Physiological Effects of HRT

[LauraE]

Besides the usual effects of HRT, such as weight distribution and breast development, i've read a variety of posts on this forum that i can't confirm from offsite reading. I'm not sure if these are anecdotal or for certain. i'd appreciate your experience with the following.

1. Height loss. Do people really get shorter when on HRT?
2. Shoe size. Many have mentioned that their shoe size decreased when on HRT, often several sizes.
3. Are their any other physical "side effects"?

Thanks,

Laura

[Deborah]

It made most of my body hair disappear.  My face has changed quite a bit.  It also markedly lowered my aerobic capacity.  My height and foot size have stayed the same.

Some people here have reported height loss and foot shrinkage.  Many others have had no change.  So I'm not sure what's going on there.

[Michelle_P]

Yes.  Collagen synthesis is altered by the presence of estradiol.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18927264

That leads to changes in connective tissue, like tendons, which in turn may muck with shoe size and height.  It will also alter hip position slightly, with the hips rotating forward (ouch!)

The weight redistribution is from the different fatty tissue behaviors from testosterone and estrogen.  Testosterone tends to promote abdominal fatty tissue growth, while estrogen promotes at other locations.

There may be changes in body hair.  Beard hair doesn't seem to be affected once established.

Skin seems to thin and become a little translucent on estrogen compared to testosterone.  (And electrolysis seems to hurt more!)

Metabolism may change.  I personally seem to need about 200 kcal less a day to maintain my weight on estrogen and T-blockers than I did before, with the same activity and exercise patterns.

[LauraE]

Some people here have reported height loss and foot shrinkage.  Many others have had no change.  So I'm not sure what's going on there.

Which is why i asked. i'm not bothered by either of these possible effects, but given the lack of concrete evidence outside, i was wondering how common these were among the trans community.

Laura

[.Christy]

1. I got slightly shorter
2. Didn't measure my shoe size before starting, but I'm still a 6-6.5
3. Uncommon effects: My hip bones grew (I knew right away it wasn't fat distribution because my butt still hasn't filled out and i felt my pants get tighter gradually).