(15-02-2022, 07:39 AM)Lotus Wrote: Hi Aria, 

That's impressive lab results only using 4mg of estradiol. You're testosterone levels are in the chemical castration zone. The estrogen needs a little bump, 200 pg/mL is standard to which feminization is more likely...however, everyone is different to estradiol exposure. Some transwoman have these threshold numbers in line with expectations and never reach tanner III or above...it can be very depressing. I've had good results when I combine progesterone with estradiol  simultaneously when taken orally. There's existing research out there that discovered co-admistration of certain oral steroid hormone upregulates their synthesis by 400%. But...I'm getting ahead of self, lol. Ask you're doctor to add progesterone to your program. Are you taking low dose aspirin?, discuss that with them too. 

Sometimes estradiol fails to activate its receptor, and there's a reason for that and it's technical, I will follow-up later today with the explanation as it's late and I'm tired.   

I should say that I am 3.5 months into my HRT usage (ugh, how do I say these things without sounding like i'm bragging?) and haven't really stalled per se. I just want to make sure i'm not sabotaging my beginning months at all, and to maximise this beginning growth.

My HRT provider follows that University of San Francisco protocol or something; the one that think finasteride and spirolactone are great AAs and progesterone is entirely unnecessary. I'm not sure if they could prescribe an E+PG oral at my stage, much less would.

Greatly appreciate your response <3

-Aria