I've been taking Estradiol and Cyproterone (and Dutasteride) for 3 months now, and I've just had my first blood test results since before starting on hormones. It's a good thing I'm seeing the gender clinic doctor in a couple of weeks, as I don't know what to make of these figures.



(Note: the units and ranges are UK-standard - this would look very different from country to country; amd the female ranges are tricky, some vary depending on where women are in their cycle, so I've been conservative.)

After 3 months, my T levels are practically non-existent (which explains the sexual dysfunction ). My Prolactin levels have shot way up (maybe that's why my boobs are growing so fast) but my E levels (which were already at the high end of normal for men) have not risen much at all. The doctor who originally prescribed my hormones said he was looking at getting my E levels up to the 400's, and that's really not happening. This might explain some of the health issues I've been having, like muscle cramps and night sweats.

I hope the new doc (I'm seeing this one for the first time) will tweak my doses a bit.

From my experience with HRT... Your T level is about where it should be... it's about the same level as mine. Some docs like to have it higher, but if you aren't feeling tired/lethargic/run down all the time, it's fine. Your E2 (Oestradiol) level is lower than it should be. You want to shoot for somewhere between 400-500 pmol/L. So your original prescribing doc was right on with his projections. I can't comment on prolactin, as I never taken it.

HRT is all about tweaking dosages. You test your blood, adjust the dosage... tweak, adjust... wash, rinse, repeat over and over. Weight loss will also affect your E2 levels as well. So if you either start gaining or loosing a significant amount of weight, be prepared to have your dosages further adjusted as needed.

I'm not taking progesterone/prolactin - my body has just started making loads more of it in response to the other meds, so it's risen to a normal-for-women level on its own, and may or may not account for my boobs growing quite a lot in the last 3 months.

Since I'm allergic to patch glue, I'm hoping the doc will prescribe me sublingual E, as you get lots more bang per tablet and it dodges the liver that way, so it's safer.

Saw the doc today, and he's taking me off more or less everything except Estrogen - which he's switching from pills to gel to up my dose a lot. Things should get interesting...

Great news Padma,

I'm so excited for you. It sounds as though it's really coming together for you.

I've not heard of the gel before. How and where is this applied? And what strenght is it?

I hope you keep enjoying your current successes.

Be safe, well and happy
Lotsa huggs
Catherine

P.S. OMG!!!! I just saw your new avatar. You look gorgeous. There is SUCH a remakable difference with this new one. WOW. I'm impressed !!!

Thanks, *blush* - I like my hair in this photo, just wish there was less 5 o'clock shadow (and a bit less nose) .

The gel comes in a dose-dispensing pump bottle thing, you pump out a dose and you rub it onto your upper arms (or somewhere else non-hairy that isn't your bum or your boobs, such as inner thighs, belly), let it dry for 5 minutes and that's it. It's recommended not to bathe for an hour after application, and to wait 2 hours before snuggling with anyone skin-to-skin.

Each metered squirt contains 0.75mg of Estradiol (I won't tell you what my dosage is). It's comparable to using patches, in that it gets absorbed by the skin and thence makes its way straight into the bloodstream without affecting the liver. I can't use patches because I react to the glue. Up until now I've been taking tablets, and it turned out my body was breaking it down too quickly for me to get a sufficient dose without taking dangerous amounts by tablet. So this should be much better.

Hi Padma,
Thank you so much for your information. It sounds to be very effective and functionally efficient.

I too react to the patches. It takes about 2 weeks for the redness to go. But I'm just sucking that up at the moment. It comes with the price we all pay.

Keep us posted of your continuing success with the gel.

And I didn't even notice the 5:00 clock shadow.

Be safe, well and happy
Lotsa huggs
Catherine

Endocrinology is a complex affair because so many things cause or interact with so many others.
No-one takes prolactin, it is made by your body and the introduction of external sources of hormones disturbs the natural balance.

Estrogen is available as said above in a gel pump-pack and I have used this for the three years up to surgery.
There is also a version called Sandrena which I am now on.  This comes in 1 gram foil sachets and is a dihydride version of estrogen (apparently bound to two water molecules *shrugs*)

Turns out my raised prolactin levels are nothing to do with HRT and almost certainly due to stress from PTSD. Funny old world...