Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Icephoenyx on December 14, 2006, 08:26:16 PM

Title: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: Icephoenyx on December 14, 2006, 08:26:16 PM
Ok, so as a young pre-trans TG, I have been reading about what hormones actually do to you for when I start. I am a little annoyed though, because everything seems to say something different. I have read articles on it written by therapists/clinics themselves, and have also heard here from some of you.

Overall, however, I only really got two things out of it all, that hormones give you breats and shrink the boys. Thats about it. The annoying part is that some say that hormones help your voice, some say they do nothing. Some say that hormones slightly cut back on facial hair, others say they do nothing. Some say they will shrink your height, hands and feet, others again say what they do nothing in that respect. I don't even know what I'm getting into. I guess I should just wait to see what they do for me, but ppl shouldn't be putting this crap all over the net when it totally contradicts what the next source is saying...

Phoenyx
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: HelenW on December 14, 2006, 10:16:48 PM
There's a thoroughly researched and well written article on HRT in our WIKI.  

The problem with describing what hormones do to transsexuals is that their effects are very dependant on a person's other genetic background.  So you never really DO know exactly what will happen until you try.  What hapens to one person will not necesserily happen to you.  Just like what happens to natal girls when they hit puberty.  No two are alike.

So we usually qualify our answers by saying that "your mileage may vary."

hugs & smiles
helen
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: Elaine on December 14, 2006, 11:17:34 PM
Hi Icephoenyx

I know exactly what you mean -- many contradicting sources.

I know you said you are young (I don't know how young), but from someone who's transitioning at 21 and almost full time, I can tell you what effects I've experienced in the short time I've been on HRT (estrogen for only abour 4 months so far).

Yes:

Softer, rounder facial features
Softer skin
"Shinier" skin
Finer body hair
Breast development
Fuller "bottom"
More well defined female waist
Veins seem less prominent
Decrease in strength -- I really noticed this just this week when trying to lift some boxes

No:
Voice
Facial hair
Decrease in sex drive*

Not sure yet:

My hair (on my head) seems to have stopped thinning -- still not sure
Wider hips -- more fat seems to be collecting there
Change in hand and foot size -- these things seem more feminine, but at this point it's probably more due to skin texture

*Sex drive is one of the things I'd seen conflicting reports on as far as effects of HRT. Most everyone seems to talk about a decrease in sex drive, but I've read some things that say *specifically* to expect a decrease in male sex drive. As I said, mine hasn't changed (at least not yet), so I'm wondering if my libido has always just been more fundamentally female.

As far as change in the the dimensions of a person's frame (upper body, hands, etc), I've noticed that it always seems like women who've been on HRT for a while have very feminine dimensions and I've always been amazed to think they'd been born with such dimensions. Now I'm feeling more like these people *weren't* born with these dimensions and have just been genetically predisposed to change from HRT.

Altogether, I think the only thing you can really say definatively is "it depends on your genetic predisposition". That's IT. Just hope and hope and hope your body will take to the hormones well.

Hope this has helped. Remeber, even if you've already gone through puberty (I assume you have), the closer to puberty that you start HRT, the better the effects (generally). Also, all of these responses pertain to an MtF transexual. For an FtM, things are much different (voice being one of them).


Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: Julie Marie on December 14, 2006, 11:44:06 PM
Rule of thumb: Hormones add but they don't take away.

That being said hormones will affect soft tissues but they will not change bone structure, once the body has fully grown.  Start HRT at 18 and there's a noticeable difference than if you started at 30.  Start HRT at puberty and you will develop pretty much like a normal woman.

Voice will not change.  That's why many choose voice therapy.  Beard will not go away.  That's why practically all of us have electrolysis.  Body hair will usually diminish and may even disappear completely.  Breast growth may be substantial (again the younger you are when you start the better the results) but your genetics play a part in that.  I once read take the average female in your family and subtract one cup size.  Who really knows for sure?

But what seems indisputable is the younger you are when you start HRT, the better the results.

Julie
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: Terri Gene on December 15, 2006, 02:26:54 AM
Its kind of a waste of time to predict what will happen on HRT, everybody is genetically different and their bodies react differently.  For my own few years of it I didn't get near what I thought I would.  I mellowed out a heck of a lot, but I can still get mad.  on many, body hair kind of fades away over time, on others it stays put.  I could see some who have very fine beards who could lose some of it with out electro or lazer, it just depends on the person.

Sexual responses are very different.  You don't seem to want it as much, but good to go when you want to.  I've been orchiectomied for two years now and I still get a stiff one now and again even though I think very little about sex.  It just happens at times.

When it comes to HRt, you simply take what the doctor tells you and see what happens.  Never go above what they tell you to take though.  For myself, I had two strokes about a year apart and can no longer take it anymore.  Thats ok though, I got what I need body wise even if its not what all I had hoped for.

Just get a good doctor and follow instructions and see what happens.

Terri Gene
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: Melissa on December 15, 2006, 04:14:26 PM
It seems that some people forgot some stuff like fat redistribution, muscle mass reduction, and facial shape changes.  For the voice, I'm going to give a slightly different opinion in that I think it does have an effect on the voice.  I believe it slightly thins the vocal cords and although it alone will not give you a female voice, I believe it will help in learning to speak in one.  I've also experienced some scalp hair regrowth.  As for sex drive, I used to have more of a male sex drive and that pretty much went away and I was left with no sex drive for a while, but then I gained a female one.  The best I can describe it is you feel "horny", but your body shows no indication that you feel that way.  As for butt/hips, I did gain a slight amount of fat there, but I already had some shape there before.  I've lost about 3/4" of height so far.  I'm not sure about hands/feet shrinking, since I haven't compared them to before.  I know they both used to be the same size as my ex, so if I can compare to her again, I'd know.  I was wearing a size 11 woman's shoe before, but now I wear size 10w.  I don't know if they shrunk or if I was just wearing the wrong size before.

Now I've only been on HRT 10 months.  I've noticed very little body hair reduction and muscle mass reduction, but my doctor did just up some of my meds a month and a half ago.  Also, I never had much body hair, nor big muscles, so it doesn't concern me too much.  I did have some good responses, like I have small size B breasts and you can see what I look like in my avatar pic.

Now, I think the reason you see so much conflicting info is because it seems to work differently for different people.

Melissa
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: tinkerbell on December 15, 2006, 06:08:20 PM
Quote from: Melissa on December 15, 2006, 04:14:26 PMThe best I can describe it is you feel "horny", but your body shows no indication that you feel that way.  

How does a body show that you are feeling that way?  I can only think of one way.. >:D  Is that it? LOL ;D :D

tinkerbell :icon_chick:
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: brina on December 15, 2006, 06:20:59 PM
Hiee,

  HRT effects after 2 years and (6 months post orchiectomy):

Yes's
  Breast developement currently small 'B' cup or large 'A'
  A sense of being at ease with myself that is to say feeling more natural
  Face is rounder and softer
  Body hair diminished and finer
  Very little body odour
  Bum has become rounder and no longer flat
  Thighs have filled out somewhat from 19'' to 21 1/2''
  Foot size has decreased slightly as well as neck
  Chest went from 36 1/2'' to current 34 3/4''
  Waist pretty much as it was (after loosing the intial weight I gained at the start of HRT ie 10 lbs)
  Hips more noticable (fat begining to re-distribute itself I think)
  Sex drive (quantitively speaking, I enjoy 4 to 8 orgasms a month)much more comfortable
  Strength diminished by about 10 to 15%
  Heightened senses
  Pain more redilly felt
  Less oily skin

No's
  Facial hair reduction due to hormones
  Change in voice
  Prone to bouts of crying
  Prone to symptoms of PMS
  Thickening fuller head hair

Hope this helps. As has been said everyone is affected differently by hormones and you simply will not know what will happen with your body until you start.

Byee,
  Brina
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: Melissa on December 15, 2006, 06:26:56 PM
Quote from: Tinkerbell on December 15, 2006, 06:08:20 PM
Quote from: Melissa on December 15, 2006, 04:14:26 PM
The best I can describe it is you feel "horny", but your body shows no indication that you feel that way.  

How does a body show that you are feeling that way?  I can only think of one way.. >:D  Is that it? LOL ;D :D

tinkerbell :icon_chick:
Yep, you got it. ;)

Oh yeah, one more thing.  Your BO smells female rather than male.

Melissa
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: Kate on December 15, 2006, 09:14:58 PM
Quote from: Melissa on December 15, 2006, 06:26:56 PMOh yeah, one more thing.  Your BO smells female rather than male.

And rumour has it that you'll be able to smell men from like 100' away... and somehow don't seem to mind it ;)
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: LynnER on December 15, 2006, 09:24:29 PM
KK, this is totaly my opinion, there is no scientific proof behind most of what Im about to say but this is something Ive observed both through postings on this site, people Ive met and through changes that have happened to me.......

What HRT does to you depends very much on you..... your age, your genetics, your disposition towards accepting estrogens, and gods know how many other factors....

The only things Im sure we can agree on are....

You will have some breast tissue development variant on age and backround
Your skin should soften some
Your fat should redistribute itsself into more female paterns around the body (this includes face and what not)
Your oder will change....
Your nails should become thinner and more brittle...
Your emotional makeup will shift
You should loose muscle mass or atleast some physical strenght...
Your skin should become less oily...

Thats it for what Im positive happens to everyone....

Things That Ive observed:
There is a chance that you will shrink in height, I know for a fact that Im down to round about 5ft 10 when I was 6ft 2 at the age of 18, Im 26 now.... I know another TS thats lost approx 3in of height as well...

There is a chance that your hands and feet may shrink alittlebit...  This isnt a major change but its "possable"  I went from extra large mechanics gloves to large mechanics gloves... size 12f shoes to size 11f shoes... this dosnt mean its going to happen to you...

Your hair could regrow itsself if your starting to go bald and it could start growing in thicker and stronger... Increased chance of this happening with anti androgens....

Your body hair could become thinner and finer or dissapear compleetly, again anti androgens seem to play more of a roll in this than the rest of HRT...  Nothing is gaurentied here though

Your facial hair could become thinner and finer...  never heard of it going away totaly or becomeing spotty or anything... just less coarse and usualy lighter in color.... If this happens it could be a bad thing cuz lazer needs dark hairs to work effectively.... your looking at allot of electro if this happens to you...

~~~>> Side note on the Hair stuff.... the way you go about removeing facial and body hair also has allot to do with how it grows and grows back.... how you take care of your head hair does have allot to do with its over all condition so there are multiple factors in this...  <<~~~

Ive never heard of anyones voice changeing on HRT but I have felt its effects on helping me perfect my voice inflection and tone wise....  it helps when your in the right emotional teritory to mimic and practice voice patterns......

Your sences may or may not become more accute... for myself color is more vivid and I can tell the diffrences between shades where I couldnt before, and my sence of touch is greatly improved, as is my sence of smell.... but this isnt gaurentied by anyone.....

Sex drive diminishes....  I cant attest to that... I went from a null sexdrive pre HRT to haveing a sexdrive now... so I have no way of compairing accept to say it does differ from what most everyone else says....

So far as how the fat is going to be redistroubited through your body, weather its going to all go to your rear and thighs or face or chest or whatnot.... take a look at your mother or sisters for a better idea....  Not everyone is going to end up with the perfect hourglass figure... its genetics and personal health that makes the diffrence there

On breast growth you may or may not have significant growth, same goes with the size of the nipples and arioli  You could have minimal growth and end up with an AA or A or you could absolutely balloon and end up with a D or something....   This has to do more with age and genetics.... and again no gaurenties on where your going to end up....

Prominance of viens seems to depend on the person too but generaly they do reduce in visability  :)  Hope this helps some and I didnt over rehash what other people said  *Hugs*




Posted on: December 15, 2006, 08:18:10 PM
Oh, and you CAN smell men from a distance... sometimes its anoying and sometimes its not....

And finaly.... your sexual orientation may deside to up and pull a 180 on you.... I expected to be a lesbian but instead ended up straight....... go figure....
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: Elaine on December 16, 2006, 05:18:38 PM
It's interesting to look at how much diversity there is in people's experiences. Even more differences than I thought. Some of us have had none of a particular change, and some a whole lot of it.

Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: roseyfox on August 31, 2015, 01:09:53 PM
Quote from: LynnER on December 15, 2006, 09:24:29 PM
KK, this is totaly my opinion, there is no scientific proof behind most of what Im about to say but this is something Ive observed both through postings on this site, people Ive met and through changes that have happened to me.......

What HRT does to you depends very much on you..... your age, your genetics, your disposition towards accepting estrogens, and gods know how many other factors....

The only things Im sure we can agree on are....

You will have some breast tissue development variant on age and backround
Your skin should soften some
Your fat should redistribute itsself into more female paterns around the body (this includes face and what not)
Your oder will change....
Your nails should become thinner and more brittle...
Your emotional makeup will shift
You should loose muscle mass or atleast some physical strenght...
Your skin should become less oily...

Thats it for what Im positive happens to everyone....

Things That Ive observed:
There is a chance that you will shrink in height, I know for a fact that Im down to round about 5ft 10 when I was 6ft 2 at the age of 18, Im 26 now.... I know another TS thats lost approx 3in of height as well...

There is a chance that your hands and feet may shrink alittlebit...  This isnt a major change but its "possable"  I went from extra large mechanics gloves to large mechanics gloves... size 12f shoes to size 11f shoes... this dosnt mean its going to happen to you...

Your hair could regrow itsself if your starting to go bald and it could start growing in thicker and stronger... Increased chance of this happening with anti androgens....

Your body hair could become thinner and finer or dissapear compleetly, again anti androgens seem to play more of a roll in this than the rest of HRT...  Nothing is gaurentied here though

Your facial hair could become thinner and finer...  never heard of it going away totaly or becomeing spotty or anything... just less coarse and usualy lighter in color.... If this happens it could be a bad thing cuz lazer needs dark hairs to work effectively.... your looking at allot of electro if this happens to you...

~~~>> Side note on the Hair stuff.... the way you go about removeing facial and body hair also has allot to do with how it grows and grows back.... how you take care of your head hair does have allot to do with its over all condition so there are multiple factors in this...  <<~~~

Ive never heard of anyones voice changeing on HRT but I have felt its effects on helping me perfect my voice inflection and tone wise....  it helps when your in the right emotional teritory to mimic and practice voice patterns......

Your sences may or may not become more accute... for myself color is more vivid and I can tell the diffrences between shades where I couldnt before, and my sence of touch is greatly improved, as is my sence of smell.... but this isnt gaurentied by anyone.....

Sex drive diminishes....  I cant attest to that... I went from a null sexdrive pre HRT to haveing a sexdrive now... so I have no way of compairing accept to say it does differ from what most everyone else says....

So far as how the fat is going to be redistroubited through your body, weather its going to all go to your rear and thighs or face or chest or whatnot.... take a look at your mother or sisters for a better idea....  Not everyone is going to end up with the perfect hourglass figure... its genetics and personal health that makes the diffrence there

On breast growth you may or may not have significant growth, same goes with the size of the nipples and arioli<sp?>  You could have minimal growth and end up with an AA or A or you could absolutely balloon and end up with a D or something....   This has to do more with age and genetics.... and again no gaurenties on where your going to end up....

Prominance of viens seems to depend on the person too but generaly they do reduce in visability  :)  Hope this helps some and I didnt over rehash what other people said  *Hugs*




Posted on: December 15, 2006, 08:18:10 PM
Oh, and you CAN smell men from a distance... sometimes its anoying and sometimes its not....

And finaly.... your sexual orientation may deside to up and pull a 180 on you.... I expected to be a lesbian but instead ended up straight....... go figure....

Im down to round about 5ft 10 when I was 6ft 2 at the age of 18, Im 26 now. You really had that much of a height difference O.O
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: Emjay on August 31, 2015, 05:02:43 PM
Quote from: Kate on December 15, 2006, 09:14:58 PM


And rumour has it that you'll be able to smell men from like 100' away... and somehow don't seem to mind it ;)

O
M
G

You're so right on being able to pick up male BO.....  errrrr....  I mean male scent.....    It's weird just how strongly I notice that now.

I can't say I like it any more than before though lol ;)
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: Yenneffer on August 31, 2015, 05:24:07 PM
I dropped 3 inches in height use to be 6,3 now 6,0 and continuing
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: roseyfox on August 31, 2015, 08:35:37 PM
I had no ideal they effect height im 5'8-5'9 i wonder if ill shrink then im 17 plan on starting hormones next year.
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: brenda w on September 01, 2015, 09:43:34 AM
The biggest change for me is mentally, low dose E thanks to spiro female level T my mental state is much improved. Anything else i get is just a bonus.
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: Rachel1 on September 01, 2015, 12:14:01 PM
Can anyone explain the drop in height? I thought hormones are not supposed to affect bone structure, or is that until a certain age?
Title: Re: MtF Hormone Effects?
Post by: Laura_7 on September 01, 2015, 12:18:12 PM
Quote from: Rachel1 on September 01, 2015, 12:14:01 PM
Can anyone explain the drop in height? I thought hormones are not supposed to affect bone structure, or is that until a certain age?

There is tissue between the bones, and muscle... which might decrease.
Also posture might change.