Saw pametto - the verdict

Ralitsa · Post by **Ralitsa** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 2:31 am

I am now prepared to give a verdict. The use of saw palmetto, does have a tendency to enlarge breasts.
For about the last year, I've been taking it at about 2x the rate recommended for male prostate problems. My breasts have noticibly increased, but they are still not large, not by a long shot.
I thought I would try saw palmetto first because it's sometimes recommended for prostate problems (even though I don't have that). Secondly, it's not a hormone, which I am very wary of using and would never consider "self medicating" with. And also, there is some speculation that it may help with hair loss. I haven't seen any improvement in my hair, so I think it doesn't help much for that.
Note that the effect is pretty small, but there is an effect. So I'll keep taking it, and see if they keep growing.

Kyra · Post by **Kyra** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:01 pm

Ralitsa, I'm glad to hear you've found this to be helpful. However, I've been on a 320mg dose of Saw Palmetto for about a year (doctor recommended)...there's no difference in my breast size. The Saw Palmetto does seem to help with my prostate problems, but that's the extent of it for me.
What works for one does not always work for another.

Erica S · Post by **Erica S** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 8:40 am

Ralitsa,

What was your bust size before beginning the saw palmetto? and what is is now? Also will having breast that show 24/7 affect your day to day life? I am curious because I feel I want real breasts but at the same time need to hide them as I am not at a point to let that part of my body show to everyone.

Erica

Lydia · Post by **Lydia** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:32 am

Since the sawpalmetto ingredients have never been approved by FDA, products that claim to contain it often make fraudulent claims. Some brands actually have none of the ingredient but claim effectiveness. I suggest looking at the following website:
http://www.prostatepillreport.com/prost ... d.php#land
Sometimes these "alternative" herbal medicines either have a placebo effect or no effect - sometime harmful. Be informed! Be careful! It is your only body - take care of it.

Hugs,

Lydia

Ralitsa · Post by **Ralitsa** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:35 pm

Lydia is exactly correct. It is not regulated by the FDA since it is considered a dietary supplement, and not a food or a drug. Although one can never really be sure about anything, if it's bought through a respectable retailer (GNC for example) you should be able to have reasonable confidence that the ingredients listed on the label are true. Labelling is something that is federally regulated, so basically they can put in whatever ingredients they want as long as they don't lie about it.
I haven't measured my bust in the last few months, but last time I did there was about a 1" increase. It seems like there has been more since then. Having really noticable breasts will almost certainly affect ones life, in my case I want them to be noticable. I almost always wear skirts and dresses, and even at work when I wear slacks I don't try to hide my breasts, but wear padded bras instead. I suppose one could wear loose fitting shirts if there was an occasion to hide them.

JoAnnDallas · Post by **JoAnnDallas** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:08 pm

My doctor knows I'm TG and one day I asked her about hormones. Her answer was to seek out a gender therapist and get her OK before she would put me on hormones. She did prescribe Spiro Acetate and "Finastade" (SP). These are T-Blockers and over the five months I have been taking it, my breasts have enlarged to the point that if I wear a A cup padded bra, I have a little bit of cleavage. Hopefully in the next couple of months my therapist will OK hormones.

Lydia · Post by **Lydia** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 2:51 pm

Hi Joanne,

I've been taking the same drugs - specifically spironolactone and finasteride - for enlarged prostate for the past 5 years. During the first year or so, my breasts enlarged to about an A-cup size, but that's as far as they went. Hormones may go further, but I would be VERY cautious . There are too many unanticipated results.

Hugs,

Lydia

Robyn Katie · Post by **Robyn Katie** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:50 am

Hi sisters,

I've been thinking about replying to this thread, but have been uncertain whether anything I can say will be helpful.

I have been taking saw palmetto for prostate for over a year. My breasts have enlarged. I haver taken no measurements, but I'm not sure measurements would help, as the picture is muddied by the fact that I also use tea tree oil and lavender oil, both said in some studies to contribute to breast enlargement, though nothing conclusive has been shown on any of these.

Doing measurements would be iffy anyway, as I'm trying to lose weight and have actually lost some 20 pounds, which also influences breast size, chest measurement, and how apparent and/or protrusive breasts are.

Bottom line: my breasts are bigger, apparently as a result of saw palmetto, tea tree oil and lavender oil, not to mention the odd estrogen from food. I have reached about an A+/B- size judging by how I fill my bra cups. But I'm unable to give specific numbers for all the reasons above.

I am happy with the results, though! (And v-e-r-y cautious re side effects). I have cleavage, and even braless, I'm showing outline in my tops. I hope the trend continues.

If it becomes necessary, I plan to wear a loose top at the beach. (A Tshirt—I'm hardly brave enough to try a halter unless I find a fem swimsuit top that's pretty non-obvious in design.)

Love, Robyn Katie

Ralitsa · Post by **Ralitsa** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 1:26 pm

Thanks for the information Robyn.
I was sort of wondering whether there was some level, beyond which a girl needs something a little stronger than saw palmetto. It seems like that is the case. Anyway, I'm happy that there is some improvement, and I don't want to go for hormones, so maybe I have to be satisfied with where I am. Anyway, I have enough to hold my bra in place, which is more than last year

Post by **DonnaT** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 12:42 pm

Robyn Katie wrote: If it becomes necessary, I plan to wear a loose top at the beach. (A Tshirt—I'm hardly brave enough to try a halter unless I find a fem swimsuit top that's pretty non-obvious in design.)

You could try a ladies tank top. I wear them in the summer working in the yard, at the gym or at the pool. I got mine at Target, one is even pink. My wife can't tell that they were meant for women, or she would never have let me out in the yard with them on.

Robyn Katie · Post by **Robyn Katie** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 3:03 pm

Thank you Donna! I have several ladies' tanks, and they're part of my mix 'n match collection.

But your suggestion helped, because it made me take another look. I Binged images of ladies tank tops, and I can see I'd only scratched the surface. Impressive variety of designs, from fairly unisex all the way to quite femme!

So your suggestion helped. I'm going to look for more. (And if some of what I find are way femme, I won't mind bending the gender a bit.)

Robyn Katie

Absaroka · Post by **Absaroka** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 9:49 am

I regularly wear ladies tanks as my first layer underneath my teeshirt under my flannel shirt in the winter. The snugness of the fit makes them fit well under the tee shirt and keeps me quite a bit warmer. I wear them so often in male mode that I now rarely wear them when I am crossdressing.

Ralitsa · Post by **Ralitsa** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 1:36 pm

I can see I'd only scratched the surface. Impressive variety of designs, from fairly unisex all the way to quite femme!

And that's why I like womens styles so much. In men's t-shirts you have 3 choices, white, blue, and black.

I used to wear womens tees a lot, but now I prefer cami's. I'm just a sucker for the lace I guess