Questions about testosterone blockers and HRT

[SophieSakura]

Hi, I'm a cis woman partner of a trans woman so hope it's ok to post here.  I have a few questions in case my partner will want to try HRT in the future so we know what exactly would happen, etc. just so we know all the options.

Mainly, what are the effects of testosterone blockers?  I hear that some people feel better taking them, it can help with the person's mood, etc. but what other effects does it have to the body, etc.

And what effects would low dose HRT have?  I hear that some people take hormones occasionally for brief periods, just to help deal with dysphoria for a while.  If someone did this, would it be reversible, and would the effects be noticeable?

My partner isn't out publicly, and we would want to be able to have sex and have kids in the future (if possible) so those are concerns.  I want to be helpful and supportive of my partner.

Thanks for any help or info about this, as I find it hard to find the info online, thank you.

[Dena]

Hormone blocker are given to teens to delay puberty and reduce the transgender feelings they have so their are pretty safe and the effects are reversible should they desire to remain in their birth gender. In a adult they also reduce the transgender feeling, slow body hair growth, reduce sex drive, sometimes a small amount of feminization and sometimes prevent normal male functions.

Low dose estrogen will depend on how your body responds. Some people develop fast on low dose where as I was only a AA cup size after 5 years on a transition dose. There is no way to tell what estrogen will do in advance.

To have kids, most likely your husband would have to bank sperms or come off HRT long enough for normal function to return.

[Rachel]

Hi Sophie,

You are welcome to post here.

anti androgens will reduce T and if done sufficiently will reduce T to a level that E is needed in order for health and strong bones.

Store sperm at a sperm bank before HRT.

3 months and HRT is considered reversible. Cycling HRT is not advisable because it can have harmful effects.

Low T and E (low dose or not) can make visible effects in time. How long YMMV. Some people are on transition doses and do not have great effects. I know of one trans woman on HRT for 6 years with little effects.

Rachel

[Deborah]

HRT does reduce or eliminate the dysphoria pretty quickly.  The effects are also fully reversible for the first six months or so.  After that, some effects may not be fully reversible.  However, in my experience, if one is transsexual and stops HRT all the dysphoria comes back after a period of time.  In a way it's almost worse too because then you know for sure there is a cure that you could start again.  So unfortunately the effect of reduced dysphoria is reversible too.


Sapere Aude

[SophieSakura]

Thanks for all the info, it was very helpful, thank you so much.  My partner says that none of those are an option as he doesn't want to come out and wants to have more kids in the future and we can't afford to bank sperm.  Who knows, he may change his mind someday, but for now he's going to try to manage his dysphoria in other ways.  I hope he finds something to help.