Started finasteride

[JS UK]

Hi girls,

I had my second appointment with my Dr last week and she prescribed me finasteride. I was so happy that I took my first dose as soon as I got out of the pharmacy 

Anyway, I've got a second appointment arranged with a psychiatrist in order to confirm the diagnosis. Following this appointment I'm expecting to be prescribed E.

The questions I have just now are:

1. How quickly will by body hair growth slow on the F? I really hate having to shave my body every couple of days.
2. Is there any other benefits I'll see relatively quickly?

I've decided that I'm going to fully transition and really want to get rid of the T induced feelings as quickly as possible.

Julie xx

[KayXo]

Finasteride won't do much except stop further scalp hair loss. It only reduces DHT. When estrogen will be added and perhaps an anti-androgen, T will be reduced and then you should see significant changes in body hair, within months to years but growth will slow down quite quickly. Breasts will grow, skin will soften, you will become more emotional, libido will decrease, facial features will soften, etc.

[Ms Grace]

What Kay said. Finasteride isn't a full anti androgen.

[JS UK]

Finasteride won't do much except stop further scalp hair loss. It only reduces DHT. When estrogen will be added and perhaps an anti-androgen, T will be reduced and then you should see significant changes in body hair, within months to years but growth will slow down quite quickly. Breasts will grow, skin will soften, you will become more emotional, libido will decrease, facial features will soften, etc.

Yeah, she said it was to help with that and also to help with facial hair removal. I was hoping some of these other benefits would materialise though. What anti-androgens will she likely prescribe?

J x

[Dani]

I was on Finasteride for several years for prostate reasons before I started seeing a therapist. Finasteride will block the conversion of Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone which is much more powerful androgen than Testosterone alone. Finasteride has many effects too numerous to list here, but the main therapeutic uses are prostate reduction in BPH and slowing hair loss in male pattern baldness. We take Finasteride to block the damage of Testosterone to our personal appearance. There are side effects. The most notorious is gynecomastia. This is what we want. About 1% of males who take Finasteride experience some degree of breast enlargement.  I am one of those people. That said, if you really want to transition, you need an anti-androgen like Spironolactone to block any other production of Testosterone. Please note that Testosterone is also produced in the Adrenal Glands as well as the Testes.

To answer your questions directly, you will see no rapid, dramatic changes right away. It will take a year or two of just Finasteride alone before you see thinning of body hair and restoration of scalp hair. You could be like me and the other 1% of Finasteride users who have developed a small amount of breast growth after a more than a year of daily use at the BPH doses, which is much higher than the doses for male pattern baldness.

If you are serious about transitioning, then consider laser hair removal and electrolysis. It takes a long time and I wish I had started earlier in my transition. Also, you do not need a therapist's recommendation to start body hair removal.

Best wishes and remember; Make a plan, work the plan and don't look back.

[JS UK]

I was on Finasteride for several years for prostate reasons before I started seeing a therapist. Finasteride will block the conversion of Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone which is much more powerful androgen than Testosterone alone. Finasteride has many effects too numerous to list here, but the main therapeutic uses are prostate reduction in BPH and slowing hair loss in male pattern baldness. We take Finasteride to block the damage of Testosterone to our personal appearance. There are side effects. The most notorious is gynecomastia. This is what we want. About 1% of males who take Finasteride experience some degree of breast enlargement.  I am one of those people. That said, if you really want to transition, you need an anti-androgen like Spironolactone to block any other production of Testosterone. Please note that Testosterone is also produced in the Adrenal Glands as well as the Testes.

To answer your questions directly, you will see no rapid, dramatic changes right away. It will take a year or two of just Finasteride alone before you see thinning of body hair and restoration of scalp hair. You could be like me and the other 1% of Finasteride users who have developed a small amount of breast growth after a more than a year of daily use at the BPH doses, which is much higher than the doses for male pattern baldness.

If you are serious about transitioning, then consider laser hair removal and electrolysis. It takes a long time and I wish I had started earlier in my transition. Also, you do not need a therapist's recommendation to start body hair removal.

Best wishes and remember; Make a plan, work the plan and don't look back.

Hi Dani,

Thanks for your long reply.

I've got an appointment in a couple of weeks for my psychiatric assessment. (UK system) Following this I expect to be prescribed full T blockers and E.

Thanks for your help.

Julie xx

[KayXo]

Yeah, she said it was to help with that and also to help with facial hair removal.

It won't. Even anti-androgens with E only slow growth.

What anti-androgens will she likely prescribe?

In the US, spironolactone is the one widely prescribed. Rarely, bicalutamide or gnrh agonists. Flutamide is not safe.
In Europe, Canada, Australia, NZ, South Africa, cyproterone acetate is also widely prescribed.
In UK, gnrh agonists like lupron or zoladex.