Breast size distribution and upper limits to HRT

[RobynD]

So HRT has been very good for me and i am happy with it, but i'm also wondering how large i could get. I just measured myself as a 38D this week after about 20 months on spiro, 16 months on estrogen, and about 6 months on progesterone.  Is there any data on all of this out there? I'm sort of freaking out in a small way as to how big they could get. I really feel sort of silly for even asking this.

Women in my family are busty, 38D, 40DD, 40E etc. I know the one cup size smaller than them thing, but i don't have a lot of trans women friends to draw experiences from outside this site. Have you all seen HRT alone get women to the very large upper sizes? I see some data from one survey on wikipedia by a bra company on all women's cup sizes.

When i told my doc it would be ok if everything sort of stopped in that area, and i like the results as is, and she predictably laughed and said..." We don't get to choose that dear" and the welcome to womanhood thing.

Just curious if anyone has experienced themselves very large cup sizes or on anyone they know.

[Deborah]

How are you measuring that cup size?    Mine are anywhere from B to F depending on which measurement method I use.

I kind of feel like my changes all stopped within 12 months.  Any changes after that seem to be mostly due to weight change.  I may be be wrong though as determining this is hard because my weight has been continually decreasing or increasing by around a pound a week since I started 20 months ago.


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[kaitylynn]

Went from an A that was the remnant of an earlier transition period to a solid B between month 6 and 8.  My partner measured me this morning at month 11 and we found that I am a 38C now.  I still fit comfortable in my 38B bras, but starting to wonder for how long.  Heather has been telling me for a few weeks that things were bigger than I am perceiving in the mirror.  Seeing the measurements was a 'whoa' moment.

I was pretty sure that I would hit a B and that would be that...NOPE.  My endo told me to expect a B and then asked about family history...explaining the oft told correlation between MTF trans and familiar development.  The issue I have is that I am adopted...have no idea what my family development average is.  Just figured they would be whatever they ended up being, but did not honestly foresee exceeding a B cup.  I guess we get what we get, and in my case desire.

For many years, I took the old view that we would not likely get development beyond a B with most being a strong A.  This seemed to be a consensus, but lately that has simply not been what I am witnessing.  Too many MTF HT acquaintances are exceeding B and attaining C cup breasts, myself included.  Not sure what part of HT is allowing our bodies to do this, but C's are starting to look like a normal result.

[Ashley3]

...  I'm sort of freaking out in a small way as to how big they could get. I really feel sort of silly for even asking this. ... When i told my doc it would be ok if everything sort of stopped in that area, and i like the results as is, and she predictably laughed and said..." We don't get to choose that dear" and the welcome to womanhood thing.

When I read "freaking out" I was wondering if that meant "seriously concerned as in worried" or "liking the changes but also seriously trying to adjust to the new surreal reality." I sort of think it might be sort of the second possibility with maybe a tinge of perhaps anxiety.

I'm sort of in the middle of B/C... for me that's a significant change but I'm open to more... there are no worries about breast growth but last year that was briefly not the case in a complete sense... I wouldn't say "worry" but slight thoughtfulness/anxiety. A year ago I started HRT and when changes really started to take off I began to really notice breast growth. I really liked it but had a tinge of anxiety/worry... this was at a time when many significant transition experiences had yet to occur.

Well, when I stopped for a sec and thought about it... it was clear that my concern was really about my worry about what others would think. I'd always wanted something there which remembering helped me clearly see my concern about what others might think. Repression's a weird powerful thing... one can actually have worry and not truly understand the pointlessness of it in terms of one's own happiness. Uncanny. Anyway, it was a period of adjustment but a fairly quick one...

It doesn't sound like you're too worried or anything but if you have anxiety you might just ask yourself if you like the changes, and if you want more... if the answer is yes, then I say enjoy the process without worry.

I mean, if you have other concerns I hope you'll share them... I guess, generally speaking, I can only imagine worry because of concern for what others think or one not wanting the changes ... or a mixture. I sense you like the changes so that leaves worry over what others might think... or so I think. 

Anyway, in my case, knowing I wanted the changes helped me dethrone the power of my concern about (judgment of) what others might think (what I judge others to think).

[RobynD]

How are you measuring that cup size?

Thanks Debrah - There are indeed different ways to measure for sure. I am the measurement of band size compared to measurement over bust - there is a 4-5 in difference. I also fluctuate in weight.

Too many MTF HT acquaintances are exceeding B and attaining C cup breasts, myself included.  Not sure what part of HT is allowing our bodies to do this, but C's are starting to look like a normal result.

Really interesting thanks!. I would love to see any science on this and i wonder for instance if more environmental factors such as hormones in the environment are making us more responsive to estrogen.

When I read "freaking out" I was wondering if that meant "seriously concerned as in worried" or "liking the changes but also seriously trying to adjust to the new surreal reality.

Well, when I stopped for a sec and thought about it... it was clear that my concern was really about my worry about what others would think. I'd always wanted something there which remembering helped me clearly see my concern about what others might think. Repression's a weird powerful thing... one can actually have worry and not truly understand the pointlessness of it in terms of one's own happiness. Uncanny. Anyway, it was a period of adjustment but a fairly quick one...

It doesn't sound like you're too worried or anything but if you have anxiety you might just ask yourself if you like the changes, and if you want more... if the answer is yes, then I say enjoy the process without worry.

I mean, if you have other concerns I hope you'll share them... I guess, generally speaking, I can only imagine worry because of concern for what others think or one not wanting the changes ... or a mixture. I sense you like the changes so that leaves worry over what others might think... or so I think. 

Anyway, in my case, knowing I wanted the changes helped me dethrone the power of my concern about (judgment of) what others might think (what I judge others to think).

You are exactly right i do like my changes and i am very thankful for them and I'm just adjusting. Other than doing lots of bra changing and having to buy new ones it has been fine. I'm just having dreams about body changes, but that is nothing new. I just wondered if the collective knowledge here new how large it is possible to get? Has anyone met anyone that has gone to a EE for instance.

It's freaky but freaky good

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my rambling

[Dayta]

I only started my HRT two weeks ago, and I think I've picked up about a cup size, noticeable even before the end of the first full week.  Now, I'm not starting as a small person, I'm about 6 feet even, and about 265 pounds, more or less.  So I wonder how much of this has to do with how much fat I carry already.  It does scare me a little, as I was kind of expecting to ease into this over the next year or so.  I'm also curious about upper limits in other people's experiences. 

L

[Ashley3]

... There are indeed different ways to measure for sure. I am the measurement of band size compared to measurement over bust - there is a 4-5 in difference. I also fluctuate in weight. ...

I don't know stats here but 4" to 5" difference is quite significant for being a little over a year on HRT, congrats! I'm about 2.5" difference which is significant for me... and 4" to 5" is double that.

... I would love to see any science on this and i wonder for instance if more environmental factors such as hormones in the environment are making us more responsive to estrogen. ...

Most all I've read regarding HRT seems to give the distinct impression that most MTFs should prepare not to expect much breast growth from HRT alone. Perhaps that's just a way of preparing a patient's expectations by conservatively leaning on the minimal potential side of this, or perhaps meds and methods have gotten better (or more powerful). I don't know... but I'm really impressed and happy with the results.

You are exactly right i do like my changes and i am very thankful for them and I'm just adjusting. ... It's freaky but freaky good ... Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my rambling

I figured so... you sounded happy with the progress... oh, you rambling? Not even... I think I have the highest word count in this thread so far... and that was after editing out stuff...  ... so forgive me.

[Veronica J]

the biggest factor would be genetics. this was true back then and now.

the second biggest factor would be the HRT itself, we know more now and the HRT is far more effective.

genetics are soo important, each and every physical trait is made up of a min of 2 pairs (4 sets of genes), a great amount of redundancy and to ensure normal bodily functions/trait encoded in the genetic sequences. each and every human being produces both Testosterone and estrogen, varying levels for each gender and for each and every human. i will avoid going over what each effect has on both male and female..

now since your X chromosome comes from your mom, take a look into your mothers history, and her parents, her parents parents and take note of the average bust size (go back as far as you can). take into account the introduction of the pill has had an effect of increasing the average bust size since its introduction, there are studies still going thru this. average it all out (the sizes) and go down a cup size, this is the potential size you can obtain from HRT.

eitherway it doesnt really matter as BA is an option these days.

[Deborah]

After 20 months on HRT my difference is 6.25",  37" x 43.25" @ 181 lbs, 5'11".

I'm happy with it so far.  The only thing I wish HRT would do that it hasn't so far is drastically shrink my waist.
At the start of HRT I weighed about 25 lbs more.  My bust was the same side as now but my rib cage was 5 inches larger so then the difference was 1".

I guess this would be an F cup but it really doesn't look like it.  It's more like a small B.  I'm not even sure anybody even notices if my shirt is loose. 


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[RobynD]

My waist is down about 2 inches in total, part of that has been weight loss and replacement of it elsewhere. What i do notice is that my apparent waist is smaller because of the increase in bust size and the same in the hips/butt.

[RobynD]

For many years, I took the old view that we would not likely get development beyond a B with most being a strong A.  This seemed to be a consensus, but lately that has simply not been what I am witnessing.  Too many MTF HT acquaintances are exceeding B and attaining C cup breasts, myself included.  Not sure what part of HT is allowing our bodies to do this, but C's are starting to look like a normal result.

Another thing i read not too long ago (i'd grab a link but I'm rushed at the moment) is that estrogen from birth control is making its way through the drinking water treatment system (as is caffeine interesting enough). I wonder if it is effecting people.

[Veronica J]

Another thing i read not too long ago (i'd grab a link but I'm rushed at the moment) is that estrogen from birth control is making its way through the drinking water treatment system (as is caffeine interesting enough). I wonder if it is effecting people.

the only big effect would be the liver physically.. mentally maybe slightly more emotional states..

[kanad3]

I see some of you are using an inaccurate way of meassuring breasts, here is one that is accurate: http://www.brasizecalculator.tk/


There's not really any limit to breast size simply because you're trans. Is all individual and depends on genetics so just gotta wait til you're at the 4-5 year mark and see how you personally turned out.

[Deborah]

That calculator just doesn't work for me.  Using it it am either a 36 DDD or a 38 DD.  I cannot begin to fill either one.  A 36 B actually fits. 

Maybe my torso is just strangely shaped.  What I think is happening though is that there is still quite a bit of muscle there.  It seems to me that the muscle alone is adding at least a couple of inches by itself.  Maybe at 4 or 5 years that will not be the case anymore.


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[RobynD]

I'd forgotten about that calculator thanks. That one says I'm 38D/DD - and that sister sizes 40C/D and 36DD/E might work. Lot's of options i guess. Most of my bras are 38C and they are too tight. I did buy some new ones this weekend in the 38D size. I tried on some 40Cs as well but did not end up getting any. Next time i will try a 36E just for kicks.

Deborah - i could see how muscles might do that. I had a friend once, a woman body builder and i remember her saying bras were not an easy thing to shop for.

[JessicaSondelli]

That calculator just doesn't work for me.  Using it it am either a 36 DDD or a 38 DD.  I cannot begin to fill either one.  A 36 B actually fits. 

Maybe my torso is just strangely shaped.  What I think is happening though is that there is still quite a bit of muscle there.  It seems to me that the muscle alone is adding at least a couple of inches by itself.  Maybe at 4 or 5 years that will not be the case anymore.


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I seem to have the same dilemma. Are you girls measure it naked or while wearing a bra? Naked I'm 36" band size and ~40" bust size but I'm still wearing 36A bras and they don't seem too small. I'm totally confused...


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[Deborah]

I measure naked and standing up.  That's about 37" and 43".


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[Paige]

I see some of you are using an inaccurate way of meassuring breasts, here is one that is accurate: http://www.brasizecalculator.tk/

Wow I'm a 36D   I've been on low dose for 4 months, I have some progress but this is a bit unbelievable.   I think what throws these calculators off for us is if we still have a lot of pectoral and latissimus dorsi muscle. 

I have a nice 36B lace underwire bra that fits but has room to grow.

Paige

[kaitylynn]

I see some of you are using an inaccurate way of meassuring breasts, here is one that is accurate: http://www.brasizecalculator.tk

Hmmm, well...as I was measured by a professional, I would say that my measurement is not that inaccurate.  What does not work for me is that calculator.  It is a great boost to my mental state, but I am most certainly not a D+ as it is insinuating.  That sort of calculator just does not work well for MTF trans folk in general.

[RobynD]

Same with me - naked measurement. I expect the difference is likely pec muscles , or maybe rib cage shape? Interesting the variations seen.