I am on my 2nd month of cycle and I find that it's also working very well for me. In fact, I have noticed noticeable changes on the texture of my skin and also the continuous swelling of my breast and enlargement of the aerola/nipple.

I also noticed that the contours of my face are getting a lot rounder and hair is getting thicker with P. Hips have gained a bit with most of the fat going to my behind. Libido has increased a bit but not to point that I cannot control it which is a major plus for me.

Overall, I am satisfied and I am currently on a 10 day 20 day off cycle.

April xo

Quote from: April_TO on January 04, 2016, 10:45:50 AM
I am on my 2nd month of cycle and I find that it's also working very well for me. In fact, I have noticed noticeable changes on the texture of my skin and also the continuous swelling of my breast and enlargement of the aerola/nipple.

I also noticed that the contours of my face are getting a lot rounder and hair is getting thicker with P. Hips have gained a bit with most of the fat going to my behind. Libido has increased a bit but not to point that I cannot control it which is a major plus for me.

Overall, I am satisfied and I am currently on a 10 day 20 day off cycle.

April xo

I have noticed a lot of the same too. Everything fits better now. Hips filling out nicely and breast continues to grow and shape nice and round and actually looking like breasts rather than cones. I do feel a bit bloated though. However I just take mine every day as directed. No cycling here.

My hips have gotten bigger too, but I think that's just overall weight gain, but still ridiculous. I went from like 43-44 inches to 47... Glad my pants are stretchy! Lol. Though now I usually just wear denim leggings anyway.

And about the cycling, it's an experiment, like all of this is really.. My endo doesn't know specifics, so I was never told specifically what dose or how many days or what, and I doubt he'd know if I asked. But I do know I have a cycle, so I'm just trying to reason out how progesterone levels are in natural cycles, and it's not constant through the month. Then again, I mean.. maybe the body will increase and decrease it regardless... I know that my e levels are probably going to be different at different points in my cycle, even though I take the same amount each day. So who knows... At least this way I'm saving money, lol.

Mine told me just take it, don't cycle. There is debate about cycling to mimic the menstrual cycle but when you think about it, pregnancy causes a lot of breast development and there is a constant supply of P during that time. Also if you truly want to mimic the menstrual cycle you need to vary your E too.

Either way I'm growing at a good clip now.

Cycles aren't natural as levels increase in the second phase in preparation of pregnancy so naturally, the woman would become pregnant not how it is in our society since the Industrial revolution, with the advent of birth control pills and what not. Most women traditionally spent most their lifetime being pregnant and breastfeeding, much less time cycling. Some posit that so many cycles in a lifetime have contributed to the increase in breast cancers. Nuns have been historically known to be afflicted with this and they only cycle. Cycles also increase risk of mood swings (PMS). No thanks!

I take my progesterone continuously since more than a year. A high dose by comparison which gives me levels ranging from 13-20 ng/dl 12 hours after last dose so imagine the peak?!

I have recently experimented with lowering my dose in half. As a result, I feel less bloated, slight weight loss, definitely sleep better at night, paradoxically. My breasts started to hurt finally, again! and nipples are bigger. Skin *seems* softer, interestingly. Calmer, more stable, less highs and lows. Skin appears less dimply, smoother and more translucent (whiter). I take a high dose of E by injection as well.

Seems like at first, progesterone improves my mood, makes me super happy and relaxed, plenty of energy (too much?) but later, the opposite tends to happen, I have low energy, somewhat depressed (high and low). My face is definitely not oily ever! More on the dry side which seems to improve with less P (?)...to be confirmed. I found my skin and hair improved most when I went from E pills to injections, not when I added P.

On less P, my T was 20 ng/dl. On double the dose, my T was 8 ng/dl. T does not increase with P, it seems.

It is well known that P increases weight gain while E keeps it in check, especially at waist so no belly. That was one of the reasons I cut my dose in half, to see if P was truly the culprit.

Will keep you posted.

Have any of you been on estro for a protracted period of time like a few years and then started P?  Sorry if it was stated somewhere and I missed it.

I'm interested in any results that are clearly P derived with E based results having peaked.  My doc has also dissuaded me from P due to the side effects but my curves need more curving.

I had asked about adding prometrium to my HRT, but my doctor wants to wait to see how I react to low dose over the next few months. I actually do like that she's being cautious, but it is hard being patient sometimes.

Okay so, I'm stopping the prometrium for now. I don't think I'm having a good reaction from doubling my dose.. Past few days things have been getting worse.. My left leg started feeling a bit tender, especially around the knee. Then my lower leg was feeling a bit swollen. Now I'm getting frequent mild pain around me knee and back of my thigh, both my feet feel swollen and tender, and I swear my left arm is occasionally feeling a bit weird, similarly. My feet are also getting a tingly sleepy kinda feeling and occasional mild intermittent pain. Overall, I just feel kinda swollen. So hopefully it's just the dose increase, and stopping will make it go away because I'm kinda scared right now that it's going to be related to blood clots... I won't be taking any more of it until I see my endo again in a few weeks. I'll keep y'all updated over the next few days as I see if stopping it eases the issues...

So sorry to hear that Ashey, I am on month two and so far I have been getting good results. I would definitely check in with your doctor. However, I had the same side effects when I took spiro for the first time.

Are you drinking enough water and are you taking enough salt? My doctor told me that a lack of salt would cause leg pain and soreness. So that will be a good excuse for you to have some chips for the time being granting you've checked in with your doctor.

I just finished my cycle and my boobs are definitely bigger and rounder. Quite honestly, I have also gained weight but it seems like my clothes are still fitting me quite ok so I wonder where the extra weight is going lol.

Anyways, thanks for the update and for the lady who asked how long was I on E before taking P - it was shortly after a year.

Best,

April

Quote from: Ashey on January 10, 2016, 04:23:40 AM
Okay so, I'm stopping the prometrium for now. I don't think I'm having a good reaction from doubling my dose.. Past few days things have been getting worse.. My left leg started feeling a bit tender, especially around the knee. Then my lower leg was feeling a bit swollen. Now I'm getting frequent mild pain around me knee and back of my thigh, both my feet feel swollen and tender, and I swear my left arm is occasionally feeling a bit weird, similarly. My feet are also getting a tingly sleepy kinda feeling and occasional mild intermittent pain. Overall, I just feel kinda swollen. So hopefully it's just the dose increase, and stopping will make it go away because I'm kinda scared right now that it's going to be related to blood clots... I won't be taking any more of it until I see my endo again in a few weeks. I'll keep y'all updated over the next few days as I see if stopping it eases the issues...

Thanks for the feedback Kay, always so informative. I'll stick to my cycling for now and see how it goes.
As for my t levels, I am at 30 ng/dl (Testosterone) the last time I did my blood work in November. I am in the middle of the female range so my doctor kept me in a slightly lower dose for Spiro.

I might be switching to CPA, couple with a low dose diuretic to keep the water retention at bay.

Anyways, keep us updated xo

Quote from: KayXo on January 05, 2016, 10:51:06 PM
Cycles aren't natural as levels increase in the second phase in preparation of pregnancy so naturally, the woman would become pregnant not how it is in our society since the Industrial revolution, with the advent of birth control pills and what not. Most women traditionally spent most their lifetime being pregnant and breastfeeding, much less time cycling. Some posit that so many cycles in a lifetime have contributed to the increase in breast cancers. Nuns have been historically known to be afflicted with this and they only cycle. Cycles also increase risk of mood swings (PMS). No thanks!

I take my progesterone continuously since more than a year. A high dose by comparison which gives me levels ranging from 13-20 ng/dl 12 hours after last dose so imagine the peak?!

I have recently experimented with lowering my dose in half. As a result, I feel less bloated, slight weight loss, definitely sleep better at night, paradoxically. My breasts started to hurt finally, again! and nipples are bigger. Skin *seems* softer, interestingly. Calmer, more stable, less highs and lows. Skin appears less dimply, smoother and more translucent (whiter). I take a high dose of E by injection as well.

Seems like at first, progesterone improves my mood, makes me super happy and relaxed, plenty of energy (too much?) but later, the opposite tends to happen, I have low energy, somewhat depressed (high and low). My face is definitely not oily ever! More on the dry side which seems to improve with less P (?)...to be confirmed. I found my skin and hair improved most when I went from E pills to injections, not when I added P.

On less P, my T was 20 ng/dl. On double the dose, my T was 8 ng/dl. T does not increase with P, it seems.

It is well known that P increases weight gain while E keeps it in check, especially at waist so no belly. That was one of the reasons I cut my dose in half, to see if P was truly the culprit.

Will keep you posted.

Bio-identical progesterone does NOT affect coagulation hence cannot cause blood clots. This has been confirmed by studies, so no worries. Certain progestins can however increase the risk (i.e. in birth control pills, Provera, etc.). It's important to not put all progestogens in the same basket and be well informed so as not panic for no reason.

Progesterone is also known to be a diuretic like Spiro, both having antimineralocorticoid properties so could be the side-effects were from a lack of water and/or salt intake.

Or could just be that you are anxious since doubling dose because those symptoms can come from anxiety as well.

Kay, Prometrium is a progestin and coupled with the estradiol that I'm taking, can significantly increase the risk of DVT and subsequent pulmonary embolisms. Please don't use disinformation to hand-wave my 'hysteria' away. I also have other risk factors that could contribute. The anxiety came after my feet had swollen and my legs had had pain for a few days. Anyway, even since I stopped taking it the other day, my legs are a lil better. Still a bit sore but my feet aren't swollen or tingly, and my legs are at the point where I can walk fine and not freak out. So I think if I go back on it, maybe I'll stick with my previous dose since I didn't seem to have problems with that.

Quote from: Ashey on January 11, 2016, 04:35:29 PM
Kay, Prometrium is a progestin and coupled with the estradiol that I'm taking, can significantly increase the risk of DVT and subsequent pulmonary embolisms.

Scientifically speaking, Prometrium (bio-identical micronized progesterone) is not a progestin but a progestogen. Progestins are any form of progestogen that is not bio-identical.

Contraception. 1987 Oct;36(4):373-402.

"No side effects have been reported as far as lipids profile, coagulation factors and blood pressure are concerned. Therefore oral micronized progesterone appears suitable for hormonal replacement therapy in various areas, essentially postmenopause therapy, premenstrual syndrome, correction of irregular cycles and pregnancy maintenance."

Climacteric. 2013 Aug;16 Suppl 1:69-78.

"it appears that transdermal estradiol alone or combined with natural progesterone does not increase thrombotic risk."

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 21;9(1):e84698. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084698. eCollection 2014.
Progesterone therapy, endothelial function and cardiovascular risk factors: a 3-month randomized, placebo-controlled trial in healthy early postmenopausal women.

"Results indicate that progesterone has short-term cardiovascular safety. Endothelial function, weight, bloodpressure, waist circumference, inflammation and coagulation were unchanged"

CERTAIN other progestins CAN increase risk of DVT, those in birth control pills or medroxyprogesterone acetate. It is important to differentiate between different forms.

I only mention those 3 studies but I can send you more links privately.

Bio-identical estradiol taken non-orally has been shown by several studies to be quite safe in terms of DVT and even be protective. I have the studies if you want, as well.

QuotePlease don't use disinformation to hand-wave my 'hysteria' away.

I never said you were hysteric, just anxious. We all experience anxiety, including me and there is nothing wrong with that. I didn't mean to offend you. Sorry. I was also only speculating. Best to see your doctor about it.

Not disinformation, my assertions are based on several studies, science, not hearsay. I take a high dose of oral Prometrium (and non-oral estradiol) and my coagulation factors are normal, unchanged.

Hey KayXO, I have a question! 

Like fall of 2014 I was switched over to the generic version of prometrium, which is manufactured by Teva. Is it still considered bio idenitical if its generic. I'm assuming yes right? Only reason I ask is cause I was looking up online and women were reporting bad side effects in general. Apparently it has something to do with how it's made (different fillers)

What's your take on that?

Teva is not much different, I think, in terms of inactives. You need to compare. I know the Prometrium I now take no longer contains peanut oil but sunflower oil. Some ppl are allergic to peanuts. Do you feel different on it? Effects still the same?

The only difference I see is the oil used (peanut vs. sunflower), the iron oxide (E172) added in Teva and glycerin vs. glycerol which I think are the same.

Back to normal now that I'm off it. I'll just have to stick to a lower dose, but I'm sure it'll be enough. I was feeling and seeing a difference at the lower dose, and have been getting good and consistent breast growth. I'll talk to my endo about it all next month.

P is not necessarily for everyone. I find that often the doses are too low to really see a significant effect and really judge whether P is beneficial or not. P is VERY quickly metabolized by the body even when injected IM, where it lasts 24-36 hours.

Quote from: KayXo on January 12, 2016, 05:30:54 PM
Teva is not much different, I think, in terms of inactives. You need to compare. I know the Prometrium I now take no longer contains peanut oil but sunflower oil. Some ppl are allergic to peanuts. Do you feel different on it? Effects still the same?

effects are still the same, was just curious...I was kind of suspecting that it was causing my depression but I realized it was other things triggering it.

Quick little update, so I'm going into my 3rd cycle for this month and I noticed a definite change in my breast consistency. It seems like my breast got fuller and a bit heavier compared to what it was pre-progesterone.

I wish I could post my pic here. However, the significant change that I noticed was with the upper part of the breast which accumulated some fat and made the slope a lot more breast like than before. I'm also happy to say that rear rounded out more and it's a bit of struggle wearing my skinny jeans lately lol Anyways, I am currently a 34 B/36 A girl and I cannot wait to report more changes in the next few weeks.

Hope y'all are having a great weekend. Be blessed xo