A few questions about spiro

[Jen♀]

I am weighing options currently available to me and trying to transition at a pace that works within my rather hectic life. To put it out there, my parents support me fully, and I do already have a therapist and transgender clinic that is run by a rather famous figurehead in transgender healthcare.
My questions are this: is there a point to taking spironolactone without estrogen? What effects, if any, would this have on my mental and physical state? Will it affect fertility in any way?

[Cindy]

It will make you sterile eventually, I think 6 months is the 'quote' but YMMV. It decreases 'male' libido and stops erections, it may change hair growth patterns to a more feminine distribution. Some people say it develops breasts but you get more effect on E when S has killed off T.

The effect of E may be quicker once T is killed, Oh and every endocrinologist has a different routine and I think they all work, it is just their preference.

I was on E alone and then went on S, same result.

[Ms Grace]

You're unlikely to get much if any breast growth, and other feminising factors, on Spiro alone. But your endo is the only one to know what's the best thing for you. Depending on your health they might not prescribe it for you at all.

[suzifrommd]

Total layperson here, but I'll toss in what few gems of wisdom I have.

* I've heard that it is dangerous long term to be without sex hormones. Spiro will kill your T without replacing E. My understanding that bone density could suffer.

* My doctor tells me Spiro encouraged breast growth. People do have growth on Spiro alone.

* I'll know more in about four months because my surgeon has forbidden me from taking estradiol in the weeks leading up to my surgery.

[lilacwoman]

Spiro definietly helps with body hair and I think with boob growth as after my surgery I stopped Spiro for a year or so but then the hairs started reappearing on my arms and chest so I started Spiro again and now I'm going smooth again.

[Jen♀]

It decreases 'male' libido and stops erections

The libido part sounds like good news... But, do you know if spiro will stop erections entirely? Will I still be able to become erect in intimate situations?

* I've heard that it is dangerous long term to be without sex hormones. Spiro will kill your T without replacing E. My understanding that bone density could suffer.

This is a great point. I never really thought of the result as "without any sex hormones"... It's definitely something I'll discuss with my endo.

The effects on body hair and possible slight breast growth (even if there's a huge emphasis on possible) are great though!! The infertility makes me nervous as that's still one of my biggest holdups in a full hrt transition...
Thanks for the responses

[Violet Bloom]

  In my case Spiro seems to have been heavily responsible for calming my nerves (which had been feeling like I was wound-up like crazy constantly without it).  I can't definitively pin any hair or physical changes on it.  My HRT started with eight weeks of Spiro only before they added Estrace.  It was only shortly after that I began to feel and see breast results.  I banked sperm before starting HRT so I'm much less concerned about becoming sterile now.  Spontaneous erections were dramatically reduced by Spiro for a while but have been common in the morning lately.  I believe my body has become accustomed to the dosage and is fighting back a bit.  There is an obvious trailing off of the dosing effect in the evening and this might explain why by morning the likelyhood of erections is higher.  I have no interest in using my penis erect for intimacy so I would personally rather it just quit annoying me.  When it's 'hibernating' during the daytime it makes keeping a tuck significantly easier and more comfortable.  My doctor said that if I cared to guarantee erections for sex then the simple answer was "Viagra".

[Just Ole Me]

On spiro only for 9 months I experienced:

MUCH lower libido
Skin cleared up and softened
Less and slower body hair
Also no spontaneous erection but still fully functional when needed
Breast buds and growth after 8 months
Penile shrinkage
Loss of muscle mass everywhere
A calmness like never before
Drank water like a fish
Pee'd 3x more often

Hope that helps. Since you are young, bank some sperm before you start this adventure.  You will be glad you did later as having a child with someone you love is one of the greatest experiences in life so dont miss out on that just because you have GID. I'm glad I didn't.

Kay