HRT Scripts

[Azahara]

So I guess I just wanted to share that I got my initial HRT prescriptions yesterday!  They are oral tablet forms of estradiol, spironolactone, and finasteride.  I'm 24 and plan to start as soon as my laboratory blood tests are completed and reviewed by my doctor later this week.

I'm very excited!  I wanted to see if other MtF trans-women have had experience with all three of these medications at the same time, and if so, what your initial experiences were?

I'm primarily interested in your opinion on finasteride.  When I saw my endocrinologist yesterday I wasn't expecting an initial script for it.  I had only seen estradiol and spironolactone officially recommended by The Endocrine Society and other international health organizations.

My doctor told me that it was another anti-androgen, and that his experience with his patients has shown more efficacy in lowering free & total serum testosterone levels.  After looking it up I see it's indicated as a male pattern baldness medication.  I have a patch of thinning hair on top of my head, so getting fuller hair would be super nice.


Since my family isn't too enthusiastic about this and my good friends live quite far away at the moment, I guess I just wanted to share with people who would understand. =)

[MelissaAnn]

On 1 October I started on my estrogen and Spyro, there has been no physical changes as of yet, but I really didn't expect any this soon anyway. But the emotional and comforting effect has been overwhelming. I feel at peace, probably because the testosterone is reduced flowing through my body. It really is nice not having all the sexual urges and I always did hate waking up with one of those nasty spontaneous erections. A month into it now, I don't experience that at all, which I'm grateful. Really don't know if the piece and calmness is in my subconscious or on a molecular level, physically, things are changing to line up more how I've always felt I hope this answers your question. Good luck on your journey. A big hug from me to you.

Hugs,

Melissa Ann

[KayXo]

My doctor told me that it was another anti-androgen, and that his experience with his patients has shown more efficacy in lowering free & total serum testosterone levels.

Finasteride actually doesn't reduce testosterone levels at all and it may actually raise them slightly because it just reduces conversion of testosterone (T) to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the more potent of the two androgens so that DHT is significantly suppressed while since less T is converted to DHT, there might be more T in the blood available. This can be verified with ample documentation and studies.

[Brenda E]

Finasteride is extremely useful when it comes to stopping male pattern baldness.  Side effects?  None.  Hair regrowth?  Lots after 8 months - thicker on top, some hair now in places that were almost completely bald.

Keep using it.  Almost all of the complaints about finasteride are from manly men who want lots of hair but don't want any feminizing side effects, and they're mad that they can't get rock hard boners.  Not a huge issue for me seeing as I don't even want a dick, let alone boners.  (Can I use those words?  Oh well, too late now I guess.)

You're far more restrained than many by not taking the meds until the doc gives you the go-ahead.  I had my pills in my mouth within a hour of walking out of the endo's office, regardless of his instructions for me to wait until the weekend...