What are the pro's and con's of taking progestrone & are they really effective? Sorry for being so blunt but there seems to be a split in the ts community whether or not progesterones are worth taking. 

Yes, there is a split, and so with docs about to prescribe it.

One way to look at it, is doing your blood test, find out where your P is. If low, it be a good idea to take some, or?

Next, as it happens, E can get jolly high (E dominant) and then taking P is a good idea, because it opposes E. As it happens in the normal ups and downs of the natal female cycle.

Beyond all of this, in comes the idea it would 'help' with breast growth, i.e. make your boobies some what fuller, plus some other more vaguely defined pros, i.e. general well-being.

That being the idea alone, it is not usually sensible to prescribe it before 1 year+ into HRT. YMMV

Lastly, P, by opposing E, tends to check water-retention AND, E going 'wild' on cell growth, such as causing endometriosis in natal females (not 'our' issue) but ALSO to check E on things like breast cancer. Not normally an issue for 1 year+ on HRT. YMMV

It also makes for more appetite, yet reducing water retention (see above) AND can make you more relaxed --- to the point of getting sleepy when taken.

It is available in oral or cream form, the injectable non-micronized version of P (medroxyprogesterone acetate) is loads more powerful and a lot more prone to cause depression.
Oral (tabs) also tend to load your liver some more, one reason to consider not to just take it for the hell of it.

I hope, I have not left out any major item other then that Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) can play havoc with your mental health, as Zoë.

Axelle

  Progesterone is not really causing a split in the TS community.  It is the doctors.  Some will not prescribe it at all, others will prescribe it at the patients request.  I read that the UK doctors will not due to a controversial study.  Mine is modulated during a 28 day period to emulate that of a premenopausal woman.  There is anecdotal evidence that progesterone modulation does help with breast growth, but no real studies with TS patients have been done here.  Progesterone with the estrogen will help with BPH, prostatitis and prostate cancer.  Mine appears to be prostatitus.  The prostate takes slow to heal.  I will still be on this stuff for awhile anyway, nonetheless. 
  There are different progesterones available and you and your doctor will have to determine which ones you could take.  Read the warnings.  I take Provera, This has a warning of increase chance of breast cancer.  Check if you have a family history of breast cancer, for example, for this version. 
  Joelene

My thought on the matter was that since it was MY plan that was going to pay the prescription costs (with the co-pay coming out of my pocket) that the doctor had nothing to lose by giving it three months to see if we (meaning I) recognized any benefit to the addition of Progesterone.  This was back in the days before Prometrium where micronized Progesterone was only available through a compounding pharmacy...

My MD finally conceded that there were no harms associated with taking progesterone and gave the prescription.  IMO, I saw enough benefit to justify it, although at one point, I dropped it...when my GYN added it back into the mix a few months ago (I am ~15 years post-op), we did see some new growth and the breasts became a little fuller. 

I'd like to find out personally, but my doc read some study a few years back saying it didn't do anything and now she won't prescribe it.  It's not going to stop me bringing it up this Wednesday.

I can't speak to whether or not it has caused specific physical results or not because I don't have the frame of reference of not using it, but the mental changes were huge.  I was in a deep depression and my mood was all over the place, but I completely leveled out after I started taking progesterone and my depression soon lifted.  Having said that, I've heard some people say it caused the exact opposite for them.  It seems to be yet another "your experience may vary" type of thing.

I also cycle my hormones.

P didn't do didly for my boobs but it does seem to have some mental effects that I seem addicted to. I have to have it.

I cannot but help but wonder whether discussions of Progesterone would be helped by those reporting experiences to indicate what form of P was taken (ie. micronized progesterone, whether compounded or the newer stuff like Prometrium as compared to something like Provera) and whether it was injected or pill form. 

I have no qualms with the premise that Provera did nothing...THAT was a waste of money.  Compounded progesterone was another issue altogether though...later moved to Prometrium when that gained FDA approval and came on the market circa 1997 or 1998...THAT worked in a demonstrable manner for me.

prometrium

Quote from: cynthialee on August 14, 2011, 02:01:50 PM
prometrium

Me too.

   Yeah i talked about it with my endo and he says it's my decision and that he has no opinion on the subject.    I heard alot about people getting bad depression and mood swings while on P which is kinda making me lean towards not taking it seeing as I'm bitch already while on E alone.  Also i heard that any effects you might get from taking P is only temp meaning you have to keep taking it and if you stop taking it you might induce lactation or something like that.


   I really just wanted some more breast growth and maybe some growth towards my hips? I'm a full B cup atm @ 7 months HRT so maybe I'm jumping the gun here. I don't really wanna gain to much weight either. I'm 5'9 143 LB's so I'm happy where my weight is but the thought of having fuller breasts and a more curvy body sounds appealing.   

Quote from: Joelene9 on August 14, 2011, 06:05:43 AM
  Progesterone is not really causing a split in the TS community.  It is the doctors.

It's not just split with the doctors. It is also split with the trans community too. I'm one of them.

Progesterone was  just a waste of money for me and since I had cancer in the past, it would have been very foolish for me to continue of the medication as it may increase the risk of breast cancer in some people.

Progesterone will work for some and will not work at all for others. For me, it did not work at all and was just a money sinker.

Also, the side effects that are negative from progesterone in some people (me included) is increased mood swings (added with estrogen, it's not fun). Also, some girls' labido is increased.

Girls usually take the progesterone for breast growth. I would always suggest to take it up with your doctor and sees what is best for you.
Seek professional advice too. Im not saying it doesn't work. Im just saying it doesn't work for everyone.

My breast went to a C cup without the help of progesterone. If it can happen to me, it can happen to others as well (likewise, others may need it). Just get the opinions from a trained Endocrinologist and not armchair TG docs

Quote from: MGKelly on August 14, 2011, 11:27:29 AMthe mental changes were huge.  I was in a deep depression and my mood was all over the place, but I completely leveled out after I started taking progesterone and my depression soon lifted.

Quote from: cynthialee on August 14, 2011, 12:55:14 PMP didn't do didly for my boobs but it does seem to have some mental effects that I seem addicted to. I have to have it.

Personal Experience:

When I was in America after my surgery, my surgeon Dr. McGinn prescribed Prometrium- micronized bioidentical progesterone.  When I moved to Australia Prometrium was not readily available, so my professional endocrinologist here (one of the best in Sydney) prescribed pure progesterone from a compounding chemist, taken in troche form dissolved in the cheek at twice the dosage prescribed by Dr. McGinn.  He told me straight up some girls it helps; some it doesn't.  It does work for me.

I do not cycle my hormones, taking the same dose of both P and E every day and not skipping any days.  My P level is right in the middle of normal range, with the exception that on my last endo visit my E was a bit high.  My T level is practically non-existent.

The benefits I've experienced from Progesterone, in order of significance (to me):

• Leveling of mood swings - the problem being now that if I go without it they come back with a vengeance.  Like Cynthia said, I have to have it.  But this by far is the greatest benefit I've experienced.  Obviously it's not the same for everyone.
• A lessening of PMS symptoms which I used to get pretty severely every month.
• Filling out of breasts, rounder, more areola development
• a slight increase in libido, from ZERO to maybe 0.2 lol

Progesterone is given to some older women to help with vaginal dryness.  I'm not sure if it has this effect on post-operative women.  Still, Because of the leveling of my once roller-coaster mood swings (there's a reason my friends alternately used to call me 'cry baby' and 'whiny bitch'), it has been well worth it to me to continue taking it.  Like everyone says, YMM will V.

Quote from: FairyGirl on August 14, 2011, 05:14:34 PM
Personal Experience:

When I was in America after my surgery, my surgeon Dr. McGinn prescribed Prometrium- micronized bioidentical progesterone.  When I moved to Australia Prometrium was not readily available, so my professional endocrinologist here (one of the best in Sydney) prescribed pure progesterone from a compounding chemist, taken in troche form dissolved in the cheek at twice the dosage prescribed by Dr. McGinn.  He told me straight up some girls it helps; some it doesn't.  It does work for me.

I do not cycle my hormones, taking the same dose of both P and E every day and not skipping any days.  My P level is right in the middle of normal range, with the exception that on my last endo visit my E was a bit high.  My T level is practically non-existent.

The benefits I've experienced from Progesterone, in order of significance (to me):

• Leveling of mood swings - the problem being now that if I go without it they come back with a vengeance.  Like Cynthia said, I have to have it.  But this by far is the greatest benefit I've experienced.  Obviously it's not the same for everyone.
• A lessening of PMS symptoms which I used to get pretty severely every month.
• Filling out of breasts, rounder, more areola development
• a slight increase in libido, from ZERO to maybe 0.2 lol

Progesterone is given to some older women to help with vaginal dryness.  I'm not sure if it has this effect on post-operative women.  Still, Because of the leveling of my once roller-coaster mood swings (there's a reason my friends alternately used to call me 'cry baby' and 'whiny bitch'), it has been well worth it to me to continue taking it.  Like everyone says, YMM will V.

       Well after hearing it lvled out your mood-swings from E I'm kinda reconsidering taking it.  Yeah I've heard from a few people that there is no point in cycling the P to mimic natural women, then again wouldn't your body get used to the constant lvls of P in your system and thus be less affective?   

From my point of view (looking down on the resulting boobs), I have to say a resounding, "Yes!"

Quote from: Lisbeth on August 14, 2011, 06:41:45 PM
From my point of view (looking down on the resulting boobs), I have to say a resounding, "Yes!"

(Looking down)  That's why I want to try, because mine aren't doing anything...   But my doc says no.  Maybe I'll find a new doc.  I'll know after Wednesday.