Next up in the MtF pharmacy is something to help combat further testosterone poisoning. One common agent is spironolactone, a diuretic that also acts as dummy testosterone, without the nasty side effects. As estrogen and spiro take over, the testes see that there's enough sex hormone in the blood already, and they stop producing all that T. Yay!
Another rather expensive antiandrogen, not available by prescription in the US, is Androcur. It's a bit like building a brick wall to stop a draft, in this writer's opinion.
Finally, we add the other female sex hormone, progesterone. More often than not, a synthetic progestin like Provera is used instead. To my experience, it does seem to promote breast growth, but this is debated, and some doctors don't prescribe it to transsexual women. I disagree with that, as "unopposed estrogen" treatment is being found dangerous anyway. ["Unopposed Estrogen" is also the name of my future grrl band. Hee! -- Ed.]
Even after having met other transwomen and seeing just how much changing hormones is capable of, I'm extremely happy with what they're doing for me after just over a year of taking them. Hormonal changes take about 5-7 years to fully complete, but I've read that by and large, it takes 2.5 years.
In the final installment, we'll go over some of the more obvious effects.
One doesn't have to know all this to transition. But since this subject combines pharmacology and MtF transition, two of my favoritest things, I've done lots of reading up on it. =)
(And yep, lots of water. Spiro isn't as powerful as some other diuretics, thankfully.)
Progesterone Blues (Part II) - 04/27/06 06:10 PM
Next up in the MtF pharmacy is something to help combat further testosterone poisoning. One common agent is spironolactone, a diuretic that also acts as dummy testosterone, without the nasty side effects. As estrogen and spiro take over, the testes see that there's enough sex hormone in the blood already, and they stop producing all that T. Yay!
Another rather expensive antiandrogen, not available by prescription in the US, is Androcur. It's a bit like building a brick wall to stop a draft, in this writer's opinion.
Finally, we add the other female sex hormone, progesterone. More often than not, a synthetic progestin like Provera is used instead. To my experience, it does seem to promote breast growth, but this is debated, and some doctors don't prescribe it to transsexual women. I disagree with that, as "unopposed estrogen" treatment is being found dangerous anyway. ["Unopposed Estrogen" is also the name of my future grrl band. Hee! -- Ed.]
Even after having met other transwomen and seeing just how much changing hormones is capable of, I'm extremely happy with what they're doing for me after just over a year of taking them. Hormonal changes take about 5-7 years to fully complete, but I've read that by and large, it takes 2.5 years.
In the final installment, we'll go over some of the more obvious effects.
To be continued...
Posted in hormones by Milla | Comments (2)
this process should also award you a pharmacy tech certificate. yeesh!
does the diuretic effect of spironolactone necessitate drinking more water to stay hydrated?
Posted by patita at April 28, 2006 04:36 PM
One doesn't have to know all this to transition. But since this subject combines pharmacology and MtF transition, two of my favoritest things, I've done lots of reading up on it. =)
(And yep, lots of water. Spiro isn't as powerful as some other diuretics, thankfully.)
Posted by Milla at April 28, 2006 08:46 PM