Effects of estrogen: what are the first changes?

[Tatyana]

I'm thinking skin changes come first because it looks my skin is getting smoother and looks a bit thinner.  Is that about right or am I imagining things?

[bethany]

You are not imagining things. The changes to the skin were the first things I noticed as well.

[Jenna Marie]

I'm sure it depends on the person! (For me it was feeling happier/calmer - which was probably just the result of being so thrilled to finally start - and breast soreness and swelling by day 5.)

[Tatyana]

I'm sure it depends on the person! (For me it was feeling happier/calmer - which was probably just the result of being so thrilled to finally start - and breast soreness and swelling by day 5.)

How long did it take to see the first signs? I've been on estrogel now for about a month.

[Northern Jane]

It probably isn't any help but ......

I first took estrogen in about 1962, when I was 13. "The Pill" was quite new at the time and the dosage was 10 mg (compare that to today's dosages of less than 1 mg LOL!)

The first effects I experienced from estrogen was severe morning sickness!!!    (My parents should have been freaking out LOL!) I couldn't stay on The Pill continuously because the morning sickness was SO bad - they were hard to get as well.

When I officially started on HRT at 17, the first effect was like a tranquilizer - it took the edge of the dysphoria for a few years.

Between The Pill, whatever estrogen my body was making itself, and then HRT I don't honestly know what physical effects came first. The first noticeable effect that I remember was breast development around age 13 and SENSITIVE nipples!

[Alainaluvsu]

My sex drive went from almost non existent to quickly aroused. I started noticing male scent almost immediately.

[Violet Bloom]

I have a hard time deciphering what effects come from what drugs when everyone describes their experiences because so many start estrogen before AAs or both at the same time.  I have been started on Spiro only first that will be progressively upped and the first thing I noticed was an improvement in calmness throughout my body and mind.  As a result of this I seem to be handling work stress a bit better and am not ending up as dreadfully fatigued from it.  This calming effect is usually claimed for estrogen as well but both may actually be at play as you can see per my experience with Spiro alone.  If adding estrogen later magnifies this effect I'm going to be truly blissful!  At the moment with low dose Spiro the effect kicks in about 2 hours after taking the pills and lasts until late evening.

My sex drive went from almost non existent to quickly aroused.

I suppose I could use a sex drive... but not until Spiro tames that pesky 'thing' downstairs.  It's starting to have an effect.

[Jenna Marie]

Tatyana : Sorry, I should have stressed the "five days" part. But I don't think you're imagining it! Especially by a month, there are probably quite a few subtle changes already.

(I thought *I* was imagining it, until I ran down stairs at 5 days and OW. No way I was making that up, since I was surprised and clutching my chest.)

[suzifrommd]

I'm thinking skin changes come first because it looks my skin is getting smoother and looks a bit thinner.  Is that about right or am I imagining things?

For me, the first things I noticed was breast tenderness and a total change in the sexual arousal/response mechanism.

Skin changes have been slow.

[Tatyana]

For me, the first things I noticed was breast tenderness and a total change in the sexual arousal/response mechanism.

Skin changes have been slow.

Yeah I'm getting a little breast tenderness as well but I'm using estrogel and I think its slower acting than pills?  Hopefully when I start on spiro, waiting for to arrive in the mail, it will reduce my T levels enough so that the low dose of E I'm taking will be to work better and faster.

[pebbles]

My first change was feeling like ass all lethargic and fuzzy headed... My second change was changes my sense of smell and taste which took about 48hours to occur.

[Tatyana]

My first change was feeling like ass all lethargic and fuzzy headed... My second change was changes my sense of smell and taste which took about 48hours to occur.

I haven't noticed any of that but I'm taking the normal dose recommend for cis females.

[Harlow]

I'm sure it depends on the person! (For me it was feeling happier/calmer - which was probably just the result of being so thrilled to finally start - and breast soreness and swelling by day 5.)

Same as above and I've always had softer skin so I haven't noticed that change.

[A]

My sex drive went from almost non existent to quickly aroused. I started noticing male scent almost immediately.

Are you referring to when you started HRT altogether? Because, uhm, to me, how cyproterone destroyed that animal, automatic arousal all the time was the obvious effect. I only began to feel "new" arousal quite a bit later, and discovered what it meant to actually, really want to have sex, as opposed to feeling like I'm being taken over by a beast that wants nothing but to masturbate. (I shrug at the memory.)

As for male scent... that's kind of impressive. Only things I smell on people are what sort of fabric softener or laundry soap they have, whether they use soap (bar soap stinks!) or a kind of gel on their body, or if their hygiene is lacking and they stink. I didn't know men had a "male scent" underneath the scent of their shower gel and shampoo. o.o

I wonder if all that is due to me probably having an insufficient dose.

[TerriT]

So far, my nipples are sore and "puffier" although I've always been on the verge of developing moobs on my own. I have not noticed any changes to my skin, although I had already lasered off all my upper body hair and bathe in moisterizer. But I have noticed my veins are not as thick, thank god for that.

My sex drive is pretty much 1/10 of what it was. Everything still works fine, but I don't have a raging boner every time the wind blows. Also my "fluids" are much thinner and waterier.

I haven't noticed any serious mood changes other than I don't drive as crazy. Sometimes I talk more than I used to, especially at work. I still take my football team losing like it's the end of the world. I seem to be paying more attention to the sunset. Everyday I'm looking at it and the hills and thinking it's really beautiful. It reminds me of my childhood. Normally light is just an annoyance. I haven't had any crying episodes or anything, but I haven't tried to watch Up again.

For the record, I'm on Sprio and a low dose of E, but my endo told me I could double up on that based on my last lab work. I use a patch. I haven't decided if I'm going to up my dose or not.

[Cassie 4 Ever!!!]

The fist change for me was I felt like I was going the tons of sweating for a few days, but the skin changes really early on. Mentally, things for me changed within the first week. Even now, i am noticing things that are different with me psychologically.  I didn't notice breast growth until after a month and a half when they got very sensitive and hurt. Also, I'm only in week 12 and I have lost a lot of muscle and my strength has dwindled but have found myself adapting to be able to still things I did before that are not as easy for me now.

[spx_1112]

Skin softening breast tissue hardness of nipples coning tenting.

[Sarah S]

 I have been on Spirotone for 5 months, 1 week, 3 days, 20 Hours an the estradiol valerate injection for 4 months, 2 weeks, 19 Hours. A week after I started the estradiol valerate injection my nipples started getting very sore an have been sore ever since my breasts are starting to take a nicer shape my nipples are larger, areolas are larger an puffier.  later on my skin is softer an smoother an my body hair is taking a lot longer to grow out an is lighter finer just coming out in a few spots my legs are a lot softer an smoother an the leg hair takes a little longer to grow out an The hair on my head is softer. My face is a lot less oily an seeing a little change in body fat redistribution an my body odor is not the same funky BO smell after I have been sweating. The mental changes are really good I feel calmer an more outgoing an very emotional at times. I know this seems rather fast but I'm I.S an that might have a lot to do with it though. This is the best I have ever felt in my life.  . 

[Lauren5]

Any knoweldge on acne? I've got it on my face, and worsening on my back, chest, and shoulders. Is this just an effect of T, and will removing it help or will I need estrogen as well?

[Jill F]

Dysphoria and anxiety levels dropped from "GRRRRRRR" to "ahhhh... " 2 hours after my first dose.  I apparently need it for this alone.