MTF with estradiol only

[asheriko35]

Hi there
I am 36 years old
have fights with my wife on my transition every day
she agreed to allow me take the female hormones only -the estradiol
so I am taking it but without any tostesteron blocker
any thought?
is it worthless?

[suzifrommd]

Hi there
I am 36 years old
have fights with my wife on my transition every day
she agreed to allow me take the female hormones only -the estradiol
so I am taking it but without any tostesteron blocker
any thought?
is it worthless?

That's a question for your doctor.

In my understanding, E is a T suppressor for some woman. It wasn't for me. E didn't do much until I started taking Spiro.

Aren't you troubled by the fact that your wife is setting conditions on how you can treat your medical issues?

[JulieBlair]

OK - this is going to be hard.  Your wife married a man.  That is what she signed up for and probably what she expects, at least mine did.  If you are going to begin transitioning, you are not at the core male.  I don't know where on the gender spectrum you feel you fit, but I started out truly beliving that I lived in the bimodal valley between male and female.  I could no longer abide being male, but wasn't sure where I would eventually land.  Does that sound about right? 

Estradiol alone will begin the process of developing secondary female sex characteristics, but the presence of testosterone will interfere with it (oppose), and you probably will not see much of a reduction in body hair, or a decrease in muscle mass.  This is a conversation you need to have with your doctor and therapist. 

Can you imagine life alone?  Sadly it is the more common case.  Can you imagine living the rest of your life without authenticity?  I tried, and couldn't.  For me it was transition or dry up like a dying leaf.  I am a woman.  I know that to the bottom of my soul now, and although the cost is so very high to change, the cost of living another day in the shadows is intolerable to me.

Good luck on whatever you decide, and however it goes.  I wish you nothing but love.
Julie

[SandraB]

Can you imagine life alone?  Sadly it is the more common case.  Can you imagine living the rest of your life without authenticity?  I tried, and couldn't.  For me it was transition or dry up like a dying leaf.  I am a woman.  I know that to the bottom of my soul now, and although the cost is so very high to change, the cost of living another day in the shadows is intolerable to me.

Julie, all I can say is 'wow'. Your thoughts so much sum things up. Exactly the point that I had reached also!

[asheriko35]

thanks Julie
I like your name by the way.
I suffer (you know how much) but I dont have the courage to live alone. I'm afraid that i don't find someone else also.
I hope to find a middle way.
can you share with me at least the good thing happened to you once transitioning?

[Jessica Merriman]

can you share with me at least the good thing happened to you once transitioning?

Yes, the conflict that tears us all up goes away. No more nervous, irritable or angriness exists. No more thought's about should I or shouldn't I. You finally start to enjoy life and live the true you. It cost's a lot, but what I got in return was far more valuable, my true self not shackled anymore and free. I agree whole heartedly with Suzi, conditions hinder any transition you could achieve. Once most of us got on HRT there seems to be a rapid escalation of your transition feelings and goals. "E" alone will not do it for most. It is a lot like baking a cake, if you don't put the right ingredients an and cook as suggested it will turn out very badly.

[Randi]

In my opinion you will do just fine on estrogen alone.  I know others disagree, but my experience is that no anti-androgen is needed.

It will take some time using estrogen alone, but you will eventually get where you need to be.  Estrogen DOES shut down testosterone production eventually.  Progesterone isn't needed either.

Some folks want their transformation to take six months.  I think six years is a reasonable time.  I think your wife has offered you a very reasonable deal.  Take it!

Randi

[JulieBlair]

Name a good thing that has happened to me since transitioning? 

Shoot, I get to live. Two years ago I was dying inside, today I am growing.  I have lost friends and some family, my marriage is ending and that alone will cost me north of 300k. But I am real!  I am not afraid!  I have made wonderful new friends, and most of my old friends have embraced me.  My relationship with my daughter has transformed into friendship and even partnership with her kids.  I can look in the mirror and not be repulsed by what I see.  I am fitter, healthier, and actually happier than I can ever remember being.  The list is endless.  My life is still filled with challenges.  Shoot I still screw up eye liner, and what's up with spandex?  I'm still older than I would like to be with a whole new world to explore.

For the first time in sixty one years I am alive, alert, and full of promise!  If you wander into Seattle some day look me up for a walk up a mountain, a bike ride around town, or a night at the opera.  For every door that closes, something new becomes possible.  I look to the possibles now.

Love,
Julie

[Joan]

I'm on estradiol without anti androgens, one injection every two weeks.  Every other injection I also get progesterone.  I've had 7 injections so I'm just approaching my 4th month on HRT. 

My endo explained that estradiol will often inhibit testosterone production given time, and started me off without AAs to see how things go.  If my T levels don't drop then we will think about spiro or some such thing.

I've had a fair amount of breast growth (+10cm on when I started), some filling out of my hips and thighs, some hair regrowth, some loss of muscle mass, and a very noticeable downsizing 'down there'. I'm happy and surprised with my development.

From what I read it's not the same for everyone, and the endos often have to mess around with doses and combinations for something that suits each person.

I really hope you reach a workable accommodation with your wife so you can both be happy together.

[judithlynn]

Hi there Ash;
I agree with Joan and others. Oestrogen only will get you there depending on  how high your T Levels  are. Also the changes will be slower, but will develop over time. The good thing is that if your T levels are already low then something like Progynova - thats what I am on will suppress the T Levels. I was lucky when I started on HRT for the second time my T levels were at the very low end of cis males - just 5.15. After a year on E , they are now just over 1.1.

Changes will happen and will also give your wife time to readjust to your new look. Although I didn't manage to keep my wife  on my first transition, when I met up with her about 7 months into HRT, she commented how nice I looked, how my complexion and skin  had improved and how calm and graceful I had become. In fact she said she loved  how I looked and acted as it made me a better person - no longer so depressed. I just wished then we could have stayed together, but  we separated just 3 months after I told her I was  TS as she  said when she married me it was because I was an Alpha male.

All my luck
Hugs

[Jenna Marie]

I fully transitioned on only very very low dose estrogen only, and have had more than acceptable results. I had T within the female range in less than 3 months, and "passed" completely from six months on.

Good luck with your wife...