Can you develope a tolerance to HRT?

[Angélique LaCava]

Idk why but I've been thinking of that n it's kind of scaring me since my doctor isn't checking my hormone levels till my 10 month mark.

[SofiN]

I wouldn't have thought so. Doesn't E work by binding to receptors? I can't really think of how you could get a tolerance to that.

10 months sounds a little long though, is there nothing you can do to shorten that? Maybe discuss with your doctor you are worried the levels aren't accurate and would like to see how you are doing.

[stephaniec]

I don't know , but you should be your own advocate and tell the doctor you'd like to get your levels cheched. there is  nothing wrong with asking for the test

[Laura_7]

There are very experienced endos and clinics who do not do tests often.

They check for vital signs, how people feel, and how feminization progresses.

Its not a process where you can simply measure levels and all people have the same results.

Basically what is measured with tests are free levels, available in the blood.
Levels of substances absorbed cannot be measured.

If you feel you have not sufficient feminization, or if you do not feel well you should tell them.

But as said its not solely dependent on numbers.

A tolerance should be very rare.

Do you still have feminization, boobies itching from time to time and having growth, delicate skin etc ?


hugs

[Jenna Marie]

Essentially, no, or there'd be millions of menopausal cis women by now who discovered this. (It's a sad fact that there aren't many studies done on trans people, but HRT is a treatment that has been administered to and extensively studied in cis women as well.)

However, 10 months seems a long time to wait to check on the safety and efficacy for someone new to HRT; I had some significant liver damage showing up by just the 3-month mark. You might want to push for a checkup sooner than that.

[Angélique LaCava]

There are very experienced endos and clinics who do not do tests often.

They check for vital signs, how people feel, and how feminization progresses.

Its not a process where you can simply measure levels and all people have the same results.

Basically what is measured with tests are free levels, available in the blood.
Levels of substances absorbed cannot be measured.

If you feel you have not sufficient feminization, or if you do not feel well you should tell them.

But as said its not solely dependent on numbers.

A tolerance should be very rare.

Do you still have feminization, boobies itching from time to time and having growth, delicate skin etc ?


hugs

my boobs are growing, but they don't really itch or hurt.... Atleast not anymore..... They stopped hurting after 3 months. I'm not on my 5.5 month and they r going into a B cup. I'm just worried that over time my body will develope a tolerance such as people create tolerances to pain pills ect ect.

[Laura_7]

my boobs are growing, but they don't really itch or hurt.... Atleast not anymore..... They stopped hurting after 3 months. I'm not on my 5.5 month and they r going into a B cup. I'm just worried that over time my body will develope a tolerance such as people create tolerances to pain pills ect ect.

This is different than pain pills.
For the body bioidentical hormones are a natural substance which is there lifelong to create certain effects.
In cis people its a natural presence.


hugs

[stephaniec]

I doubt it , I'd be up the creek if it did. Your body needs either T or E

[KayXo]

You are getting worried for things that haven't even happened...why? Live the present moment and as long as you feel good and see continued breast growth and feminization, enjoy, you are fine. On bio-identical estradiol, risks are negligible and 10 months seems reasonable to me. If you feel out of sorts or that something is not right, then let your doctor know and schedule for an earlier appointment. Otherwise, relax and enjoy.

[Rebecca]

Must admit the title did make my blood run cold when I thought "OMG if my body did that I'm dead".

Glad to hear no reports of resistance or tolerance developing as that would be very cruel indeed.

[April_TO]

There are countless women who are on E pills for longer period of time with no issues other than the occasional side effects that you get from it. You are just on your 5 month mark - try to enjoy your journey rather than worry about the size of your girls. Focusing on it too much will only drive you mad or save some $$$ to get BA if that will appease you.

[warlockmaker]

I was told by my therapist that we are not cis females and thus we will absorb all the E we need and pee out the excess, if you manage the HRT  levels with a professional. He is more concerned about my mental condition for the three years prior to srs. I did take blood test every six months but my E reading was all over the place from 150 to 700. Also the time of the day you take your test effects results.

[KayXo]

I was told by my therapist that we are not cis females and thus we will absorb all the E we need and pee out the excess

Where is the evidence for this? Claims need to be substantiated. E absorption is affected by a host of factors, notably route of administration and what the body does with the E, once in the blood, is a mystery to us at all so anyone claiming  that beyond a certain level, it will be unusable or be in excess should be, in my opinion, seriously questioned. Individual bodies vary and are very complex. Even your body changes in time. This kind of assertion is sometimes brought forth to discourage patients from asking more E or supplementing. Doctor tactics, I think. Like stating that too much E converts to T.

My 2 cents and all I'm saying is to question claims and find out the truth of the matter, as best as possible.