I have a mtf transsexual friend in Thailand, and when visiting her noticed a packet of the Thai version of the birth-control pill Diana 35 in her home (the name on the packet was in Thai, but I was able to read the Thai script). I asked her who had suggested she take this hormone, and she said her doctor had. Although no expert in this field, I then told her I had heard many bad things about transsexuals taking this drug and that it might even be dangerous. She is in her mid 20's, and told me that sometimes they make her feel sick. I feel as if I am not qualified to give any advice, except to say that I feel her doctor might be giving her the wrong advice. I guess I could google Diana 35, but does anyone have any knowledge or insight into this drug. I remember reading bad things about it, possibly on this forum. Many thanks.
October 7, 2009 2:27 AM BST
hay iam taking diane 35 but facing a major dippression what should i doo i had to strt it cuz iam loosing head hair liek nething and have massive body pimple and hair issues please help me out iam a m2f tranny
April 9, 2012 11:39 PM BST
well where i live doctors arnt avalable to treat such issuesi amsreally tensed wat should i do and y do u recommend me to stop taking diane ?
April 10, 2012 8:54 AM BST
Hi Aphey Ali
My endocrinologists started me out on Diane 35 after I had been self medicating for several years. But hair lose is a different matter. I would think that would respond better to a spironolactone or similar. The normal route of course would be to consult a trichologist. You never know they might think transitioning is good for male pattern baldness.
cb
April 10, 2012 9:21 AM BST
Hi Aphey, I don't think Diane 35 will help with hair loss, at least I've never heard of it doing so. It may help with pimples, possibly.
To prevent further hair loss, here in the UK we may be prescribed finasteride or dutasteride. I take finasteride, only very small doses are required to keep hair loss at bay (1/20th gram or less), so it needn't be expensive.
I've not heard of Diane 35 causing depression, but maybe that could be down to the cyproterone acetate (which is not a progestogen as an earlier poster suggested).
Both the drugs in Diane 35 are high risk. It would be safer to take 17B estradiol and finasteride, but no-one can promise that these will solve your problems. I've always had problems with pimples, still do aged nearly 49. Taking hormones may not be the answer.
If you're taking birth control pills regularly, especially these ones, you should also be having regular blood tests and seeking expert advice.
TS's require long-term hormone treatment, so such risky types should be avoided.
xx
April 10, 2012 7:42 PM BST
Thanks Lucy
I knew it was finasteride because I used to take it too.
Fortunately though I don't have a hair problem and have never been particularly hursuit either.
Regards
cb
April 10, 2012 10:53 PM BST
thnak you so much Lucy and chalice for shw your concerns to me i really appriciate but the thing is i live in pakistan and they are not at all supportive with LGBTs so noone guides me wat to take .. and chalice this wat uve told me finasteride is this a hormone would i get iot from here?
April 11, 2012 9:22 AM BST
hay about this finesteride iam getting it in 5 mg by the name of proscar should i take it? and wat dose?
April 11, 2012 9:58 AM BST
ok chalicice iam relly fact do u think i shud still take i med a day and wud it reducew ma body hair or i shud keep diane with it?
April 11, 2012 10:19 AM BST
wat drug r u tlking about Jan and wat is DVT pulmonary embolism?
April 12, 2012 11:52 PM BST
Aphey, DVT and pulmonary embolism are risks associated with Diane 35 that can cause death.
It is foolish to take this drug unsupervised. Even more so when you seem to have no idea of the risks you are taking.
Don't take Diane 35, instead look for 17-Beta estradiol, for example "Estrofem".
Proscar should be taken in very small doses, you need to cut a 5mg pill into tiny pieces, 10 or 20 if possible.
If you are going to self-medicate you MUST research more and understand exactly what you are doing.
April 13, 2012 12:29 AM BST
Aphey, it's the human form of estradiol (estrogen), the type that we make in our bodies. We no longer need to rely on extremely risky and dangerous forms of synthetic estrogen (such as found in Diane 35), as 17-beta estradiol can now be made in a laboratory.
You need to do seriously do some homework if you are going to DIY hormones; more than just asking questions here, though we are glad to help if we can. If you are going to take responsibility for your own health then you need to start learning, big time.
If you don't know the difference between ethinylestradiol (which you are taking) and 17-beta estradiol (which you probably should be taking) then you need to go away and find out.
In short, Aphey, with such lack of knowledge, you are playing Russian roulette with your life.
xx
April 15, 2012 1:45 AM BST
so lucy wat do u suggest i should look for on the web
April 15, 2012 8:08 AM BST