December 21, 2009 12:48 PM GMT
Hi Sara,
Whether or not progesterone helps breast growth is a bit of an ongoing debate in the TS world. Certainly anything I say here should not be construed as advice on what you ought to do.
I actually take Utrogestan 100mg. Originally I took it for 10 days per month, then changed to every other day. In the last few months I’ve just been taking it every few days, and during and after a recent holiday have gone without entirely for 4 weeks. It may be my imagination but my breasts feel ever so slightly smaller than they did a few months ago. Obviously I don’t take progesterone to “fix” tubular breasts, but rather to prevent it. There is “strong evidence” to suggest that progesterone aids development of a fuller breast. Psychiatrists at Charing Cross have told me it doesn’t affect breast growth at all, I think that is a ridiculous suggestion. Look at what happens when women get pregnant and their progesterone levels go through the roof; usually bigger, fuller breasts (though obviously there are other factors that may play a part).
Your GP said that bio identical is no different from Provera or the pill. Nonsense. The side effects are drastically different, and the risks she speaks about are also drastically different. I’d like to see where she’s heard that bio-identical progesterone has any proven risks, because I certainly can’t find any evidence of that. Provera is notorious for its unwanted side effects (such as depression) and its risks. No studies have shown that bio-identicals have any such risks or side effects, none that I’ve found anyway. Provera and Utrogestan are certainly NOT the same. You were right to insist on the latter.
If I were you I’d give it somewhat longer than 3 months to decide if it’s going to be effective. I’ve been on oestrogen and progesterone for 5 years and have reached an A-cup. I reckon I have another 5 years to go before it becomes unlikely that I will grow any more. My breasts although small have a good shape, certainly not tubular. Clearly my situation is different to yours, but I just wanted to make the point that these things take time, and everyone varies in the time it takes for their development.
Your specialist voices concern about risks and then suggests prescribing the pill, containing ethinylestradiol - one the most risky forms of oestradiol, but of course prescribed to millions of women world-wide. If she is happy to try adding more oestrogen along with the progesterone there is no reason why the oestrogen should not be bio-identical (though ethinylestradiol is more potent). For your condition I would have thought the progesterone is more important, but oestrogen may help if your levels are naturally low. Or maybe not, I dunno, I’m no expert. I’ve decided on my hormone regime partly through experimentation. You may need to do the same, but give it time, lots of time.
Well done for persuading the “expert” to give you the safest drug that is mot likely to help you, I know how difficult that can be! If you’re getting soreness/tenderness in the breasts it is probably a good sign that they are changing. I still get that too, but not all the time (“growth spurts”).
Very best of luck to you Sara, please let us know how it goes. And please feel free to ask again if there’s anything I have missed.
Lucy
xx
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