Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Heya Everyone. I've been on spiro & e for 7ish months and just started Provera, or as it reads on my bottle Medroxyprogesterone. I've been on it for 10 or so days and I feel like it's made me really horny XD, and in general more centered. I also want to say my boobs feel like their a little more sensitive and tender (not so much sore).

My doctor seams to think it's mainly good for body(boob) development, but she  also seams a little on the fence about it for reasons that sorta elude me. She really did not tell me what negative effects to look out for, other than it can cause some heart issues (I'm 20, so not very worried), but what should I look out for?

I would really like to know others experiences, so if you have some advice or insight to offer please post :)

I think that medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, Provera) is one of the most variable drugs out there.
For some it can cause depression, sometimes severe.
Progestins can be metabolized to testosterone. That's why some report increased libido, some don't.
It is also connected with the growth of mature milk glands in the breasts.
This may or may not have a significant effect on breast shape.

I'ts just been odd I guess, and I don't want to get to into it but my sex drive never really decreased much on HRT, am like incredibly horny  now (Not complaining). The way you put it is that T is a big factor, but at the same time I have active boob growth so E is somewhere in my system. Any ideas on the interplay of increased metabolized testosterone? I guess it's only been 7 months so maybe i've yet to experience my libido drop, any insight would be awesome.

My doc has me on depo provera as an AA and it's a mixed blessing.  Then again, I don't know how the positives would have played out if I'd been on spiro.  The problem is that we can't conduct a true experiment here: measure development on spiro, take away the development, measure development on provera.

So when I say it's been a mixed blessing, I mean that while my breasts are small, even my doc said she was amazed by how much glandular and fatty tissue was in them despite how skinny I am.  The fatty tissue has also collected largely at the base of the breast, giving them a very round, non-pointy look, and good nipple placement (not too far to the outside).  In bra size, I fill a 34B, but only about halfway to 3/4 fill a 36A.  My first couple months on provera I had definite breast soreness of the "don't hug me too hard" variety, but I haven't felt any pain whatsoever in the last three months.  There's a slight tenderness if you press directly on the nipple, but I can sleep on my stomach without feeling a thing in the chest.  I hope I'll get more than those two short months of breast development, but who knows...

My face has undergone amazing changes.  People who see my before pictures are usually blown away when they see the difference after these last 6 months on provera.  I can barely see the same person myself!

Body hair density/consistency/distribution hasn't changed one iota.  Then again, all I had to start with was fine, straight, blonde hairs on my lower arms; and slightly darker, slightly thicker hair on my lower legs.  The legs I can shave like any other girl, but I hate my arm hair.  Though it's very fine and totally straight, it also grows about 3/4" long and is rather dense compared to natal women.  And it's on my hands too.  And on my fingers.  Gross.  SO wishing that would go away, but it doesn't look like it will without electrolysis.

Libido?  What's that?  I vaguely recall it, and I really don't miss it.

Many people gain on average 12 pounds on provera.  I gained 20, but I had to eat 4000 to 5000 calories a day for four straight months to do so.  My goal was to reach at least the low number of the healthy weight range for my height.  I've stopped gaining since cutting my intake back to about 3000 kcal/day.  Yes, my metabolism is insane.  Yes, my thyroid function is 100% normal.

Now, the downside... I missed summer.  Every year I have terrible seasonal depression in the winter but I feel strong, confident, and ebullient during the summer months.  I started provera in March and my summer never came.  Since the beginning of April, I've been plagued with suicidal depression that often leaves me unable to do anything at all but laying down in a fetal position and crying.  I had to (and still need to) find a job, but I cry when I look at job sites, I cry when I look at my resume, I cry when the sun goes down, I cry when I hold a stuffed animal, I cry when I see a bunny laying in the grass, I cry when I watch the bats flying around, I cry when I look at my apartment.  If it were crying only, I might be able to think of a happy thought.  But even happy thoughts immediately get turned around by this monster in my brain and used as another reason why I should just kill myself.  I've struggled against opening my veins all summer long.  Just this week, there were three nights I crawled into my empty bathtub and just held the knife there.

And none of this is me.  I'm an optimist at heart, someone who's headstrong, knows what she wants, and does what she wants.  Happiness is not some fiction, it has a starring role in my life.  Not since provera.  This drug is killing my brain.

Quote from: Zoë Natasha on September 11, 2011, 11:51:01 AM
Now, the downside... I missed summer.  Every year I have terrible seasonal depression in the winter but I feel strong, confident, and ebullient during the summer months.  I started provera in March and my summer never came.  Since the beginning of April, I've been plagued with suicidal depression that often leaves me unable to do anything at all but laying down in a fetal position and crying.  I had to (and still need to) find a job, but I cry when I look at job sites, I cry when I look at my resume, I cry when the sun goes down, I cry when I hold a stuffed animal, I cry when I see a bunny laying in the grass, I cry when I watch the bats flying around, I cry when I look at my apartment.  If it were crying only, I might be able to think of a happy thought.  But even happy thoughts immediately get turned around by this monster in my brain and used as another reason why I should just kill myself.  I've struggled against opening my veins all summer long.  Just this week, there were three nights I crawled into my empty bathtub and just held the knife there.

And none of this is me.  I'm an optimist at heart, someone who's headstrong, knows what she wants, and does what she wants.  Happiness is not some fiction, it has a starring role in my life.  Not since provera.  This drug is killing my brain.

Awwww hang in there. I've been around that edge myself... Stay strong sister.