DHEA: Pros && Cons

[disturbedraccoon]

Anyone use DHEA in the past or currently? How did it effect it you? Did you have more positive or negative side effects?

I am currently using it until I can get approve for T (only recently came out). I'm starting with 50 mg x a day and go from there.

[AeroZeppelin92]

I do not recommend it. It's best not to mess with your hormones unregulated like that. I tried it a few years ago for a few months. You will never get masculinizing effects that testosterone will give you with DHEA. I saw zero benefit from it and I personally believe any masculinizing effects people claim to have had with DHEA are purely placebo.
The only effects I saw were mood swings and acne.

[Susan]

I apologize disturbedraccoon, the staff probably did not know that DHEA does not require a prescription in the United States. As a legal OTC (Over The Counter) supplement, it is not covered under TOS 8.

That being said, make sure you stick with whatever dosage is contained on the manufacturers label.

This is the best source of information on it.

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/331.html

DHEA can be processed by the body into T and Estrogen so you might be boosting the levels of the hormones you do not want. "DHEA is a hormone that can affect how estrogen works in the body. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, don't use DHEA."

My suggestion is to skip it totally.

[disturbedraccoon]

The mood swing thing worries me a bit. I have both BPD and bipolar type I (currently having a manic episode too!) So I don't need any of that mucked around with.

However, I think I will still give it a trial run and terminate if anything serious comes about.

[AeroZeppelin92]

I am diagnosed bipolar I. That being said, that only makes me further recommend not messing with it. If you are diagnosed bipolar, taking something like DHEA that could trigger a mood swing without consulting your doctor is foolish.  DHEA just isn't worth it, it's NOT going to give you any changes that you want. It's not testosterone.

[disturbedraccoon]

I understand the risks but when you hear those few "success" stories it just itches your curiosity, you know?

Are there any safer supplements to use that might help with passing?

[AeroZeppelin92]

I've yet to see any true "success" stories and believe me, I've done my fair share of DHEA research in the past.

The only thing I can recommend that WILL help  with passing without starting HRT is weightlifting. Building up your physique to create a V taper (wider at the shoulders than at the hips) gives you a much more masculine appearance. Weightlifting also naturally boosts testosterone levels, not enough to cause anything like voice changes, but more than your body may have produced before.

[disturbedraccoon]

I am cool with adding in more strength training. I have a gym membership and a badass free weights set so I'm good to go there.

Any truth to those "testerone pumping" diets?

[FTMax]

I'd strongly discourage it, especially if you have a mental health diagnosis. Have you spoken to any of your healthcare providers about your intention to use it? My guess is that you would not find much support there.

Before starting T, I did a lot of research into supplements and natural transitioning. Unless you're going to train like a competitive bodybuilder (to include diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes), you're not going to see many (if any) masculinizing effects.

Agree with Aero and Susan. Not worth it. There is really nothing outside of HRT that is going to get you the effects you're looking for.

[wheat thins are delicious]

Here's a few good links that will give you some insight as to why natural transition and boosters do not work.

http://helpfultransinfo.tumblr.com/tagged/nt
http://gendercube.tumblr.com/post/113919824107/so-ive-recently-heard-about-natural
http://gendercube.tumblr.com/tagged/natural+transition

Your best bet is going to be clean eating and a strict workout regimen. 

[disturbedraccoon]

I'd strongly discourage it, especially if you have a mental health diagnosis. Have you spoken to any of your healthcare providers about your intention to use it? My guess is that you would not find much support there.

Yes this was a spontaneous decision I made while severely manic. Ordered 3 bottles for around $15 off smile.amazon and got free Prime next day shipping. I had saw my shrink earlier that day and he wants to find out why I'm having seizures first before prescribing me T (which I guess is a good reason).