Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hello all,
Just recently about a month or so I ago I bought a progesterone cream USP from amazon and decided to use it. I apply it to my glutes and thighs. To my surprised it has made my breasts puff up somewhat and a little tender. I can feel some degree of expansion and they, to my eyes, look a little heavier and fuller. I've also been using a small dab of the cream on my male hair line (Right where the male pattern baldness happens) and to my eyes it almost looks like baby hairs are growing back. I also think I have felt more hungry and also wanting to sleep more, which is good for me because sometimes I am unable to sleep well. I even had a single stretch mark appear on my left hip :( which I am trying to treat with a cocoa butter mix. Years back I was given some progesterone injections (Bio Identical not progestin) and I saw a similar effect, but I think due to the dosage, my areola darkened quite a bit. Based on my reading that is normal and I have even herd some girls getting the linea nigra on their belly. Any other good or bad stories around progesterone?

Can you also let me know if you are using Gel, Cream, or Injectables? Or pills (Like microgest), etc. My guess is that most will be, like, microgest and some Gel. Not sure how popular cream is ^.^. Injectables have a really short life, so I doubt much use it long term. Also, any pellet users?

I have been cycling progesterone since I started HRT. 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. While my doctor is not entirely convinced about the benefits, she also says it does get me a little closer to a real female cycle.

For the effects:
My breasts are much more sensitive and hurt a lot more during the Progesterone times. a few days after I stop Progesterone, they also stop hurting. They also seem to grow a bit more while I take Progesterone.

I also noticed that after I stop Progesterone, I get all kind of odd food cravings and become moody for a few days. My wife usually notices and comments "is it that time of the month again". Occasionally I do get light stomach cramps. I know it is highly debated if these effects are real or not, but I can only say, for me they are very real.

So for me I do enjoy the added Progesterone :-)

Ever since my dose got increased I noticed my boobs are sore, hips are growing... and I most definitely have lower abdominal cramping pretty much non stop daily.  Its NOT cyclic however.. and I also have some very real but .. obscured issues going on. 

I think progesterone does help fill the breasts out.. just my opinion, but my low dose natural amount vs what I am on now, I notice a significant difference.  Just my 2 cents worth.

I might try the cycling though.  I suggested this to the docs, they really.. lets be frank they don't know much.  Just because someone has MD or FNP behind their name doesn't mean they know any more about a certain topic that someone who's researched & lived it their entire life.  The biggest clue for me was when I went off HRT for surgery, for almost 4 months.. and my labs were "normal" according to them when I came back.. Um... excuse me?  Well they were in normal but low limits, but those were my natural hormones, not the HRT enhanced ones.   /facepalm

Quote from: sarah1972 on January 16, 2018, 06:49:14 PM
I have been cycling progesterone since I started HRT. 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. While my doctor is not entirely convinced about the benefits, she also says it does get me a little closer to a real female cycle.

For the effects:
My breasts are much more sensitive and hurt a lot more during the Progesterone times. a few days after I stop Progesterone, they also stop hurting. They also seem to grow a bit more while I take Progesterone.

I also noticed that after I stop Progesterone, I get all kind of odd food cravings and become moody for a few days. My wife usually notices and comments "is it that time of the month again". Occasionally I do get light stomach cramps. I know it is highly debated if these effects are real or not, but I can only say, for me they are very real.

So for me I do enjoy the added Progesterone :-)

Sarah and Doreen what type of progesterone do you girls use? Is it micronized Progesterone in Pill form? I think the breast filling out and rounding effect is Mammoplasia to a smaller extend. I say this because at one point I was on injectable progesterone for a brief time and I noticed much more of the rounding and fullness effect plus heaviness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoplasia

Mammoplasia increases as the pregnancy progress which is a long duration and as the pregnancy continues the progesterone levels and other hormones increase too. That is my thoughts on it.

Quote from: Asakawa on January 16, 2018, 06:05:12 PM
I bought a progesterone cream USP from amazon and decided to use it.

Asakawa you buying Emerita Pro-gest Cream? Read a negative review stating it leads to natural hormonal dependence which, in our case at least, could actually be a good recommendation? Have tried creams in the past and am also intrigued with the possibilities of cycling Sarah.

For an "older girl" have experienced significant breast growth of late (upping of E dosage) and starting to regret the recent purchase of 'lightly lined' Demi-Bra as breasts are not only more sensitive but noticeable!! C'est la vie !!

I have been on micronized progesterone since month 9 on hrt.  I like it, breasts started to fill out shortly after starting it and it makes my dry skin look better.  I tried daily and 2 weeks on then 2 weeks off to see what worked for me (my dr is aware that i experimented with my frequency ).  I settled on 3 weeks on then 1 week off.  After 1 week off of it my mood starts really swinging everywhere and if I'm on it daily without an occasional break it starts to feel a bit cloying.

I took a high dose of oral micronized progesterone for several years in a row along with oral or injectable estrogen. It always made my breasts fuller, wider, heavier and more prominent. Especially on oral estrogen.

Other effects noticed: skin/hair softer and shinier, hair more manageable (less knots), increased libido, sleepy/drowsy, very vivid dreams, lifts my mood for awhile and makes me hungrier, diuretic effect.

Quote from: Asakawa on January 16, 2018, 09:59:03 PM
Sarah and Doreen what type of progesterone do you girls use? Is it micronized Progesterone in Pill form? I think the breast filling out and rounding effect is Mammoplasia to a smaller extend. I say this because at one point I was on injectable progesterone for a brief time and I noticed much more of the rounding and fullness effect plus heaviness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoplasia

Mammoplasia increases as the pregnancy progress which is a long duration and as the pregnancy continues the progesterone levels and other hormones increase too. That is my thoughts on it.

I'm on micronized progesterone.. and my mammogram stated my breasts are very dense, meaning almost all glandular tissue and very little actual fat.  They didn't deflate (lol) when I was off it for months either. 

Quote from: Doreen on January 17, 2018, 10:49:25 AM
I'm on micronized progesterone.. and my mammogram stated my breasts are very dense, meaning almost all glandular tissue and very little actual fat.  They didn't deflate (lol) when I was off it for months either.

Is that a good thing?  Honestly, I have no idea.

If I continue on with my HRT I'm thinking of asking my GD about Progesterone...

Quote from: Kiera on January 17, 2018, 06:10:53 AM
Asakawa you buying Emerita Pro-gest Cream? Read a negative review stating it leads to natural hormonal dependence which, in our case at least, could actually be a good recommendation? Have tried creams in the past and am also intrigued with the possibilities of cycling Sarah.

For an "older girl" have experienced significant breast growth of late (upping of E dosage) and starting to regret the recent purchase of 'lightly lined' Demi-Bra as breasts are not only more sensitive but noticeable!! C'est la vie !!

Yes that is the one I got. If by dependence they mean their own levels being lowered because of outside administration of hormones then I can understand why it would cause a crash if they go off it, but like with all other systems in the body it eventually comes back to normal once the administration stops. Well, depending on age of course! For some women adding progesterone can relieve their symptoms while others can feel worse. It depends on how you feel when you take progesterone. I read some studies in that progesterone cream doesn't raise whole blood arterial serum progesterone levels that much, but saliva, tissue, and small veins do see a good increase in progesterone levels.

I use about 2 pea size dabs on my glutes and thighs (Since it will saturate that area and store in adipose) and two small rice grain bits on my male hair line. I read a while back that progesterone is a good inhibitor for DHT (Causes body hair, beard, and male pattern baldness) so I figured I could use it locally there. It is making the my skin more supple and filling me out a little down there. I think I definitely see a lot of nice rounding to my small breasts. They feel heavier and more firm which I like. I don't really have much adipose in my breasts which is a bummer. Progesterone does grow the glandular and duct tissue inside the breasts. The dosage is small when using cream.

If you use injectable, which has a really short half-life, the effects are more obvious. Progesterone in larger dosages can enlarge your aerolas and your nipples. It will darken them and make montgomery glands get bigger which can make women self conscious about their nipples. If you don't know what montgomery glands are you can use google! When I used injectable progesterone my mont glands got really noticeable. I have mixed feelings about them.... They are part of maturing your breasts anyway. But progesterone really made my thighs get big and I saw more adipose tissue on the outer portion of my thighs which was nice. And of course it cause the linked above Mammoplasia effect.

QuoteI'm on micronized progesterone.. and my mammogram stated my breasts are very dense, meaning almost all glandular tissue and very little actual fat.  They didn't deflate (lol) when I was off it for months either.

Yes, progesterone grows the duct tissue and the glands because during pregnancy it sky rockets and builds the tissue needed for lactation. With mostly glandular tissue if you lose weight and lose fat you should still retain a good bust size since weight loss would mainly target the adipose tissue around your breasts :). Is it good or bad? It depends... If you want to lactate then the more tissue you have the more milk your breasts will be able to make, or should be able to I think. Though you'd first have to be on injectable estrogen and progesterone for a while along with prolactin stimulation (That happens when you touch your nipples) then come off them so you can lactate. Estrogen doesn't let your mammary glands make milk until it drops after pregnancy.

It could maybe help with snoopy boobs if you or someone has them. Might be worth a shot :) but you have to give it time to work.

Hi everyone;

I am in month 3 of a 3 month trial of Promethium Micronised Progesterone, taking 1 capsule at bedtime.  I already take Progynova (Oestrogen) twice daily (10am and 10pm) and have done for nearly 5 years. For my first 2 months on Prometrium (which has been available  under the Australian PBS since July 2017), I took it continuously and I am now on my third month I have moved to a cyclical phase to more mimic a cis females monthly cycle, where I am now in the Oestrogen only phase, before starting on Oestrogen + Micronised Progesterone from this Saturday till the end of the month. I am planning on doing a report on the effects at the end of my month (both here and to my GP).
Judith Lynn

Quote from: Asakawa on January 17, 2018, 10:10:04 PMI read a while back that progesterone is a good inhibitor for DHT (Causes body hair, beard, and male pattern baldness) so I figured I could use it locally there.

The only study I've come across that hints at DHT inhibition by progesterone is an in-vitro study showing 97% inhibition at levels of around 30,000 ng/ml when the highest concentrations during pregnancy are around 300 ng/dl. The study was also *in-vitro* which prevents researchers from drawing any conclusions as to whether this would occur to the same extent inside the body (in-vivo) with many other variables being present.

As far as I'm concerned, that's far from enough evidence to conclude that progesterone significantly inhibits DHT at the doses prescribed, at physiological concentrations.

BUT, I do know progesterone increases SHBG which strongly binds DHT and T. :)

QuoteIt is making the my skin more supple

I personally noticed better effects as far as skin suppleness/hydration with a little T vs high doses of progesterone but may try taking some again, at a later date, should my doctor agree.

QuoteProgesterone does grow the glandular and duct tissue inside the breasts.

My understanding is that estrogen is mainly responsible for duct formation while lobuloalveolar development (lobules and alveoli) is stimulated mainly by progesterone which makes the breasts denser, heavier and fuller looking.

QuoteIf you use injectable, which has a really short half-life, the effects are more obvious. Progesterone in larger dosages can enlarge your aerolas and your nipples. It will darken them and make montgomery glands get bigger which can make women self conscious about their nipples.

In my case, I noticed estrogen did most of the darkening and contributed to an increase in Montgomery glands while progesterone temporarily widened areolas and increased nipple size.

QuoteIf you don't know what montgomery glands are you can use google!

Lubricate the areola/nipple area, right?

QuoteBut progesterone really made my thighs get big and I saw more adipose tissue on the outer portion of my thighs which was nice. And of course it cause the linked above Mammoplasia effect.

I actually like that part of being quite curvaceous on it. :)

Quoteyou'd first have to be on injectable estrogen and progesterone for a while along with prolactin stimulation (That happens when you touch your nipples) then come off them so you can lactate. Estrogen doesn't let your mammary glands make milk until it drops after pregnancy.

As far as I know, both estrogen and progesterone inhibit lactation with the latter playing a more predominant role. Also, estrogen + progesterone both stimulate prolactin so that just high amounts of both would suffice to raise prolactin significantly as it happens during pregnancy. This is also what I experienced while on injectable estradiol + high oral progesterone = high prolactin levels, around 80-130 ng/ml, in the range of pregnant women, with levels getting as high as 600 ng/ml (at least according to one study I read).

Thank you for sharing. :)

I've been on oral micronized progesterone for around 6 months. Before that I did take medroxyprogesterone for 3 months.
What I can say is my emotional state is level with micronized P. My nails are better. Before it, bumping my finger too hard and there would be a half round chip just missing from one of my nails. Now they no longer do that. If they get bent too much I'll find a tear at the edge and i will half to cut it. Annoying but better than just breaking out.

I'm happy with taking a constant dose of P. I do not cycle it at all. My breasts are doing well by what I can tell for a year on HRT. They had some stages of extension growth and then rounding out growth. Now they still grow buy I rarely feel the internal aching.

Quote from: Asakawa on January 17, 2018, 10:10:04 PMI read a while back that progesterone is a good inhibitor for DHT (Causes body hair, beard, and male pattern baldness)

            Thx Asakawa & KayXo it's worth "a dab"? Casodex is best DHT inhibitor. Having now stopped years ago underarm, chest and leg hair is permanently gone and facial growth has slowed significantly, never did finish electrolysis. Remind me again 'cause it seems illogical - LOL - why do we crave larger, fuller breasts??

Being forever "pre-fulltime" am starting to feel FTM . . . always tucking with hair tied back so why not "binding" as well!!!

I've taken it in a cycle schedule since I started hrt. I take the pills. When I'm on it my breasts become more sensitive, my appetite increases and my sex drive increases a little.

Hi KayXo

More than likely you are right on just about everything you have said :). It has been a little while since I've looked into the information and just recently been touching up, but on different subjects like progesterone in pasarie form and absorption but really I could not really find anything :(. I do recall vaugely the prolactin increase while on estrogen, or both, but it has been a while :). Good to hear the levels can go up to pregnancy-like levels since that would likely make the breast tissue to expensd in a similar fashion to pregnancy.

Casodex seems to be bicalutamide and sounds like it is an androgen blocker. So it doesn't lower DHT levels just blocks the receptors? That's interesting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicalutamide

QuoteIt also does not inhibit 5α-reductase nor is known to inhibit other enzymes involved in androgen steroidogenesis (e.g., CYP17A1).[143] ........... Bicalutamide neither suppresses nor inhibits androgen production in the body (i.e., it does not act as an antigonadotropin or androgen steroidogenesis inhibitor or lower androgen levels) and hence exclusively mediates its antiandrogenic effects by antagonizing the AR.[6][141][140]

So it sounds like there would be T and DHT floating around, but likely not having as much of an effect since the AR might be blocked. I am not too against T in that I think we need some to have energy (My opinon only) But I personally don't like DHT since it is supposed to be, like, 5x or more potent than T. Since it blocks the T and DHT receptors by itself it seems to increase T and DHT because of how it works with the  hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis, but since we are providing E none of that actually happens. I guess it works kinda like cyproterone acetate and spironolactone. T still gets turned to DHT, but the receptor is blocked so any dht that does bind is much less in total result :). I kinda like  5α-reductase inhibitors more than blockers just because they work to stop the process instead of blocking so that circulating DHT in the blood is low. I'm not a doctor though, but just my thought on it. anyway, I have herd of casodex :) !

Kiera I believe Casodex is more of an androgen receptor blocker than inhibitor. You still have T and DHT being made and because of how it works if you don't take E then your body will naturally raise T and DHT witin itself because of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. Though because we add E I believe that happens to a much lesser extend. An inhibitor would be a 5α-reductase like Finasteride or dutasteride and I personally prefer dutasteride more over finasteride just because it blocks all three types of DHT while fine blocks two and lasts much longer in the blood 4-5weeks instead of 5-6 hours.

Anyway, you should talk to your doctor about anything of this. I would suggest doing some research and printing out some articles you can show him to present the 'case' on why you'd want to do x thing. It's best to do the research yourself so you can know what to expect.

KayXo did you also become more curvaceous while on Progesterone? Specifically on the outer thighs?

Quote from: Asakawa on January 19, 2018, 04:34:05 PMKayXo did you also become more curvaceous while on Progesterone? Specifically on the outer thighs?

Yes. But to be honest with you, I don't really know how much of that was due to high E or P. Adding T definitely reduced fat in that area and in the buttocks area.

I recall a time when I was only on E, a high dose orally and I became quite curvaceous.

Hi;

I have been on a combined Oestrogen and Progesterone regime now for nearly a year (4.5 years on Oestrogen only). I am on a 14 days Oestrogen only regime (taken twice a day) and 14 days on the combined regime. I take Promethium at night time after my evening Oestrogen tablet. Promethium tends to make me very sleepy and it apparently promotes a relaxed sleep. Since commencing it, for the last 14 days I find that I am emotionally very stable and  just feel very feminine and a lot more relaxed. In fact on those weeks I find myself enjoying life immensely as a woman, buying new clothes, meeting girlfriends, going out looking very feminine in a dress or skirt etc, whereas in the first two weeks, I find I just want to lounge about in jeans, and the grungy look, not bothering with make-up. Its almost as though I feel that I am a complete woman on the second 14 day period. But by the end of the month I find the combined regime very cloying (unpleasantly excessive) and know by then I need to be off it back to my Oestrogen only regime.

However during the first 14 days of the month, my Oestrogen levels are generally quite high (I should point out my T levels now are below 0.9). Around about the 12th day of the month I get a sort of PMS. I get very moody, cry a lot at the slightest thing. I even get tummy cramps. My BFF tells me it is probably just physiological (especially when I am staying with her) as there are anecdotal evidence of women synching. The theory behind the syncing of menstrual cycles is that women's pheromones interact when they are in close proximity, causing them to have their period at the same time.

Overall during the second half of the month . my breasts appear to get fuller and more rounded and definitely feel heavier and really fill out my C Cup bras, whereas on my first cycle are less so. My skin is also super-soft on the 2nd part of the month. Also my libido rises on the second cycle and I generally seem to notice men's scent  then. My nails are a lot less brittle and overall stronger. Also  my body hair has become very vellus type and lighter and in some parts especially my décolleté and tummy and pubic region almost completely disappeared (mind you  I have had laser treatment there), but re-growth has been almost non existent.

Since starting on  Progesterone, my buttocks have become quite rounded. I have added about 4" to my buttocks and hips and I have also put on fatty tissue on my thighs and lower abdomen  below the belly button band down to the Pubis.
Overall I really like the results, but I am not sure I could take a full month on the combined regime.
Judith