Does Sexdrive change with the start of HRT

[Terri-Gene]

Orientation like Gender is a fixed element in our mental makeup.  Some do appear to switch orientation after or during transition, but I do not believe that to be a "change" of any kind.

The fact is, many people appear to be of a particular orientation, and themselves perfer to believe in that orientation, but often, they are surpressing thier true orientation, in that they may have latent tendancies that they don't want known or expressed, in other words, for reasons of thier own, they tend to act contrary to thier actual and real orientation and transition allows them to justify the true orientation and so seem to "switch".

It is one of those things that you are what you are and it can't be changed.  To believe that actual orientation can change during or after transition is to believe that homosexuality is a choice not a fixed element of birth, thus opening the door to believing that Transsexualism is a "choice" and not a fixed element.

Terri

[Leigh]

   To believe that actual orientation can change during or after transition is to believe that homosexuality is a choice not a fixed element of birth, thus opening the door to believing that Transsexualism is a "choice" and not a fixed element.

Terri,

If you never make another post this one should be what you are remembered by.

My compliments

Leigh

[DawnL]

I'll second that.  I am constantly asked about my "choice" or "decision" in pursuing transition.  What choice?  My slide down the slippery slope was as fast as anyone's as some of you know from my first appearance at Susan's  (Apr 04) until now late in my RLT.  The only decisions or choices revolved around "how" I would transition, not "if" I would transition.

Dawn

[Leigh]

Dawn

The next time the word choice is used.  Ask them if they are right or left handed.  When they answer just ask them why.  They didn't have a choice either

[Cassandra]

Bravo Teri,

See, you can be poigniant without being long winded. That was one of the best posts I've seen. You stated it so succinctly. We all know our true orientation it's just a matter of acknowledging what it really is.

Cassie

[JenniferElizabeth]

for me I dont have one any more. My wife hates it that I cant get it up. But, I am glad to be done with it. I was never one to want it much at all anyway. But, after the second year I really havent had one. 

[Sara]

Hi, while I was on my hormones about three months in I noticed a slight change in brain response to porn and sex in general. After 5 years I didnt care about it at all. I could still orgasm if I wanted to to put my mind to it but it was not like before, it took alot longer to achieve, no ejaculation (which I prefer) - more like a womans internal orgasm of the mind and body.... I'm presuming thats what they feel as so many people are different in there responses but for me I actually liked it better. Your brain pattern on hormones changes your thinking too and you have to be in the mood. Although my Endocrinologist says that it is imprinted from birth I have first hand experience that hormones are powerful drugs and yes they do have the ability to make a male act more like a female in brain body and soul. Some women though have sex drives like males but one would assume that by reducing your testosterone down to 0 you would have less a capacity for feeling horny not just from taking  an antiandrogen but estrogen which changes your brain receptors.

Sara.

[Terri-Gene]

Actually there is every reason to scientifically believe that sexual stimuli and its effects on a male taking proper HRT drugs will change somewhat, especially in the role of desiring sex or thinking about it.

Thats not to say however that HRT or even Orchiectomy will completely remove the ability to want or have perfectly natural sex however.  I have heard the arguments about orchiectomy and know the effects Spironolactone had, but having experienced both I can honestly say I could still experience natural sex without any aids whatsoever if I so cared to.  The desire or thoughts about it are about perfectly zilch in normal circumstances, But I know I did have sex with my wife a couple of months after the orchie and back on estrogen again.  all went as it should have, but i found my old thoughts about sex were still there.  At this time I have had sexual relations with my wife 3 times in a little over 5 years, it's just to hard to get into for GID reasons having nothing to do with drugs or bodily parts which are now missing and out of action.

Ability to think about sex has more to do with mental conditioning and needs then drugs or testicles.  The docs are still debating why this is so but it is well known that even with no testosterone in the body at all, it is still possible to achieve erection in human male born people who for whatever reasons still have a sexual connection whether they want it or not.  There is no argument about this.  My own Psychiatrist told me in the beginning most of her transsexual patients told her in therapy that even after years on HRT and orchie they were still perfectly capible, and I know from complete experience with HRT and orchie, so like I say, no argument to it at all.  It is simply differences in individual persons.  I wish it all did completely remove any ability or desire, but my findings have been that is not so and since the sexual act in male form is a strain on all I believe and desire it is a hard thing to accept, but life goes on.

Terri

[umop ap!sdn]

Before hormones, I used to feel the need to... well... "get off" atleast a few times a day, which honestly was more annoying than anything else... and the orgasms weren't that great either.

Same here (and I'm not on HRT yet) and it gets real strong for a while and then go away for a while. No fun at all. But it seems to me that there are 2 entirely different mechanisms at play; the desire for closeness/sensuality and the desire to have an ejaculation - and it's best IMO when they both occur at the same time. Yet I could do without the latter much more easily than without the former.

To believe that actual orientation can change during or after transition is to believe that homosexuality is a choice not a fixed element of birth

I don't understand how that follows.  I agree that we don't choose whom we're attracted to, but that doesn't mean our preferences can't change.

[tinkerbell]

Hi Chaunte:

I think it all depends on the person and the type of HRT.  I've heard the libido increases with testosterone in FTM, but of course I'm not in the position to answer that .  In my case, I did experience a significant change in sexdrive; mine decreased to almost nothingness, but I didn't give a flying fly really; I mean, I was never a very sexual person to begin with so what difference did it make then?  Even if I had been very sexual prior to my transition , I think I'd have chosen HRT without questions...but that's just me though and can't speak for everybody else...


tinkerbell

[LynnER]

Hmmmmm.... this is a tough question actualy...

Like some others here I had allways felt the need to "get off" a few times a day but at the same time could live with out it.
Then came the HRT...... I dont feel the need to "Get off" much if ever when I was on it, and now that Im back on Im starting to feel the same way.  On the other hand when I do want sex... I REALLY REALLY REALLY want it.... and self gratification isnt.... the feeling/need dosnt go away for hours.  <where before the need to get off would come and go and come back over very short periods of time>  And should I get what I want its absolutly amazing, totaly diffrent from the previous "getting off" and to describe what those feelings are would require a hypnotist and a large notebook LoL.

Needless to say my sex drive has changed considerably, and while I was enguaged atleast I actualy looked forward to the act rather than being totaly dissapointed by it and the prospect of.  *shrugs*

[Hazumu]

Oh, heck, might as well chime in here (...where angels fear to tread...)

I'd say my frequency has been reduced considerably since the start of HRT.  Before, it was largely a need (and something of a chore, too, but that didn't stop me  )

My performance was always dependent upon set and setting -- my mood could be killed (or wouldn't even start,) if there was something I found unappealing about my partners' personality, or there was something 'wrong' about the location, etc

Now, after being on HRT for all of four months ( ) that the need/chore aspect has dropped away, I seem to have typical female sexual response -- things gotta' be just right, and I gotta' be given the time to make a running start, so to speak.

The payoff seems to be at least as good, though, if not subtly better...

I humbly submit my Dollar-three-ninety-eight...

Karen

[Melissa]

Mine didn't change really.  It went from nothing to nothing.

Melissa

[tinkerbell]

Mine didn't change really.  It went from nothing to nothing.

Melissa

I never thought of it that way...from nothing to nothing......that's great, Melissa.....


tinkerbell