Injecting vs. oral pills

[Linde]

I have an alternative to taking P rectally, I take it sublingual. The capsule dissolves pretty well in the mouth, and he effect should be similar to rectall, only less messy.

My endo keeps me on the normal transition rate for E (I had my orchi close to 3 years ago), because he wants my on the stuff until all possible growth has happened (up to 5 or 6 years). I take a little DHEA daily to have some testosterone>
I have my doubts that progesterone does do anything to me. I took it for 3 months last year and it resulted in female pattern hair loss. This time I also take Finasteride along with P, because I never ever want to experience the trauma of this hair loss. Thanks to the help of my dermatologist, all the hair grew back.
Do you ladies see any measurable results from progesterone?
I am pretty proud about my mane, I never experience any hairline reduction or any male pattern hair loss. My hair is as full as can be. Many natal females of my age group have way less hair.

Hugs
LInde

 

[TonyaJanelle]

I took medroxyprogesterone daily for 2 months then cycling 10 days a month for 3 month starting at 1 year on HRT.
I had no results and it made me depressed. No proof but I believe it messed with my estrogen levels. 162 at start, 58 nine months later,even being off completely for 4 months.
At that time I tried micronized progesterone, which I took orally daily for 8 months, stopped for a month then took rectally 10 days a month for 3 more months. .
I got zero benefits and possibly negative effects. I believe at the very least I started it too soon

 

[OzGirl]

Progesterone seems to affect people differently, and on another forum, I’m reading many accounts of positive effects. The methods of ingestion produce different results, and cetainly it should be taken at night. Becuse of the variation of effects, it needs to be trialled with different methods only after your E dose and blood E is stable, so you can readily distinguish the results.

Hugs,

Allie

 

[Linde]

The UCSF, probably the institution with the globally largest rans care experience, writes about progesterone in this paper, they also mention that progesterone can have a direct androgenizing effect (tara, my hair loss).

Overview of feminizing hormone therapy | Transgender Care

Introduction The goal of feminizing hormone therapy is the development of female secondary sex characteristics, and suppression/minimization of male secondary sex characteristics. General effects include breast development (usually to Tanner stage 2 or 3), a redistribution of facial and body...

transcare.ucsf.edu

Other papers come to the same conclusion, there is no evidence that P will do anything for trans women.

The only constantly positive effect of progesterone is reported by Dr. Powers and his patients. On the other hand, in one of his presentations Powers complains that none of his papers have been accepted for publication. I can only guess that his papers were not peer reviewed?

I conclude from this that one can take it, and hope for some results, or just leave this hormone out of one's body. I take it for the other benefits it could have. I don't need it for boob growth, I have enough of that for my taste, but hope to get a better sleep/wake rhythm fro it. So far, nothing happened.

Hugs
Linde

 

[OzGirl]

With any drug you intend to put into your body, you should have a specific reason, be aware of the risks and be able to justify those risks with a specific outcome. You shouldn’t just take something because you hear others doing it, and you don’t want to miss out.

My ex Endo knew starting P was right for me as I have had no nipple or aerola development, but he wanted to introduce it while my E was varying wildly, so I would not know what was causing what effect. This was the straw that made me fire him. I am still waiting for consistant E levels to trial P, hopefully next week. I will cycle through the methods on a bi montly basis with regular blood tests so I know what is happening.

Hugs,

Allie

P.S. my reference for most of this is Dr Juno Krahn, Phd in medical research, so not a medical doctor, but a specialist in hormones (She is a trans woman).

 

[Monica]

Hi,

I'm kind of in a hurry this AM, so don't have time to search for this info to see if its been covered here already. I'm wanting to do E injections from the pills I'm on now. My question is this. Do you have to get the supplies of Estrogen from a specialty pharmacy? I asked my daughter in law last night and she has never filled that prescription in a regular pharmacy. She didn't think it would be a compounding pharmacy either. If I give my endo the go ahead to give a script for this, and she's never done it, will I have a hard time finding a place. Are there any reports of insurance not covering injections? Do you buy syringes on line?
Thanks Ladies!

 

[Donica]

Hi,

I'm kind of in a hurry this AM, so don't have time to search for this info to see if its been covered here already. I'm wanting to do E injections from the pills I'm on now. My question is this. Do you have to get the supplies of Estrogen from a specialty pharmacy? I asked my daughter in law last night and she has never filled that prescription in a regular pharmacy. She didn't think it would be a compounding pharmacy either. If I give my endo the go ahead to give a script for this, and she's never done it, will I have a hard time finding a place. Are there any reports of insurance not covering injections? Do you buy syringes on line?
Thanks Ladies!

@Moni, I get all my supplies straight from Kaiser. You can buy needles and syringes online if you like, without a prescription too, but keep in mind that syringes are expensive, around $70 for a box of 100. The needles are pretty cheap, at around $17 for a box of 100. With your prescription, you can buy E online if it is cheaper. Check out GoodRx. If your healthcare provider covers it, I'd go with them. My only issue with Kaiser is getting some of my supplies on time. Because of this I have purchased my own needles and syringes. My E is usually on time.

Hugs!

 

[TonyaJanelle]

Hi,

I'm kind of in a hurry this AM, so don't have time to search for this info to see if its been covered here already. I'm wanting to do E injections from the pills I'm on now. My question is this. Do you have to get the supplies of Estrogen from a specialty pharmacy? I asked my daughter in law last night and she has never filled that prescription in a regular pharmacy. She didn't think it would be a compounding pharmacy either. If I give my endo the go ahead to give a script for this, and she's never done it, will I have a hard time finding a place. Are there any reports of insurance not covering injections? Do you buy syringes on line?
Thanks Ladies!

Estradiol is available in two forms for injection in the US. Valerate is the most common, also comes in a depo or longer acting which is the cyprionate. Should not need to got to a specialty pharmacy or compounding. Syringes and needles should be available at the pharmacy

 

[Katie]

@Moni I probably can’t add a lot to what @TonyaJanelle already said, she is a pharmacist. But I get mine at Walgreens. They never have any problems getting it or stocking it.

 

[Linde]

I get the depot stuff through my mailorder pharmacy (Humana).

I buy the syringes and needles through Amazon. I buy 18 gauge for filling thebsyringe, and 24 tp stab me with. It is cheaper this way than the copay through a prescription.
Don't forget alcohol swaps to clean the injection site.

Hugs
Linde

 

[OzGirl]

My doc does not want me to go to injectables, but prefers pellets inserted into my belly. I am researching this and found a couple who like this method, though it will still probably require gels as a supplement. On their own, pellets are a good idea as you don't have to worry about anything for 3 months, but if I have to supplement with daily doses it sort of nullifies the 3 monthly advantage.

Hugs,

Allie

 

[Monica]

Thank you all for the great response!

 

[Monica]

Doctor is saying Valerate injections, 10mg every 2 weeks. Seems like a long interval. I take 3mg orally every day now. Since I'm post op, they try to keep it on the low side. My number 1 concerns is hot flashes. They suck. Guess, it is trial and error. Seem way off for a starter to anyone?

 

[Katie]

Doctor is saying Valerate injections, 10mg every 2 weeks. Seems like a long interval. I take 3mg orally every day now. Since I'm post op, they try to keep it on the low side. My number 1 concerns is hot flashes. They suck. Guess, it is trial and error. Seem way off for a starter to anyone?

When they started me on injections they wanted me to do every two weeks. I felt like garbage a little after a week. Got the doctor to agree to weekly injections and haven't had any issues since.

 

[TonyaJanelle]

Doctor is saying Valerate injections, 10mg every 2 weeks. Seems like a long interval. I take 3mg orally every day now. Since I'm post op, they try to keep it on the low side. My number 1 concerns is hot flashes. They suck. Guess, it is trial and error. Seem way off for a starter to anyone?

The every 2 weeks part is off but it's the recommended dose if using it for post menopausal replacement. Might be fine for someone that has ovaries.

That's the dose my doctor is starting me on with injectable also. I'm going to 5mg every week though.

 

[Donna]

Well, to add to this instead of an original post, since I am committed now to staying a woman full time, I am picking up my first Rx of estradiol tablets tomorrow and with be taking them sub lingual. Planned Parenthood is prescribing 2 mg twice a day and 100 mg Spiro twice a day.

They would have let me do patches or injections but based on what you girls recommended to me previously, I went with the tablets and I understand I could change to injections at some point.

Twenty years ago when I was taking a low level of estradiol (.3125 mg) my boobs grew like crazy and I ended up having them reduced to save my marriage in 2001 right after 911 (yes it had that effect on me) , so I am hopeful things have not changed. Just taking Spiro for the last 8 years made them grow to half boobs so full ones are not far away.

I am looking forward to feeling different too.

Donna

 

[Monica]

Beware the blue tongue!!!!!

 

[Donica]

Doctor is saying Valerate injections, 10mg every 2 weeks. Seems like a long interval. I take 3mg orally every day now. Since I'm post op, they try to keep it on the low side. My number 1 concerns is hot flashes. They suck. Guess, it is trial and error. Seem way off for a starter to anyone?

Check with Stephanie Moni. I think she mentioned a similar does too?

 

[Lexxi]

Doctor is saying Valerate injections, 10mg every 2 weeks. Seems like a long interval. I take 3mg orally every day now. Since I'm post op, they try to keep it on the low side. My number 1 concerns is hot flashes. They suck. Guess, it is trial and error. Seem way off for a starter to anyone

That seems really low to me...but I'm one of the Power's Method girls. There's no way in hell I'd do it every two weeks though. If you're gonna stick with that level I'd at least split it in half and do half each week.

 

[Linde]

I started with 0.4 ml of the depot stuff, after 3 month it was increased to 0.6, and now I am on 0.8.
I don't know what will come after the surgery, but as long as I feel OK, I am fine. I don't expect or want any developement of anything anymore.

Hugs
Linde