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Hormonally challenged? (It's a real problem)

by Samuel
(Misssissippi, USA)

Dear Wray, I am a 62 year old man with a complex history. I have been treated for hyperthyroid with I-131 thyroid oblation and am on a lifetime maintenance dose of 150 mcg. of daily levothyroid. I have RRMS which is in remission (10 years). Treatment is daily subcutaneous injection of Copaxone, 1 ml. This is glatiramer acetate.

My attention was arrested while reading your compilation of the benefits of progesterone. Namely the reparative and evidently regenerative properties on central nervous system disease. It goes without saying that this by itself would qualify me as a potential subject for its use. That notwithstanding the multiple benefits on health generally. I have a clinically measurable, though relatively small testosterone deficiency, which is currently under treatment with 5 mg/day Androderm testosterone transdermally.

Which all brings me to my first question. If the Androgen is aromatizing to an estrogen precursor or to estrogen, would I benefit from Natpro daily? Would this perhaps stop or reverse the minimal breast enlargement I am noting? I will appreciate your answering opinion as I am considering starting with Natpro in October. Sincerely.


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Sep 19, 2010
 Hormonally challenged? (It's a real problem)
by: Wray

Hi Samuel I'm not sure what your hyperthyroidism was caused by, or whether it was the so called autoimmune Grave's disease. I say so called, as I'm not a great believer in the definition, for instance MS is another one of these 'diseases'. Interestingly all autoimmune diseases are high in oestrogen, a known initiator of inflammation and low in progesterone. They also all appear to have low to very low vitamin D levels. A recent study found a high prevalence of another autoimmune disease present, please see here. Which makes one think there is a common factor, which I believe is vitamin D, and possibly progesterone too. Please see here. Interestingly glatiramer acetate causes a shift from the inflammatory Th1 cytokines, to the anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokines. Both progesterone and vitamin D suppress the Th1 cytokines and stimulate the Th2 cytokines. Please see the following papers on MS and vitamin D here, here and here. And these for progesterone and MS here, here and here. There are many more! Gynecomastia is caused by oestrogen, which as you've pointed out does aromatise from androgens, so it could well be occurring with you. Progesterone does suppress excess oestrogen, testosterone too, but before you panic please read these excellent papers here and here. If you do decide to try it I recommend 10-100mg/day for men, entirely dependant on symptoms. Incidentally a lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone, please have a vitamin D test done. For more info please see Vitamin D council website. Take care Wray

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