[Brigitte]

For three months now I've been on an enhancement program using PM and SP, with some small but exciting positive results, but I have stopped because I read of the dangers of hormone imbalance, particularly in older males. I'm in my 50's. I REALLY want to continue, but am nervous about the side effects.... such as these mentioned in this article... "the negative effects of high circulating estrogen, health risks arise. Problems can include prostate enlargement raising risks for cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease, bone density loss, high cholesterol and urinary and prostate disease."
If anybody in the forum has done research into this I'd love to know....I so want to continue the program, almost regardless of the risks... thanks.

[bryony]

For three months now I've been on an enhancement program using PM and SP, with some small but exciting positive results, but I have stopped because I read of the dangers of hormone imbalance, particularly in older males. I'm in my 50's. I REALLY want to continue, but am nervous about the side effects.... such as these mentioned in this article... "the negative effects of high circulating estrogen, health risks arise. Problems can include prostate enlargement raising risks for cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease, bone density loss, high cholesterol and urinary and prostate disease."
If anybody in the forum has done research into this I'd love to know....I so want to continue the program, almost regardless of the risks... thanks.

Hi,

which article is this? As far as I know the phytoestrogen that is provided by PM is much safer than pharmaceutical HRT. It has been eaten as a vegetable in N Thailand for a very long time, and (without checking) I believe the life expectancy there for males is higher than in the West.

Put it this way, I'm 60, tending to hypochondria and risk averse. I've been taking it for 16 months with no ill effects, rather hugely beneficial mental effects.

Good luck,

Bryony

[flamesabers]

Could you give a link to the article? I think it's true a hormonal imbalance can cause health problems, but I think it really depends on the source of what is causing the change.

I've been on pm for about ten months and I haven't had any problems with it. Other members have been taking pm for a longer period of time without any developing any adverse side-effects.

[Brigitte]

Thanks for adding your thoughts to this question, much appreciated! I've tried to find the original source of what I posted but couldn't, however if you do a search something like "effects of increased estrogen in men" you come up with a whole lot of material, much of it negative. And I don't just mean erectile dysfunction stuff... here is one link for example:
http://www.lifeextensionvitamins.com/mahomoth.html

[flamesabers]

Here's a quote from the article I found interesting:

Loss of a feeling of well-being, sometimes manifesting as depression, is a common psychological complication of hormone imbalance.

I've had the opposite experience while taking pm. I enjoy being free of the compulsive drive to view porn and masturbate. I like how my interest in crossdressing for arousal has dissipated and has been replaced with a desire to wear female clothing simply because of comfort and personal preference. In short, I cherish having a lot more self-control and an increased sense of well-being. On more than one occasion I've adjusted my pm dosage to maintain the mental benefits I get from taking pm.

No doubt a hormonal imbalance can cause serious health complications, but I have the same opinion as byrony: phytoestrogen that is provided by PM is much safer than pharmaceutical HRT.

I think if you take good care of your body, be on the lookout for any health issues and take it slow while building up your pm dosage, the chances of suffering a health problem is much lower. At the first of trouble, see your doctor right away. I think something to keep in mind is this article has a broad view of the problems of hormonal imbalances in men. It doesn't specifically address the potential dangers of ingesting phytoestrogens like pm.

[Pansy-Mae]

I've been on pm for about ten months and I haven't had any problems with it. Other members have been taking pm for a longer period of time without any developing any adverse side-effects.

I've been taking PM for almost 2.5 years and now I've developed these two soft bouncy growths on my chest. Is that serious, do you think??

Seriously, in moderation ( like everything) for a normal healthy person, I don't think there is a serious risk.

[Brigitte]

I've been on pm for about ten months and I haven't had any problems with it. Other members have been taking pm for a longer period of time without any developing any adverse side-effects.

I've been taking PM for almost 2.5 years and now I've developed these two soft bouncy growths on my chest. Is that serious, do you think??

Seriously, in moderation ( like everything) for a normal healthy person, I don't think there is a serious risk.

Hey thanks, I like it, I should stop worrying and get on with it.... I'll go with the bouncy growths anyday :-)

[flamesabers]

I've been on pm for about ten months and I haven't had any problems with it. Other members have been taking pm for a longer period of time without any developing any adverse side-effects.

I've been taking PM for almost 2.5 years and now I've developed these two soft bouncy growths on my chest. Is that serious, do you think??

Lol Pansy-Mae.

I don't think that counts as a side-effect of taking pm.

Brain rewiring and acheiving fat redisturbtion from the waist to the hips and thighs on the other hand...

[MonikaT]

I've read some of the folks here have had blood tests to monitor things like their T and E levels. From what I've seen others post, PM doesn't seem to affect E levels in that it acts like estrogen without being estrogen. Most phyto-estrogens (usually they use soy in the studies) tend to protect the prostate by blocking the effects of the real thing, as I understand it. The hormone imbalance referenced in most such articles is referring mostly to the problems caused by the aromatization of T into E and the health problems associated with low T which include diabetes, prostate issues, loss of libido, loss of strength/muscle mass, ED, and so forth.

Low T can mask prostate cancer with low to normal PSA levels. Once T is restored to normal levels, PSA goes up and indicates cancer. People then think the T supplementation caused the cancer when it really exposed an pre-existent cancer. If a male lives long enough, he will likely develop prostate cancer, but depending on his age when it forms, it will grow so slowly that something else will kill him first.

As for high cholesterol being associated with hormone imbalances, this is correct. Any hormone imbalance will result in high cholesterol because the body uses cholesterol to make hormones. The body is trying to fix the imbalance whether it is too much or too little of any hormone--insulin, thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, prolactin, or whatever other hormone(s). It is easier and more lucrative for the doctor to prescribe a statin and treat the symptom than it is to find and fix the underlying cause.

[Brigitte]

I've read some of the folks here have had blood tests to monitor things like their T and E levels. From what I've seen others post, PM doesn't seem to affect E levels in that it acts like estrogen without being estrogen. Most phyto-estrogens (usually they use soy in the studies) tend to protect the prostate by blocking the effects of the real thing, as I understand it. The hormone imbalance referenced in most such articles is referring mostly to the problems caused by the aromatization of T into E and the health problems associated with low T which include diabetes, prostate issues, loss of libido, loss of strength/muscle mass, ED, and so forth.

Low T can mask prostate cancer with low to normal PSA levels. Once T is restored to normal levels, PSA goes up and indicates cancer. People then think the T supplementation caused the cancer when it really exposed an pre-existent cancer. If a male lives long enough, he will likely develop prostate cancer, but depending on his age when it forms, it will grow so slowly that something else will kill him first.

As for high cholesterol being associated with hormone imbalances, this is correct. Any hormone imbalance will result in high cholesterol because the body uses cholesterol to make hormones. The body is trying to fix the imbalance whether it is too much or too little of any hormone--insulin, thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, prolactin, or whatever other hormone(s). It is easier and more lucrative for the doctor to prescribe a statin and treat the symptom than it is to find and fix the underlying cause.

Thanks MonikaT, a really helpful response! :-)