Hrt and expectations

[meow8]

I've been on HRT for 1 month and two weeks now, and I'm wondering what I can expect from HRT. I know YMMV, but so far, I have had enormous bulging veins on my arms and I haven't seen any change in my skin at all, its the same as before HRT.

Im wondering if the skin will change over time (right now, its uneven, with large pores, and if the veins will become less visible over time. I've read that some people see some change in the first month, as for me, I haven't noticed a thing in the past six weeks.

[katrinaw]

Heya

It varies very much from person to person as well as age and your own body make up. There are no rules on what and how soon changes occur, but they will and yes skin becomes smoother/soften a little more translucent, then there's breast budding, hair gets lighter and down, body hair thins and can disappear totally.

Congrats and enjoy the journey

Katy xx

[Mariah]

Katy hit those on the nose. The fact is it's different for everyone. When what we see is affected by many things including dosage and genetics. One month isn't much time at all so your getting started. I'm getting close to a year in and I'm still seeing changes. At least when drawing blood, they noticed the difference pretty quickly. They have a hard time drawing from arm now without doing a ton of searching. Enjoy the ride. Hugs
Mariah

[Rachel]

Blood draws are very difficult now.

When your T is suppressed then E can do its work. After 1 year on full dose with T suppressed then you will have a good idea. Changes occur slow and better the closer to puberty. Changes are going to still be happening at year 5 but slower.

[Jean24]

I've been on HRT for 1 month and two weeks now, and I'm wondering what I can expect from HRT. I know YMMV, but so far, I have had enormous bulging veins on my arms and I haven't seen any change in my skin at all, its the same as before HRT.

Im wondering if the skin will change over time (right now, its uneven, with large pores, and if the veins will become less visible over time. I've read that some people see some change in the first month, as for me, I haven't noticed a thing in the past six weeks.

From one-2 months I got sensitive nipples. It's now been 7 months and I've seen little change besides that.

[KristinaM]

I'd suggest getting a tape measure and start measuring your body every month.  Day-to-day the changes are so subtle you probably won't notice it much, but the tape measure doesn't lie.

I'm just over 2 months on hormones and I've dropped 2 inches in my bra's band size without losing chest size, so the girls are getting bigger b/c everything else is shrinking around them!  LOL.  My nipples are very sensitive, pink and puffy when not erect, and always in the way!  I've also gained over an inch in my hips and lost about a half inch in my waist or more.

So my point is, the changes are small, but measureable, and when it seems like nothing's going on you can feel confident that changes are happening.

[kittenpower]

The changes are gradual and happen over time (years); beware of the estrogen goggles that make you see things that aren't there in the beginning, and you start thinking that everyone sees you as a woman in a couple of months, which in reality is usually not the case unless you already looked quite feminine before you started HRT.

[meow8]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I'm 27 now, and while i complained about my skin, lots of things has happened on the last weeks. Morning erections were gone immediately, also I'm fairly certain I am infertile now. Nipples started to get sensitive 3 weeks in, but not painful. Nipples started to get puffy and stand out more at 4 weeks in. Right now both nipples has little small lumps behind them.

Also I'm fairly certain I wont drop in bra band size, since my upper body holds no fat or muscle whatsoever, i can clearly see my ribs in the mirror. 

[KristinaM]

I didn't think I had any muscle or fat either, but while that may have contributed to it, a cis-female friend of mine told me that potentially part of the reason for a smaller band size now is because the ribcage tapers down the further up your body you go, and it was likely that the decrease was due to my breasts becoming perkier and "moving up" on my body slightly as a result of their development. 

It sounds like things are going pretty well for you so far, congrats!

[meow8]

I didn't think I had any muscle or fat either, but while that may have contributed to it, a cis-female friend of mine told me that potentially part of the reason for a smaller band size now is because the ribcage tapers down the further up your body you go, and it was likely that the decrease was due to my breasts becoming perkier and "moving up" on my body slightly as a result of their development. 

It sounds like things are going pretty well for you so far, congrats!

Guess I'll wait and see then. Yeah a lot more happened than I had anticipated in the first month. I had a really itchy nipple a few days ago and today they felt more sore than usual (only when touched though). So hopefully breast development will start soon.

[kittenpower]

Yes, breast changes start occurring within the first couple of months, however, may take years to become fully developed, along with other secondary female sex characteristics, and it is really dependent on your genes, height, age, and how masculine your body and face is when you begin HRT.  And it is important to mention that your bones will not change, but your shoe size might get smaller, If you start with thick wide feet, and lose muscle and fat, then yes your feet will lose size with weight loss and muscle atrophy.

[meow8]

Sorry for not replying the last few days. Im 27, around 1,74 m in height and 67kg in weight. Not too bad I suppose.

I don't really have a masculine face luckily, bad skin and some deep wrinkes are the things that bother me the most about it.

[KristinaM]

I have a terribly wrinkly forehead and gigantic crows feet around my eyes!  But, HRT has reduced the size of my pores, reduced the oiliness of my skin, and I can see some slight changes in facial fat distribution starting.  That combined with longer hair and looking at pictures of me from a couple months ago, the changes are slight, and people who see me on a day-to-day basis wouldn't notice, but I've had compliments from people who haven't see me since starting on HRT about how great my complexion looks!    Now if only the dang wrinkles will start shrinking! 

[awilliams1701]

All I got in month 1 was sterilization and massive drop in sex drive. Month 2 my breasts felt like they were on fire. Months 3 and 4 my body was trying to figure out how to switch so I was very giddy! Also my sex drive came back. Month 5 I started feeling normal (as in normal for the first time in my life) Month 7
I felt maternal instincts. I've been struggling with the death of my daughter from 14 years ago. She died in the first trimester and I only saw her in the only ultrasound we got of her. I have thought about her off and on in the past 14 years, but not like this. Holy crap!

[meow8]

I have a terribly wrinkly forehead and gigantic crows feet around my eyes!  But, HRT has reduced the size of my pores, reduced the oiliness of my skin, and I can see some slight changes in facial fat distribution starting.  That combined with longer hair and looking at pictures of me from a couple months ago, the changes are slight, and people who see me on a day-to-day basis wouldn't notice, but I've had compliments from people who haven't see me since starting on HRT about how great my complexion looks!    Now if only the dang wrinkles will start shrinking! 

Yeah i'm waiting on that too. Ive read that for a lot of people, the skin improves in the first few months but my skin hasn't changed a bit since before hrt

[brianna1016]

1 month!? That isn't very long. Your body will be fighting with itself for a while before the good stuff starts happening. The first year is awkward. After that you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[KristinaM]

Yeah the changes don't really start until you've completely suppressed your T levels. Otherwise they're still at least slightly controlling things inside you.