Well, good times...  After 12 long weeks on medroxyprogesterone, I called it quits.  My mood issues became a problem that I couldn't muscle through.  So I pitched it and after 3 days I started feling better...  I am still persuing micronized progesterone, but I fear its going to be a long fight to get the prescription.  So until then I'm content with estrogen and spiro...  Not much of an update, but hey, cant win them all.

Glad you came to a decision that you agree with.  Do what is right for your body and mind.

It is very weird, my women's health calendar says this:

"25 - The percentage by which women at a higher risk for Breast Cancer can lower their levels of Progesterone (a hormone that may promote cancerous cell growth) by exercising 45 minutes a day.

lol such a confusing hormone.

Doctors, media and many other entities confuse progesterone with other progestogens, namely medroxyprogesterone acetate.

PROGESTERONE is the hormone that is naturally produced in the human body, in greater quantities in women during the second part of their menstrual cycle and in very high quantities during pregnancy. It is available as oral Prometrium, Utrogestan, in suppositories as Cyclogest and as IM injection and it can also be compounded. During pregnancy, it is sometimes prescribed to women to prevent abortion or pre-term delivery. It is also prescribed to women going through in-vitro fertility. Studies have never shown an association of progesterone with breast cancer and pregnancy, a time when progesterone levels are VERY high, has been associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer.

MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE, on the other hand, was associated in a very large randomized trial from 2003 (Women's Health Initiative), with an increase in breast cancer incidence relative to women who weren't taking it. The bad press comes from this progestogen and also other progestogens that have been linked in other studies to an increased risk of breast cancer. This progestogen is NEVER prescribed to pregnant women as it can be mildly androgenic and can be harmful for the female fetus. It is not produced in the human body. It has also been associated with an increased risk of clots, vascular problems and mood problems.

Now you know.

Thanks for the update, Harley. I've been quite interested in the use of MPA for a while. As I noted in one of your other threads on the topic, I had a feeling that my clinic leaned towards the use of it for their regimen. Sure enough, at my scheduled checkup last week, the doctor suggested that I add it to the mix. Based on your experience, Kay's input and other things, I asked about progesterone instead. The doctor suggested that I give this a try, that "others have had good results from it." So I left with a script for what I thought was a pretty high dosage.

I still had some reservations, so I asked for a consultation with the pharmacist. It was a curious conversation. I asked about the risk of mood swings and depression. The pharmacist said that taking any hormone can incur mood swings, noted that I was already taking a lot. She asked if I was experiencing mood swings already. I said no, not at all. Then she asked if I was prone to depression. I said no to that, too. Funny, she said almost the same thing as the doctor, "I think it's probably worth a try then." She did suggest that progesterone could be an alternative and looked up the cost for me. The price difference is huge.

Anyway, I got the prescription filled and have been taking half the prescribed dosage for a week now. I hadn't really noticed any effect. I'm suspicious, though, of several bumps on my arms that I originally attributed to possible insect bites. It borders on a rash, one of the less common side effects. I'm gonna stop for a few days and then possibly restart to see what happens.

Thanks again, everyone, for the input.

All the best,
--AshleyP

The issue with medroxyprogesterone acetate is not only onset of depressive moods in some which may also occur, by the way, with progesterone (although usually to a lesser degree and the opposite may also occur) but has more to do with its adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, breast tissue and coagulation whereas progesterone appears to have none of those adverse effects. MPA reduces estrogen's beneficial effects on lipids and its vasodilating effects in arteries. Medroxyprogesterone is also slightly androgenic (in contrast to progesterone) and given our circumstances, even if also having an anti-androgenic effect (antigonadotropic effect), the overall effect may not always be in our best interest.

If progesterone is too expensive, there are other, safer options, it would seem. You can have progesterone compounded at a lower cost or opt for hydroxyprogesterone caproate injections.

Personally, I would rather take no progestogen than take medroxyprogesterone acetate. The evidence in favor of not using medroxyprogesterone acetate is just too strong, in my opinion. I'm baffled as to why it is still on the market... or not when one considers how much money can still be made from it.

I have tried both. With medroxy, nothing ever happened. With natural, my libido was boosted, sensation of calm and better sleep.

Officially one week off the MPA and feeling like my old self. I have a phone in update with my provider, who tried to say that my depression was brought about by too high of an estrogen level while on MPA. I don't buy it, but looks like they're going to cut my estrogen again and put me back on MPA before they will consider other options , that's "if" they are going to consider an alternate prescription. So cheers to more red tape and hoops!

Quote from: Harley Quinn on March 03, 2017, 11:59:47 AM
Officially one week off the MPA and feeling like my old self. I have a phone in update with my provider, who tried to say that my depression was brought about by too high of an estrogen level while on MPA. I don't buy it, but looks like they're going to cut my estrogen again and put me back on MPA before they will consider other options , that's "if" they are going to consider an alternate prescription. So cheers to more red tape and hoops!

OMG...    I mean, seriously....  :insertSwearWords:

Not proud of it, but I do think that I may have cursed her out on the phone in my MPA haze when she suggested that my estrogen was too high (same dose for the past 7 months), and that the MPA is not likely the culprit.

So, other people without HRT would react similarly when confronted with something like that.  Correlation does not result in causation.
Just be cause you popped off does not mean it is from any HRT you are on....

Hi Harley....what did your estrogen numbers come back at?  I'd think anything up to 250 pg/ml would be fine. If your numbers are out of line, they should at least be able to support that assertion with your results.

76 pmol end of cycle... not high at all as far as I'm concerned. Any lower and I get hot flashes.

No one can force you to do anything you don't want to do.

Quote from: Harley Quinn on March 03, 2017, 06:11:45 PM
76 pmol end of cycle... not high at all as far as I'm concerned. Any lower and I get hot flashes.

That is very low indeed but levels fluctuate in time. Typical levels in pre-menopausal women during a menstrual cycle range anywhere from 73 to 2,400 pmol/L.

Fluctuation at her age should run about 30 percent at end of cycle. So these numbers are ridiculously low. On the other hand, your avatar reveals you to be more than quite feminine in appearance. Your receptors must be like sponges...l.o.l.

Anyway, the purpose of these things is to look and feel female. I don't know how you feel, but you look 100 percent woman.

Quote from: jentay1367 on March 04, 2017, 12:15:06 AM
Fluctuation at her age should run about 30 percent at end of cycle. So these numbers are ridiculously low. On the other hand, your avatar reveals you to be more than quite feminine in appearance. Your receptors must be like sponges...l.o.l.

Anyway, the purpose of these things is to look and feel female. I don't know how you feel, but you look 100 percent woman.

I do make up magic... not that feminine. And how do you know I'm 36... are the wrinkles that bad!?!? Lol... (sorry, had to be done).

Hi Harley,
This all sounds a bit ridiculous.  Is there a possibility of getting another medical practitioner that knows what they're doing?
Take care,
Paige

Quote from: Harley Quinn on March 04, 2017, 06:50:42 AM
I do make up magic... not that feminine. And how do you know I'm 36... are the wrinkles that bad!?!? Lol... (sorry, had to be done).

QuoteI do make up magic... not that feminine 

Well...if that's true, then you should be teaching the subject.

Paige - not possible because I use the VA.

Jentay - thanks... I'm still learning, but I have posted on some of my experience with make up application.

Quote from: Harley Quinn on March 04, 2017, 08:33:15 PM
Paige - not possible because I use the VA.

Gives me something to couch my expectations with. I retire from active navy next year, and already can't stand military medical wrt transgender care.