Receptors not needed... :)

[fraulein_Maria]

Extracellular Effects of the Steroid Hormones

Several effects of steroid hormones appear to involve action at the plasma membrane. For example, progesterone modulates Ca++ channels in the membranes of brain stem neurons and also activates processes in Xenopus laevis oocytes by binding to the plasma membrane. Certain steroid actions occur so rapidly that activation of protein synthesis cannot be involved. The male steroid hormone testosterone quickly stimulates the transport of glucose, Ca++ ions, and amino acids into kidney cells. Similar rapid induction of Ca++ influx into heart cells by testosterone has also been demonstrated.
Figure 34.45 · A schematic model of the GABAa receptor, indicating the interactions of steroid hormones with the receptor. (Adapted from Touchette, N., 1990. Man bites dogma: A new role for steroid hormones. Journal of NIH Research 2:71-74.)

Much of the resistance to the idea of steroid action at plasma membrane receptors has arisen from an inability to demonstrate a steroid-receptor interaction. However, several groups have now shown conclusively that 3a-hydroxy, 5a-pregnan-20-one (3a-OH-DHP), a metabolite of progesterone, binds with high affinity to the GABAa receptor in the brain, enhancing its inhibitory effect on neural transmission. As seen in the Special Focus that follows, the GABAa receptor is a chloride channel (Figure 34.45) that is opened by binding g-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The demonstration that a steroid hormone can stimulate this channel is a landmark discovery and may presage a revision of the previous dogma that steroids act only at intracellular sites.

[JOS]

I've now been taking testosterone for six months and feel fairly sure that it is having some sort of positive effect on my overall energy level and mood.

Basically, I am using approximately half a sachet per day. So not yet at the normal 'male' prescribed dosage.

I don't seem to be having any side effects or 'downside' but I'm not entirely sure of the long term damage possible?

Well anyway.... not exactly a scientific trial but perhaps something to think about.... probably psychosomatic :happy45:

Any more experienced people who want to tell me what a fool I am or to let me know they have had the same experience, please please please share with me.... I need all the advice I can get :D

I am certainly not encouraging or discouraging anyone else to try this route just hoping for an open discussion

Cheers,
Jos

[Kailana]

Thank you so much for posting, I sort of forgot you were CAIS.

I think some where in the past I had mentiioned on a thread to Miriam I had wanted to meet a CAIS who identified male. Though I am not sure if you actually trying to reassign as male? Hope you don't mind my references to transitioning, I mean I just am very curious if you are looking to reassign male.

I really hope I dont push the wrong buttons, I am XY/XO, CAH as a reminder, and have known I was intersexed for years since 93, only to finally get fed up with Dr's and family pushing your I am a male act like one, so yes after years of alot of crap I am transitioning female. So I am really curious for your goals for yourself Jos. Are you looking for better health, do you identify as male? are you correcting/reassigning as male? <---that might sound odd but what I mean is, do you see yourself as CAIS male rather than CAIS female?

Its been awhile since I have read your older posts, i might just go back and see what I have missed. Just to let you know, I do see you as a stunningly beautiful woman from that pict. I often wonder why I wasnt so lucky, having a Male phenotype sure hasnt made my life any easier, but then I suppose identifying female sort just clashes really bad with phenotype.

Best wishes and please if you can clarify things for me.

[miriam]

Hello Jos,

I've tried Tibolone (Livial), testosterone and even thyroid hormone (Thyrax) to get some extra energy. Only with Thyrax I felt a bit better, but that was only temporary. Just like you I want to warn everybody here: don't try this at home. That being said, I understand why you are using testosterone. The lack of energy really sucks.

Research in the UK revealed that many women with CAIS are not so complete insensitive as the name CAIS suggests. That might be the reason why using testosterone gives you more energy. It all depends on HOW (in)sensitive your body is. When your gonads were removed after puberty you can be sure even lots of testosterone won't change your body. But when the gonads were removed when you were just a couple of months old, it is possible you are more sensitive than you may expect.

As soon as you start to grow pubic hair or armpit hair... :pat:

Another explanation why you may feel you have more energy now, is aromatase. Aromatase is an enzyme that converts androgens into estrogens. So by using testosterone, you also increase your estrogen levels.

Groeten, Miriam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatase

[JOS]

Thank you Kaliana, it was sweet of you to say you thought my photo was a flattering one and thank you Miriam for sharing your medicinal experiences.

Briefly, no I don’t identify as male and that isn't at all why I am trying the testosterone

Now for the self-absorbed bit

… just feel I should stop hiding quite so much considering the much braver people here who constantly share.
Please feel free to skip it!!

This is an altered version of a letter I wrote to a consultant... though it would make quite a good explanation

When I was 15 (1990), I had a riding accident and I ruptured my spleen. After the operation I was told that I “didn’t quite look right” and that since I hadn’t started my periods I should see my GP promptly.

I was referred to a gynaecologist who said that my ovaries had not developed correctly because my mum hadn’t produced the right hormones during pregnancy. He said that I must have these “ovary-like” gonads removed immediately as they were likely to be tumourous and may become malignant. He also told me that they may produce a cocktail of hormones which could result in my voice breaking and that I might develop facial hair.

He examined me… with a probe… and said that I should be able to have intercourse but that I’d never have children. Following the operation I was told the “ovaries” were benign. I had an HRT implant for six months and then began taking HRT orally.

In 2003, I read an article in The New Scientist about chimeras and felt the need to find out more about my own infertility issues. I visited my GP, with whom I had an extremely good relationship and respected a great deal, after she had helped me get through some serious bouts of depression. She then informed me that I had Testicular Feminization (CAIS) and that this was the reason for my infertility. She showed me that it had been well documented in my medical notes and she was very shocked that I was unaware of this situation.

She explained that the right-hand-side inguinal hernia operation I had had in 1976 (at 12 months old) had revealed a testicle. Further more, chromosome studies were performed at that time but I think it was studies from 1990 which actually confirmed that I am definitely XY genotype. My 1976 notes stated that my parents had been informed but were refusing to accept the diagnosis although my mum maintains that the situation was not clearly outlined to her.

Understandably, I was shocked and found coping with the fact that these details had been kept from me extremely difficult to handle. Especially since knowing about CAIS helped me immensely to come to terms with other psychological issues relating to my body image and infertility. It’s especially upsetting since this could be an issue affecting other family members and my own future health. I find it really regrettable that health professionals gave me misleading information, which kept me away from support groups and even potentially put my health at risk.

In May 2006, I developed a lump on my right-hand-side, just below my old hernia scar. I was in the process of being made redundant and had been lifting heavy boxes packing for the imminent sale of my house. My GP sent me to hospital with a suspected hernia. The oncologist discovered that the lump was in fact due to a malignant seminoma contained in a remaining testis. This was removed and a programme of observation instigated.

I have been feeling ‘low’ since the testis was removed and wondered if this might be, in part, due to altered hormonal levels. I also wondered if there was the possibility that I was actually extreme PAIS and not CAIS. So my new consultant (since I moved) kindly referred me to an endocrinologist who said he’d support me ‘testing’ testosterone replacement if I wanted to try it. He mentioned words to the effect of Miriams post but I also (possibly wrongly) got the impression that there's some thought that the oestrogen resulting from testosterone conversion may be more easily... utilized... than synthetic ones???

I actually got to thinking about testosterone after coming here and reading some of the posts from peaceandparty... he was trying life without testosterone.

I was also sent for my first bone density scan with the concern of greater risk of osteoporosis… apparently I am actually unusually dense LOL :0)

Anyway… the irony is that one of the darkest periods in my life so far actually saved my life in a way

I don’t identify as male or as a strange female anymore but as something else… CAIS. In hindsight, it was a really liberating discovery.

JOS

[des10ed2b]

ok, maybe this is stupid of me to ask, and maybe it is impossible. but why cant they do testicular or ovarian transplants? it would make sense to me that if a person is tested and has a XY phenotype, but the testes they had werent developed or malignant or whatever, why couldnt they transplant healthy ones? that would just make more sense to me then synthetic hormones.

[Kailana]

I appreciate your clarification on why you chose trying testosterone. I wasn't really sure what you meant when you stated:

Basically, I am using approximately half a sachet per day. So not yet at the normal 'male' prescribed dosage.

Your explanation makes sense to me, and if it helps then don't worry about what we all think hun, this is your life not ours to cause any doubt. If your feeling better then it is likely that you needed some testosterone, your body was used to what ever you had prior to surgery and like me although as an direct opposite still needed what your teste was providing, for me what my ovaries, regardless of how small they are still was giving me. Surgery, the abrupt removal of makes for a abscence, that you happen to need or at least your body wants. So if its testosterone therapy then so be it.
As for any new risks you might be exposing yourself to, I wouldnt imagine that there would be any or very much of a risk, you had testosterone before, so your supplimenting now, there is not much difference in where you get T from, at least your body wont go crazy or anything. At least it shouldn't.

Jos if there was a chance for testicular transplantation it would have to come from a donor that is compatible, typically that wouldn't happen unless she has a twin, close sibling, family member. I also don't think it would be easy finding a surgoun willing to perform that kind of transplant, it wouldn't be making new medical grounds as this has been tried before though many many years in the past, which ended badly as doctors then werent aware about compatibility, rejection. I can't recall the patients name Elle Elbe or somthing like that.

Thanks again for the clarification

[fraulein_Maria]

[QUOTE=JOS;14870] He mentioned words to the effect of Miriams post but I also (possibly wrongly) got the impression that there's some thought that the oestrogen resulting from testosterone conversion may be more easily... utilized... than synthetic ones???

>>> yes to both. the estrogen resulting from test conversion is your own, all natural, estrogen. this is a good thing. Your body is using (what it can) of the test. and "recycling" the rest. <<<

I actually got to thinking about testosterone after coming here and reading some of the posts from peaceandparty... he was trying life without testosterone.

>>> so am i. or should i say, trying life without test. poisoning.

its been an adjustment.

energy? down. strength? down.

i get tempted to go of the prednisone (what many CAH's take to make cortisol, so our bodies don't make test. as a substitute) but its quite dangerous..... and the lag between having too little cortisol and my bodies ability to make test. as a substitute means that i spend at least a week feeling like i've been run over by a Lory... i haven't done it since my doctor asked me to do so for the sake of testing.... worst month of my life.
but, i wonder....

what would happen if i got some DHEA? or some of that test. cream that they give to post-menopausal women?
I'm getting hot flashes again ( i was having them before pred. treatment, and pred. treatment seemed to nip menopause in the bud ) so it appears that the change of life that i managed to arrest for a time has come.

I'm a bit sad about it. I had wanted one more child. i suppose that seems selfish. My only comfort at the moment is the knowlege that though the clock is winding down for me, it is not yet too late. My mom had a healthy "change of life" baby so its possible that i could too.

but not for long. so i'm praying. <<<

I was also sent for my first bone density scan with the concern of greater risk of osteoporosis… apparently I am actually unusually dense LOL

>>> lol. I've often said that i'm about to achieve maximum density ;) <<<

Anyway… the irony is that one of the darkest periods in my life so far actually saved my life in a way

>>> Godde's good that way. :) <<<

I don’t identify as male or as a strange female anymore but as something else… CAIS. In hindsight, it was a really liberating discovery.

>>> isn't it wonderful? :) <<<

[JOS]

< I had wanted one more child. i suppose that seems selfish.>

no not at all... it is hard to welcome changes that are beyond our control, we just have to hope we can make sense of it all and get to a 'new happy' somehow, whichever way things end up going :0)

Thanks all for posting to me
Jos

[fraulein_Maria]

[QUOTE=Kailana;14872]

Jos if there was a chance for testicular transplantation it would have to come from a donor that is compatible, typically that wouldn't happen unless she has a twin, close sibling, family member. I also don't think it would be easy finding a surgoun willing to perform that kind of transplant

>>> they are doing ovarian transplants in India. while the relatives you mention are the BEST source of a compatible donor, there not the only source. They would just need four compatible markers to be a "perfect match" and they will risk transplanting with as little as 2. I wouldn't myself, that is, settle for only 2. i suspect that they will begin doing it in this country when AIS'ers demand it and not before, because the current treatment protocol (and experimental ones) is far more lucrative.

[george.bush]

I really hope I dont push the wrong buttons, I am XY/XO, CAH as a reminder, and have known I was intersexed for years since 93, only to finally get fed up with Dr's and family pushing your I am a male act like one, so yes after years of alot of crap I am transitioning female. So I am really curious for your goals for yourself Jos. Are you looking for better health, do you identify as male? are you correcting/reassigning as male? <---that might sound odd but what I mean is, do you see yourself as CAIS male rather than CAIS female?

[JOS]

It's quite useful in a way to be reminded of old post comments... even quite interesting to see them out of context.

but George, my dear, you really have got a bit too much time on your hands. Why not tell us some jokes or something original at least?

[Kailana]

But thank you too Jos, I am glad not everyone gets upset when posts are pasted. Still provides room to comment on whats being repeated.

Although Might say, that was a little too blatent of a copy/paste job.

Wondering if anyone can block Goerge's IP address? just a thought. For the Mod's "don't stress over anything thats being repeated from me" I'll just use it to clarify my thoughts.

Have an awesome day.