I'm approaching the end of my transition. I now live a fully functional life as a woman and it's rare that people notice I am trans. I'm undergoing SRS in six weeks time.
The effects of hormones on the brain and body vary from person to person. It's affected by your genetics, age, bioavailability of sex hormone binding globulin, and a half dozen other things. It's hard to predict exactly how hormones will affect you.
The effects also depend on the method of administration. Certain methods will absorb more estrogen into your bloodstream. I found that my hormone levels on implants were far higher than any other method. Because they produce stable levels, I also don't get anywhere near the same mood effects that gels or patches were giving me.
I've been very lucky. I was in my mid-30's when I began transitioning. My body is quite sensitive to hormones and I've had great results. Here's some of the effects (and side effects):
Effects:
- Breast growth. My breasts grew to around a size C in about 2 years
- Reduction of muscle mass: according to my cheap bathroom instrument, my muscle mass has atrophied around 30%
- Increase in body fat percentage
- Reduction in size of bladder (need to pee more often)
- Dramatic reduction of libido
- Changes in shape and size of genitals
- Darkening along raphe line of the genitals
- Body ceased to produce sperm or semen
- Softening of body hair
- Significant softening of skin
- Redistribution of fat from tummy to hips/thighs
- Swelling, darkening and increased sensitivity of nipples
- Decreased body hair
- Changes in facial shape
- Heightened sense of smell
- Decreased skin oil
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- Changes in body odour and urine scent
- Shrinkage of prostate and bladder
- Increased resting heartrate
- Decreased red blood cell count
- Changes in experience of sex. Increased connection between emotion and sex
- Changes in experience of orgasm. Ability to experience multiple orgasms
- Changes to erogenous zones of the body
- Much wider range and depth of emotions
Side Effects:
- I had very high levels for a while and had trouble with prolactinomea. It was causing redness and pain in one eye, and some headaches
- Reduction of mental focus and drive
- Increased level of calmness
- Changes in parenting propensity, attachment behaviours and circadian rhythms
- Change to shape of eyeball
- Soreness, itching, and pain in breasts
- Emotion and mood issues can be a challenge for anyone going through such a huge social change. Adding high hormone levels amplifies those things greatly. It was only when I sat and talked to a few friends who are mothers that I realised how much of my anxiety was connected with hormones
- Mood symptoms are greatly amplified for me if my HRT regime includes a progesterone component. It's worse with synthetic progesterone than bioidentical progesterone (although the later is much more expensive).
- Greater appreciation for nature, seasons, sunsets, animals, children, and life
- I use Spiro, which gives me urges to to consume salty foods
- I need to pee more often - which is partly from a smaller bladder, partly because spiro is a diuretic
I know you asked about hormones, but it's worth discussing the social changes too.
I would say that when I began transition, I was so consumed with my desire for changes to my body that I didn't really stop to understand the social effects of transition, or what it really means to be a woman in society. The experience of the social change was far more profound for me than the quiet little journey my body was on. I had to find new ways to communicate, had to learn to stroke men's egos, had to prove myself in every business meeting, and had to confront some of the male privilege I had lived with.
I began to confide in other women, and they confided in me. I slowly became comfortable chatting while peeing, bawled my eyes out through six-hour sessions of electrolysis, listened to totally oblivious people making transphobic remarks at business dinners, and learned how to brush off the bar-room sexual advances of men without hurting their egos. I invested thousands of hours of emotional energy trying to resolve the trans-TERF conflict in my head. I became closer to my mum, but watched my Dad grieve for the young boy he raised.
I wouldn't change any of it for the world, but don't overlook the social changes.
All the best for your transition !! <3
