A gender reassignment program for male to female transsexuals normally includes the prescription of feminising hormones, oestrogen and progesterone which develop female secondary sexual characteristics. In addition this may be accompanied before surgery by anti-androgen treatment to reduce the effect of the patients own male sex hormones. There can be risks attached to hormone therapy in both men and women and therefore it is definitely inadvisable to take any form of hormone product unless it is medically prescribed.

Estrogens are powerful steroid hormones, chemicals which affect the form and function of the body and its organs.

There are three basic human estrogens: estradiol, estrone, and estrial. Estradiol is the most active form and estrial is the least active. In women, large amounts of estrogen are produced by the ovaries, and in men a small amount is present due to chemical conversion of testosterone.

Estrofem contains

17ß-oestradiol

Presentation

Estrofem 1mg calendar dial pack contains 28 red, round, film coated tablets with diameter 6mm and stamped "Novo 282" on one side. The other side is plain. Each tablet contains 1mg of 17ß-oestradiol and weighs about 80mg.

Estrofem 2mg calendar dial pack contains 28 blue, round, film coated tablets with diameter 6mm and stamped "Novo 280" on one side. The other side is plain. Each tablet contains 2mg of 17ß-oestradiol and weighs about 80mg.

Actions

The oestrogen, 17ß-oestradiol, is chemically and biologically identical to the endogenous human 17ß-oestradiol and is therefore classified as a human oestrogen.

Endogenous 17ß-oestradiol induces and maintains the primary and secondary sexual characteristics. The biological effect of oestradiol is carried out through a number of specific oestrogen receptors . The steroid receptor complex is bound to the cell's DNA and induces synthesis of specific proteins.

The oestradiol has an influence on metabolic processes and among others LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) is reduced and HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and triglycerides are increased.

17ß-oestradiol increases SHBG-BC (sex-hormone-binding-globulin binding capacity) and CBG-BC (corticosteroid-binding-globulin binding capacity). The gonadotrophins FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) are suppressed.