[isobasic]

Hey lotus! I just read this article posted on the 'Sythetic oestrogen vs PM' thread as part of a discussion about the role of progesterone in growing breats: http://www.gender.org.uk/gendys/2009/47curtis.htm

I've experienced an increase in size with my progesterone-heavy bcp & goat's rue, but now I'm wondering if it's just water weight/ general weight gain and tipping the balance towards oestrogen might be a better idea? I've heard some proclaim that you can grow with just progesterone & prolactin promotion, but this seems to suggest that growth is down to oestrogen and that progesterone reduced oestrogen receptors....reckon I should stop bcp to re-sensitise myself to oestrogen or take more oestrogen with the bcp?

Hi wizz,

I've seen this article before, I've also seen this one by Dr. Curtis.
The dangers of the internet and unsupervised prescribing
http://www.gender.org.uk/gendys/2007/39curtis.htm

• The question I came away with was no sourced studies are linked, that's not to say it's not legitimate, accompanying studies back up the research.
  

• I started using PC last year and although I have to say it gives a nasty aggressive nature, it did provide side branching and elongation.
  

• What's the BCP dose and how long have you been on it?
  

I've looked into this before, I have more info but thought what I posted was most relevant. I'd have to look and see if any of the info has change but it's not that old.

• Prolactin and progesterone may enhance ductal outgrowth by inducing ERα expression.
  

• Activation of ER-α causes elongation or horizontal growth of mammary duct cells. Progesterone receptor activation causes side-branching of mammary gland cells. Density, areolar gland development, and gland lactation development are caused by prolactin receptor activation.
  

Check pages 5 thru 9
Hormone Action in the Mammary Gland
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2982168/

I found these statements and wanted more info, granted, some of the info comes from sites that are selling products. However, not much easily identifiable info is given while researching for PC and Bio-males without a product being offered or from a scientific abstract which are difficult to decipher.

(5-alpha reductase inhibitors such as finasteride are usually given to prevent the conversion of testosterone to DHT, but research has found that progesterone is a natural inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase.)

Read more: http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/proge...z2uY1QWH3r
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Progesterone 5alpha-reductase- http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Progesterone_5alpha-reductase

• Progesterone is used in hormone therapy for transsexual women, and some intersex women - especially when synthetic progestins have been ineffective or caused side-effects - since normal breast tissue cannot develop except in the presence of both progestogen and estrogen. Mammary glandular tissue is otherwise fibrotic, the breast shape conical and the areola immature. Progesterone can correct those even after years of inadequate hormonal treatment. Research usually cited against such value was conducted using Provera, a synthetic progestin. Progesterone also has a role in skin elasticity and bone strength, in respiration, in nerve tissue and in female sexuality, and the presence of progesterone receptors in certain muscle and fat tissue may hint at a role in sexually-dimorphic proportions of those.

Progesterone may effect male behavior: 'Progesterone receptors mediate male aggression toward infants' PNAS 2003 100: 2951-2956; 10.1073/pnas.0130100100



More interesting facts:

• Men need it to make testosterone and for the adrenal glands to make cortisone
  
• Progesterone in males is created during testicular production of testosterone
  
• Men with BPH (swelling of the prostate) and other male related problems report that they experience some relief with progesterone cream
  
• Progesterone has NO feminizing characteristics
  
• Men report that it helps them with complexion and increases energy
  
• It is believed to help balance the estrogens that build in a man's body
  because progesterone levels drop, estradiol levels rise, and testosterone changes in form in older men
  
• Adding progesterone back into the body helps restore normal inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase, thus preventing testosterone from changing into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which stimulates proliferation of prostate cells
  
• If men have low progesterone levels their estradiol levels can increase. This increase can lead to cancer of the prostate, just as it leads to breast and uterine cancer in
  women

http://www.vienuetestosterone.com/refere...terone.asp



Progesterone cream can help to reduce the prostate size. Progesterone's inhibitory effect on 5 alpha reductase is far more effective than Proscar which is standard agents used in traditional medicine to cure BPH. All men over age 40 should consider natural progesterone replacement therapy, or even earlier if there is a history of prostate caner or BPH. The amount needed is 8 - 12 mg a day (1/8 tsp -1/4 tsp twice daily). Men should apply directly to their scrotum (testical sac) twice daily. This allows it to get into the prostate receptors. http://www.bluemountainrx.com/progesterone_men.htm


Characterization and localization of progesterone 5 alpha-reductase from cell cultures of foxglove (Digitalis lanata EHRH)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1131093/


Role of 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors in the management of prostate cancer
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699636/

A high affinity inhibitor of pituitary progesterone 5 alpha-reductase.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6581041

Thanks! I don't think 5-alpha reductase is relevant to me as my natural hormones are currently 'switched off' by bcp? And there's also the problem I just remembered where progestins in bcp are not quite like natural progesterone, and can perhaps also have oestrogenic effects :L My bcp is marvellon, been on it since january. it's 150mcg desogestrel and 30mcg ethinylestradiol. Before that I was on ovranette for a few months.