I posted here before and everyone was so sweet and had the perfect answers! Thank you so much.

I ordered a bottle of Ona's Natural (Bioidentical) progesterone cream to test on myself and from personal experience it has alleviated things like severe bitchiness and insomnia. Side note for others struggling with restlessness - I take my 2nd dose of E before 4pm now and it drastically improved my sleep before the progesterone cream. I can't comment about it's *possible* effect on breast growth because I'm just 3 months into HRT.

Does anyone have experience with cycling their Progesterone to mimic cis women's cycles? If so pls share [emoji846]


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Progesterone is sometimes called the pregnancy hormone since most of the known effects are associated with reproductive functions. There is some effect on breast development, but Estradiol has a much more profound effect on breast growth.

Many MTF feel that Progesterone has little effect on feminization since we lack ovaries and endometrium. Most of us do not include Progesterone in our personal HRT regimen.

Progesterone is known to function with several other growth factors including HGH and Insulin-Like Growth Factors to fully mature breast tissues in conjunction with estradiol. Estradiol has the biggest influence but does not work all on its own.
Cycling progesterone is part of a cis woman's endometrium growth and loss cycle. For us cycling does not appear to have any benefit aside from producing PMS mental effects.

Bio-identicle progesterone is the primary building block pathway of other hormones within the body. There is plenty of research into the natural estradiol / progesterone ratio and how the greater decrease in progesterone production compared to estrogen production in cis women can increase issues, that it makes sense for trans women to have progesterone in our HRT.

When micronized progesterone is taken orally about 10-20% enters the blood as progesterone. The other 80-90% enters as the various metabolites of progesterone. These include important neuro-regulating hormones like allopregnanolone as well as some which decrease blood platelet clotting factor. Progesterone also helps to prevent interference that estrogen can have on the thyroid regulation.

Screenshot Progesterone by Josie H, on Flickr

Quote from: lunaJ on April 22, 2018, 12:37:53 AM

Progesterone to mimic cis women's cycles? If so pls share [emoji846]

Luna recently started adding "bio-identical, micronized progesterone" cream to routine directions say forearms but use on fore-legs due very dry . . . Started two months ago, took a break for a week, girls are definitely acting up pushing a "B" am in the market for a more comfortable, unlined bra!

Am older, standard 'E' no anti-A at all! Am also working on losing weight, at least 20lbs, and complexion am a Gold member luv platinumskincare . . .

I have been cycling progesterone for the past 18 month since I started HRT. Not sure how much of an effect had on body changes since I never tried without, but I always noticed that my breasts did hurt more during the 14 days on progesterone.

Where it does have more influence is around the time I stop every month: I do get a bit more irritated, moody and have more odd food cravings. My wife can usually figure out "Is it that time of the month again" when she catches me with my hands in the pickle jar.

I have also had odd stomach cramps and noticed that I am easier constipated on progesterone.

At least for me, there are mental and body effects from cycling....

Quote from: sarah1972 on April 22, 2018, 07:16:07 AM
I have also had odd stomach cramps and noticed that I am easier constipated on progesterone.

Sarah never gave much thought to associating the two but *ditto*, missed day work last month due cramps (assumed something I ate/stress) and stools are better, more solid despite addiction to mucho AM coffee!

Oh yea, take Dr Groups nascent iodine every AM too!

Thank y'all! I didn't realize how vague my question was lol.

To clarify: How do I correctly cycle progesterone? 3 weeks on 1 week off?


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Quote from: Dani on April 22, 2018, 06:05:59 AM
Progesterone is sometimes called the pregnancy hormone since most of the known effects are associated with reproductive functions. There is some effect on breast development, but Estradiol has a much more profound effect on breast growth.

Many MTF feel that Progesterone has little effect on feminization since we lack ovaries and endometrium. Most of us do not include Progesterone in our personal HRT regimen.

Actually I was instructed by my endo because of my questionable and unique inner biology I really had to be on progesterone.   So I get the added benefits of it.  Mostly larger breasts, more full from what I've seen so far.  That and .. other issues that will go unsaid because they've been said too much (by me).  I'm OFF of it for a month now but I'll restart very shortly (per another endos insctructions) lol.   Confused yet?  yup. 

I feel better without progesterone. I took it orally for 3 yrs +, a high dose by comparison with most transsexual and ciswomen. I sleep better without it, my mood is more stable, less swings. Breast growth is also significantly more without it. Progesterone is anti-estrogenic.

I think this is something depending on your goals and maybe your doctor might be best to ask.

If you want to be close to an AFAB, then it would be two weeks on and two weeks off. To make thinks easier for the insurance I take day 1-14 of every month which is a bit longer but still within the natural range of a typical female cycle. I have heard of other around the same timeframes (between 12 and 16 days).

There are also several taking it continuously every day.

Quote from: lunaJ on April 22, 2018, 09:10:14 AM
Thank y'all! I didn't realize how vague my question was lol.

To clarify: How do I correctly cycle progesterone? 3 weeks on 1 week off?


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Quote from: sarah1972 on April 22, 2018, 09:57:02 PM
I think this is something depending on your goals and maybe your doctor might be best to ask.

If you want to be close to an AFAB, then it would be two weeks on and two weeks off. To make thinks easier for the insurance I take day 1-14 of every month which is a bit longer but still within the natural range of a typical female cycle. I have heard of other around the same timeframes (between 12 and 16 days).

There are also several taking it continuously every day.

well... 1 week double dose, 1 week normal, 1 week normal, 1 week off.  Then again I'm no doc ^_^  Or if you wanted to do it by the lunar phase, you could time it according to that too.
http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/mag2006/images/apr2006_report_prog_02_big.jpg

Quote from: lunaJ on April 22, 2018, 09:10:14 AM
Thank y'all! I didn't realize how vague my question was lol.

To clarify: How do I correctly cycle progesterone? 3 weeks on 1 week off?


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I do 3 weeks on and 1 week off.  I've tried 2 weeks on and off and didn't like how I felt the second week off.

Some research has postulated the reason for the increase in breast cancer risk is due to the fluctuations in sex hormone levels and the greater number of menstrual cycles in ciswomen in the modern era, because there is a greater frequency of cycles of cellular division and apoptosis, hence increasing the risk of mutations arising. Also, fluctuations in progesterone levels can result in mood swings. Not sure it's something I'd personally try and enjoy. Just my 2 cents. Have a talk with your doctor, as always.

Traditionally and for most of human existence, women spent most of their time, either pregnant or breastfeeding, not cycling on and off, all the time. Food for thought...

Quote from: KayXo on April 23, 2018, 09:58:08 AM
Some research has postulated the reason for the increase in breast cancer risk is due to the fluctuations in sex hormone levels and the greater number of menstrual cycles in ciswomen in the modern era, because there is a greater frequency of cycles of cellular division and apoptosis, hence increasing the risk of mutations arising. Also, fluctuations in progesterone levels can result in mood swings. Not sure it's something I'd personally try and enjoy. Just my 2 cents. Have a talk with your doctor, as always.

Traditionally and for most of human existence, women spent most of their time, either pregnant or breastfeeding, not cycling on and off, all the time. Food for thought...

Well true though pregnancy itself also carries huge risks, MASSIVE hormone fluctuations, and rapid cellular divisions internally.  It also increases risk of cancer and self created auto immune reactions.  Kind of damned if you do damned if you don't  

Quote from: Doreen on April 23, 2018, 12:43:33 PM
Well true though pregnancy itself also carries huge risks, MASSIVE hormone fluctuations, and rapid cellular divisions internally.  It also increases risk of cancer and self created auto immune reactions.  Kind of damned if you do damned if you don't

An inverse association has been found between the number of births and thus pregnancies and the risk of breast cancer. The more pregnancies a woman has, the lesser the risk, although associations do not necessarily imply causation. Parous women, women who have babies, have traditionally been less struck with breast cancer than women without, like nuns who go through many more cycles during their lives.

Hormones gradually increase over the course of pregnancy, do not fluctuate up and down as in cycles.