Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Amy1988 on June 03, 2014, 11:26:52 AM

Title: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: Amy1988 on June 03, 2014, 11:26:52 AM
I keep getting this annoying pain in my right thigh that seems to originate from my hip joint.  Had an ultrasound done and found no clots.  So now I'm wondering if the estrogen is just causing poor circulation to the thigh.
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: Cindy on June 03, 2014, 11:27:45 AM
See your doctor
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: Jessica Merriman on June 03, 2014, 11:31:59 AM
Ultrasounds are no good for DVTs you need an MRI. You need to see your doctor ASAP as this is one of the first places most DVTs appear, Ankles or feet are the second.  DVTs are very serious and could compromise your extremity leading to loss and possibly traveling becoming a Pulmonary Embolism.
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: Jessica Merriman on June 03, 2014, 12:08:47 PM
Amy the only thing I can think of not related to Estrogen would be a pinched Sciatic nerve or dick rupture in the Lumbar are. Does it hurt with some numbness to the skin?
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: Amy1988 on June 03, 2014, 12:30:02 PM
Quote from: Jessica Merriman on June 03, 2014, 12:08:47 PM
Amy the only thing I can think of not related to Estrogen would be a pinched Sciatic nerve or dick rupture in the Lumbar are. Does it hurt with some numbness to the skin?

No numbness and it gets better with aspirin or Advil.  I don't think is clot related as I don't have any of the classic signs but I see my doctor this Friday so I'll let him know.  Also if it were a clot the pain wouldn't go away with low dose aspirin.  Aspirin will not devolve an existing clot.
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: Jessica Merriman on June 03, 2014, 12:39:30 PM
Quote from: Amy1988 on June 03, 2014, 12:30:02 PM
No numbness and it gets better with aspirin or Advil.  I don't think is clot related as I don't have any of the classic signs but I see my doctor this Friday so I'll let him know.  Also if it were a clot the pain wouldn't go away with low dose aspirin.  Aspirin will not devolve an existing clot.
Just keep an eye on the pulses at the top of your foot and at the ankle. If it gets weak it could indicate an occlusion. Keep up with any color changes in the limb as well. If the pain moves anywhere else lower down go in immediately. If it is a clot it might not have settled yet or gotten hard enough to lodge. Still worth seeing the doctor over.
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: Amy1988 on June 03, 2014, 01:46:32 PM
Quote from: Jessica Merriman on June 03, 2014, 12:39:30 PM
Just keep an eye on the pulses at the top of your foot and at the ankle. If it gets weak it could indicate an occlusion. Keep up with any color changes in the limb as well. If the pain moves anywhere else lower down go in immediately. If it is a clot it might not have settled yet or gotten hard enough to lodge. Still worth seeing the doctor over.

I'll see what the doctor says Friday.  If he thinks there is a problem then I'll have to stop the E and just take the spiro.
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: KayXo on June 04, 2014, 12:38:22 PM
Estrogen tends to dilate blood vessels, similar to Advil, so helps with blood circulation. Perhaps, not enough E could be the reason behind it. See your doctor and see what they think.
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: Claire (formerly Magdalena) on June 05, 2014, 04:01:36 PM
E does thicken the blood and may cause clots. I already have a blood condition that increases my chances of forming a clot, so it was like pulling teeth to get my E scrip. Definitely see your doctor ASAP, clots can kill.
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: fzzybunny on June 05, 2014, 04:39:54 PM
many years ago I developed a clot in my left calf and groin, I can tell you from experience they speak loud to you, feel warm and swollen and nothing will make the pain go away. Except a few days of giving yourself shots in the tummy...and once they develop...they are always there...they just become (as I was told) "inactive".
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: KayXo on June 06, 2014, 01:34:50 PM
Quote from: Claire (formerly Magdalena) on June 05, 2014, 04:01:36 PM
E does thicken the blood and may cause clots.

If taken orally and more so, unbio-identical estrogens such as Ethinyl Estradiol (birth control) and Premarin. Estradiol taken non-orally has actually been shown to reduce clotting risks in men with advanced prostate cancer treated with transdermal patches. Non-oral is a totally other ballgame! ;)
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: Claire (formerly Magdalena) on June 06, 2014, 04:38:03 PM
I was told all E did... I'm on the patch now and it hasn't killed me, you may have more accurate info. ;)
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: janetcgtv on June 06, 2014, 07:22:00 PM
AMY:

see a doctor immediately. I have DVT ,although I don't get blood clots I get frequent leg ulcers. A clot can travel to your heart and kill you. Because of DVT and a heart attack I take coumadin, plavix and ecotrin to thin my blood. None of these drugs  with hormones are good for you.

for those who do not know DVT means deep vein thrombosis
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: Amy1988 on June 06, 2014, 08:22:56 PM
Quote from: janetcgtv on June 06, 2014, 07:22:00 PM
AMY:

see a doctor immediately. I have DVT ,although I don't get blood clots I get frequent leg ulcers. A clot can travel to your heart and kill you. Because of DVT and a heart attack I take coumadin, plavix and ecotrin to thin my blood. None of these drugs  with hormones are good for you.

for those who do not know DVT means deep vein thrombosis

I was told that since  transdermal estrogen doesn't go through the liver no abnormal level of clotting enzymes are released and so there is no abnormal or increased risk of clots.
Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: KayXo on June 06, 2014, 09:17:34 PM
Quote from: Claire (formerly Magdalena) on June 06, 2014, 04:38:03 PM
I was told all E did... I'm on the patch now and it hasn't killed me, you may have more accurate info. ;)

J Urol. 2005 Aug;174(2):527-33; discussion 532-3.
Transdermal estradiol therapy for prostate cancer reduces
thrombophilic activation and protects against thromboembolism


"PURPOSE: Oral estrogens were an effective treatment for prostate
cancer but were abandoned because of an increased risk of
cardiovascular toxicity and particularly thromboembolism. We have
recently shown that transdermal estradiol produces an effective tumor
response and negligible cardiovascular toxicity. Here we report the
influence of transdermal estradiol therapy on the coagulation profile
of men with advanced prostate cancer. "

"CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that transdermal estradiol reduces
thrombophilic activation in men with advanced prostate cancer, and
protects against the risk of thrombosis."

I also think similar results have been found in women treated with transdermal estradiol. Very good news indeed. :)

Title: Re: Does estrogen reduce blood circulation
Post by: KayXo on June 06, 2014, 09:20:36 PM
Quote from: janetcgtv on June 06, 2014, 07:22:00 PM
A clot can travel to your heart and kill you. Because of DVT and a heart attack I take coumadin, plavix and ecotrin to thin my blood. None of these drugs  with hormones are good for you.

for those who do not know DVT means deep vein thrombosis

Actually a blood clot from DVT usually travels (though veins) to the lungs and it's called pulmonary embolism. This can be fatal. Clots in arteries seems to be much less a concern with estradiol and actually, it appears from studies that estrogen protects against as it tends to increase dilation of arteries.