Trans throughout the ages

[Mysteryman]

I am wondering if anyone here has been on HRT for over 20 years? If so, anything to report? Its important for us to have feedback on long term HRT.

People with health issues, people who take medication for such issues, how does that effect your HRT treatments?

[LordKAT]

I am wondering if anyone here has been on HRT for over 20 years? If so, anything to report? Its important for us to have feedback on long term HRT.

People with health issues, people who take medication for such issues, how does that effect your HRT treatments?

Who is us?

My other meds have no issue with HRT.

[Jessica Merriman]

Who is us?

I'm with KAT on this one. Big request with not much info baby.

[Mysteryman]

Sorry, "us" as in the trans community who are pre HRT.  I am someone who likes to know all info from people who are actually going through the process, living with HRT etc...

[LordKAT]

Then all you need to do is read the threads you find here. All your answers are there.

[Mysteryman]

Thank you, glad I can rely on the community to be so helpful when I am in need. Ill find the info

[Amy The Bookworm]

Then all you need to do is read the threads you find here. All your answers are there.

Do you have any threads that happen to come to mind that would be helpful?

[LordKAT]

Considering your broad idea of what you want, almost all outside of the games and jokes variety.

[Danielle Emmalee]

I thought it was pretty specific.  He's looking for people who have been on HRT for over 20 years.  Also for people with info on medication that may have an effect on HRT.  Sure the second part may be a little broad, so maybe ask for clarification, is there any medication that you are worried about in particular or is it just a general inquiry?

[Mysteryman]

Its actually just a general query as you never know what will happen in life. We might be healthy now, but in 10, 20, 30 years time, we may require medications, therapies, surgeries and I am worried that I would have to stop using T.

Regarding the 20 years or more question - I have a friend who is a chemist and geneticist and she said we should find individuals who have been on HRT for more than 20 years, thats where we will see the effects of long time use.

I am a bit of a worrier when it comes to medical issues - but since I find myself unable to live a truly happy life as a "woman" I need to explore all of my options, and have definite information before I can feel safe in choosing my new path.

Maybe I just cant use this forum, I searched HRT long term effects, HRT over 10 years ect, but found no info, so I posted this, hoping that people would want to share their stories/experiences

[Danielle Emmalee]

I know there are some MTF here who started their transition long ago, and from what I've read, no serious health problems from it (as long as they followed a doctor's recommendations), but that might not be as helpful for you.  Hopefully there are some FTM members who might have some insight for you.

[Doctorwho?]

Yes I've been on various forms of HRT almost all my adult life. I'm now 53 - therefore assume 30 years plus...

I also started on routine dosages, but because I was intersex, poorly monitored, and it turns out that my endogenous hormone levels were extremely atypical for some unknown reason, I ended up with post surgical blood serum levels way in the stratosphere (think over 10 times normal levels) and that must have been the case for over two decades.

This was only discovered about 20 years in, thanks a minor complication to an otherwise routine bit surgery.

Thankfully I appear to have taken no lasting harm from this, but that was more by luck than design.

Bottom line - from my experience there would appear to be no major longterm risks, but being monitored is a jolly good idea, because you simply CAN'T assume that just because person a) requires x mg - therefore you will as well.

My dosages are now around a quarter of what I was originally taking and my serum levels are still on the high(ish) side. However as the next drop in dosage would see me take nothing... which given my age - (menopausal) - I am uncomfortable with incase whatever is causing my high endogenous levels packs up, I have agreed with my doctor that we will continue to run with it.

I should perhaps add that back when I started out they had only just stopped giving us DES - and Premarin was the new wonder drug. In my long and extensive experience of HRT I've gone through three different formulations, and three very different delivery methods too.

[Mysteryman]

Thank you for your response "Doctorwho?" I really appreciate you sharing your story.

Thats another thing that gets me nervous - all this blood work and checkups terrify me.

[Doctorwho?]

Thank you for your response "Doctorwho?" I really appreciate you sharing your story.

Thats another thing that gets me nervous - all this blood work and checkups terrify me.

Well obviously the risks of taking T are slightly different from my regimen of both P & E - but on the whole it pretty straightforward stuff and well documented.

What you need is initially a 3 monthly blood draw - dropping to six monthly after the first couple - and dropping to yearly (or if you want be really minimalist perhaps biannually) once your levels are stable and you stop having surgeries... It's only one tiny vaccutainer of blood, So it really isn't all that!

The minimum tests required include LFT, Urea, and steroidal blood serum levels. If you want to be more thorough you could add in, lipids, LDL/HDL ratio, TFT, RBC, blood glucose etc - but realistically it's really only the liver and kidney functions plus your steroids that are must do's.

[anjaq]

I have been long time on oral Estrogen only - 13 years sind the SRS. I think I developed estrogen dominance issues and will try adding progesterone and switch to gel now to see what happens then. I have gotten some health issues that might be connected to that, but cannot proove they are. E.g. weight gain, some masculinization, migraines, fragility of the nerves, excessive tiredness. I guess HRT is not as simple and one-for-all as my doc wants to think.

[Mysteryman]

I really wish scientists would get cracking, and find a way for our body to naturally produce the desired amount of hormones! Wouldn't that be something...

[Cindy]

Well as a research scientist trying to get funding for anything is like pulling teeth from a Great White. My chances of getting funding for a study like this is zero.

You may want to look at the International Journal of ->-bleeped-<-.
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/wijt20/current#.UniwdPlmiSo

There some studies in there

[Mysteryman]

Well as a research scientist trying to get funding for anything is like pulling teeth from a Great White. My chances of getting funding for a study like this is zero.

You may want to look at the International Journal of ->-bleeped-<-.
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/wijt20/current#.UniwdPlmiSo

There some studies in there

Thank you Cindy, I will definitely take a look at that. Are you a scientist? Perhaps there might be a way to get funding - it all depends on the country I think... I am in the EU - I always thought of making a nonprofit org and helping find funding for such research.

[Sammy]

I am in the EU - I always thought of making a nonprofit org and helping find funding for such research.

Please, dont take any offence, but I am finding this statement to be very ironical. Btw, if You are in the EU, like many of us, I would suggest looking up the TGEU - they are quite competent for an NGO and there is a lot of useful reading material on their website.

[Northern Jane]

Well I was on HRT from age 17 to my mid 40s (23 years) and then off for 10 years (because my GP was concerned about the long-term risks). I asked for a referral to a knowledgeable endocrinologist. The endo was shocked that I had been without HRT for so long, immediately started me on the patch (age 58), and ordered a bone density test - she was right - I had the beginning stages of osteoporosis. (Diet, exercise, and calcium supplements took care of the osteoporosis.) So I have been back on HRT for 6 years. I asked the endo how long I should remain on the patch and she said for as long as I want because the osteoporosis WILL start coming back if I stop.