Is it possible that I am immune to Estrogen?

ZoeyZoe · January 20, 2013, 05:24:15 PM

OK so I am 24 MTF I began presenting as a female bout two years and started HRT about a year ago. Before that I was taking a low dose of estrogen I bought online and a kinda high dose of spiro from online for about a year before I got a proper prescription. My problem is that I don't feel like my meds are doing all they should. I take Spiro and oestrodiol oral daily. I have had some success my body hair is much less my muscle mass is less skin is softer and over all I think I am more feminine as a result of HRT. The prob is that it some times seems like its not doing all it should like my face hasn't really become much more feminine and my breast haven't grown much at all I'm not even a full A Cup also I still get erections not as strong and often but I still do and I can still ejaculate. Other trans girls I meet that were the same age as I was when I started and where even more masculine than I was before transition have had wonderful results even trans girl I know who are in there 40's and 50's have had more breast growth and body redistribution than me. It is embarrassing and frustrating other trans girl and people ask me all the time why I don't start HRT then I tell them that I am and have been for a year and they cant believe that its not working for me 🙁

Has any one else had this problem? Did you find anything that helped? Is it possible to be immune to estrogen?

Devlyn · January 20, 2013, 05:31:07 PM

Welcome to Susan's Place! We don't allow the posting of dosages.

8. The discussion of hormone replacement therapy(HRT) and it's medications are permitted, with the following limitations
:A. You may not advocate for or against a specific medication or combinations of medication for personal gain. This is strictly prohibited.
B. You may not discuss the means to acquire HRT medications without a prescription. The discussion of self medication without a doctors supervision is prohibited.
C. The discussion of recommended or actual dosages is strongly discouraged to prevent information contained on this site from being used to self medicate.We can not in good conscience condone the self administering of these medications. Not only may self medication be illegal, but HRT medications can cause serious health problems, and many have the potential for life-threatening side effects that can only be detected and prevented with proper medical supervision.

Hugs, Devlyn

ZoeyZoe · January 20, 2013, 05:46:10 PM

OK sorry didn't know

Emily Aster · January 20, 2013, 05:46:31 PM

You should definitely look for a doctor to continue your HRT with. For one thing, you have no idea if you're getting the right amount because you never got the labwork done. For another thing, you have no idea if what you bought really contains what you think it does. For all you know, the changes you have noticed could be wishful thinking.

Ms. OBrien CVT · January 20, 2013, 05:47:50 PM

It is possible, but unlikely. That is why one goes to the doctor to be monitored. They will tailor your HRT to you.

ZoeyZoe · January 20, 2013, 06:26:52 PM

Quote from: Ms. OBrien VT on January 20, 2013, 05:47:50 PM
It is possible, but unlikely. That is why one goes to the doctor to be monitored. They will tailor your HRT to you.

No I do see a doctor and I have for a year now! That what I said but that lady edited my post and garbled it all up. Any ways yes I do see a doctor and have for a year now

Devlyn · January 20, 2013, 07:02:10 PM

I removed the dosages (four words) from your post per our rules and made no other changes. Please don't say that I garbled your post up. It is essentially as you wrote it. Hugs, Devlyn

Emily Aster · January 20, 2013, 07:15:28 PM

Ahh it does say that in the first sentence. I don't know why I read this as being that you were still not under a doctor's care. I seriously doubt you're immune to estrogen. You were born with it, as is everybody else on this planet. Have you brought up your concerns with your doctor? They will probably have better insight than we can offer.

ZoeyZoe · January 20, 2013, 09:27:04 PM

Ya she increased my dosage but it hasn't had much effect. I am going back soon and will bring it up again I'm think maybe injection will be more effective. Maybe my liver is to good and is taking all the meds and not giving it to my body. I feel doomed its bad enough I was born with the wrong genetic gender now the only effective means of correction is not even working for me 🙁

Annah · January 20, 2013, 09:34:45 PM

she's done labwork after your HRT regiment right? Just curious

ZoeyZoe · January 20, 2013, 10:10:58 PM

Quote from: Annah on January 20, 2013, 09:34:45 PM
she's done labwork after your HRT regiment right? Just curious

No I don't have a lot of money right now so not having lab work has kinda been a plus. Do you think that would help?

Elspeth · January 20, 2013, 10:23:17 PM

Quote from: ZoeyZoe on January 20, 2013, 10:10:58 PM
No I don't have a lot of money right now so not having lab work has kinda been a plus. Do you think that would help?

Are you sure you're seeing a real doctor? Sounds irresponsible if she's not insisting you follow up with labwork, but no one can force you to do that. If you don't have it done, though, there's no real way to know what is going on, if the various levels are not and have not been monitored. All anyone could do here in that case would be to engage in (mostly pointless) speculation about what's happening in your case.

People's hormone levels and responsiveness vary from individual to individual. Impossible to say what's happening in your case without that information.

Cindy · January 21, 2013, 01:29:08 AM

It is perfectly possible to have a reaction to oestrogen, it is not uncommon. The problem is in the form of oestrogen that you are on. If you are on oestradiol valerate it is possible that you are not processing it correctly. You can also develop antibodies to it, an allergic reaction is uncommon but a primary and secondary response occurs in some people.

This BTW is why you need your bloods done, and any Doctor who put you on hormones and isn't monitoring your bloods should be struck off.

You need to know what levels your SHBG are and what they are travelling at, without that info, being of Spiro and the level of oestrogen is pretty meaningless. You also need to know what your liver function tests are, if you have overstimulated your liver all sorts of problems may develop.

Medics who know what they are doing would be trying out different forms of oestrogen, determining your T levels to see if AAs are really worthwhile and monitoring your SHBG and E levels to keep tuning your response.

If you are seeing a qualified medic and they are not doing that, get another medic because the one you are seeing is a bozo and has a better than evens chance of ruining your health.

JMO

Cindy

ZoeyZoe · January 21, 2013, 07:30:56 AM

Quote from: Cindy James on January 21, 2013, 01:29:08 AM
It is perfectly possible to have a reaction to oestrogen, it is not uncommon. The problem is in the form of oestrogen that you are on. If you are on oestradiol valerate it is possible that you are not processing it correctly. You can also develop antibodies to it, an allergic reaction is uncommon but a primary and secondary response occurs in some people.

This BTW is why you need your bloods done, and any Doctor who put you on hormones and isn't monitoring your bloods should be struck off.

Thanks this was helpfull 🙂

ZoeyZoe · January 21, 2013, 07:46:40 AM

I have heard of this condition called Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, or AIS, is a genetic condition, inherited (except for occasional spontaneous mutations), occurring in approximately 1 in 20,000 individuals. In an individual with complete AIS, the body's cells are unable to respond to androgen, or "male" hormones. ("Male" hormones is an unfortunate term, since these hormones are ordinarily present and active in both males and females.) Some individuals have partial androgen insensitivity.

With this condition because the fetus is unable to use the male hormones so it doesn't develop male secondary characteristics so its born female even though genetically it is male

If this can happen in the way that a male is born as female then wouldn't it be plausible that a female could have a reverse condition that does not allow her body to use estrogen? Has any one ever heard of such a condition? I sometimes think maybe this is what has happened to me 🙁 hopefully though I am just paranoid 🙂 and that I will be OK. Paranoid or not though I think I might be on to something with this

ZoeyZoe · January 21, 2013, 07:58:58 AM

OK so I was on to somthing it dose exist but is extremely rare and I don't think I have it because the main symptom is extreem height and I am of average height 🙂 so I am happy to have discoverd that I am not doomed 🙂 lol yay!

From Wikipedia, (HERE)

The estrogen insensitivity syndrome (EIS) or estrogen resistance is a form of congenital estrogen deficiency[1] caused by a defective estrogen receptor(ER). Thus, estrogens cannot be recognized and initiate their biological action.[2]

In humans, the condition is very rare and only one case has been described. A reported male with EIS was tall as estrogens were unable to act to close theepiphyseal line, at risk for osteoporosis, and sterile (suggesting that in humans estrogens are necessary for reproduction).[3]

Cindy · January 21, 2013, 08:27:22 AM

I would be very cautious in using Wiki to make medical choices.

It is a source of background information for lay people..

I have to say that if any of my students use or reference from Wiki in any assignment I fail that assignment.

In a professional capacity, about 99.9% of my colleagues, and I get, a little disconcerted when a patient prefers the opinion found in a 5 minute search of Wiki compared to 30+ years of professional experience.

Just me. I'm sure I'm wrong more often than Wiki

Emily Aster · January 21, 2013, 08:38:40 AM

I was just in college last year, for English, and the professor didn't allow any Wikipedia sources. If it was on your paper, you failed that paper. You could actually fail a paper for having it in the list of references, but never actually using that reference!

Cindy · January 21, 2013, 08:49:05 AM

Quote from: Emily52736 on January 21, 2013, 08:38:40 AM
I was just in college last year, for English, and the professor didn't allow any Wikipedia sources. If it was on your paper, you failed that paper. You could actually fail a paper for having it in the list of references, but never actually using that reference!

And I agree, I want my students to study and interpret the information from the original papers and references. Taking someone else's opinion of someone else's opinion is lazy, dangerous and demonstrates a lack of pride and ability.

But I'm sure Emily that you were a AAAA+ student 😘

Emily Aster · January 21, 2013, 08:52:43 AM

Quote from: Cindy James on January 21, 2013, 08:49:05 AM
But I'm sure Emily that you were a AAAA+ student

Actually I was. It's amazing how much easier English is when you're paying thousands for it out of pocket (I hate student loans and refuse to ever get another one). Research is actually my favorite part of any subject, so I never fell into that Wikipedia trap.