Concerned about breasts...

[Mermaid]

So I started taking estrogen about 3 months ago, a fairly low dosage that I recently increased... all's fine and good but my breasts are growing really fast... and really weird... they stick out and look perky, almost in a conical shape... only the tip with the nipple is kind of round... is this type of growth normal?

I'm really worried and growing to hate what my chest looks like, and the rate at which it's growing... considering lowering my dosage, even... and I was obsessed with getting on HRT for 4 years, so you can see how badly I must be hating this development if I'm considering taking a step back with it...

It's just weird, like they're not really round, it's just these perky things sticking out... is this normal? Will I end up with "tube" boobs? For the most part they're not noticeable while wearing a shirt, but still making me self-conscious... Help =/

[Mariah]

First off consulting our doctor is the best with this concern, but do know they grow in spurts. I wouldn't stop or change anything in regards to your HRT without talking to them first. Also it may be growing rapidly now and then slow down before growing some more. So it's very possible to have times where feels like they are really growing. Sounds like your body is really responsive though. Good luck and hugs
Mariah

[KimSails]

Hi Mermaid,

First, conical and perky at the start seems consistent with what I had.  It sounds good, not unusual at all.

Second, you can't talk dosage here, but what meds are you on?  I asked about progesterone when I started HRT about 9 months ago.  My endo wouldn't prescribe it at the start (I will be asking him again when I see him this week)  He said there had been cases of unusual breast development with too much progesterone to soon.  I don't know whether that's true or not, but I don't have any reason to doubt him.  He's been treating transgender people for a long time.

But again, what you are describing sounds good, not bad! Talk with your doctor!

Kim

[Mermaid]

Ok... thanks so much for your nice words =)

I'm on Estrofem and Ciprotherone. Honestly, he wanted to keep me at a very low dosage of Estrofem, I'm not going to talk numbers but... the smallest you can take without having to split pills, lol. He wanted to keep me like that. My testosterone is very, very low, estradiol is slightly higher than that of a natal male, but not by much... I don't know the units but, male range is >68, I had something like 76...

From what I've heard of transpeople, the dosage I was taking was not even a "transition" dosage. I've seen blogs of people documenting their "low-dose experience", and the dosage they were taking was the dosage I was being prescribed for a full transition... annoying. Honestly, transphobia is a thing here. I needed two diagnosis' of GID before I had a prescription for HRT, it took almost 3 years of talking to doctors, my process was stalled several times by people who didn't really want to do their job, and the consensus amongst transpeople here is that health-care isn't the best for us. Even doctors agree, some criticize each other and accuse them of transphobia...
Also, I'm 24, liver is great, blood is great, no cholesterol, perfectly healthy... so, I doubled the dosage. I know for a fact that there's people taking a higher dosage than me, double even for some of them... but I never want to go that high. I know what I'm doing, would never do something stupid and jeopardize my health out of being a hurry for feminization... but, I also won't leave my transition in the hands of people I don't entirely trust, and who've given me plenty of reasons to be wary... (I can't change doctors, either. The place I'm at is free, and there's not that many options available... only two public hospitals with a sexology department in my country, and one of them has a nasty reputation... I either go private or I remain where I am)

I'm not exactly self-medicating either. I get blood samples taken every 3-4 months, so everything's under control. I hope I don't come off as someone who's advising others to decide on what dosage is best for them... just explaining the sad reality of my peripheral country, and clearing up my situation. I haven't gone into this without research, I've spent years reading about people's HRT regimens... if a 60-year-old chain-smoker in the US is being prescribed a dosage higher than a healthy 24-year-old in a country where being trans is hardly ever talked about and where horror stories from transpeople commonly circulate... I can only assume transphobia and feel distrust towards my endocrinologist. Who else is on anti-androgens for 10 months, asking for estrogen at every appointment and having it denied everytime? TEN months, it's almost a full year of stalling my transition with "your T is going down so that's good" excuses...

So yeah... sorry about the short rant...

[Mariah]

Please be careful and consult a doctor. Self medicating can cause more harm than you can realize. Even though your getting your levels checked a lot more is taken into account when on HRT or any other medication for that matter.
Mariah

Ok... thanks so much for your nice words =)

I'm on Estrofem and Ciprotherone. Honestly, he wanted to keep me at a very low dosage of Estrofem, I'm not going to talk numbers but... the smallest you can take without having to split pills, lol. He wanted to keep me like that. My testosterone is very, very low, estradiol is slightly higher than that of a natal male, but not by much... I don't know the units but, male range is >68, I had something like 76...

From what I've heard of transpeople, the dosage I was taking was not even a "transition" dosage. I've seen blogs of people documenting their "low-dose experience", and the dosage they were taking was the dosage I was being prescribed for a full transition... annoying. Honestly, transphobia is a thing here. I needed two diagnosis' of GID before I had a prescription for HRT, it took almost 3 years of talking to doctors, my process was stalled several times by people who didn't really want to do their job, and the consensus amongst transpeople here is that health-care isn't the best for us. Even doctors agree, some criticize each other and accuse them of transphobia...
Also, I'm 24, liver is great, blood is great, no cholesterol, perfectly healthy... so, I doubled the dosage. I know for a fact that there's people taking a higher dosage than me, double even for some of them... but I never want to go that high. I know what I'm doing, would never do something stupid and jeopardize my health out of being a hurry for feminization... but, I also won't leave my transition in the hands of people I don't entirely trust, and who've given me plenty of reasons to be wary... (I can't change doctors, either. The place I'm at is free, and there's not that many options available... only two public hospitals with a sexology department in my country, and one of them has a nasty reputation... I either go private or I remain where I am)

I'm not exactly self-medicating either. I get blood samples taken every 3-4 months, so everything's under control. I hope I don't come off as someone who's advising others to decide on what dosage is best for them... just explaining the sad reality of my peripheral country, and clearing up my situation. I haven't gone into this without research, I've spent years reading about people's HRT regimens... if a 60-year-old chain-smoker in the US is being prescribed a dosage higher than a healthy 24-year-old in a country where being trans is hardly ever talked about and where horror stories from transpeople commonly circulate... I can only assume transphobia and feel distrust towards my endocrinologist. Who else is on anti-androgens for 10 months, asking for estrogen at every appointment and having it denied everytime? TEN months, it's almost a full year of stalling my transition with "your T is going down so that's good" excuses...

So yeah... sorry about the short rant...

[Jayne]

I wouldn't panic too much at this stage, the shape of my breasts have changed with every growth spurt, its natural whilst developing.
As others have posted, any concerns should be raised with your doctor

[Rachel]

Conical breast growth when starting HRT is normal. They should fill out in time.

You may want to go private for your HRT med review and dosage recommendations. I do not know if that will interfere with your state supplied medical coverage.

[Laura_7]

There are two different forms of progesterone, bioidentical progesterone and synthetic progestins.
The side effects are different.
Here was a discussion:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,188294.msg1676338.html#msg1676338

If you want to go the natural route you could look up breast masage... its originally for cis girls who grow their breasts... with a good oil (I'd go with plant sources, not mineral, and for massage purposes), a few minutes twice a day... its said to help with estrogen receptors and blood flow.


hugs