Nervous about process 6 months into HRT

[lilywolfsolomon]

I've been on estradiol for six months without consistent anti-androgen. I think I'm ready for this process to move faster. Some days I'm really happy with the results and other days it's not fast enough and I wonder if it will ever get there. I've been told I look fairly androgynous at this point and I was, very briefly, correctly gendered by an immigration officer, who then quickly apologized and misgendered me again. Breast growth is starting to be pretty good, subtle changes in body shape are happening, and the estrogen alone has been making my body hair much, much lighter all around so I'm much less dysphoric around that even when I'm not shaving.

But I'm wondering how much faster I can expect to move if I add the anti-androgen. Will I get two months worth of estradiol-only changes in one, for example? And... I guess at six months, I did expect to be further along (but I also expected to be full-on on HRT). What scares me is I don't know when I can expect things to.... slow down... like the day HRT says, "Well, I've done most of the work I can do for you, see you later." I have friends who say they continued changing even 2-3 years after beginning HRT and I guess I hope I'm still early enough in the process that what I'm seeing is not anywhere near the "end."

[helen2010]

When you take an anti androgen you should see an improvement both physically and emotionally.  The feminisation should accelerate but won't really kick in until you are on full dose hrt.  YMMV.  This is very true and depends on age, your body chemistry etc.  Change can be subtle, but it is progressive and you will be the last to see the changes.

In many ways your body is going through a second puberty.  It took a few years the first time around and may need a similar amount of time this time around as well.

Folk who only see you every month or so will be those who perceive the greatest change

Aisla

[KayXo]

HRT can be done on estrogen alone and is done this way by a few doctors and appears to be effective IF the estrogen dose is high enough for the person so that androgen is suppressed sufficiently while also not increasing health risks significantly. Usually though, an anti-androgen is used and often the estrogen dose is not enough on its own to suppress androgen effectively.

I think that, as long as you progress and change, it's a VERY good sign. I'm 10 years into HRT, about 8 yrs post-op and still see changes, some significant (like breasts, skin, hair growth, overall figure) but my hormones have also changed a lot as of late, in the last 2 years.