At the moment my doc has got my on finasteride and patch estro. Everything I've read indicates that finasteride is not a fantastic anti-andro. Now, I'm a lawyer not a doctor, and I assume most of what I'm reading is by non doctors as well. So I'm inclined to trust the doctor, but I'm wondering if anyone has been on a similar regimen and how it worked for them?

Many people consider effective blood levels estro above 150-200 pg/ml
testo below 60-50

Bioidentical progesterone has similar anti androgen effects
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,192953.msg1733564.html#msg1733564

it also might help with mood, compliment estrogen and help with breast development.

And imo it has less side effects.

Talk it all through with your doc...


*hugs*

I know of at least woman for whom this was her regimen and by all accounts has done rather well in the breast department.

Quote from: Tamika Olivia on October 26, 2015, 06:32:03 PM
At the moment my doc has got my on finasteride and patch estro. Everything I've read indicates that finasteride is not a fantastic anti-andro. Now, I'm a lawyer not a doctor, and I assume most of what I'm reading is by non doctors as well. So I'm inclined to trust the doctor, but I'm wondering if anyone has been on a similar regimen and how it worked for them?

Finasteride is rarely prescribed as a sole AA. Spironolactone is usually used for this... or Cyproterone Acetate (not used in the USA). Finasteride is most often used in conjunction with another AA or to help with hair issues.

Tamika, I'd trust a doctor just about as much as I'd trust a lawyer, which is to say not at all. As a lawyer, how much trust do you have in another lawyer picked at random? These things tend to look better from the outside where people lack the knowledge to judge it.

For what its worth, my endo prescribes spiro. No finasteride.

Quote from: AnonyMs on October 26, 2015, 07:20:34 PM
Tamika, I'd trust a doctor just about as much as I'd trust a lawyer, which is to say not at all. As a lawyer, how much trust do you have in another lawyer picked at random? These things tend to look better from the outside where people lack the knowledge to judge it.

For what its worth, my endo prescribes spiro. No finasteride.

Compared to who? Like, I'd trust a lawyer chosen over a random person in a legal matter. Same with doctors on medical matters. If I had competing medical advice from doctors that's another story.

But, to the matter. I think the plan will eventually involve spiro. Just wondering if I'll send results without during the calibration phase.

Finasteride helps with DHT, a very aggressive form of testosterone, but I've never heard of it being used alone. That's not to say it won't work, it's worth a try probably. If T levels are still high at ~3 months, ask to add Spiro if your doc doesn't suggest it first.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Quote from: Tamika Olivia on October 26, 2015, 08:28:47 PM
Compared to who? Like, I'd trust a lawyer chosen over a random person in a legal matter. Same with doctors on medical matters. If I had competing medical advice from doctors that's another story.

I'd not trust 90% of the people in my profession, and I sometimes wonder how anything gets done. I'm not in medicine, but I've experienced far too many mistakes with the medical profession to believe that doctors are any better. Its just people being people.

My point about lawyers is simply that as a a lawyer you can see how many in your profession are of a standard you'd trust your life too. From the outside they seem to know what they are doing, but from the inside I doubt it. I'm not a lawyer, so perhaps they have a higher standard than doctors, I don't know.

For something important like this I believe its a good idea to double check everything and to be on the lookout for any signs of incompetence. It's not about comparing them to laymen, but finding one that's competent.

Many doctors begin HRT with either spiro or E then add the other. Finasteride is usually used for hair but it is sometimes used in conjunction with spiro. Some doctors believe in a measured approach to hrt administration.

I was on finasteride prior to seeing my doctor and still am. He added spiro and pill E. later E was increased 50%. Then He added progesterone then pill E was switched to injections.

HRT is a marathon and not a sprint. So next appointment with your doctor have a discussion about different methods of E delivery, adding spiro, blood levels and what are her target blood levels and when will you go from a to b. You may want to write down your questions prior to the appointment and write down her responses.

Congratulation on starting HRT.