Assessing Breast Development while on HRT

[kat69]

I've been on HRT for 8 weeks now and like most others, I'm constantly looking at my boobs to look for any changes.  Within a couple of weeks I found that they became sensitive and for the past three weeks I've found that they have become more and more tender to the point of actually hurting when they are bumped.

My GP tried to explain verbally the difference between the various different "content" found in that area of the body.  I guess you could say that I've been blessed with "man boobs", as in I have some "stuff" there.  The thing is I find it difficult to determine if anything is going on "in" there.  I have touched cis-women's breasts before, but I never really assessed them from a clinical perspective.  So I guess I don't know if any changes are happening.

Does anyone have a guide or personal experience that would help assess MTF HRT-based breast development?

Thanks.

[JessicaSondelli]

Yes!!!

Lay back, relax and enjoy the ride.... it takes time....lots of time...

Sorry but my best advice is not to measure them every day, just let them do their thing, it's all in your genes and as long as you feel good and your levels get checked regularly, they will keep growing.... A few months ago I was exactly where you are now and I slowly learned to stop worrying....

All the best
Jessica




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[spx_1112]

Hi girls!  As you've read genetics plays a huge role. Enjoy the journey.  Hugs Shannon

[JeanetteLW]

Hi Kat,
  I too am on my 8th week and like you am obsessed with looking at, caressing and poking at my chest. I am taking spiro and estradiol (patch and pill) I think my chest started being sore about the 2nd or 3rd week. I read else that if it's sore , it's growing. I started to notice a bit more fattiness there at about a month with a firmer lumpiness developing inside around my nipples but nothing right under them, sort of like a donuts under the skin. Now the firmness has filled in under the nipple and there is a little more on my chest. None of the "budding" yet though. I so look forward to that budding I've read so much about.
   You might look up the Tanner scale and info on the anatomy of the breast. It may give you a bit more insight into what is happening.

[josie76]

Wel I'm not on HRT yet but after I had a vesectomy close to 7 years ago my T dropped and I developed little hard areas under the nipples. Over time the nipples got a bit bigger and stood up more. For about three months now I've been taking herbals that are supposed to lower DHT and T production. Nothing weird, just saw palmetto, peppermint, ground whole flax seed. In the last two months I've had some growth happen. It's not a lot but I have felt firmer tissues radiating around the ariolas. At first I only noticed it hurting if I bumped it or lifted something that flexed my chest muscles. Then they got a bit fattier. Now every so often they just plain ache inside. I guess that's a very good sign.

[kat69]

Hi Kat,
  I too am on my 8th week and like you am obsessed with looking at, caressing and poking at my chest. I am taking spiro and estradiol (patch and pill) I think my chest started being sore about the 2nd or 3rd week. I read else that if it's sore , it's growing. I started to notice a bit more fattiness there at about a month with a firmer lumpiness developing inside around my nipples but nothing right under them, sort of like a donuts under the skin. Now the firmness has filled in under the nipple and there is a little more on my chest. None of the "budding" yet though. I so look forward to that budding I've read so much about.
   You might look up the Tanner scale and info on the anatomy of the breast. It may give you a bit more insight into what is happening.

Thanks, I'll look at that reference.   It seems that we all go through certain phases during our transition and HRT, where many early on go looking for active change...hoping for some miracle.  Those that have seen change or gotten used to the slow progress always advise us to relax and let it happen.   I'm thinking that like phases of grief...we probably have our own phases of transition. 

Thanks for your input.

[sarah1972]

I am only 3 weeks into HRT and it seems like so far I have been lucky. Nipples have doubled in diameter and touching them actually feels identical to cis breasts. I do notice some growth. Still think it will be a good while before it will become obvious.

[Lady_Oracle]

Tanner stages is how I gauged mine and taking pics often. I did obsess my first year but I'm glad I did cause now I have plenty of pics showing my maturity over the years. I'm small cupped and that used to bother me a lot but its just my genes really. It wasn't in my genetics to have a large bust. However being able to look back as to where I started to where I'am today helps put things in perspective and gives me peace of mind. So even though I know I'm never going to have a big bust at least I know they've mostly matured fully and fit my chest wall nicely.

[Artesia]

I'm having a hard time figuring out where I'd be on the Tanner scale.  Been on HRT for around 4 months March is 6 months.  I started with "moobs" so I always had a bit, never saw "budding" but they sure are tender.  There is a donut shaped mass behind the nipples.  My family is typically B cups so that is what I'm thinking I'll end up with.  Sadly the tanner stages don't seem to help with fat mass in that location already, at least not for me.

[JeanetteLW]

Hi Artesia,
  What is happening to you sounds exactly like what I have been experiencing. IE starting with a bit of fat already there.  Soreness begins and the nipples get proud and stand out. Then you start to feel some firmness (Described as similar to cottage cheese) growing around the nipple area but not under the nipple itself. Slowly the fattiness increased along with the firmness area. Here just recently the firmness has filled in under my nipples. I am in my 8th week of hrt.
  From the descriptions I've read this should all be within Tanner scale I and the rough time frame for for this is 1 - 3 months. Tanner II description seems to be the "budding stage" where the nipple and aureola get bigger and a hard nugget starts grown under the nipple area producing the characteristic bulging nipple/aureola. Given time frame for this to start is shown as 3 - 6 months.
   So it sounds like you and I may be in that first Tanner stage.  Your doctor should be able to clarify things for you. Of course everyone is different and develop at their own rate based on many factors. YMMV

Hope this was of help to you
    Jeanette