![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.1){kind=small}
Bah. I just found out that saw palmetto is also an estrogen receptor antagonist. That's ok now, but that means during HRT I'm going to have to drop the saw palmetto so it won't block the estrogen.
I figure the spiro will block enough of the precursor (testosterone) that my DHT levels will drop as well (yay!). So it would be redundant anyway.
In case anyone's wondering, the reason this matters to me is DHT is responsible for hair loss in men. My uncles on my mother's side were all bald by the time they were 25. I'm 26 and I have a bit of a receeding hairline -- I always had low testosterone levels so I never had enough DHT to lose it as quickly as them, though.
There is a gene in men that causes increased sensitivity (or production, I can't remember) of DHT vs. the norm, and it is passed on by the mother. You only need one copy of this gene and you're set for an early hair loss.
Like I said, my low testosterone levels have protected me to some degree, as DHT is made from testosterone, but I still had enough to cause a little hairline loss which bugs me.
I don't want to start taking the spiro now, because it will slow my metabolism down too much and thus my weight loss.
July 18 2005, 23:52:26 UTC 6 years ago
Pharma-orders.com has a great deal on Fincar(generic Proscar(Finasteride). For about $75.00 you end up with a years supply if you split the pills into quarters. Particularly with low T levels that should be sufficient to prevent the onset of androgenic alopecia, and with virtually no side effects (at that low dose of 1.25mg/day -- at 5mg/day minor feminization can occur, which, to me at least, is a very welcome side-effect indeed).
July 19 2005, 00:17:19 UTC 6 years ago
Is finasteride necessary once I start the spiro? Or will that pretty much block the DHT?
July 21 2005, 04:25:44 UTC 6 years ago
"Is finasteride necessary once I start the spiro?"
I've heard conflicting points of view on that one. Personally I still like to take it with the Spiro, just because it is somewhat inexpensive and it seems like it wouldnt hurt to zap any extra DHT that might find it's way through. Since the whole androgenic MPB crap seems to have already made my older brother (3yrs older) damn near completely bald I'm really not taking any chances.
Also it seems like taking both *asteride + Spiro would be a good idea until you introduced some estrogen, since the estrogen would help take up some of the slack that Spiro misses.
Hmmm.. I know that some people over at forum.genderpeace.com have discussed this issue before, you might want to check out the message board archives over there, they're really damn useful anyway. In my opinion probably one the best resource for serious MtF transitioners, the archives alone contain all kinds of invaluable information, and there's just in general a great group of people sharing info & progress reports whatnot. Bleh...
Plus I think that transgendercare.com recommended continuing the Finasteride with anti-androgens on their recommended regimens page (sorry, lost the link).