I'm currently on estradiol and spironolactone. I've talked to my doctor bout progesterone n she's ok with prescribing it if I want her to. So does it really do anything?
Yes...
many people report more rounded and fuller breasts, avoiding a conical form.
Studies show its necesary for fully developed breast tissue.
You might ask for bioidentical progesterone.
With other forms some people report deep depressions, and they do not have the same effects.
It may be more pricey but its possible to cycle, for ten or twenty days.
Just watch for mood then. People taking it continously may have a bit more stable mood.
Some people feel bloated if they take it continously. So imo just watch for effects.
Talk it all through with your doc.
hugs
I've been on it for three months now. I originally started taking it to make my nails better. They became extremely brittle. They're better now but I noticed that my body hair is coming in thicker and darker and growing faster. I'm hoping an adjustment in estrogen can solve that.
I see my doctor next week. Let's see how that goes.
Some people say it does, and others say it doesn't.
My experience with prometrium is that it rounded out my boobs which were coming in rather conical, and my butt is much larger now also. Just recently i've had a big growth spurt in my boobs for some reason. I've been on it since January of 2014, and I've been on a transitioning dose of HRT since October of 2013. I'm 53 years old.
I had very bad mood swings taking it during the day. I've switched to taking it at night and now I seem to avoid the mood swings. I have very vivid dreams now, and I seem to sleep much better.
The only downside I experience to taking it at night is waking up with a headache every morning.
I take it on a 12 day cycle every month per my endocrinologist.
Prometrium will make you want to eat like a horse. I'm always hungry during my P cycle.
I'm a fan of it.
Essentially yes, P and E go together like pb & j :D
I started bio-identical progesterone about 2 months ago. I immediately felt changes going on in my boobs, and it stabilized my mood; I don't have the drastic mood swings anymore. I feel like it should be a standard part of any mtf HRT regimen, and that it's stupid of doctors to not include it when suffering from E-related mood swings when the answer exists and is known.
That said, my therapist was wondering if my s. ideation was related to it at all, the timing (or at least my speaking of it to her) was rather coincidental. I don't think it's related though, I'm pretty sure there were/are other contributing factors, but it's something to keep an eye on if you're prone to thoughts like that. That's true of any change in medication or hormonal changes.
Ima just wait till my 1 year mark to take it. Can u take progesterone until u get the results u want n then stop taking it or do u hav to take it for the rest of your life?
Quote from: Angélique LaCava on May 05, 2016, 11:31:41 AM
Ima just wait till my 1 year mark to take it. Can u take progesterone until u get the results u want n then stop taking it or do u hav to take it for the rest of your life?
You can stop whenever you want.
You might also try different cycles.
Imo important is to use bioidentical progesterone.
hugs
Quote from: Laura_7 on May 05, 2016, 01:41:03 PM
You can stop whenever you want.
You might also try different cycles.
Imo important is to use bioidentical progesterone.
hugs
so I can stop taking it and everything that the progesterone feminized won't go away right?
Quote from: Angélique LaCava on May 05, 2016, 02:39:36 PM
so I can stop taking it and everything that the progesterone feminized won't go away right?
Lol there is no clear answer .. it depends ...
if you take it for a few months imo there should be permanent changes to fat distribution and breasts. Its possible without there may be a bit more conical changes to breasts but the changes to glands etc remain, and imo likely at least part of the form.
Its like with breast growth depending on genetics.
Imo many changes may be permanent.
But as said there also might be positive changes to mood.
So imo you have not much to lose in trying.
Just watch mood and side effects and talk about it with your doc.
Maybe you don't want to stop once you are on :)
hugs
Progesterone may be useful for brittle nails, apparently and also dry skin. It promotes the development of certain structures in the breast tissue, aids in fat accumulation, can help improve mood in some while having the opposite effect in others. Helps some sleep better, can lead to insomnia in others.
Personally, I'm not sure if it's doing more good than bad. I've taken it 2 years now, at quite a high dose. I do notice my hair and skin getting much softer just when progesterone hits me (I can tell because it also makes me "high" and sleepy), that I need to go pee shortly after, that I suddenly get hungry for chocolate and sweet stuff and that often, I start getting a headache. I do think it helps me go to sleep faster, reduce anxiety if I experience any and makes me feel good for 1-2 hours at least, I'm giddy and loving. On the downside, I suspect it may be making me a little heavier than I would like to be, makes me look bloated and may be the reason why I'm not experiencing as much breast growth as I should since it also opposes estrogen, making cells less sensitive to E, and increasing conversion of estradiol to the weaker estrone. I also notice other effects many hours after I take it which may be due to the decrease in levels, like decreased appetite and irritability/depression. I also think my skin actually got drier when I increased my progesterone and that on high E alone, my nails became stronger. So, I don't really know what to think anymore.
I could reduce my dose by half if I want to (as per doctor) and see what kind of difference it makes. Would definitely help me see if it's more beneficial than not, for me.
If your doctor agrees to prescribe it, then you could try it and see for yourself. Continuously, you might have less ups and downs but some apparently do better cycling it. You need to discuss this with your doctor. I take it with food so it has double the effect and absorbs better. Fatty foods are especially useful for increasing absorption as progesterone is lipophilic. I take it twice daily as well so that levels be as steady as possible.
In the end, it's really an individual thing. Some like it, some don't.
One last question..... Is there a possibility that progesterone will cause my body to convert my estrogen into testosterone? I've heard stories.
Quote from: Angélique LaCava on May 05, 2016, 07:44:03 PM
One last question..... Is there a possibility that progesterone will cause my body to convert my estrogen into testosterone? I've heard stories.
There is no pathway from estrogen to testosterone.
There is a pathway from testosterone to estrogen via aromatase but it is one way.
Zinc may increase testo levels so you might not take too much of it, for example with supplements .
For boobie growth some people additionally use avocado oil, for cooking and salads ... its a nutrition hint from the east.
Having progesterone together with food may increase its effectivity, especially with oily foods. Progesterone is lipophibic.
You may talk about it with your doctor.
hugs
Great info ladies, I got some good answers to some questions I had :)
Quote from: Angélique LaCava on May 05, 2016, 07:44:03 PM
One last question..... Is there a possibility that progesterone will cause my body to convert my estrogen into testosterone? I've heard stories.
Stories that are not true. It is impossible for estrogen to convert to testosterone. Think of the millions of women who are pregnant and have very high levels of progesterone and estrogen. I, myself, take high doses of both E and P and my T is very low, at 8 ng/dl, the lowest it's ever been while free T is undetectable.
http://www.genome.jp/kegg/pathway/hsa/hsa00140.html
http://www.angelfire.com/sc3/toxchick/images/S/steroidogenesis.gif
http://tau.amegroups.com/article/viewFile/2762/3634/49844
http://www.ceri.com/q_v7n2q3.htm
Quote from: KayXo on May 06, 2016, 07:57:55 AM
my T is very low, at 8 ng/dl, the lowest it's ever been while free T is undetectable.
I've read that female low range is 14 ng/dl.
8 ng/dl, is that not too low ?
Quote from: Lucie on May 06, 2016, 12:58:13 PM
I've read that female low range is 14 ng/dl.
8 ng/dl, is that not too low ?
Well people react differently ... important is imo they have good libido and feel energized ...
and raising estro levels first well into the female range might be better ...
maybe adding bioidentical progesterone ... its also present in cis people ...
then thinking about raising testo ...
just talk it through with your doc ...
hugs
My question was about Kay's testosterone level, not about mine ! :)
Quote from: Lucie on May 06, 2016, 02:26:35 PM
My question was about Kay's testosterone level, not about mine ! :)
Well quite a few people read too ... so it might help them ... the question could be understood as being a general question ...
Kay stated she is only willing to take estrogen and bioidentical progesterone, and she is on a high dosage of e and said she is happy with it, but she probably will answer herself.
hugs
Quote from: Laura_7 on May 06, 2016, 03:06:53 PM
Well quite a few people read too ... so it might help them ... the question could be understood as being a general question ...
You are right, it was a general question. But I wanted to know Kay's point of view because she has a lot of knowledge about hormones. But you too from what I've understood. ;)
T levels aren't really that big of a deal unless its high. Even if its at 0 and your e levels are high enough, you'll have a perfectly fine libido. I think the issue with libido lies with the fact that not many understand their bodies initially when making the switch to E and the changes that come with that sex wise are a bit of a shock. Its new territory and it takes time to adjust. Its like you're getting to know yourself all over again for the first time.
Quote from: Lucie on May 06, 2016, 03:19:24 PM
You are right, it was a general question. But I wanted to know Kay's point of view because she has a lot of knowledge about hormones. But you too from what I've understood. ;)
Yes thank you *hugs*
I had discussions with Kay about adding testo. She would not do it.
She is of the opinion high enough estrogen levels and progesterone should do.
I'm too of the opinion estrogen levels post op should be high enough, transgender people are not menopausal women.
Raising estrogen and progesterone first might be discussed with a doc/endo.
hugs
Quote from: Lucie on May 06, 2016, 12:58:13 PM
I've read that female low range is 14 ng/dl.
8 ng/dl, is that not too low ?
I've seen female range as low as 8 ng/dl. What matters to me most aren't levels but how I feel and my feminine figure. More T would carry more risks than benefits for me. I show no signs of too low T. :) Not worried in the least bit. I think we often get too hung up on numbers instead of focusing on the things that really count.
Quote from: KayXo on May 07, 2016, 02:19:34 PM
I've seen female range as low as 8 ng/dl. What matters to me most aren't levels but how I feel and my feminine figure. More T would carry more risks than benefits for me. I show no signs of too low T. :) Not worried in the least bit. I think we often get too hung up on numbers instead of focusing on the things that really count.
Ok, I just wanted to know. I agree that how one feels is what matters most.