Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Ephemeral on October 15, 2014, 10:59:38 AM

Title: Spirolactone
Post by: Ephemeral on October 15, 2014, 10:59:38 AM
I am not entirely sure where to write this to be honest, but I have a question about Spiro:

I have a girlfriend who has been kind of diagnosed with PCOS and she wants to try Spiro but her doctor refuses to let her try it out with the argument that it's only needed for extreme and severe cases. Apparently hers isn't that developed (yet), and they only put her on Promulgut for 5 days a month in order to help her regulate her period, but as I know several people in here should be familiar with Spiro treatment, what are your experiences with it?

I would also appreciate  comments from people who have experinces with PCOS and receiving treatment for that.
Title: Re: Spirolactone
Post by: LordKAT on October 15, 2014, 11:10:48 AM
My understanding is that spiro can make the periods even more odd. It helps control things like hair growth on the face and sometimes acne. Are these the problems she is having?
Title: Re: Spirolactone
Post by: Ephemeral on October 15, 2014, 11:15:11 AM
Quote from: LordKAT on October 15, 2014, 11:10:48 AM
My understanding is that spiro can make the periods even more odd. It helps control things like hair growth on the face and sometimes acne. Are these the problems she is having?

Nor facial hair growth but mild acne. She mostly complains about hair and skin quality being very poor.
Title: Re: Spirolactone
Post by: ErinWDK on October 15, 2014, 12:11:25 PM
The endo I see is for diabetes - she does NOT do trans.  I have had a discussion with her about Spiro.  She does give Spiro to female patients to deal with excess hair.  No mention of PCOS - based on that I will fully second what LordKAT has said.


Erin
Title: Re: Spirolactone
Post by: LordKAT on October 15, 2014, 12:24:03 PM
Quote from: Ephemeral on October 15, 2014, 11:15:11 AM
Nor facial hair growth but mild acne. She mostly complains about hair and skin quality being very poor.

Then it makes sense that spiro was not prescribed. There are acne medications out there that would work much better.
Title: Re: Spirolactone
Post by: Ephemeral on October 15, 2014, 01:59:40 PM
Quote from: LordKAT on October 15, 2014, 12:24:03 PM
Then it makes sense that spiro was not prescribed. There are acne medications out there that would work much better.

She has this idea that Spiro would help with her hair problems among other things but yes, I suggested that if she does not have problems with hair growth, Spiro isn't going to help her much. She's been reading on the internet that Spiro would help her with most of her problems but I looked it up myself and managed to suggest to her that she probably just needs some good quality birth control pills as opposed to the ones she's taking now that don't seem to do much at all. Birth control pills can also help with her acne.
Title: Re: Spirolactone
Post by: KayXo on October 20, 2014, 04:39:57 PM
All birth control pills contain ethinyl estradiol which can cause harmful effects on clotting. Bio-identical estradiol seems safer.