What happens with Estrogen?

[Keely Mcbain]

Hello

I'm currently male who's interested in reassignment surgery and taking hormones.

I'm lead to believe that taking Estrogen will cause me to grow less facial hair and develop breasts.The prospect of not having to
shave sounds nice but I do have some concerning questions.
Please be patient with me since I don't know much on the subject.

Q) How long does Breast development take?

Q) Will the size of my breasts be random, or will it be determined by the dosage of Hormones?

Q) Will my Breasts be sensitive or numb?

Q) is taking hormones likely to cause me to be aroused by men?

Q) Will I take on any feminine personality changes

Thank you so much for your help and advice.
Bye

[noleen111]

How long does Breast development take?

A few years to complete, but signs of growth can start quickly.

Q) Will the size of my breasts be random, or will it be determined by the dosage of Hormones?

Depends on genetics, age etc... but the unwritten rule is one cup size than females in your family...  For me I was lucky.. I am actually larger than my mother.

Q) Will my Breasts be sensitive or numb?

Breast growth can be painfull. When development starts are your nipples are extremely sensitive. I remember within a week of starting to take hormones, my nipples become sensitive and sore if you banged them. 

) is taking hormones likely to cause me to be aroused by men?

Still no verdict on this one... Hormones do effect the wiring of your brain, you do starting thinking like a woman, your emotions change. For me I was a lesbian before hormones and when I started, I did start being attracted to men about 2 years in.. and I have actually had a boyfriend and I can say did effect me.. some mtf do not get aroused by men at all. I am personally bi-sexual now.

Q) Will I take on any feminine personality changes

I cry more easily, I love shopping and clothes etc.. I am a very girlie girl.. but i was always one, even when I crossed dressed. but this different from girl to girl
When I had the boyfriend, I enjoyed been the female in the relationship.. I enjoy been treated like a lady, been held, brought flowers etc

I hope this helps

[suzifrommd]

Hi Keely, welcome to Susan's.

Here are answers from my experience. YMMV, of course.

Q) How long does Breast development take?

I had acceptable breasts (to me, A-B cup) after 1 month of spiro and full dose estrogen (though I had been taking a partial dose for a couple months before).

Q) Will the size of my breasts be random, or will it be determined by the dosage of Hormones?

Random. Just like a genetic girl. One of the realities of being female.

Q) Will my Breasts be sensitive or numb?

Mine are deliciously sensitive. But don't bump them on anything...

Q) is taking hormones likely to cause me to be aroused by men?

Hasn't happened to me. My attitudes toward having sex with males have changed, but that happened before I started hormones. OTOH, I've heard of women suddenly seeing a man they are attracted to after that never happening before.

Q) Will I take on any feminine personality changes

I didn't. Maybe a slight calming effect (that does nothing if I get really mad). A lot of women report emotional changes. But personality - that would surprise me.

That said, my personality has changed a lot since I started my journey. I went from hating shopping to finding it fun and relaxing. Pro football no longer interests me as much. I'm much more social. All of that started before HRT, so I attribute it to unleasing of parts of me that I didn't know I had.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your journey.

[Sammy]

Q) How long does Breast development take?
I have heard that it can go for years.

Q) Will the size of my breasts be random, or will it be determined by the dosage of Hormones?
I have not heard about extra dosage having effect on that, but the most tricky part is to figure out Your most optimal personal dosage, which takes some tweaking by Your endo.

Q) Will my Breasts be sensitive or numb?
Pretty much like those had by any cis-girl Which means - QUITE sensitive.

Q) is taking hormones likely to cause me to be aroused by men?
Maybe, maybe not. Estrogen for sure has its impact on brain - the idea of being with a man before the HRT pretty much disgusted me (I had those fantasies when I was teen, but I never had male body in them). Now... I am not sure. I still find women to be hot and cute, but when I am in the presence of men, whom I find attractive I kinda start getting unusual ideas and thoughts . The most disturbing is that my behaviour changes into something playfully seductive. I just have to do it and I cant resist. By the way, that absolutely does not mean that I want to have sex with them or feel aroused (in male sense) - actually, the whole concept of arousal changes a lot too. It shifts towards the feminine, which means slower, less visual but more mental and emotional.

Q) Will I take on any feminine personality changes.
The same as the previous one. Besides, what is male and what is female personality? it is 21st century and girls can do pretty much the same stuff what guys do now - and quite often we do those things better than they .

[suzifrommd]

The most disturbing is that my behaviour changes into something playfully seductive. I just have to do it and I cant resist. By the way, that absolutely does not mean that I want to have sex with them or feel aroused.

OMG, this happens to me too. I don't even notice I'm doing it. It's part of feeling feminine I think, that I feel more comfortable relating in that way. Like you said, doesn't seem to have anything to do with actually wanting them.

[Bea]

My two cents...

Q) Will the size of my breasts be random, or will it be determined by the dosage of Hormones?

The size will be random but based on your families genetics, one breast is usually larger then the other just as in cis-gender-ed women. Taking more than the recommended dose of estrogen will harm your body in the long run and will not effect breast growth much. I was advised to take pre-natal vitamins and wear a bra during my breast development.

Q) Will my Breasts be sensitive or numb?

Breasts will be painful during growth, and sensitive in the sense of sexual arousal. Certain times of the month they are more tender due to hormones; Wearing a bra is highly advised.

) is taking hormones likely to cause me to be aroused by men?

This seems to only effect some of us. For myself, I used to get very aroused by women, but now I find men attractive in a female sense. Being around a nice man makes me feel safe and happy, and in return I want to make him happy...

Q) Will I take on any feminine personality changes

It should calm you down a bit, but if your high stung like myself it didn't seem to do much. I think both the estrogen, and the subliminal mind play together on this one. I believe that once you both wrap your mind around the idea of taking the hormones and that you are on your way to being yourself, your personality will change as well.

:-)

[noleen111]

Wearing a bra is highly advised.

:-)

agreed, a padded bra is recommended, as they give some extra protection against knocks..

[Joanna Dark]

agreed, a padded bra is recommended, as they give some extra protection against knocks..

I never wear  bra but I feel like when someone sees me and sees I'm not wearing a bra and my boobs are that big I couldn't possibly be a man. But yesterday my breasts were bouncing like crazy so I should maybe rethink that. I wear form-fitting tight tops though so I do get some supports by the tops themselves.

[Natalie_D]

is taking hormones likely to cause me to be aroused by men?

Still no verdict on this one... Hormones do effect the wiring of your brain, you do starting thinking like a woman, your emotions change. For me I was a lesbian before hormones and when I started, I did start being attracted to men about 2 years in.. and I have actually had a boyfriend and I can say did effect me.. some mtf do not get aroused by men at all. I am personally bi-sexual now.

I'd like to know more about this. How often is it that a t-girl goes from lokomg only women before hormones to only liking men after?

[Keely Mcbain]

Thanks so much.

This has really been informative for me.

See you around

[Sammy]

I'd like to know more about this. How often is it that a t-girl goes from lokomg only women before hormones to only liking men after?

Well, as far as I know, nobody has tried to make a poll here about sexual interests "before and after". Hmmm, sounds an interesting idea to do . But what I have read and - I guess - am experiencing now too, is rather shifting from lesbian transwoman (or straight male? lol) to bi-sexual. Probably, I have always been that way, but would have never admitted that with T as my dominating hormone.

[Cindy]

I'd like to know more about this. How often is it that a t-girl goes from lokomg only women before hormones to only liking men after?

I think the original OP questions have been pretty well covered.

As far as sexual preference goes HT should not change it BUT you become more accepting of yourself and less 'hidden' or 'closeted' in a male identity and trying to live and fit in as a guy. So you can be more accepting of an underlying preference.

In my case I was always being hit on by guys when I was presenting as male and rejected the advances. Now I am totally attracted to guys and not in the least bit interested in other woman in a sexual way. I also am very very fortunate to have a man in my life and I totally enjoy his attentions and, without this sounding too sexist, I totally love being his female partner.  I also have to say that I have no male identity left, my male identity died and it was quite stunning or startling to experience that.

Cindy

[noleen111]

without this sounding too sexist, I totally love being his female partner. 
Cindy

I know what you mean cindy, I have tipped my toes in the relationship pool, my first since started Hrt, and my first boyfriend, it only lasted a few months and I also loved been the female in the relationship, i loved making myself look pretty for him. I loved having doors opened for me and being brought flowers etc. Being held in his arms makes me feel safe.

[Jenna Marie]

Breast development takes as long as it does for cis girls (so a few years usually), and size is determined as randomly as it is for them (I think the "cup size smaller than your mother" is a myth, or at least isn't true for most of the women I know), and sensitivity is also random. Sorry.

I know of no actual studies on what HRT does to orientation. I was bisexual going into it and am bi now, but do have a slightly greater preference for men than I did before (from 90% into women to, say, 75% prefer women). I think a lot of that for me is that I was NEVER remotely interested in gay men or gay male culture - but being treated as a woman by a woman-attracted man is a totally different universe from being approached by a male-attracted man. I'm married and monogamous so the point is moot, but it was definitely a revelation to discover firsthand how men treat women they find appealing.

[Cindy]

Breast development takes as long as it does for cis girls (so a few years usually), and size is determined as randomly as it is for them (I think the "cup size smaller than your mother" is a myth, or at least isn't true for most of the women I know), and sensitivity is also random. Sorry.

I know of no actual studies on what HRT does to orientation. I was bisexual going into it and am bi now, but do have a slightly greater preference for men than I did before (from 90% into women to, say, 75% prefer women). I think a lot of that for me is that I was NEVER remotely interested in gay men or gay male culture - but being treated as a woman by a woman-attracted man is a totally different universe from being approached by a male-attracted man. I'm married and monogamous so the point is moot, but it was definitely a revelation to discover firsthand how men treat women they find appealing.

I have to admit and this is one of life's strange twists, I have no interest in Gay men, I like straight men. I have a very close Gay male friend who I really like (he is probably my 'bestie'), but as a friend not as a sex partner, he also has no sexual interest in me as he (rightly) regards me as female. And since I'm married to a woman as well, I must be lesbian . I love my wife dearly, but we haven't had a sexual relationship for 25+ years

I have great sympathy for non-trans*people trying to work us out!!!! I wish I could!!!

[Jenna Marie]

Cindy : Hey, it seems straightforward to me. We're women; women don't date gay men, and gay men don't want to date them.