Do you get PMS?

[Reagan]

Hey everyone. I'm kinda interested if anyone has experienced any cramping while on HRT. I have been on hormones for over a year and every four weeks I get all the effects of PMS. Lately the cramping has been getting worse. Most of the trans girls I know don't experience this and none to the degree I'm having.

[Sandy]

I've been on HRT for over six years and post op for over five years.

I don't recall getting cramps or body aches, though at my age I have enough just being me.

But I do have an emotional cycle that appears to be menses related.  I'm just a little more tetchy sometime during the month.  It makes my husband crazy.  She's way past menopausal but she should be aware of it.

My doctor said that with my estradiol dosage, I *shouldn't* have mood swings, but I do.  Perhaps not as far reaching as other women, but I feel it.

-Sandy

[SarahLynn]

I'm 5 months on HRT and I have experienced body aches (like an all over ache) before, but that was at the start. I do have mild mood swings and headaches when on my cycle.

[Reagan]

Hi Reagan,

Love your avatar, you are beautiful.

I'm not on HRT so I can't speak from first hand experience but I've always thought cramping in cis women is from rhythmic contractions of the uterus as the lining is being shed.  Since trans women generally don't have a uterus, I'm not sure how we would experience cramps.  There is some discussion about concerning ghosting phenomena in trans folks, very real sensations from a phantom limb.

http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/phantom-genitals-hint-gender-brain/

You might want to consider another explanation over cramping, perhaps something gastrointestinal?

Julie,

Thank you! You are very sweet. I found the article very interesting. I guess it's the phantom uterus. LoL... I tried to explain it to my endo and she just looked at me like I was crazy. My spouse jokes and says that I must have hidden ovaries or something. It has been strange for sure. I get bloated very short tempered and emotional along with severe cramps. The only thing missing is the messy part. At fist I just plaid it off, but about six months ago my hormone doses were increased and the following months the cramps got a lot worse.  So maybe the brain wiring thing is worth exploring.

Thanks

~Rea

[Northern Jane]

I started HRT at 17, transitioned and had SRS at 24 and was on daily Premerin thereafter.

In my 30s I was married and at a dinner  party with my husband when the after-dinner talk turned to PMS. I  said I didn't  suffer from PMS and my husband just GLARED at me. When we got home, he went to the calendar hanging in the kitchen and pointed out the little pencilled Xs and asked "What the heck do you think THESE are for?". Sure enough, every 28 days a few were marked with an X. He referred to those days as "egg shell days"

Okay, I didn't suffer from PMS but apparently HE did LOL!

[Alainaluvsu]

No. Thank God!

[ZoeM]

No. Thank God!

I almost hope I will. Mild version, of course, but nothing would help with stealth quite like an obvious time of the month. :|

[Alainaluvsu]

I almost hope I will. Mild version, of course, but nothing would help with stealth quite like an obvious time of the month. :|

Oh I have my obvious times, but they're more frequent than monthly!

[DrBobbi]

What your describing as PMS may be the consequences of transdermal or oral hormones. There are dips and spikes with the concentration of circulating estrogens. THe more stable method, that provides a more balanced delivery is the Estradiol implant. If you're preop and using Spiro you could see a loss of energy or feel depressed because you need a small bump in testosterone. Small amounts of the male hormone will, as we see in genetic female HRT, improve mood and energy, without interfering with the feminizing effects of MtF HRT.

The ideal method is Estradiol implant and progesterone, which naturally drives down the testosterone without the need of drugs like Spiro. It's more expensive initially, but provides a more natural stable method.

Hope this helps.

[mintra]

Been on hormone for over 24 years, I don't get cramp. But mood swing, oy! I piss people of unintentionally all the time. This is from close friends and family.

[Tristan]

I think we do get pms. I know my mom always calmed I do.

[Nicole]

every 28 days, lets just say "people disappoint me easily"