Has anyone ever been put on Progesterone (NETA) also known as Norethindrone and the generic brand, aygestin while being on T to bring back your period?

My doctor is putting me on this for 12 days, it supposed to clean out the lining or something like that so you don't get cancer. So at the end of 12 days I might get a period. The thought of this is depressing me so much. I thought I was through with getting my period. The only way to correct this would be to get a hysto, but right now I can't. But now I'm considering getting a hysto so I don't ever get my period again and go through those awful cramps.

If at the end of 12 days I do get a period, I have to take this med every 3 months to get my period to keep the lining clean so I don't get cancer.

This is the first time I have read anyone post anything about this. I have been on T for 2 years and about 3 months and my GP has never said anything like this to me. Ever. And after the first time in his office when I signed the forms to refuse any sort of gyno checks or procedures he has never mentioned it again. Now I am on the waiting list (and have been for like a year) to have my hysto at the local hospital but surely if it was that important to shed that particular lining  *shudders* everyone's GP should be telling them the same thing no??!!

I'm not saying your doctor is wrong I'm just saying I've never heard anyone say that before. Even a woman can skip her period if she wants to by taking (or not taking) specific pills and even some on the implanon or depo contaceptive don't have a period for months at a time! As far as I was aware the body just reabsorbs the lining, if it forms it at all.. Maybe someone else has some more information about this?

I honestly think that if I got any sort of 'period' now it would be so traumatic - I really don't know what I would do. I would be beside myself.. Maybe become hysterical - I may even need to be sedated for the duration of the curse...  It's hard to even comprehend how I used to deal with it.

QuoteI honestly think that if I got any sort of 'period' now it would be so traumatic - I really don't know what I would do. I would be beside myself.. Maybe become hysterical - I may even need to be sedated for the duration of the curse...  It's hard to even comprehend how I used to deal with it.

I know it. I'm feeling so depressed right now thinking my period will be back in 12 days. And if it's not, does that mean something bad? I dunno. But if I do get my period after 12 days I have to take this pill every 3 months to having my period. This is just so upsetting and depressing me so much. I don't want to go through the cramping pain again and popping all those ibuprofen pills for 3-4 days.

I don't remember everything the dr. told me, but she said it wouldn't be professional if she didn't tell me that I had to take this pill, b/c if I don't take this pill there's a risk that I could get cancer. The pill has to do with cleaning the lining and making sure everything works okay and making sure there's no blood clots or anything like that. It's to help prevent cancer or something like that.

When my doctor first prescribed T for me, she went over the possibility of needing to induce one of those (and I made it clear that it was only ever going to happen if something went wrong), but she hasn't brought it up in the few years since then.

Someone with more medical knowledge than I would have a better grasp of how the cycles work, I'm sure, but if I'm not mistaken, the lining builds up in response to an increase in levels of estrogen.  If that part of the cycle still functions in your body, but you're not receiving the spike in progesterone to shed it, then maybe there would be problems.  I don't know.  But if your estrogen levels are stable in a lower, roughly male range, then as far as I know, there would be no build up of the lining to be shed and the progesterone would do nothing but cause cramping, spotting, and dysphoria.

What?  I've been on T for almost 3 years, and no one has ever informed me of this.  I think I would refuse that treatment.

@ozoozol: Yeah that's what my doctor was saying.

QuoteThe progesterone would do nothing but cause cramping, spotting, and dysphoria.

That's exactly what it's gonna do if everything is working properly.


I really don't want to go through cramps again. Just thinking about having my period coming back does not do good for my mental health. It's been putting me in a horrible mood since I found out I have to take these pills. I just started taking the pill yesterday. I cannot  and will not work with a period.

@ChesireBat: Your doctor should have told you just so you know. Even if you refuse to take the pill, he/she should have just informed you like my doctor did, like what would happen, ya know? I don't want to take the pill but I'm afraid if I don't take the pill something much worse could happen since I won't be able to get a hysto for many many many, etc... years so I figure I should just take it for now until I get a hysto.

Taking testosterone does not cause a build up of uterine lining.  It is accutually assumed to thin it.  No one knows what causes/doesn't cause uterine but there are some risk factors that have been linked to it, which you can read about here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001908/

From Nick Gorton's book, which can be found at www.nickgorton.org

Some sources recommend endometrial ultrasounds every two years until hysterectomy is
performed. Testosterone typically causes atrophy of the endometrium. However,
endometrial hyperplasia has been reported in some patients. Any transgender man with
endometrium that is not thinned on ultrasound after several months or more of adequate
dose testosterone therapy should have an endometrial biopsy to evaluate for endometrial
dysplasia and may require progesterone to cause sloughing of the endometrium. Vaginal
bleeding from progesterone may be unpleasant for a transman, but the consequences and
risk of endometrial cancer should be emphasized to the patient. Timing of such
progesterone induced bleeding can however be discussed with the patient so that it can be
planned for a time when it is least disruptive for him.

Have you had an endometrial ultrasound that has shonw you to have a thick endometrium?  Is that why she is recommending this?  Does she also recommend an endometrial biopsy?   

Quote from: Andy8715 on March 06, 2012, 01:05:02 PM
Have you had an endometrial ultrasound that has shonw you to have a thick endometrium?  Is that why she is recommending this?  Does she also recommend an endometrial biopsy?

No to all and I never had an endometrial ultrasound.

I would refuse unless she had a good reason. 

I'm afraid if I don't take the pill something bad will happen since I can't and maybe won't ever get a hysto b/c I won't see a gyno.

I have heard of this once before, and in my non medically trained opinion.. I think it is bull and unnecessary.  if it was something that needed to be done, most all trans guys on T would be required/urged to do it.

@Elijah: What if a transguy never plans on getting a hysto?

You really need to get a hysto at least by 10 years on T.

I, too, have read (perhaps it was in Gorton's book) that the lining doesn't build up when you're on T. He's made a study of guys like us, so I would be inclined to believe him.

I was past that time of life when I started T, so it's easy for me to say that I wouldn't do the treatment! But your situation is different to mine. Personally, I'd probably want to delay a bit until I did more research. Unless you have some kind of urgent medical problem, how much difference will a month or two make? But bear in mind that I'm not an M.D. I'm just saying what I think I might do in your shoes.

Gah, it sounds horrible. Although I was trying valiantly to be closeted, I remember how I felt when I reached the point of menopause--twelve full months without bleeding--I was so relieved. And I remember how I felt when, at the fifteen-month mark, I had a "hiccup," a sort of last gasp. I bled for a day or two and was so depressed and angry. I felt betrayed by my body...and I was still living as a woman, not even acknowledging to myself that I was trans.

Woman. I still can't believe I lived that way for so long. No wonder I was so messed up.

What happens if I don't get a hysto? Cancer? Can you get a hysto without going to the gyno? I refuse to see a gyno.

@Arch: That sucks to bleed when at 15 months you went without bleeding. My biggest problem is the period cramps. If blood just came and no cramps I'd be okay, taking the pills wouldn't bother me. Not that I want to bleed. The cramps are just horrible and I can't take going through that again.

Quote from: Dominick_81 on March 07, 2012, 11:25:43 PM
What happens if I don't get a hysto? Cancer? Can you get a hysto without going to the gyno? I refuse to see a gyno.

Higher risk of cancers of those parts, yes.  If you want to take T for the rest of your life, which I'm assuming you do, you will have to be willing to take proper care of your reproductive health. 

Quote from: Andy8715 on March 07, 2012, 11:29:10 PM
Higher risk of cancers of those parts, yes.  If you want to take T for the rest of your life, which I'm assuming you do, you will have to be willing to take proper care of your reproductive health.

If I can get a hysto without going to a gyno, I'll get a hysto. But I have no money for a hysto and would not pay for a hysto. Top surgery comes first. The only way I'll get a hysto first is if it's all cover by my insurance. I will not pay a penny out of pocket of a hysto before top surgery.

You will need a gyno or a GP who has experience with it to be able to get it covered by insurance.  As long as you are still marked on insurance as a female there is a possibility of getting it covered.

I think I'm still listed as female. I was gonna change it to male b/c I thought there was a way around it to still get a hysto covered even if your listed as male. I mean they know your female if you want a hysto. I don't understand why they wouldn't cover even if your listed as male?

Quote from: Dominick_81 on March 07, 2012, 11:58:48 PM
I think I'm still listed as female. I was gonna change it to male b/c I thought there was a way around it to still get a hysto covered even if your listed as male.

I'm sure there is a way, but I don't know what it is.

Quote from: Dominick_81 on March 07, 2012, 11:58:48 PM
I don't understand why they wouldn't cover even if your listed as male?

Because most insurance plans explicitly deny coverage of trans procedures.