Quote from: Jayne on April 30, 2014, 10:23:16 AM
My Endo advised me that starting on a low dose for a few months means your transition mimics a natural puberty more closely thus giving better results in the long term. When a girl starts puberty her body doesn't instantly produce the higher levels of E that a fully developed woman has.
True that it's always best to start at the lowest effective dose for YOU and that dose may not be the same for all. Different individuals have varying sensitivities. That's something important to consider. Also, that low dose must be, at the minimum, enough to stave off PMS symptoms caused by too low sex hormones. One must remember that if our androgens are suppressed, estrogen must replace it and there is a minimum required to keep problems at bay and that may also differ from one person to another. Once that minimum is found and once the minimum most effective dose that gives some feminization is found, then yes, I agree, that should be where one stays for as long as things are working out well. I'm not a doctor. This is just my opinion.
Quote from: Jayne on April 30, 2014, 10:23:16 AMHere in the UK they do my blood tests every couple of months then they slightly alter my dosages depending on the results
This is where I disagree because what can a blood test for estradiol (or even testosterone) tell you that you don't already know. If you feel good, are seeing positive results in terms of feminization, what's the use? The effective level for one may not be the effective level for another. Individuals vary so much. Measuring estrogen levels also doesn't take account SHBG, the free estradiol levels, that they may fluctuate greatly so that testing once only gives levels at a certain point in time whereas they may be much greater or lower at another point in time, especially when it comes to sublingual or injections. You will also pretty much know when your testosterone levels are low, you will feel it, your sex drive, your skin oiliness, your strength, the thickness of your skin, body hair growth, etc. Some anti-androgens also block testosterone which is not taken into account by the test. There are so many variables and a blood test is far from accurate in determining if you are at an effective dose or not.
And let's say you are not doing well, are not feminizing adequately whilst your levels are good according to doctor, which by way doctors don't even agree on which levels are best (some don't even care so it's quite arbitrary), then what? Accept your fate?
I'm not saying you should go against your doctor. On the contrary, you should do as they say. But, it would also be worthwhile to bring these valid (I think) points to him/her and see what they say. To openly discuss with them. To better understand the rationale behind why they do what they do. I think it's healthy and not rude to question professionals...professionals should encourage this, I think. It shows they are open, willing to learn, are humble and work in the interest of the patient and science first before pride and ego.
