Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: death_chick on March 01, 2012, 06:15:05 AM Return to Full Version

Title: Is norethindrone an effective progestogen for mtfs?
Post by: death_chick on March 01, 2012, 06:15:05 AM
So, in a nutshell, six months ago I wanted to add progesterone to my regimen... my doctor started me on the birth control Jolivette, which has norithendrone. I suppose at the time it sounded fine, but it's half a year later and I've hardly experienced breast growth... and now possibly learned I should avoid the medication entirely :s

I normally scour Google and medical articles for these answers, but I've found *nothing* solid - just vague warnings against taking it, though I couldn't find the reasons, which pretty much scares me even more x.x

I'm not looking for med recommendations, but I've got to know, is norethindrone known for being particularly effective or ineffective in a HRT regiment, uhm, specifically in the boob department? Are contraceptives in general no-no's?

Can I switch to an *actual* progesterone and make everything better? Or have I just botched things up real good this time?
Title: Re: Is norethindrone an effective progestogen for mtfs?
Post by: Maja.V on March 01, 2012, 07:40:15 AM
The effects of progesterone on each individual vary greatly, and it's mostly a matter of preference and / or experience. Some say it helped their breast growth, others said it had no effect.

It would be better if you went with actual progesterone, though, either medroxyprogesterone (it has quite a few possible bad side effects) and micronised progesterone (somewhat less potent but bio-identical).

Though I suppose that if you have a doctor, you shouldn't be taking meds on your own anyway.
Title: Re: Is norethindrone an effective progestogen for mtfs?
Post by: Steffi on March 01, 2012, 01:29:56 PM
The subject of whether progesterone has any worthwhile effect on breast development is a never ending debate which cannot be proved either way and which cycles through transforums every few weeks.
One thing that is certain is that it is responsible for the negative effects of the menstrual cycle - spots, bloating, water retention, PMT etc and that given a choice most born women would be delighted to not have it in their cycle.

Born women very often get slightly bigger breasts at one part of their cycle - that is due to water retention and will vanish as quickly as it came as their cycle moves on.
My BFF goes from B-cup to C-cup during "big-boob week"  :D