Does HRT really make your feet smaller?

[amybenedict]

I must admit, I was reticent to believe it, but I have been on E for 5 months now, and some of my UK size 9's which were 'pinchy' to say the least (i've always been a 10), now fit really well. And I haven't worn them enough to stretch them to that extent. And some of my old boy shoes in size 10 now feel like wellington boots... So there is definitely something in it!

[Padma]

Most people lose some height naturally as they get older anyway, as the spine gradually compresses down.

[Bishounen]

Most people lose some height naturally as they get older anyway, as the spine gradually compresses down.

Loosing height can also be an effect of Estrogen treatment, as HRT may in the MTF slightly "thin" the Intervertebral Discs in the spine, which, in addition to thinner soft tissues in the feet, may together make a very apparent difference with inches in persons that had a masculine build pre-transitionwise.
Many MTF's, both young and old, can attest to this.

[Padma]

Loosing height can also be an effect of Estrogen treatment, as HRT may in the MTF slightly "thin" the Intervertebral Discs in the spine, which, in addition to thinner soft tissues in the feet, may together make a very apparent difference with inches in persons that had a masculine build pre-transitionwise.
Many MTF's, both young and old, can attest to this.

I wasn't saying it doesn't happen on HRT, I was saying it happens to most of us anyway.

[MacKenzie]

  Placebo effect maybe?   

[Padma]

I've actually got taller, but that's because being myself is making me stand straighter . Not that I'm implying etc. etc.

I'd be extremely happy if my feet got narrower, they're frogman's flipper shaped, and all shoes (for some dumb reason) seem to assume everyone's feet taper at the front end. Bring on the shrinkage!!!

[Stephe]

OMG if my feet shrink I will be pissed. I have about 20 very cute pairs of shoes and boots that won't fit lol. BTW I'm about a USA womens 9 which for my height is about right.

[Maja.V]

Cute pairs of shoes can always be replaced by cuter. The smaller your foot is, the greater the chance to find them!

[Alainaluvsu]

I've shrank from about 5'5 3/4" to 5'4" 

I'm only 29 btw and been on HRT for 5 months. That means somehow I've shrank nearly 2 inches in 5 months or so. I noticed this when looking slightly up at a co worker today who used to be my height. Also, a girl in school who is not much shorter than me, told me she was 5'3" and I was thinking "no way" ... The only thing I can think of is posture? Perhaps the tendons in my hips shifted the way I stand, but I'm seriously trying to stand up straight as can be! I do not think my bones shrank in any way, as I've always thought that to be impossible short of having osteoperosis.

And honestly I don't want to shrink.. 5'6" was fine with me, now I'm approaching being short even for a girl...

As far as shoes, they've been a females size 9, and honestly I could probably squeeze into an 8.5 comfortably and possibly into an 8, when in october the size 9 was right where I needed to be.

IF ONLY MY FACE WOULD CHANGE LIKE MY BODY!!! 

[Laura26]

I noticed this when looking slightly up at a co worker today who used to be my height. ... I was thinking "no way" ... The only thing I can think of is posture? ... I'm seriously trying to stand up straight as can be!

Same story for me!  I was never expecting to shrink either, but there's certainly more tall people in my world now.  I've found it surprisingly noticeable and a bit confusing at times.  I'm sure my posture is different now too, but I can't seem to stand any taller either! I'm 10 months on HRT and I think I've lost half a shoe size too.

It looks as if the theory here is that it's the smaller, lesser known muscles in our bodies that may be accounting for this.  It would stack up with my story as pre-HRT I actually had slightly high testosterone for a boy, so I always accumulated plenty of muscle without ever trying to.  My physique is considerably different now so maybe it is something like that. 

It would be good to hear from an ex-body building MTF!

[Stephe]

Cute pairs of shoes can always be replaced by cuter. The smaller your foot is, the greater the chance to find them!

I have no problem finding shows, this size (9/40) at least where I live must be a common size. Anything over a women's 10/42 are only made in specific styles.

[Maja.V]

I have no problem finding shows, this size (9/40) at least where I live must be a common size. Anything over a women's 10/42 are only made in specific styles.

I thought size 11/42? Now I'm confused.

[Stephe]

I thought size 11/42? Now I'm confused.

4 different charts show 4 different conversions lol

http://www.i18nguy.com/l10n/shoes.html

[Bishounen]

I have no problem finding shows, this size (9/40) at least where I live must be a common size. Anything over a women's 10/42 are only made in specific styles.

Finding shows?
Please stay on topic.

[pebbles]

Same old argument format.
People post in saying "This happened to me" and others posting saying in effect "No it didn't" - as if they could know better?  WTF?

Some people's feet and height DO shrink - I'm one of them so it DEFINITELY happens.

I don't care whether you think it should or shouldn't happen and whether you can or can't logically explain it.
It does happen to some.
Period!

Don't forget that most of us have been exposed to estrogen for some period of time. In terms of anecdotal evidence my personal experiences are just as vaild as yours.

I'm also saying from a biological standpoint the notion dosen't make any sense. Seeing as estrogen Fuses growthplates arresting growth sooner in natal females resulting in the smaller foot size. it dosen't shrink bones after the fact.

[jmgraydz]

I saw this topic awhile back, what the main belief is now that, estrogen causes muscle loss which can cause your spine to actually compress causing loss in height as well as loosing more of the gel between your bones, which can cause your feet to shrink front to back and muscle loss shrinking left to right so theoretically this is entirely possible 

[Erica_Y]

My feet have become narrower for sure and about a 1/2 size smaller in length. I have lost a full inch on my height in 18 months HRT. I am right around 5'9" verified at my last Dr. visit. It can occur whether people can reconcile it with medical science or not. I am hoping for more as time moves along

[Ashey]

I used to be 5' 11" and had a 30" inseam. Now I'm just under 5' 8" and have about a 27" inseam, so I lost some leg length and have to wear petite sizes now. My feet have shrunk about 2 shoe sizes. It's a thing, it happens.

[Jennygirl]

I was about to post not much change, but then I tried on some shoes that used to be tight which are now perfect. Then I also measured myself.

Probably half a shoe size down (negligible)

BUT

Height has gone from 5' 9" to 5' 7". Wow, was not expecting that

[kittenpower]

I didn't lose a shoe size, nor did I lose any height