings for Prometrium (bioidentical progesterone). I point out that the WHI study was a good thing and we learned much about Premarin (Conjugated HORSE estrogen) and synthetic progestins. The study was canceled due to too many instances of cancer in the study subjects.

I have read the study myself and there are problems with it. The purpose of the study was to determine if adding progestin to Premarin would improve the cardiovascular health of post-menopausal women. The problems with that study are:

1. Not a single participant was transgender.
2. Our prescribing protocol now includes bioidentical progesterone, not synthetic progestin. We are not prescribed CEE (Conjugated Equine Estrogen), i.e. Premarin.
3. You cannot look at the results of one drug and automatically assume that applies to all drugs in that category.

As part of that study, they looked at just Premarin and found it causes an increased risk of blood clots and stroke. They looked at just the progestins and found that it increases the risk of certain cancers. But they ignore the fact that neither of these products is found in the human body.

Yes, they are still prescribed. But as you pointed out, they do it at a low dose to avoid those risks. And some patients have a good outcome.

As yet, not one provider has been able to explain to me why we don't follow basic biology and do what the human body normally does. Estrogen levels rise at the beginning of the monthly cycle for the first half, then drop in the second half. Progesterone rises in the second half and drops at the end.

Estrogen provides fat distribution (bust, hips. and butt) and develops the ductwork inside the breast connecting to the nipple. This causes an increase in bust projection. Progesterone builds the glands (alveoli) that will produce milk later. This causes an increase in breast volume.

When pregnancy occurs, both estrogen and progesterone climb several times higher than baseline. This kicks breast development into high gear so that they will be fully matured and ready for lactation in nine months. Progesterone blocks prolactin so that lactation does not occur. Post-partum, (after birth), both hormones drop to baseline levels, allowing prolactin to cause milk ejection.

Because all of these hormones are bioidentical, because they come from the human body, the high levels do their job and do not cause all of the dangerous side-effects. If the risk is there, there would be very high numbers of pregnant women with cancer, blood clots, and stroke. But there isn't.

Sorry for the long post, but this is the long discussion I will have with my gynecologist. We will see what her response is.

Quote from: LoriDee on Today at 01:26:44 PMI have been on progesterone for just over a year now. Both medicines work the same way, but bioidentical progesterone has less health risks. Synthetic progestins have been shown to increase the risk of cancers, etc. Bioidentical progesterone has no such risk. When women become pregnant both their estrogen and progesterone levels rise to high levels. Extremely few pregnant women develop cancer, therefore bioidentical is the way to go.

I still argue with my doctors who want to keep levels low "to a safe level". They ignore the biological fact that high estrogen and high progesterone are what prepare the breasts for breastfeeding. We could get to Tanner Stage 5 in 9 months! But they prefer to take things S L O W L Y and after four years, my levels still have not hit the "normal" levels I should be at. They think because of my age I should be at a post-menopausal range when I am still trying to get through puberty.

My new Gynecologist and I will have a long discussion next month. I might have to tell her I want to meet with a lactation consultant to see how she would modify my hormone protocol to induce lactation in 9 months. She can't argue that it can't be done. It already has. A transgender woman breastfed her partner's infant successfully for six months before switching to formula. It was all over the news back in 2017.

I don't go through my family doctor or other healthcare providers that do not specialize in trans health issues.  My family doctor and other doctor's that I deal with do know about the clinic that I go through for my HRT.  So I do deal with doctor's and nurse practitioners who work with trans people and specialize in trans health. 

With the Cyproterone Acetate, ever since I started in June 2022 I am on what, from what I have seen online, an ultra low daily dose that doesn't even come close to what the guidelines say for daily.  (I'm trying to dance around not posting how much I take.) By August 2022, the Cypro  at that level had essentially killed my testosterone, however, since it does go through  my liver, I also have to wonder just how much of the progestin part has been working on me.  I would say probably a tiny bit, but with the first-pass-the-liver part probably not as much as I will get on bioidentical progesterone.

I'm also going to ask my NP if I can up my Estradial intake to the maximum each day.

It was everyone. The server was down over the weekend.

Allie, I understood people talking when I transitioned, but I'll never understand people talking without my explicit consent after 20, 30, and 40 years.

"Really? Really, I want to say. "That's still the most interesting thing about me, the thing that you think summarizes me?"

I was gone for a bit because I couldn't log onto Susan's. Was that just me?

Wow, Jen, congrats on the race and telling the story of your race so well too.

Hi Alana!

Yes, full transition is far from the only answer when it comes to making your life one that is more livable and gives voice to your feelings... there are many avenues that can bring you there. Keep talking with therapists and engaging in self honesty and exploration... In the end, your answers will be more based around the question of "what do I need to make my life the one I want?" Rather than what label to apply to yourself!

All good things to you as you find your way to your answers sister!

Onward!

Ashley 😀💕🌻

That makes perfect sense, Alana. The therapist can help answer your questions about that and even offer support as you encounter various obstacles. Remember that everyone transitions at their own pace. For some, that means no transition at all. Only you know what is best for you.

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on Today at 12:29:30 PMI just got my yearly bloodwork done this morning, and when I see my NP I'm going to ask to be put on progesterone.  Cyproterone is a progestin, so it has helped, however from what I have read bioidentical progesterone helps to promote even further feminization, and is better, such as growing the breasts to Tanner 5.

I have been on progesterone for just over a year now. Both medicines work the same way, but bioidentical progesterone has less health risks. Synthetic progestins have been shown to increase the risk of cancers, etc. Bioidentical progesterone has no such risk. When women become pregnant both their estrogen and progesterone levels rise to high levels. Extremely few pregnant women develop cancer, therefore bioidentical is the way to go.

I still argue with my doctors who want to keep levels low "to a safe level". They ignore the biological fact that high estrogen and high progesterone are what prepare the breasts for breastfeeding. We could get to Tanner Stage 5 in 9 months! But they prefer to take things S L O W L Y and after four years, my levels still have not hit the "normal" levels I should be at. They think because of my age I should be at a post-menopausal range when I am still trying to get through puberty.

My new Gynecologist and I will have a long discussion next month. I might have to tell her I want to meet with a lactation consultant to see how she would modify my hormone protocol to induce lactation in 9 months. She can't argue that it can't be done. It already has. A transgender woman breastfed her partner's infant successfully for six months before switching to formula. It was all over the news back in 2017.

Hi Sarah B,

I'm excited, and apprehensive to finally talk to a professional about being transgender. My dysphoria is a minor inconvenience to me at this point. I'm just slightly uncomfortable being male. Gender envy is a bigger issue for me. As appealing as transiting is to me, it would cause far more problems for me than it would solve. I have a very comfortable life, and don't want to go messing around with it. I hope that makes sense.

Quote from: Sarah B on Today at 07:33:53 AMHi Alana

Yes, 'therapist's' will have their own approach.  Long story short, I never told them very much about me and they hardly asked me any questions about me as well.  I was a very private, quite and shy person at the time and I heard or read that 'therapists' could and would play games with you or in other words they would 'gate keep you'.

So in a sense I never formed a relationship with them and I was only there for one thing and that was to get my surgery letters.  You might ask why was there not much interaction between them and me and you will not be the first or last to do so.

I guess it boils down to what they saw.  All they saw was a women, she had a job, was working full time, had realistic expectations and had her head screwed on properly.  So I assume from that, that was why I got my surgery letters.

Did I need the 'psychiatrist's' no, I would have had the surgery the next day when I arrived in Sydney and I still would not have regretted what I had done.  In fact I don't think I have really mentioned in my posts that I had my surgery letters within 13 months, although one could work that out.

In one of those surgery letters it basically says I would have to wait about another 9 months before I could have my surgery.  I did ask my first psychiatrist could I have it now, but no I had to wait and I was annoyed to say the least.

So to answer your questions, as others have said the first appointment will be a meet and greet, in other words both of you will get to know one and another.  Mine as far as I know was basically the same.

What should I expect to be asked?  Well I guess the answer to this would be "why are you here?" and of course only you know that answer to that question and what do you want from talking to the gender therapist.

I hope things go well with your appointment.

Love and Hugs
Sarah B
Official Greeter

Quote from: Sarah B on Today at 07:33:53 AMHi Alana

Yes, 'therapist's' will have their own approach.  Long story short, I never told them very much about me and they hardly asked me any questions about me as well.  I was a very private, quite and shy person at the time and I heard or read that 'therapists' could and would play games with you or in other words they would 'gate keep you'.

So in a sense I never formed a relationship with them and I was only there for one thing and that was to get my surgery letters.  You might ask why was there not much interaction between them and me and you will not be the first or last to do so.

I guess it boils down to what they saw.  All they saw was a women, she had a job, was working full time, had realistic expectations and had her head screwed on properly.  So I assume from that, that was why I got my surgery letters.

Did I need the 'psychiatrist's' no, I would have had the surgery the next day when I arrived in Sydney and I still would not have regretted what I had done.  In fact I don't think I have really mentioned in my posts that I had my surgery letters within 13 months, although one could work that out.

In one of those surgery letters it basically says I would have to wait about another 9 months before I could have my surgery.  I did ask my first psychiatrist could I have it now, but no I had to wait and I was annoyed to say the least.

So to answer your questions, as others have said the first appointment will be a meet and greet, in other words both of you will get to know one and another.  Mine as far as I know was basically the same.

What should I expect to be asked?  Well I guess the answer to this would be "why are you here?" and of course only you know that answer to that question and what do you want from talking to the gender therapist.

I hope things go well with your appointment.

Love and Hugs
Sarah B
Official Greeter