Any ladies on HORMONES or that have been on hormones for some time......

[mclova84]

...I have a question for you...

I had posted a topic a couple of weeks ago.  I JUST turned 23 years old a few days ago and I have finally been able to begin my medical transition from male to female.  I have always had knowledge that I was "different" and a female on the inside but didn't learn much about the transgendered community and how wonderful it is for ladies like us until the past couple of years.

So I understand that transgendered mtf women transition successfully at all ages yet I keep getting discouraged from all of my research saying that if you are much past the 17 - 21 year age range that HRT will not be 100% affective.

I have a few specific issues I was looking to get some information from you all out there who may have started HRT at my age or later and can give me some feedback.

I have a family history of Male pattern baldness...my mother's father began loosing his hair at 21 years old and of course out of all of the males in my family who gets that "lovely" trait?....ME!
Well I noticed it immediately (as any lady would) and began taking Propecia a little over a year ago. At that time I wasn't sure about my transition and had just begun my research so I felt that taking propecia would be the best bet...however, even on Propecia my hair has still thinned a bit and my hairline has receed a little bit...My friends and family say that they do not notice but of course I do and I have always had VERY thick, curly, full hair growing up so what may be "Thin" to me may not be the same to others however the area around my temples has gotten bad in my opinion...

So my question to you is seeing that I have been on Propecia a year, the fact that I just turned 23 and that I begin HRT next week...what do you think or predict my outcome will be???
Have any of you been in the same situation?   ALSO - I do not know if this is true but I have heard that taking Propecia even the small dosage is some what of a t-blocker? I dunno if this is true or if it will assist me in any way transitioning?


Please share your stories!!!

ALSO - how long after begining HRT did you notice less body hair?
          And how many weeks/months after beging HRT did you notice definite skin/facial changes?

THANK YOU KIND LADIES in advance so much for your help and stories!

[Keira]

Try dutasteride, you are very very sensible to DHT and it needs to be cut off as much as possible.

Your T will diminish, so T -> DHT ---> Anti-Androgen blocks receptor
                                  -> DHT ---> Receptor not occupied by anti-androgen


A Anti-Androgen will diminish, an anti-androgen will catch most of the DHT before it reaches the receptors but not all.

So, you need to diminish the conversion of T to DHT, propecia diminishes that about 70%, dutasteride diminishes much more (can't recall the exact number).

[Buffy]

I have been on HRT for 8 years now.

two years prior to SRS on both AA's and Estrogen.

I have no percievable body hair, this was diminished greatly by the AA's and the continuous waxing, it is a fine fuzz on my arms, and non-existent on my legs.

I never had a great deal of MBP, but HRT never gave any improvement in that area, so I had the surgical route of Scalp advance and more recently hair transplants to give a more feminine hairline. I never used Propecia or dutastride.

Not much to say about skin, except it is fab... make sure you drink plenty of water and moisturise daily.

Buffy

[katia]

yea, we cannot discuss specific dosages or treatments here.  we aren't doctors. if male pattern baldness is your problem, your physician needs to address it with drugs that best suit your chemical makeup.  i could tell you that "this" or "that" drug works, yet i wouldn't like you to have a heart attack or a brain hemorrhage.  i wouldn't like to get sued and something tells me that susan wouldn't like to either.

[mclova84]

thanks for the help so far ladies...any one else?

[Chynna]

The hair thing has to do with genetics. Much like the size or rather growth of your chest. For instance,  all the women in my family where top heavy smallest is a D-cup. Also women in my family are hairy so are the men while I wasn't quiet cursed in this area. My genes left me with to things a beautiful long head of pretty hair....and then some hair on my chest...EWWWWW... stubbl4e\or fuzz on double Ds is not a pretty sight or feeling...took some time for me to remedy that lil flaw!

In any case, if you wanna gauge or get some sort of idea at what to expect after a few months to a few years on HRT. Just look at the women in your blood line this well give you an indication on what the genes in your body will do once the HRT starts to take effect/
as for the hair loss thing...well baby girl theres always hair transplants, plugs, tracks, extensions, etc...stop worry about the trival and worry about starting the journey right and having a realistic expectation of what lies beyound.

[Fae]

I've heard that being on HRT will diminish male pattern baldness, and most likely will grow hair back, but like the others said you should talk to your doctor(s) about any possible outcome.  I'm also in my early 20s, but I was fortunate not to have MPB so I never had this problem. 

I've been on HRT for 4 months now (estrogen and anti-androgen), and my body hair has become very fine, veillus-type or is not present (except for underarm and genital), but I didn't have a lot of body hair to begin with.  It all depends on your genetics and what hormones your doctor(s) prescribe for you, and how your body reacts to them.

[seldom]

Try dutasteride, you are very very sensible to DHT and it needs to be cut off as much as possible.

Your T will diminish, so T -> DHT ---> Anti-Androgen blocks receptor
                                  -> DHT ---> Receptor not occupied by anti-androgen


A Anti-Androgen will diminish, an anti-androgen will catch most of the DHT before it reaches the receptors but not all.

So, you need to diminish the conversion of T to DHT, propecia diminishes that about 70%, dutasteride diminishes much more (can't recall the exact number).

Dutasteride blocks 90% of all DHT, and 56% of scalp DHT and both types of DHT.  (Dutasteride .5 mg drops it to 90% blocking of all DHT after 2 weeks). 

Finnestede blocks 70-80% of one type of DHT and 36% of the scalp DHT of that one type.  It also takes longer to get to that level. 

Only problem, both types of DHT can cause the hair loss.  So proprecia does not work for everybody.  At the same time Dutasteride does not work for everybody either. 

Anti-androgens block both T production and DHT receptors, but not necessarily the T to DHT production itself.  For me because of the fact I did lose so much hair going into HRT I have basically put a DHT blocker in the HRT mix.  Stoping all production of that terrible chemical was as key as blocking T, if not moreso because while I have low sensitivity to the effects of T and low T, I have excessive sensitivity to DHT.

I wish I could say I have been seeing results but the reality is that may take some time before anything happens and there has been a ton of damage done. 

Also the person writing.  Don't worry so much about the effectiveness of HRT.  Its a silly worry we all have.  You are going to be fine.

PS There is a 50% of all TS have full hair recovery from HRT.  The thing is the younger the age, the more likely the recovery because the more likely the micro-hairs (they look like peach fuzz) still exist.  I could go on, but  the average is probably higher than 50% for TS under 30, and may be higher under 40.  The age range background of the study was not detailed as it should have been. 

Sadly they have not done studies for those who use a DHT blocker as an additional anti-androgen.  I would not be surprised if it pushed up that 50% number significantly. 

[HelenW]

I take dutasteride (Avodart), spironolactione and estradiol.  I had significant hair loss before I started HRT.  A bit has come back but nothing close to what I would need to pass without a wig.

Since I'm over 50 I never expected a lot of regrowth.

hugs & smiles
Emelye