Not upset, but need to figure out if I want to stay on Progesterone.  Been taking it for almost three months now, and there may be a problem with hair pulling out really easily.  The doctor said a side effect can include hair loss, but with thin hair I'd hoped to be lucky when it came to side effects. 

Has this been an issue with anyone else?  And if you had this happen, did it persist?

K

My Dr doesn't prescribe progesterone to patients because there are more associated risks than benefits. I have an issue with thinning hair as well, and take something that's prescribed to help with that. It's some prostate med, arhh, I forgot the name and im already in bed... I've already consulted with one of the best hair restoration docs in the country, and  it's gonna be a bit pricey to get it done. I don't have a lot of hair loss either. SO I guess is the deal would be loose your hair and take chances with Progesterone, or keep the hair you have and let your other HRT do its thing.

I've been on a high dose of Natural P (Progesterone USP, refined from wild yam root, rather than one of the synthetics) for a little over a month now.  Not sure if it's doing much of anything.  I had some kidney problems with Spiro, my doc added the P as an AA.  She is ok with the natural P but doesn't like the synthetics.  No problems with hair loss so far.  Just my 2 cents, hope it helps.

Quote from: snowboarderchic on December 08, 2013, 09:14:36 PM
... I have an issue with thinning hair as well, and take something that's prescribed to help with that. It's some prostate med, arhh ...

Yea, I'm taking Finasteride also, but it hasn't done a whole lot yet.  A lot of fine hair seems to have shown up, but nothing more.  Since my hair is thin, with a bad widows peak I'm going to need some transplants in the future. 

Quote from: Joules on December 08, 2013, 09:38:44 PM
I've been on a high dose of Natural P (Progesterone USP, refined from wild yam root, rather than one of the synthetics) ....

I'm on one of the synthetics, but only for a year with an average dose.  If I don't have results after 6 months she's going to take me off it early (beginning of March).

Quote from: kathyk on December 08, 2013, 09:53:21 PM
Yea, I'm taking Finasteride also, but it hasn't done a whole lot yet.  A lot of fine hair seems to have shown up, but nothing more.  Since my hair is thin, with a bad widows peak I'm going to need some transplants in the future. 

I'm on one of the synthetics, but only for a year with an average dose.  If I don't have results after 6 months she's going to take me off it early (beginning of March).

I got Finasteride too, when she cut my Spiro by 75%.  One thing I was told about the Finasteride, it can take up to 9 months to be fully effective.  I don't much need hair growth (my avatar is my own real hair), and I don't think the Finasteride is doing as well at blocking T, plus I pay out of pocket, the Fin is $$ a little.  Ima going to try to get her to give me Spiro again.  I will keep the P though   

Oh.. get off the synthetic. At least from what I heard, and natural P is much better.

Usual disclaimer - What follows is my personal opinion. It is based on things I have studied in my medical training, but it does not constitute formal medical advice.

Whether or not you get these negative side effects depends, at least in part, on whether you are actually taking a progestERONE or a progestIN and they are not the same thing at all. That said no two people are the same either, so there is also the question of how well your body metabolises stuff... but leaving that aside for a moment:

Sadly because most trans people are not medically trained they end up thinking that they are on progesterone because the doctor has told them that, when actually what they are taking is a progesterone analogue (synthetic).

Progestins are the, so called, synthetics like MPA (Medroxy Progesterone Acetate Aka Provera) and Levonorgesterol They are used in natal females because of their ability to mimic the effects of progesterone on the uterus. These will be unlikely to benefit a trans patient and will also likely have some degree of androgenic effects as they are not real progesterone, and in fact are fairly easily metabolised by the liver into androgens. Thus if you are prone to Male Pattern Baldness they can indeed cause it.

However true micronised progesterone has been available for some years now and this does NOT cause the same problems. Its side effects are actually largely beneficial - so much so that I personally take it largely FOR the side effects!

As far as I can see the doctors that talk about negative side effects and lack of benefit of progesterones base their arguments on old studies done on the synthetics and thus, in my opinion, their conclusions are at best unproven and at worst completely erroneous.

I personally believe that it was true that taking synthetics offered at best very limited benefits to a transwoman, however taking micronised progesterone is a completely different story and I think does carry useful benefits. However at this point, as there are no formal randomised control trials comparing the two types (at least not that I am aware of) this is only personal anecdotal evidence and therefore not proof.

Quote from: Doctorwho? on December 09, 2013, 04:17:15 AM

Progestins ... Medroxy Progesterone Acetate Aka Provera ... are fairly easily metabolised by the liver into androgens. Thus if you are prone to Male Pattern Baldness they can indeed cause it.

Yes, I'm on medroxyprogesterone, and was given all the warnings by my doctor.  She discussed possible side effects, and expressed concern that there may be little or no effect for most trans patients.  But, she gave "advised consent" to try the progesterone for 6 months (with one year max use).

I've had no other side effects other than this hair loss issue.  But between the progesterone and finasteride I'm not sure which is causing the loss.  Especially since finasteride causes a similar short lived side effect for some girls after three to four months of use.  And that side effect happens before all the positive effects of finasteride are realized. 

So, I've decided to stop the progesterone and stick with the Finasteride for a few months.  If the hair loss stops I'll try the progesterone again for a short time and see if the loss returns.  This has been discussed with my doctor.  She would rather I permanently stop, but I have a history of self medication and if I start reusing it she'd rather I at least use prescribed progesterone under medical supervision.

My second three month prescription is in hand, and it'll remain unopened for a while.  The last dose from my first perscription of progesterone was this AM, and I'll let you girls know what happens.

K

I've been on Provera for almost two months and I don't know if it's doing anything but I am losing less hair. But I attribute that to having a better hairbrush and shampoo now, lol.

Quote from: Ashey on December 09, 2013, 11:53:51 AM
I've been on Provera for almost two months and I don't know if it's doing anything but I am losing less hair. But I attribute that to having a better hairbrush and shampoo now, lol.

I always wear a hat or beret and wish there was more hair to cover up.  Then I wouldn't worry so much.   

I might be happy if old age brought wisdom instead of hair, but I have neither. 

I am on finasteride, dutasteride and on a micronized progesterone cycle.  I started finasteride almost a year ago.  I think there was some minor shedding at first, but by March/April I started to notice lost hairs coming back and my hairline actually advancing.  Estrogen made it grow faster and thicker, and dutasteride sent it into overdrive.  I've only been on one P cycle so far, but I did not notice any more hair on the brush.  I was getting pretty thin up top a year ago, now my hair is back to where it was in my late 20s.  If only it could get to where it was when I was 16...  Anyway, I'm no longer looking at plugs or rugs, since the drugs are clearly working and my natural hair passes for cis now.


My endo told me that he would never put anyone on anything other than micronized progesterone- the gold standard.  I also take the topical creams to keep it away from my liver.