can hrt cause muscle loss due to estrogen conversion

[aurora]

Can you guys please help me figure this out. I asked this in a female forum but they really were not sure. I have been losing muscle mass slowly for around a month. I started to suspect this was the case around 6 weeks ago but some friends told me it was all in my mind. But now there's no mistake. Folks are asking me if I've stopped working out :-0 There's no mistake that muscle is being lost.

I'm a female who was recently placed on HRT. So now I'm starting to wonder if the HRT is converting all the hormones to estrogen. Which in my mind might explain this unexplained loss of muscle. Now it could be other things too I know like over training, not enough training, diet, ect, ect. But the HRT matches the time frame for the loss, so I thought I'd start there in looking for an answer.

 

[Weatherlite]

I don't think any of us could be considered knowledgeable in that area. Someone might have a website or publication which helps.

I'm curious though, do you know what your hormone levels are? Cortisol? Would be interesting to see. I'm kinda wondering if by supplementing your female hormones do the male hormones suffer? Lab work would tell us for sure I think.

 

[HeadDoc]

has testosterone been included in the hrt? do the blood work and see where you are for P, E, and T. Good to see you here. Welcome aboard.

 

[Glaim]

Estrogen itself is mildly anabolic as well as lipolytic...unless T levels were dropping significantly I don't imagine that would be the problem.

 

[BigRagu]

has anything else changed since u started...... training...... eating habbits........ or any other factors occur that could have an inpact on your weightloss......... and is your weight loss muscle mass or could it be part fat ? i know u stated muscle but i would get a body fat % done and keep and eye on it.........

also have your abilities in the gym declined any?

 

[ENDRO]

Can you guys please help me figure this out. I asked this in a female forum but they really were not sure. I have been losing muscle mass slowly for around a month. I started to suspect this was the case around 6 weeks ago but some friends told me it was all in my mind. But now there's no mistake. Folks are asking me if I've stopped working out :-0 There's no mistake that muscle is being lost.

I'm a female who was recently placed on HRT. So now I'm starting to wonder if the HRT is converting all the hormones to estrogen. Which in my mind might explain this unexplained loss of muscle. Now it could be other things too I know like over training, not enough training, diet, ect, ect. But the HRT matches the time frame for the loss, so I thought I'd start there in looking for an answer.

The primary hormone in a female is estrogen which is a common HRT for women, so you will have to be more specific when you say HRT. What is the primary component, which should be on the package it is either estrogen or test.

 

[SWALE]

Sorry, but we pretty much stick to men's health issues on this Forum.

Why? Because I do not know a darned thing about women!

Welcome just the same, though.

 

[aurora]

Thanks for the welcome guys. I know this is primarily a mens forum but I take my workouts seriously and train hard and heavy as I can. Plus I know you men are very knowledgeable when it comes to getting and keeping gains, proper diets, good form and routines when working out.

I am currently on E, P, and T. I was thinking that maybe the Testosterone and Progesterone were not gender specific and would convert to estrogen in both M/F. And if that were the case it seemed a good place to start looking for the culprit for missing muscle.

I asked my doc about losing muscle mass but my doc doesn't even want to hear the word muscle. Doc says there only concerned with labwork results and everything was not as high as it should be E, P, T. Hence, I was placed on HRT. When I asked my doc about conversion, I was simply told not to worry about it because females need estrogen any ways. In other words, my question really wasn't answered by the doc.

Yes, other things have also changed during this time within the past month and 1/2.

TRAINING had recently changed . Because I saw muscle depleting so I thought I wasn't training hard enough. So I started lifting heavier with fewer reps. I changed from 10-12 reps per set, to 6-8 reps per set. This also caused me to rest longer in-between sets. From 1 min to 3-4 minutes between sets. I also changed from going 3 x per week to 2 x per week.

DIET also changed because I was finding it hard to make 6 healthy/clean meals per day. So I started supplementing with Protein Shakes for 2 out of the 6 meals. So now instead of 6 meals per day. It's 4 meals and 2 protein shakes (Optimum Nutrition).

BODYFAT I haven't been keeping record of my body weight because I could just look in the mirror and see everything was looking good. Only this week did I get a B/F scale. It says my BF% is 23% I was expecting to see something in the area of 18% but it reads 23% BF. I've actually lost 3 pounds but look like I've gained 10. Biceps, Quads and Hams are loosing their pumped look. I've also lost 1" in the biceps and 1 1/2" in the quads over the past month.

GYM ABILITIES are stagnant. I'm currently not making any progress at all. Everything is at a total stand still. I'm unable to go up even 1 pound and fighting to simply keep my current weight. I'm completely stumped. Any suggestions on what might be going on?

 

[earthdog]

I do not know a darned thing about women!

C'mon Doc, you know SOME things about women! You know, they're those people who call you constantly, day and night, and can't keep their hands off you!

 

[earthdog]

In other words, my question really wasn't answered by the doc.?

Don't feel bad, most of us guys here get that all the time! (from other docs, not Swale)

DIET also changed because I was finding it hard to make 6 healthy/clean meals per day. So I started supplementing with Protein Shakes for 2 out of the 6 meals. So now instead of 6 meals per day. It's 4 meals and 2 protein shakes (Optimum Nutrition)

I don't think this is your problem, but I've become increasingly more convinced that protein supplements are a waste. I think that if they have any effect at all, in my experience, it's to make you fat. I just don't think that the body was designed to have large quantities of raw protein dumped into it. It just can't handle it and so it ends up converting to fat. I think that proteins have to be digested from whole foods to be effective. That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I've also lost 1" in the biceps and 1 1/2" in the quads over the past month.

That's some significant muscle loss. Based on all you've said, I would have to blame the HRT. But I don't know anything about women and HRT either. By the way, welcome!

 

[ENDRO]

Thanks for the welcome guys. I know this is primarily a mens forum but I take my workouts seriously and train hard and heavy as I can. Plus I know you men are very knowledgeable when it comes to getting and keeping gains, proper diets, good form and routines when working out.

I am currently on E, P, and T. I was thinking that maybe the Testosterone and Progesterone were not gender specific and would convert to estrogen in both M/F. And if that were the case it seemed a good place to start looking for the culprit for missing muscle.

I asked my doc about losing muscle mass but my doc doesn't even want to hear the word muscle. Doc says there only concerned with labwork results and everything was not as high as it should be E, P, T. Hence, I was placed on HRT. When I asked my doc about conversion, I was simply told not to worry about it because females need estrogen any ways. In other words, my question really wasn't answered by the doc.

Yes, other things have also changed during this time within the past month and 1/2.

TRAINING had recently changed . Because I saw muscle depleting so I thought I wasn't training hard enough. So I started lifting heavier with fewer reps. I changed from 10-12 reps per set, to 6-8 reps per set. This also caused me to rest longer in-between sets. From 1 min to 3-4 minutes between sets. I also changed from going 3 x per week to 2 x per week.

DIET also changed because I was finding it hard to make 6 healthy/clean meals per day. So I started supplementing with Protein Shakes for 2 out of the 6 meals. So now instead of 6 meals per day. It's 4 meals and 2 protein shakes (Optimum Nutrition).

BODYFAT I haven't been keeping record of my body weight because I could just look in the mirror and see everything was looking good. Only this week did I get a B/F scale. It says my BF% is 23% I was expecting to see something in the area of 18% but it reads 23% BF. I've actually lost 3 pounds but look like I've gained 10. Biceps, Quads and Hams are loosing their pumped look. I've also lost 1" in the biceps and 1 1/2" in the quads over the past month.

GYM ABILITIES are stagnant. I'm currently not making any progress at all. Everything is at a total stand still. I'm unable to go up even 1 pound and fighting to simply keep my current weight. I'm completely stumped. Any suggestions on what might be going on?

I would ask this question to
queenofthedamned a mod at http://www.hardcorebodybuildingontheweb.com/
she has been around a long time and I know can answer your questions about conversion.