HRT timeline

Lost78 · May 31, 2015, 11:30:25 AM

I know a lot of people discuss the effects of HRT and chart their timeline for it but I was curious, how long do you have to take HRT? Is it for the rest of your life? Does it shorten your life expectancy? I see month after month, year after year of people on it, but I don't hear when they no longer need them or when they are off, outside of those stopping the transition altogether. But does stopping HRT ultimately end the transition process or is there no "end" to taking them?

Mariah · May 31, 2015, 11:45:24 AM

Life once one of a few things happens unless you want other issues. If you don't take and and these don't happen the previous hormones will come back just like before. The source of the hormones has to be removed or has to be put of commission. Either way to avoid issues with bones and other things your going to want hormones circulating through your body. As long as you take care of your body with a healthy diet and habits you should live any shorter of a life and I would think longer since not dealing with our issues often leads us down a road that causes us to die much sooner otherwise. Good luck and Hugs
Mariah

Jenna Marie · May 31, 2015, 01:25:12 PM

It is for life, since cis people continue having appropriate sex hormones (albeit in reducing quantities) for their entire lives; a cis woman who has a hysterectomy will be on HRT permanently, too.

With that said, transition level doses tend to be higher than maintenance doses if you choose to drop down to maintenance level after a reasonable period of "puberty," and post-op people can generally reduce their intake as well. Personally, I was and am on a level that would be appropriate for a menopausal cis woman, which is conveniently delivered via patch; I mind it less than the other meds I'm on, which I have to take daily.

Tiffanie · May 31, 2015, 01:49:43 PM

Yep ... Life.

You lower or possibly stop the T-blocker if you have an orchiectomy, but the estrogen is forever.

There are a lot of studies of the effects of hormones on the body. The consensus seems to be that there is likely not much effect on total life expectency as long as dosages are within a normal range and there are no preexisting issues that may be antagonized by hormones.

For me it extended my life - if I had not transitioned and started HRT I probably would have killed myself, but that is adding a factor to the issue that wasn't asked.

iKate · May 31, 2015, 03:09:52 PM

You will suffer osteoperosis if you have no sex hormones.

Pre-op, you take an antiandrogen and estrogen at a minimum (some add DHT blocker and progesterone). Post op you just take a maintenance dose of estrogen.

It's really no big deal. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes you're taking pills every day anyway. One or two pills a day is really no big deal for me. It becomes routine.

Rachel · May 31, 2015, 07:30:28 PM

You need a sex hormone for normal body function.

If on HRT and you stop testosterone will start to be produced.

If you have an orchi or gcs then you need E for life unless you decide to go back to T. Either way you will need to take an external source of a sex hormone.

Longevity I do not know.

Lost78 · May 31, 2015, 07:32:10 PM

Quote from: Cynthia Michelle on May 31, 2015, 07:30:28 PM
You need a sex hormone for normal body function.

If on HRT and you stop testosterone will start to be produced.

If you have an orchi or gcs then you need E for life unless you decide to go back to T. Either way you will need to take an external source of a sex hormone.

Longevity I do not know.

Sorry for my ignorance but I'm not familiar with all the terms yet... What's a orchi and a gcs? Thanks for the clarification.

Mariah · May 31, 2015, 07:36:51 PM

GRS is is gender reassignment surgery that removes and gives you the look and feel of the sex your transitioning too. Orchi is removal of the balls so the primary source of testosterone production is gone.
Mariah

Quote from: Lost78 on May 31, 2015, 07:32:10 PM
Sorry for my ignorance but I'm not familiar with all the terms yet... What's a orchi and a gcs? Thanks for the clarification.

Lost78 · May 31, 2015, 07:49:16 PM

Thanks for the clarification, couldn't one just get a vasectomy?

Mariah · May 31, 2015, 07:52:05 PM

I believe that has no affect on the hormones.
Mariah

Lost78 · May 31, 2015, 07:55:24 PM

Oh okay... So if I want to get off HRT after I obviously reach the desired appearance, I could have my testicals removed and then I wouldn't need to be on HRT anymore? Or would I still need to take them regardless???

Mariah · May 31, 2015, 07:57:49 PM

The only way to not be on HRT is to not start in the first place. If you have things removed or want to block a particular hormones then HRT is for life. Hugs
Mariah

mmmmm · May 31, 2015, 07:58:11 PM

Your body needs to have either estrogen or testosterone .

Jenna Marie · May 31, 2015, 08:06:07 PM

It's the testicles (primarily) that produce testosterone; a vasectomy leaves the testicles intact but cuts the tube that delivers sperm to the end of the penis, basically.

With no testicles, a trans woman still needs *some* sex hormones, and will have to take estrogen forever. Again, like a menopausal woman, except that the original gonads removed are different (testicles rather than ovaries). She probably will not need an anti-androgen as her body will not typically produce more androgens than the average cis woman, but that still leaves a need for estrogen. Not having any sex hormones runs all the usual risks of menopause, including bone weakening and increasing fragility.

News:

HRT timeline

Lost78

iKate

Lost78

Lost78

Lost78

mmmmm