Congratulations on beginning HRT! It's a huge first step. Many people get frustrated and increase their dose when they don't see immediate changes, and it's important NOT to fall into that trap as time moves on.
Taking more hormones than the dose you were prescribed is not a good way to try to speed up changes. Taking a higher dose can actually slow down the changes you want: extra estrogen in the body can be converted to testosterone by an enzyme called aromatase. Taking more than your prescribed dose also greatly increases your health risks. If you think your dose is too low, talk with a health care professional who has trans health training to discuss options. It may be better to try a different type of medication or combination of medications, rather than increasing the dose.aking more hormones than the dose you were prescribed is not a good way to try to speed up changes. Taking a higher dose can actually slow down the changes you want: extra estrogen in the body can be converted to testosterone by an enzyme called aromatase. Taking more than your prescribed dose also greatly increases your health risks. If you think your dose is too low, talk with a health care professional who has trans health training to discuss options. It may be better to try a different type of medication or combination of medications, rather than increasing the dose.
This is what you can expect as a rough timeline:
1–3 months after starting estrogen:
• softening of skin
• decrease in muscle mass and increase in body fat
• redistribution of body fat to a more "feminine" pattern
• decrease in sex drive
• fewer instances of waking up with an erection or spontaneously
having an erection; some MTFs also find their erections are less
firm during sex, or can't get erect at all
Between 1 and 2 yrs:
• decreased ability to make sperm and ejaculatory fluid
• nipple and breast growth
• slower growth of facial and body hair
• slowed or stopped "male"-pattern balding • decrease in testicular size
You won't believe how soft your skin will get as the first sign........
Welcome,
Kelsie
