How long before HRT effects muscle mass?

[lissabuchannon]

How long did it take some of you wonderful ladies to notice muscle changes? Do they visibly get smaller over time, or is it just strength that changes? I've always had a basic female shape but with all the T i was given, and all the working out I used to do, I have very large muscles, particularly calves and upper arms. With some of the fat redistribution I've had over the last 6 months on HRT, my thighs look a bit chubby now but definitely in the right way, but my upper arms and calves look huge. I'm heading over 30 now, is muscle size even something I can expect to change? God, I sound so vain worrying about it, but it seriously depresses me. HRT has also given me a tummy which I'm sure I can work off, but I don't want to work out and risk building muscle before I know that my muscles will get smaller from the hormones, because I don't want to get any bigger.

On a positive note for anyone 30+, over the past week, I've been called "lady" by a man, and "maam" by two different women, all while presenting as male. In one case, I even had a bit of lip stubble because I didn't wax before going out, and as I was presenting as a male because I'm not out to everyone yet. So if you're thinking of transitioning and you're 30+, do it.

XO everyone

[xchristine]

I restartrd my retransition at 39 ..
And I'm coming along just fine ...

As for muscle mass...I would say startd hard for
2 months at month 2 ...was painfull...

Will go for years very slowly and subtly also ...

[Misato]

I have the same chicken wings for arms I always did, even when I was lifting weights.  They aren't as strong as they used to be, that's for sure and I'm not even at the 6 month mark yet.  I think they look pretty much the same though.

On the bright side, as a guy I looked like a weakling.  As a woman, I look like I could do some damage.  Interesting how that works.  Kinda like how I'm a Lesbian now too...

[Joanna Dark]

I am having a similar problem. I pass pretty well and look all petite and stuff and have fairly nice boobs but naked or even not naked I have all this muscle. I guess you can't tell with clothes on really and if you just went by my measurements I'd be an ungrateful b*tch but I do have a lot of what can only be considered male muscle and I am quite strong. IDK the other day I carried my purse 50 blocks, which I had a lot of stuff in and it was prolly like 30 lbs. I did collapse at the end and my BF was like get up lol but still I don't feel weaker. I have only been on HRT for 4 months and three weeks so maybe it is too soon.

[The Wagoneer]

im about 4 1/2 months into hrt and prior to hrt i was considerably stronger than my wife, i was never buff but was not a weakling either, we armwrestled last night as a matter of fact and we are eachothers equal in that aspaect now, my ability to lift heavy items has decreased substancially, i get alot of muscle cramps as of the last month or so. I havent noticed much muscle loss visibly but i didnt really have much to begin with. ive lost nearly 2 inches in height tho which is AWESOME! my wife is 6'3 and i was 6ft  im down to right at 5'10 and i love it

[kelly_aus]

To be honest, I haven't lost a lot of mass, even after 2 years, although I never had a lot to start with. I did notice that strength started seriously decreasing at around 6 months..

[Carrie Liz]

My arms were a HUGE problem at the beginning of HRT for me in terms of passing.

I started noticing the first batch of atrophy around the 2-month mark, when I suddenly had trouble lifting a 30-lb bed frame into my car, where before HRT I was constantly carrying 60-lb boxes of paper up three flights of stairs with about the same amount of effort.

At 4.5 months, I was having trouble hitting a volleyball over the net at all with my overhand serve, where previously I always served it out of bounds.

Now at 6 months, I feel downright weak, my shoulders are starting to look downright small, I'm starting to have trouble carrying groceries and loosening stuck knobs and opening tight jars. Go figure. I lost muscle mass VERY fast, to the point that my arms went from looking grossly out of proportion to looking within the female range in just a few months.

[Joanna Dark]

Now at 6 months, I feel downright weak, my shoulders are starting to look downright small, I'm starting to have trouble carrying groceries and loosening stuck knobs and opening tight jars. Go figure. I lost muscle mass VERY fast, to the point that my arms went from looking grossly out of proportion to looking within the female range in just a few months.

See with clothes I look perfectly in range and my shoulders are like 14 inches in width and 37 inches in circumference but they are wrapped in muscle. It hasn't diminished one iota. With clothes on I look fine but I was posing for my BF and he was like you doesn't look male but you can tell you worked out hardcore before. I guess I shouldn't worry but like the OP I do wonder if it will ever go away and I have staved myself and it doesn't help. I walk long distances. Nothing. Nada. Hopefully it changes.

[Jamie D]

Gosh, first of all, there is nothing unfeminine about a muscular girl.  Look at some of the Olympic swimmer and track stars.  Look at the legs on ice skaters.  And wow, I wish I had an ice skaters butt.

[kelly_aus]

Gosh, first of all, there is nothing unfeminine about a muscular girl.  Look at some of the Olympic swimmer and track stars.  Look at the legs on ice skaters.  And wow, I wish I had an ice skaters butt.

I was going to leave that alone, Jamie, but since you mention it.. I've dated and known some quite muscular women.. Their muscles did not make them less feminine or attractive..

[Teela Renee]

I noticed around month 2. But it been slow.  and its more like the toning is smoothing out. instead of being well defined, now I just look female skinny instead of male skinny.

[kariann330]

I also notices a change around month 2. I got that painful fatigue feeling really quick and was working with 8oz to 1gal empty plastic bottles at the time. If i had to lift a full bulk case (350 8oz bottles) over my head i was done for before my first break. I also noticed stairs were more feared, and standing for my old 10hr shifts got to be a real pain....but at least my butt looked amazing lol.

hope i could help.

[Sammy]

I have a feeling that they are getting softer... I have noticed a definite pattern of strenght loss - last week I casually grabbed an all metal clothes-stand (which is quite heavy) - and it was like "Oh, oh.... this thing is reaaally heavy". I also had to carry some big size files, full with papers. My male colleague was grabbing 8-9 files at time, while for me 3-4 files was the comfortable weight... Then I went to groceries store, and I picked up a bag full of stuff, 5 l water can (5 kg) and a piece of watermelon (another 5 kg). Well, that watermelon was the last straw - it just made my hand hurt, because I could not carry it without switching hands after each 50 m. When I was at school I was single-handedly lifting 36 kg ball ten times.... and doing 20 pull-ups, but I was never big...

[Rachel85]

I'm moving soon and that will be right on a month on oestrogen alone so that will be interesting. Last time I moved (2 months ago) I could pick up my fridge solo (but had trouble walking with it!), I'm hoping it hasn't snuck up on me cos it will be heaps harder if I've lost much!
If so, thats what friends (and family!) are for! If I remember correctly the conversion rate for helping someone move is pizzas and a bottle of wine or a carton of beer, depending on their tastes. If the Aussie dollar is high, it's woodfire pizza and a nice kiwi sauv blanc, if its down, dominos and a cask of fruity lexia.

[Jennygirl]

Mine seems to have stayed prrrettty much the same. For a while I was being very cognizant of not lifting ANYTHING because it was giving me such huge dysphoria.

Now I don't really care so much. Yeah, I have some muscle tone. Every girl I've talked to about it though is kinda jealous. If it does go away in time, I won't miss it. But for the time being it's not so much of an issue. I do like having strength when it comes down to it.

[Zoe Snow]

The requirements put in place for transgender athletics are somewhat telling on time frames.  For a transgender athlete to compete in the Olympics, they have to be on HRT for 2 years.  In California, I believe its 1 year for high school level athletics.  So I'd say by the 1 year mark, expect most if not all of your muscular advantage from starting out as a male to have completely disappeared.

[lissabuchannon]

I guess the overall gist is it's different for everyone - some see significant changes, others don't. i've gained 20lb since going on HRT but that's thighs and tummy mostly so even losing the weight will still leave me with 13" biceps

[Oriah]

I've been on hrt going on two years and my arms are bigger than when I started.  I know men that are jealous of my arms....and while I wish they were smaller, It's not going to happen soon.  I kept waiting for atrophy, but I do too much physical labor and am eating better than ever before in my life....atrophy won't happen if you're still using your muscles

[DrBobbi]

I've noticed that I look softer, especially nude. Now into my 70th HRT day my boobs are a bit larger than an A-Cup, and growing. Muscle mass is about the same. While there have been significant changes to my face, I expect the big stuff to have in my fourth to fifth month. Having some trouble walking long distances with some occasional severe cramping that I treat with magnesium.

[abbyt89]

I don't know how much my muscles loss can be attributed to hormones and how much to weight loss, but I'm 9 months in and I struggle with things that I never had issues with before.

I thought people were joking when I read that they had trouble opening some doors or jars. I thought that was pretty dramatic but sure enough a few times now I've gone to open a big door at a store or something and not be prepared for how heavy it was. There's also been a few occasions where I've simply given up trying to open a jar.

Also, I have two cats and whenever I went to buy cat litter I would buy two of the big 40lb boxes. I had no issues carrying both at the same time prior to starting hormones but now I have to use both hands and struggle a bit just to carry one.

I can't say for sure when it started but it's definitely been noticeable.