28-02-2014, 12:39 AM
- Progesterone is used in hormone therapy for trans women and some intersex women - especially when synthetic progestins have been ineffective or caused side-effects. Progesterone restores estrogen receptor sensitivity.
- Normal breast tissue cannot develop except in the presence of both progesterone 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.
- 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.
- 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.