Hi.

I have read conflicting opinions about the role of progesterone in a medically supervised mtf HRT program.  Apparently some say progesterone is not to be included, as it may lower the impact of estrogen in a mtf HRT program.  Others say that progesterone's role is unknown in a mtf HRT program and that their doctors do not prescribe it.   Still others include progesterone in a mtf hrt program, with at least one lady here cycling it to 14 days a month instead of using it every day.

Some say that progesterone promotes breast growth and in at least one case, hip and thigh fat accumulation.  But there are some ladies here that do NOT take progesterone and they obtain breast growth from estrogen.  Most mtf ladies take estradiol, and at least one that posted here takes estriol instead.

When I say "some" (people) that refers to various posted comments here or elsewhere, not controlled medical studies.

So, is progesterone in your mtf HRT program?  If so, was that because you asked to try it or your doctor suggesting that you try it?  If you tried it, are you still using it?  Is there any way for you to conclude that progesterone helps or not, or is there no way for you of knowing that it is better or not to have progesterone and estrogen taken together?

As always, our results may vary.  What works or not for you may not necessarily work or not work for others. 

Chrissy

No doctor I have ever met have proposed me to use progesterone. I use Estradiol and Triptorelin (GnRH analogue) for my hrt. You got me curious if I have missed something

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on December 23, 2018, 10:58:32 AM
Hi.

I have read conflicting opinions about the role of progesterone in a medically supervised mtf HRT program.  Apparently some say progesterone is not to be included, as it may lower the impact of estrogen in a mtf HRT program.  Others say that progesterone's role is unknown in a mtf HRT program and that their doctors do not prescribe it.   Still others include progesterone in a mtf hrt program, with at least one lady here cycling it to 14 days a month instead of using it every day.

Some say that progesterone promotes breast growth and in at least one case, hip and thigh fat accumulation.  But there are some ladies here that do NOT take progesterone and they obtain breast growth from estrogen.  Most mtf ladies take estradiol, and at least one that posted here takes estriol instead.

When I say "some" (people) that refers to various posted comments here or elsewhere, not controlled medical studies.

So, is progesterone in your mtf HRT program?  If so, was that because you asked to try it or your doctor suggesting that you try it?  If you tried it, are you still using it?  Is there any way for you to conclude that progesterone helps or not, or is there no way for you of knowing that it is better or not to have progesterone and estrogen taken together?

As always, our results may vary.  What works or not for you may not necessarily work or not work for others. 

Chrissy

Are you sure you don't mean ice cream? 

Quote from: Devlyn on December 23, 2018, 01:32:10 PM
Are you sure you don't mean ice cream? 

Ice cream sounds good.  I suppose if you ate enough of it, your breasts would get larger also.      HaHa!

I wonder if frozen custard would be acceptable too?  Cheesecake?  Gelato?


Chrissy

I take both injectable estrogen and progesterone. My endo started me off on oral estrogen and wanted me to swallow the tablets, she had a kitten when I told her I was doing sublingual. I found a gynecologist at that point, she put me on injectable estrogen and oral progesterone, I had to change to injectable for both, had an allergic reaction to something in the prometrium  caps.

My gynecologist treats a number of transgender women, I was one of her first and she had a lot of study at the start. She added progesterone for breast development and mood stability. I think some doctors get in a rut or a mode of what worked 20 years ago works today ie; Sprio, no progesterone, swallow the pills etc... I have been fortunate with my care team, I have also been a self advocate for my care. Don't be afraid to question their protocols, don't be afraid to find a new care provider, but mostly educate yourself.

I take estradiol and progesterone, I started the progesterone at 9 months on HRT, I used to take the progesterone daily and now I take it 2 weeks on 2 weeks off because when I took a constantly after a few weeks I would start to get moody.  It did for sure perk my boobs up about after 2 weeks on it. 

Currently trying the prometruim at my request.  Did the medroxyprogesterone for 2 months daily and then 10 day per month for 3 more months. This was at my doctor's suggestion as her standard is to start progesterone after 1 year HRT.

I thought I had a spurt in breast development while on them, but had issues bordering on depression.  Tried the cycle dose but that didn't seem to help.
I was off of them for 4 months before starting the micronized.

Quote from: Margarine on December 23, 2018, 06:47:59 PM

had an allergic reaction to something in the prometrium  caps.

You allergic to peanuts?  The caps used to come to the pharmacy with stickers warning of the peanut oil they use in them. 




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Peanuts give me terrible indigestion. I use a bio identical injectable. I asked about medroxyprogestrone and my doctor made a face and explained it was not good stuff and she wishes the FDA would ban it. I did the prometrium as she would not start with injectable progesterone.

I have been on progesterone for 18 months now, oral for 6 months and injectable every Monday and Thursday

I will see the leading LGTQI endocrinologist in South West Florida on January 3rd.  My current endo referred me to him so he could bring me onto the right stuff, which than will be maintained by the current endo (they work together).  I have to see what come out of that.  Currently I take Finasteride (for over 6 years I think), estradiol and spiro.  The only effects I ha so far were swollen feet that went away after taking spiro (also known as water pill.

I cannot detect any additional breast growth (no more than I have from my natural condition), or mood changes.  I am just happy that spiro and estradiol both taste pretty good, and that they don't leave some bitter taste behind.  At least one benefits of those pills!

as a former progesterone user for almost 3 years, here are some benefits I experienced

. softer fuller breasts
. tons of cellulite on legs
. got fatter
. hair breakage / shedding and weak nails

so girls you choose... progesterone is optional. Its not necessary for mtf HRT. We have no uterus.

Quote from: chinee on January 01, 2019, 11:29:28 AM
as a former progesterone user for almost 3 years, here are some benefits I experienced

. softer fuller breasts
. tons of cellulite on legs
. got fatter
. hair breakage / shedding and weak nails

so girls you choose... progesterone is optional. Its not necessary for mtf HRT. We have no uterus.

A pretty high price to pay for bigger boobs!

I'm starting it this year after 3 years HRT (Androcur + E). I'm happy about this as I read a while ago it's best to start Progesterone after 3 years HRT, I think it gives Oestrogen the best chance possible to do it's job. I guess it also emulates a cisgirl in puberty's hormones. Having SRS in 2 weeks and will being taking Progesterone (2 weeks on, 2 weeks off) when the doctor says it's okay to resume HRT - I will be able to stop taking Androcur. My GP wasn't keen on me taking Progesterone and Androcur at the same time due to the even higher risk of DVT.

I have been on Progesterone for about a year and a half. It appears to have aided in the breast size that I have now since estrogen alone wasn't getting the job done before. I didn't star Progesterone until about 3 years into HRT. My doctor and I discussed it and decided to add it as part of my HRT regimen. Hugs
Mariah

Quote from: Ellement_of_Freedom on January 01, 2019, 06:27:58 PM
I'm starting it this year after 3 years HRT (Androcur + E). I'm happy about this as I read a while ago it's best to start Progesterone after 3 years HRT, I think it gives Oestrogen the best chance possible to do it's job. I guess it also emulates a cisgirl in puberty's hormones. Having SRS in 2 weeks and will being taking Progesterone (2 weeks on, 2 weeks off) when the doctor says it's okay to resume HRT - I will be able to stop taking Androcur. My GP wasn't keen on me taking Progesterone and Androcur at the same time due to the even higher risk of DVT.

right, women does get increase in progesterone during their MENSTRUAL CYCLE to regulate their uterus and causes them PMS.

Do you have UTERUS? and you wanna experience PMS like ciswomen? oh well if thats your goal so be it

Quote from: chinee on January 01, 2019, 10:28:33 PM
right, women does get increase in progesterone during their MENSTRUAL CYCLE to regulate their uterus and causes them PMS.

Do you have UTERUS? and you wanna experience PMS like ciswomen? oh well if thats your goal so be it

Thank you for your blessing!

The stuff did nothing for my boobage and made me kind of cranky, so I dropped it. About a year later and after GCS I noticed I was becoming estrogen dominant. My rings and shoes were becoming increasingly tighter. So I went back to the stuff to see if it wouldn't act as a dieuretic and it did its job. My skin no longer looks quite as milky, but its worth it just to be rid of the bloat.

I've taken progesterone (micronized) since about my 9th month on HRT. It was my idea, my pshrink agreed as did my endo.

It definitely is required for formation of breast milk ducts and I attribute it for giving me filled out boobs that E alone had only provided something quite conical in shape.it also seems to help with libido.

Eventually I will start a personal blinded test of cycling P to see if a journal of mood or libido correlate to P intake.

Quote from: chinee on January 01, 2019, 10:28:33 PM
right, women does get increase in progesterone during their MENSTRUAL CYCLE to regulate their uterus and causes them PMS.

Do you have UTERUS? and you wanna experience PMS like ciswomen? oh well if thats your goal so be it

Both progesterone and estradiol interact with the brain in fairly potent ways, as well as triggering physiological changes in many areas of the body other than the uterus and ovaries. The brain itself drives parts of the endocrine system, both secreting and responding to the various signaling molecules.

Progesterone itself metabolizes in brain tissues to produce allopregnanolone, which has calming, anti-anxiety effects, and may be involved with enhancing memory.  Metabolites produced in the liver have a sedative effect, and progesterone is often taken at bedtime to take advantage of the side effect of improved sleep quality.

PMS is not that well studied, but appears to be triggered by luteal phase estradiol levels combined with low progesterone levels.  This state of low progesterone levels, or estrogen dominance, can lead to psychological effects, at least partially through its effect on neurotransmitters. Estrogen increases the expression of receptors and other associated proteins for neurotransmitters including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Progesterone increases seroronin, norepinephrine, GABA, dopamine activity in the brain, while blocking NMDA Glutamate receptors. It may improve estrogen receptor sensitivity.

The uterus is not involved in these pathways, and the effects are present in natal women post-hysterectomy as well as in transgender women.

Quote from: Michelle_P on January 02, 2019, 11:37:47 AM
Both progesterone and estradiol interact with the brain in fairly potent ways, as well as triggering physiological changes in many areas of the body other than the uterus and ovaries. The brain itself drives parts of the endocrine system, both secreting and responding to the various signaling molecules.

Progesterone itself metabolizes in brain tissues to produce allopregnanolone, which has calming, anti-anxiety effects, and may be involved with enhancing memory.  Metabolites produced in the liver have a sedative effect, and progesterone is often taken at bedtime to take advantage of the side effect of improved sleep quality.

Thank you for the well written and informative posting. You beat me too it and did an amazing job of putting it into terms most can understand.
Take Care,
Margaret

Quote from: Michelle_P on January 02, 2019, 11:37:47 AM
Both progesterone and estradiol interact with the brain in fairly potent ways, as well as triggering physiological changes in many areas of the body other than the uterus and ovaries. The brain itself drives parts of the endocrine system, both secreting and responding to the various signaling molecules.

Progesterone itself metabolizes in brain tissues to produce allopregnanolone, which has calming, anti-anxiety effects, and may be involved with enhancing memory.  Metabolites produced in the liver have a sedative effect, and progesterone is often taken at bedtime to take advantage of the side effect of improved sleep quality.

PMS is not that well studied, but appears to be triggered by luteal phase estradiol levels combined with low progesterone levels.  This state of low progesterone levels, or estrogen dominance, can lead to psychological effects, at least partially through its effect on neurotransmitters. Estrogen increases the expression of receptors and other associated proteins for neurotransmitters including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Progesterone increases seroronin, norepinephrine, GABA, dopamine activity in the brain, while blocking NMDA Glutamate receptors. It may improve estrogen receptor sensitivity.

The uterus is not involved in these pathways, and the effects are present in natal women post-hysterectomy as well as in transgender women.

In addition, progesterone increases prolactin in your body which can cause cancer and alarming in high levels. Also, taking progesterone regularly can have masculinizing effect (You can ask your pregnant neighbors, friends, or relatives and see if all of them is enjoying the increase in progesterone in their body). Words can sometimes persuade us but I aint stopping you from trying it. I was one of you back then trying to only open my eyes about the good side of taking progesterone but at the end of the day you have to also look at the negative effects of it and decide wether its for you or not. The debate wether to take the magic P or not has been there for ages and until now the science behind HRT for trans has no solid answer with regards to this.

Im just basing the facts Im telling you through proven researches and from our fellow sisters who have tried it for years including myself.

Anxiety will always be inside of us with or without progesterone.