Trans Women | The Ugly Truth Behind Spiro.
If you are feminizing via HRT and reside in the US, chances are your doctor prescribed you Spironolactone (Spiro) as an androgen blocker.
That’s because most medical providers continue to stick to a dogmatic approach of feminizing hormone therapy, whose standard protocol treatment includes Spiro.
Online MedlinePlus describes spironolactone is a drug used to reduce swelling from liver disease and nephrotic syndrome (a kidney problem). It’s also used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and hyperaldosteronism (excessive secretion of the hormone aldosterone).
Additionally, it is a standard androgen blocker prescribed in the US for feminizing hormone therapy. It works by reducing testosterone levels and the body’s response to testosterone.
And who wouldn’t dream of lower T levels? If only it didn’t come at such a high cost to your physical AND mental health!
Some of the most common side effects reported by trans women on Spiro are:
Need to urinate frequently
Anxiety
Depression
Visceral fat (protruding abdomen)
Brain fog
Lethargy and tiredness
Inadequate testosterone suppression
Perhaps the most devastating effect Spiro reported, including what I witnessed working with trans women for over 17 years, is its association with the poor breast development so many trans women seek as well as inadequate redistribution of fat.
To top it off many report a constant brain fog when taking Spiro, which interferes with their daily functioning and quality of life.
Already wondering why doctors prescribe it at all. So do I. One of the main reasons is the lack of medically necessary research in transgender medicine, or so I believe.
Without research, there is little room for improvement. Fortunately, the landscape is changing as more gender-affirming providers realize the numerous problems Spiro causes.
One of the notable providers, Dr. Will Powers, whose infamous YT presentation has caused a stir in the transgender community, openly talks about Spiro's nasty side effects and refusal to prescribe it to his patients.
Another gender-affirming endocrinologist solely specializing in transgender and nonbinary individuals, Dr. Kristen Vierregger, also a somewhat similar approach.
Perhaps the person who has done the most documents and writing on the effects of Spiro is Beverly Cosgrove. Beverly founded the information-dense FaceBook group MTF Trans HRT Hormone Forum.
And no, Beverly is not a medical doctor. She is, however, clearly a researcher. Over the years of observing (wait, don’t we call it longitudinal study?) numerous personal accounts, Beverly started to document. She observed a pattern. A correlation among individuals taking Spiro.
Beverly has done a thorough job on Spiro as with all of her writing. Including what little research she could find to reference her observations.
If you are or plan to feminize via HRT, reading THE CASE AGAINST SPIRONOLACTONE is a MUST! And if you have any personal concerns about taking Spiro, always talk to your medical doctor about your options!
By no means consider meddling with your HRT regiment, and I highly recommend reading and watching: