Just Started HRT and...

[SamiT]

Hello all,

I recently started HRT as a MTF after going thru several months of gender therapy and conforming with the guidelines set by the SOC. After doing all the blood work and other required test by the Endo I was anticipating the day I was to meet with him and work out the prescription regiment. Interestingly enough when the day came he only wrote me a prescription for Ethinyl Estradiol. When I enquired as to why no anti-androgen he noted that it was not advised and truly not required. He is a very well respected and has helped many ladies and men transition so at this point I am not questioning his guidance. I just wondered how many other ladies have been directed down this same regiment and what their results have been. I am 39  and have always had a low T count, above normal high estrogen levels and battling with gynecomastia amongst other hormone related issues since I was a teenager.

I have been on HRT for 14 days now and have noticed a marked amount of swelling in my breast, Slow down of facial hair growth and a slight amount of muscle tone changes. I have been doing laser hair removal, I'm at session 5 with one to two sessions of electrolysis between to get the gray down. I had been going about 3 to 4 days between shaving and since starting HRT have only had to shaved once, two days ago. I also clearly tell a calming of my mood as I normally have a quick fuse and lost my cool quite easily. It's more of a southing not an overall change.. Quite interesting as I did not expect much if anything the first 6 months or so and even less because I'm not on an anti-androgen.

Sami

[Diane Elizabeth]

Being on Spiro will interupt you testsarone process.  This allows the E to do its work with less competition.

[JennX]

I have heard of this regimen prescribed by some docs. Ethinyl Estradiol (17α-ethynylestradiol) in a derivative of the more normally prescribed Estradiol (E2 or 17β-estradiol, also called oestradiol). It's also more potent, but has more serious side effects, which you may want to do some research on first.

Some docs go with a regimen of flooding your system with a high dose of estrogen, which may have the effect of causing your body to reduce testosterone production. This is not always the case, 100% of the time. The more popular, and recommended method of MTF HRT, prescribes a bio-identical form of estrogen (usually Estradiol aka 17β-estradiol), along with an anti-androgen like Spironolactone to block testosterone production.

My best advice is to do some serious research on your own first, and go to your doc ready with some questions as to why he prefers this method of HRT as opposed to others.

[jesse]

i agree with Jen I'm on Spiro and steroidal combined so the approach he is taking for you may be because your t levels are already within normal female limits which would make Spiro pointless for you id ask what that level is then see where it falls in the female range if its in the male range it may be ineffective to take estrogen by itself definitely ask more questions my first legal script was too low and the physician neglected to tall me this as she didn't really like the idea of me taking it in the first place i call it lying by omission and if it hadn't been for a VA endo telling me it was too low i might have continued on not knowing why it wasn't working
Jessi