How Important Is Hrt To Transition

[morriganali]

I've been on HRT for awhile, and I haven't really seem any real benefits from it, i know it takes time. Sometime even years, but I really want to understand aside from being able to develop breast, smooth skin, less hair growth, and some other outside physical, I been trying to understand and research on what is the purpose, I know a few pills won't make me feel anymore of a woman then, I am already, but other then being able to get breast implants. I'm just confused on the whole aspect of it all and i need opinions on what hrt really does. Most men already have a lot of feminine features, and why would they need it???

[Devlyn]

Here's some light reading: https://www.susans.org/wiki/Hormone_replacement_therapy_(male-to-female)

Hope this helps, hugs, Devlyn

[Sacha]

I've been on HRT for awhile, and I haven't really seem any real benefits from it, i know it takes time. Sometime even years, but I really want to understand aside from being able to develop breast, smooth skin, less hair growth, and some other outside physical, I been trying to understand and research on what is the purpose, I know a few pills won't make me feel anymore of a woman then, I am already, but other then being able to get breast implants. I'm just confused on the whole aspect of it all and i need opinions on what hrt really does. Most men already have a lot of feminine features, and why would they need it???

You mean aside of breast, skin and hair...so aside of looking like  a woman...

What means feeling woman ? How you know how women feel ?

Feelings are linked to the brain and the brain is influenced by hormones. So one probably feel more like women with o instead of t in the brain.

[Rachel]

HRT is amazing, for me.

My dysphoria is greatly reduced.

A fog cleared and I can see colors better and think clearer.

I can make decisions and I am not "stuck" in indecision.

Hyper fear sensitivity is 95% gone. I am even a bit brave now; never was my entire life until now.

I am calm.

I can do presentations exceptionally well now and getting better.

On the plus plus side I am getting breasts, have soft skin, body hair regrowth is like nil to very slow, I have a feminine pheromone fragrance, my body does not stink, my hair is soft, my acne is gone and best of all

I am Happy

[Jennygirl]

Receiving the correct sex hormone is the most effective way to treat depression and dysphoria for a transgendered person. Anti-depressants only mask the problem and have severe side effects. If that isn't reason enough, it also develops one's body to better match the mind. Definitely an added bonus, I agree

As far as MtF HRT, the key is finding the right method of delivery. Orals have a high risk of mood swings, depression, blood clots, and weight gain and incredibly high amounts must be ingested for the desirable effects. Other methods like injections, patches, creams, and pellets take far less amounts comparatively and are much easier on the body.

Not to say you need to take HRT to transition, but if you suffer from strong dysphoria it will most likely help a lot. It's one of those things that you will only know if it works for you if you try it, because everyone has different reactions with varied hormonal needs.

The main goal is to find happiness!

[GendrKweer]

For me, the most important thing about HRT was the reduction/elimination of testosterone, something which most of us regard as poison. Having had it gone, and then replaced by estrogen, I wholeheartedly agree with this. Once that poison is out of your system, I noticed a few changes:
* mood stabilization, for the better
* anger issues gone
* far less depression
* breast growth (not so important for me)
* fat distribution (rounds out your face, hips, etc, making you far more feminine than you can imagine from such subtle changes)

BUT the two big ones for me were:
* STOPPING ANY HAIR THINNING/BALDING in it's tracks (this was a big one)
* Making Laser hair removal as permanent as electrolysis (almost). Beard lasering does little good without HRT, as new follicles will grow under the influence of testosterone

[Beth Andrea]

I've been on HRT for awhile, and I haven't really seem any real benefits from it, i know it takes time. Sometime even years, but I really want to understand aside from being able to develop breast, smooth skin, less hair growth, and some other outside physical, I been trying to understand and research on what is the purpose, I know a few pills won't make me feel anymore of a woman then, I am already, but other then being able to get breast implants. I'm just confused on the whole aspect of it all and i need opinions on what hrt really does. Most men already have a lot of feminine features, and why would they need it???

Estrogen and Testosterone are known to affect the brain and its ability to process and use the information within and from outside the body.

In other words, T enables a man to feel more manly; Estrogen creates depression and anxiety, because it doesn't allow the man to operate at full-manliness. Same for women and E...there are emotional and physical differences that each gender tends to present with, and having the wrong hormone causes problems with a person's mental health (and sometimes physical health)

That's why so many of us feel...exuberant, and very happy once we get the proper hormones inside us. Once I knew how T affected me, I knew I could not tolerate anymore of that nonsense, and got on E ASAP...once on it, I noticed an intense difference in how I felt about "myself." Am I more womanly? I don't know. I do know that I am generally happier on E than before, and I will not willingly stop it.

Now, as far as "what" a woman is "supposed" to feel like...you're right, being born and raised as male, I'll never know what a cis-woman feels like...but that doesn't matter, because all women feel differently from each other.

For example, does Suzy know what it's like to be Janet? Nope, and it doesn't matter. Suzy is Suzy, her own, unique person. If they needed to take E  (usually later in life), each will experience their own benefits from it...and as long as both are happy with the effects, it's all good.

[bethany]

When I started HRT I was just looking for balance in the brain to me that was the most important thing and within days I was at ease with myself. Gone were any thoughts of self harm. For the first time in my life I felt comfortable with who I am. Any physical change is just a bonus as now my body is matching my mind.

[morriganali]

Thank you all so far on responding. Although some of the answer to me pretty much left me just where, I originally started, I guess to me, I was also looking for a magic pill to make me feel different then, I already felt, but all in 10 months, I haven't really felt anything special, or out of the ordinary to what I've always felt before. So with that sparked the question to you all. Is it really important to me on hrt to help me threw anything internally. Cause, I always hear so many transgender men and women glorify the external effects, I never felt like a man to me, and for those who say how do, i know what a woman feels like. Well, I never could tel you what it's like to feel like a man, I don't understand anything about the male species. Other than, I was born one. THAT'S IT... Which to me dictates nothing. Rather, I have Breast, Less Hair Growth, Smoother Skin, Etc... Seems to me like a lot of men these days have such feminine characteristics. Me as well other than body hair issues, and none of them take hormones, I was just confused on the whole what does hrt really does internally per say

[Noah]

What is your objective in transition? You already have a clear and comprehensive understanding of the effects of HRT. What is your goal in transitioning? Answer us that question and then, knowing the function of HRT, decide whether or not you think HRT is a tool you'd like to utilize in your transition.

There are no guarantees, so plenty of women don't feel their body changed significantly on HRT at all. But even if it doesn't change you much, if your goal is to change your sex to female, then it will get you closer than testosterone ever will.

Also, 10 months is baby HRT. Give it two years or three years before you assume anything.

Little Things are really important. Even if HRT only changed my skin and made it smoother and reduced body hair - that is in an of itself enough reason to go on it.

Also, you keep saying men are super fem these days and they don't take HRT. I'm super confused by what the significance of this is. Do you want to be a feminine man? I don't think so. Who cares what fem men do?

[Noah]

Ps: internally HRT changes your body on a foundational level into a female body. Sex is largely determined by the active hormonal influence on body function and cells. The responses you got already are brilliant and have so many answers, not sure what else someone could say?

[Ms Grace]

Yep, changes take time... and judging by comments I've seen around the forum, they continue even beyond surgery.
In addition to the already noted physical changes, for me it has calmed me, made me feel so much better about myself and killed my sex drive, which is great as I really hated that thing! I know I feel more aligned with how I perceive myself.

[Nicolette]

Most men already have a lot of feminine features, and why would they need it???

Why would men need it? It as in HRT? Beats me. Which men are these to which you refer?

Seems to me like a lot of men these days have such feminine characteristics. Me as well other than body hair issues, and none of them take hormones, I was just confused on the whole what does hrt really does internally per say

I point the blame at the tap water.

What HRT does 'internally' is very subjective. If it does nothing for you 'internally', so be it. It doesn't necessarily have to do anything. Many 'internal' effects are in actual fact even placebo induced. I wouldn't get so hung up on it.

I presume when you refer to 'internal' you actually mean mental processes?

[Ms Grace]

I point the blame at the tap water.

That and all the hormones introduced into the food chain...

[KirstenR]

I've been on HRT for awhile, and I haven't really seem any real benefits from it, i know it takes time. Sometime even years, but I really want to understand aside from being able to develop breast, smooth skin, less hair growth, and some other outside physical, I been trying to understand and research on what is the purpose, I know a few pills won't make me feel anymore of a woman then, I am already, but other then being able to get breast implants. I'm just confused on the whole aspect of it all and i need opinions on what hrt really does. Most men already have a lot of feminine features, and why would they need it???

Looking at me, I need it