A few years ago I got put on a Progesterone Testosterone Compound Cream, Prog25/Test 2MG for a really short, heavy menstrual cycle and abnormally low testosterone levels. I was just beginning to question my gender identity and didn't know about progesterones side effects, (possible breast growth?) just that it actually helped your body create more testosterone. I took it everyday and my cycle went to 28 days rather than 20 and I felt like my energy levels shot up. I have really bad fatigue from thyroid problems so this was great. Didn't notice any masculinization of any kind but I was only on it for three months before I started having problems with my skin. I stopped using the cream but realized later that my problems were an allergic reaction to a sunscreen I was using. My cycles gone back to normal and I'd like to talk to my doctor about starting taking a low dose of t again, mostly because I'd like to use it on my junk to see if I can overcome the physical dysphoria that's impacting my sex life. I'm unsure if I want to fully transition as male, but I really want to get on t even at such a small dose so that I could at least get up to average female levels. Problem is, I'm not out to my doctor and she wants to put me back on both testosterone and progesterone. While it would be great to get my menstrual cycle under control, I'm not sure if I'd be shooting myself in the foot by putting more female hormones in my body. Anyone know more about the feminizing effects of progesterone at this dose? I'm not at all interested in more body hair, but I don't want breast growth/even more feminine fat distribution or god forbid, any type of permanent femininization. Is it worth it to get on even that small amount of t (and to convince my body to start producing more of its own)?? How should I discuss this with my doctor without seeming desperate to get on t because of the potential for masculinizing effects? I feel the low energy and sexual problems should be reason enough to try the cream again, just not enough to explain why I'd like to stay away from progesterone. Anyone know if the compound would be safe/have any effect on my junk growth/sensitivity? What about using it in other places? Also any acne recommendations if my skin problems end up being partially from the t?
Progesterone is the precursor to other steroid hormones like testosterone and estrogen, metabolizing one or the other to maintain balance. If you supplement with progesterone, it should not cause any feminine traits to develop. (http://www.ehow.com/facts_5848728_feminizing-effects-progesterone-men.html)
Although this is about Males taking progesterone, I'm pretty sure it doesn't do anything feminizing.
I'm curious about this. Wonder if my doc would prescribe it and if so, if my insurance would cover it. Anyone know how much it would cost without insurance (it's probably expensive). She might be more willing to prescribe this than straight up testosterone. I am so frustrated I haven't been able to get on T yet.
When they put me on progesterone pills for a few days, the moobs did grow...I'm almost that desperate to go on T, even if it had female hormones with it...ugh.
Do you have any idea how much progesterone you were on? I think it's in birth control (never needed it) but at this dose it just helps regulate your period not halt it. I'm hoping it will be too low of a dose to do anything to my chest but maybe enough to stimulate my own t production.
I was prescribed progesterone cream once. It didn't do anything that the doctor said it would ... it also made me gain weight (that I still haven't lost) and royally screwed some other things up. Every body is different though. For me, I've sworn off hormones of any sort. Every time I've tried supplementing with them something has gone terribly wrong. The 3rd try of this was the last for me and personally I think messing with the balance of my hormones will only lead to ill health.
As for being able to grow parts - things can only get so big unless you have PAIS or another genetic variation. Also, I think some people have to have some sort of surgery done in order for things to attain maximum size. I don't think it will happen just form hormones. I could be wrong about that.
Oh yeah I didn't even think of the dose issue since it's in such a tiny amount that would never facilitate normal transition. Hope that's ok! That's a lot less though... I think it may be different since mine was a cream? As for the possibility of growth, all I know is as far as the amount of t goes, and this may not be accurate because the compound is testosterone and progesterone, it's around what they give women with sexual dysfunction/sensitivity problems. I think a tiny tiny bit of growth may sometimes be a side effect, but increased sensation, energy, and sex drive definitely are. Anything to help me feel a little more connected to my body sounds good to me.
I once tried adding progesterone to the estrogen and it made me as male as before starting E ...which added to the previous commenst on here makes me think that progesterone needs considering really carefully before anyone starts using it in the hopes it will either masculinize or feminize them.
did the doctor prescribe th eP after seeing blood work by an endo or just off the cuff because its worked with other females?
I've had my hormone levels tested yes? I was below average, before taking the compound, and am now at low, but more balanced, levels pretty much across the board. That's for female and male hormones. Apparently this leaves me with the default female look.
Okay so I was able to get my doctor to give me the progesterone and testosterone separately so I take them at different times of the day (progesterone helps with sleep, testosterone does the opposite). I'm super thrilled. I didn't mention anything gender related or inquire about breast growth. I'll complain about that if it occurs.
Now that I have the option of taking them separately, should I still take the progesterone/take less of it?
My doc used my old hormone tests from 2009 because my doc at college didn't send them like I requested, so she doesn't know my current levels. She wants me to get tested in a few months to see where things are at. Since she doesn't know my current levels, I could probably get away with not taking the progesterone without causing suspicion, but if it does masculine, why would I? Should I take the progesterone and just monitor for breast growth? I've heard it stops the tiny bit of testosterone I'm taking from being converted to DHT, even though it helps to raise my overall testosterone levels. Would this counteract any junk or muscle growth? For those of you who know, would concentrating my t application to my junk, rather than fatty absorbable areas, increase my chance of growth but decrease my overall testosterone improvement? What would you advise?
Quote from: Kvall on August 17, 2010, 02:13:37 AM
Re-reading your post, I see that you still need to bring your T levels up to normal female levels, so certainly it's worth talking to your doctor about doing at least that much. But the dosage you'd be taking for female levels wouldn't noticeably grow your junk. Are you concerned about coming out to your doctor? If you don't want to get into the trans thing, you could simply tell them that you absolutely do not want breast growth.
Pardon the threadjack, but how do you go about asking your doctor about getting your hormone levels tested in the first place, if you're not out as anything at all to them, and don't want to be, yet? "I read this on the internet..." doesn't tend to go over well without any backup. Only thing I've ever been able to get checked is thyroid, and that was normal, but I've always had low energy (currently just take stimulant meds for it) and I had no idea that sex hormones could have anything to do with it, until reading some posts here and elsewhere recently about it. If I knew how to ask, might be another thing to try and rule out.
I do know that my sex drive is pretty low on no hormones at all, virtually nonexistent on estrogen/progesterone birth control pills, but when I tried Depo-Provera, it increased it quite a lot! I've never tried any progesterone-only pills, but I went off the shot because of a lot of problems with spotting (bleeding for a month and a half out of a three month cycle is counterproductive with increased sex drive!), and I thought it might be causing headaches, though they didn't end up going away when I went off it. Also caused hair loss, though so did another combination pill, and I can't remember if it had any effect on breast size or my skin, though I know most pills make my skin better. And I don't remember any effects on energy levels, even if there had been any, I never would have thought to tie the two together.
Quote from: Kareil on August 18, 2010, 01:06:28 PM
Pardon the threadjack, but how do you go about asking your doctor about getting your hormone levels tested in the first place, if you're not out as anything at all to them, and don't want to be, yet? "I read this on the internet..." doesn't tend to go over well without any backup. Only thing I've ever been able to get checked is thyroid, and that was normal, but I've always had low energy (currently just take stimulant meds for it) and I had no idea that sex hormones could have anything to do with it, until reading some posts here and elsewhere recently about it. If I knew how to ask, might be another thing to try and rule out.
I don't think I really even asked for it. My cycle was 20 days with 7 days bleeding and PMS. Something was obviously up. Still, if you've got fatigue issues, sometimes the internet is a good place to start. I've been dealing with fatigue for almost 6 years and sometimes it's just a matter of running through things and checking them off the list. I've done a sleep study and had my thyroid, adrenals, and vitamin and hormone levels tested. I'm now looking into the possibility of a food allergy. Doctors don't always consider all the possibilities and sometimes it's a combination of a lot of different things so you have to fight on all fronts, even if something doesn't look dramatically wrong enough to be causing fatigue on it's own. I remember when I went to the endocrinologist for the first time and she was very rude about not thinking there could be anything wrong with me. She sent the results with my thyroid diagnosis in the mail a few weeks later. Now I'm on thyroid pills, iron, and adderall (what stimulant do you take?) plus all this hormone stuff and a bunch of vitamins. I may get on DHEA again too. I'd say that's raised me from an average of about 60% normal operating capacity to 85%. Hang in there.
Quote from: Hunter
My doc used my old hormone tests from 2009
/quote]
As a matter of interest crosssex hormones for FtMs have a shorter history than with MtF - or so it seems - and as many of you guys are quite young and your bodies are still sorting themselves out femalewise would I be right in thinking that your hormone regime is more of a crapshoot than for similar age MtF?
I'd think that a bloodtest would be essential to know what dosages to try and then of course I suppose the time of month would give different readings too.
is there easily available research to show how a newly transitioning FtM's hormones vary over the month?
Hunter, I'd suggest you talk to your doctor about what your real goal with these hormones are. We cannot give you medical advice on what to take when and where as we are not your doctor. Playing with hormones is a dangerous game and could backfire on you, especially when you have other medical issues you're dealing with. You have to reach a healthy balance with things to make sure you're not getting too little or too much of something and the only way to do that is to have an open communication with your doctor and be on the same page as them.
Quote from: Hunter_ on August 18, 2010, 02:44:57 PM
I don't think I really even asked for it. My cycle was 20 days with 7 days bleeding and PMS. Something was obviously up.
Thank you for telling me this, as my cycle's pretty much the same way, which is the main reason why I've been on some form of hormonal birth control since I was 16. I don't believe anyone's ever suggested checking my hormone levels, when sticking you on the Pill will usually make you appear to have a normal "cycle" regardless, and keep you from getting pregnant too. I did check copies of old blood test results, and there's nothing on there except for thyroid (everything normal, though sTSH seems to be at the low end of the reference range). A little googling shows that this could be why I'm cold all the time, despite normal thyroid, too.
QuoteStill, if you've got fatigue issues, sometimes the internet is a good place to start. I've been dealing with fatigue for almost 6 years and sometimes it's just a matter of running through things and checking them off the list. I've done a sleep study and had my thyroid, adrenals, and vitamin and hormone levels tested. I'm now looking into the possibility of a food allergy. Doctors don't always consider all the possibilities and sometimes it's a combination of a lot of different things so you have to fight on all fronts, even if something doesn't look dramatically wrong enough to be causing fatigue on it's own. I remember when I went to the endocrinologist for the first time and she was very rude about not thinking there could be anything wrong with me. She sent the results with my thyroid diagnosis in the mail a few weeks later. Now I'm on thyroid pills, iron, and adderall (what stimulant do you take?) plus all this hormone stuff and a bunch of vitamins. I may get on DHEA again too. I'd say that's raised me from an average of about 60% normal operating capacity to 85%. Hang in there.
I've tried iron and vitamins (doesn't do much, aside from the bright yellow pee of the B vitamins!), haven't seen an endocrinologist (nothing appears to be wrong with me, so why would I get a referral), everything to do with my blood cells is normal, and on one of the tests I checked pretty much everything (well, not pregnancy or PSA!) off that had a little ticky box on it, so sex hormones and adrenal stuff don't seem to have boxes for them on the standard forms we get here, looks like you'd have to write them in - a little harder *after* the doctor's given you the form! I take Dexedrine (I'm not sure if we had Adderall in Canada when I first switched to it from Ritalin), but that's close enough to Adderall that once it goes generic (Dexedrine, despite having been around since the '50s or so, doesn't have a generic, so likely never will) I'll probably switch to save money. I know I also have food allergies, but they're mild, and I don't know exactly what I'm allergic to, for the most part, I think it's maybe just some chemicals, additives, and/or spices - I haven't been able to track things from the ingredient lists. Seems like DHEA isn't available in Canada, and natural progesterone cream can only be gotten at compounding pharmacies...you'd think with the number of women that go through menopause that the latter would be easier to get, but raw milk is basically a controlled substance here, too, so I don't know what the government's thinking.
Hearing about your experiences makes checking my hormone levels sound like the most logical next step, and less like googlechondria, or like if I ask my doctor (who's also the rest of the family's) it probably won't seem odd enough that if my mother goes to visit, something along the lines of "You know your daughter? I think you might actually have a son, there..." could accidentally slip out!