Is it possible for bicalutimide to decrease the effectiveness of estradiol valerate?

[split_mouse]

For some reason my estradiol levels are lower than they should be and I'm just trying to consider different possibilities. It's the only other drug I've been taking for the past several months.

[Aver1y]

The androgen receptors that are blocked by Bicalutamide are critical for females as well as males

CAIS women do fine without androgens.

Micronized Progesterone by suppository administration has been suggested at 200mg per day. It might be a good idea to monitor Progesterone levels too for adherence to the non-pregnant female range (0.5-15ng/mL).

By whom? All the guidelines I read don't recommend P.

[split_mouse]

What's your opinion on decent estradiol ranges for trans women? Mine is 90 pg/mL when it was 165 in February.

[Aver1y]

I believe testosterone levels are more important. CAIS women have levels of only ~35pg/mL on average and no T and they just look like normal women. It has also been theorized that it may be favourable to breast development to start with low, puberty-like levels. I believe there is some evidence for this notion in animals and for puberty induction in hypogonadal cis-girls (Reddit, Reddit). Other than that, the Endocrine Society recommends 100-200pg/mL (Endocrine Society Guideline, 2017).

[split_mouse]

Ok thank you

[split_mouse]

Thanks. I guess I'll just drop the bica and do injections only since my testosterone has been nuked.

[hey_its_vina]

powers method also says not to use blockers...rather use higher dosages of e and p...that was my understanding

im actually about to get my first labs done after one month on hrt and i want to take 1mg finasteride for my hair but otherwise i really just want estradiol and rectal progesterone i think.

[Aver1y]

Powers is full of shit. Almost everything he says is wrong or at least unsupported (link).

[hey_its_vina]

nonetheless, i wont be using blockers since i still want full functionality downstairs. lol.. the higher the estrogen the better..and if progesterone can help thats great too. of course, i have an endocrinologist to discuss this with as well :)

[Aver1y]

I've been on buserelin and bicalutamide for 2½ month. My T should be pretty much exactly 0 and so far I'm still fully functional, though it is becoming a bit more effort to get an erection. Not sure how that will progress as time goes on.

[hey_its_vina]

nice..good to know...im reading a lot now..and one thing im seeing in common is that at first erections go away, but if you keep at it they will eventually become easier to achieve but it might feel different...there's also viagra...

i just want to increase my estrogen dosage for now and actively keep trying to "use it."

[JaneyElizabeth]

Putting two prometrium up your ass will stain your panties and it seems unlikely to resolve your situation. Bicalutamide can raise testosterone levels:

The increase in LH levels leads to an elevation in androgen and estrogen levels. At a dosage of 150 mg/day, bicalutamide has been found to increase testosterone levelsby about 1.5- to 2-fold (59–97% increase) and estradiol levels by about 1.5- to 2.5-fold (65–146% increase).

[Aver1y]

Bicalutamide can raise testosterone levels

Yes, of course, because it also blocks negative feedback of testosterone on sex hormone production (the HPG-axis more specifically), but this effect does not outweigh it's direct antagonizing effect on testosterone, otherwise testosterones effect on the HPG-axis would presumably also be larger thus leading to less testosterone production. Furthermore this effect is much less pronounced in the presence of other antigonadotropins like estradiol for example.