Feeling down at the lack of benefit from hormones

[Katrina]

I've been on estradial and spirolactone for 7 months now (5 months on the highest dosage my Endo will prescribe) and the only difference I've had is gaining weight and a lack of sex drive. No curves at all, no breast development, nothing on the nipples, no redistribution of fat on my face or body or anywhere.  I feel disappointed. I knew it wasn't a miracle drug and it's how you carry yourself that really let's you pass, but I thought at least there would be a smidge of breast growth. I read up on the people on these forums needing to wear a sports bra within weeks of starting just to keep them under wraps.  I haven't even felt the emotional changes like getting teary eyed. 

Just bad genes huh?

[suzifrommd]

How are your hormone levels when you have blood tests? My doctor mentioned that there are people who don't absorb oral estradiol well and need other ways to take them in.

Definitely time to talk to your Dr.

[FrancisAnn]

I agree. You need new blood level tests. After 5 months your body should have begun to improve. They do work & you should feel & look better soon I hope for you.

[CrissyMarie]

Uhh what? First off it doesn't require the highest dosage, in fact you should probably get to mid level dosage.  After a week you should feel calm and happy.  Like within a couple months nipples start tingling and swelling of the nipples, followed by breats growth.  I'm at an A cup and I'm at 6 months.  My face and skin have softened dramatically, as well as better defined in the face.  After about 3 months of E oral twice day and Spiro twice day, my doctor put me on E IM injections and still same spiro regimine.  Though my levels when tested was 905 estrogen level and 25 Testosterone level.  I feel my E is to high and need to come down a bit, as my feminizing seems to have come to a stop.  No breast, face, and body difference.  But I so far have had good results.  A little weight gain, hips, butt, A cup, decent facial, and soft skin.  I feel girlier, my mannerisms changed to female.  The voice naturally I have to keep working on.  It's decent and passable but I demand better lol.  It's probably because I sing beautifully and speak like ..meh..ok.

edit out dosages Tos 8.

[LizMarie]

I know one women who had almost no development til her third year. Then there's me - minimal progress until 16 months had past.

Natal females take years to grow into their mature selves. Give yourself some time.

[Ms Grace]

I wonder if we had been born natal female if we would have had the same individual development progress? Some cis girls are well underway by age 10, others have barely stared by age 14. No fun for either group.

[ImagineKate]

One of my many girl friends (platonic) didn't start to develop until she was like 17. She was flat as a board but really overweight. She never had her first period until then either. It was really really weird. But she did eventually, lost the weight and really blossomed.

[ImagineKate]

I wonder if we had been born natal female if we would have had the same individual development progress? Some cis girls are well underway by age 10, others have barely stared by age 14. No fun for either group.

Based on my cousins/mom I would have probably been big early on lol.

[jennifer356]

You should talk to your doctor about trying transdermal or injectable forms - Maybe your digestive system and liver are just breaking it down too well

be well
jennifer

[Rachel]

You really need to know your blood levels to know how to proceed.

  I am 15 months and seeing my PA Monday to switch to injections. I feel my transition has slowed. I have some breast development but I am impatient and want the best chance of improvement. I have been fortunate with pills and have had some great results, skin, hair and genital atrophy.

[Katie J]

I am roughly 8 months on HRT and haven't seen a whole lot of changes. I do have breast growth (though don't know what size I am yet, gonna get that figured out soon as they now are starting to show) and really soft skin. Definitely felt the emotional changes pretty quick though not to some of the extent that others had. I am going to look into switching to injections because I feel like my T levels could come down more but my E levels were where they needed to be last time I had my blood work done.