Hormones as a test

[Kate]

They should concentrate on transitioning first & then when all is complete, worry about the rest.  Wanting to do all at once is a complication.

Ahhhh, OK, my apologies. I thought "Why do peeps want to start mones and then want to do everything" meant why do people get married and have kids AFTER transitoning... not DURING it.

Yes, doing that DURING a transition would be a lot to deal with... although I may not wait for SRS (though I'm done transitioning otherwise) to find a way to have a child. I'm getting too old to wait much longer.

~Kate~

[Ember Lewis]

I know what you're asking, and know the answer in most cases. Many Trans-girls/boys feel depression, sadness, disgust and ashame of there body's. They feel dead and don't wan't the world to look at them many are not able to have a successful relationship and sometimes they can't have a relationship at all. All there dreams lie in being accepted and physically feeling as the gender that they know they are inside. Imagine being a girl with a boy body and playing house with other girls and hearing "you can be the dad" . Or not experiencing your mom taking you out to get your ears pierced for the first time . Or watching other girls go shopping for clothes and make-up and feeling left out . I think you get the point, when we accept our trans-issues and take steps to correct what should have never been many of us feel our lives have finally started. For the first time you're starting to feel like who you are inside, finally you can do the things you always wanted to do. Kinnda make up for the time lost, people who struggled with relationships start to feel more comfortable with there body's and want to be with someone all of a sudden. That's the best I can explain it, I hope I did'nt offend anyone...that's why I said most

[Steph]

I would never recommend taking HRT on a trial basis to determine who or what you are.  AS many here have indicated HRT are chemicals that can, in some circumstances, alter a persons thinking and of course there are the inherent health risks.  Some would even say it would be like taking cocaine to see if you were inclined to be a drug addict.

As some have indicated the best course to take is to seek professional help, and yes I know, I know, "I should know what's best for me", I was one of those people.  There should be no outside influence in determining who or what you are.  Therapy is one of the best routes to follow.  There are those who know what/who they are and therapy confirms this, and then there are those who are battling with who/what they are, and therapy should guide them in determining an answer.

Either way I would not recommend HRT on a trial basis.  HRT does not determine if you are a man or woman.

Steph

[Jordan]

My therapist fully agrees that there is no test with estro, but she says that quite often many people use just Spiro or Andro as a test, cut out the male T, and see how you feel.  You cant do it for very long (as your body needs hormones), but she says it is a good test to rule out whether or not TSism" for some people is just a sexual desire/

[MeghanAndrews]

a true transsexual will feel natural and happy under the effects of female hormones, anyone else will feel wrong and will stop their apparent cross-gender behavior as male hormone function ceases

Whoa, that person needs to be really, really careful with the exclusionary tone in their voice. That's such a blanket statement and I'd argue that 1) there's no such thing as a 'true transsexual, 2) natural and happy, um, that doesn't sound like many people I know. HRT is a powerful thing, if you are 'happy and natural' and feel that way before HRT, I would imagine you'd continue to be that way. If you are sad and depressed and have doubts, I would imagine that it would amplify that. It's definitely not a positive mental miracle drug.

I picked this up off of www.looking-glass.greenend.org.uk/primer.htm and was wondering if
anyone had any personal experience with others that attempted HRT and then
realized they were not TS.

I have seen a few people in my support group go on, then go off, realizing when they were on that transition wasn't the right path for them. I don't think the hormones did that per se, I think that it was a combination of seeing changes from the hormones in conjunction with therapy & self-exploration that made them change their mind.

Has it been clinically proven that if you like the effects of HRT then you are TS? Or is it possible
that a true male could like the effects of HRT?

I have no idea about this one. I don't really understand how a "true male" (what is that any way, lol, do they exist?) would be ok on HRT for more than a month or two. I mean, these hormones can have pretty serious side effects. For a male to go through losing libido and sexual activity, that could be a hard thing. Many men have strong sex drives and HRT can really impact that. I saw some posts that some people have known men who enjoyed HRT, I just don't get it, but to each their own I guess.

How long does it take to realize the affects of HRT and know if it's right for you or not?  Is it mostly emotional and cerebral changes that they are talking about or the physical changes that go along with HRT?

I had to make sure I had 100% made up my mind before I ever put hormones in my body. I also need to have a transition plan mapped out before I took hormones. The thing is, once you start, you basically start a time line with your body. After a week or two, you will notice small changes. Breasts bus, sweat a little different, feeling tingly, etc. The changes get more noticeable the longer you are on them.  I'm a HUGE believer in getting therapy before ever going on hormones. I'm also a big believer in making sure that transition is right for you & that you have thought through EVERYTHING you can think of, all the possible pitfalls, complications, etc. before going on HRT. To just start taking hormones and not think through things like financial situation, job, family (both immediate and own, kids, wife or husband, etc), emotional state, friendships, etc. is unimaginable to me. I know people do it, just take hormones and "figure the rest out later." I just don't get it.

Is it possible to stop  HRT (if you like it and are TS) to plan your transition better?

I think if you start with therapy first, then figure out the next step, then take it from there, you'd be doing yourself a huge service. To try to think of HRT before therapy when you ask these kinds of questions (I know, just my opinion, but whatever) is like wanting to climb Mt. Everest for your first climb. You have to be prepared, learn how to climb, find out if you even feel comfortable 2,000 feet off the ground before you get halfway up Mt. Everest, realize there's no going back and trap yourself.

So many dumb questions!

We all start somewhere, there's definitely NO such thing as a dumb question and I'm hoping you'll never get beat up for asking a question. Everyone is at different stages of transition, many people here are not transitioning at all, you should be asking these kinds of questions and doing lots and lots of research Meghan

[Jaynatopia]

I generally think that once you are trying HRT you are dealing with the GID and not so much using it to determine that if you are trans but whether or not you actually FEEL BETTER once the receptors are getting the proper hormones.

When I started HRT I knew I was trans but I didn't actually know how I would feel on HRT and if it would make me feel better. I started then stopped for a few weeks to re-compare and wow, I felt soooo much better on them.

I agree if you are trans it will feel better. Again I think its a receptor issue in the brain or something.