Skeletal changes with regards to hormone therapy/transitioning?

[Gulistani248]

Hello,

Is there any kind of safe medication out there (FDA-approved) that is designed specifically to feminize general skeletal structure of someone who is transitioning? (MtF)

Thanks!

-Sarah

[Roll]

Sorry, medicine can't do that. :/

[rmaddy]

No medicine can reverse the skeletal changes caused by testosterone.  Changes to skin tone/thickness, fat distribution and muscle mass can feminize the surface appearance, but bones do not regress once grown. 

[Dani]

It really depends on how old you are. If you are under 25, regular HRT will give you some skeletal feminization. There is no medication that will change skeletal after that age. Younger transitioners benefit from significant skeletal changes with just HRT.

This is why so many of us adult transitioners have FFS and other surgical procedures.

[josie76]

Young transitioners can get feminine hip growth. This is because the growth plates of the pelvic bones are still active. Estrogen will encourage growth on the pubic bones at the ends next to the pubic synthesis causing a widening. At the same time the joint between the ilium (upper pelvic bones on each side) and the ischium (lower bones you sit on) will calcify more on the ischium side causing the ischium bones to move more verticle or even outwards. This combined growth makes the hip socket further out from the center of the body giving a female like pelvic measurements. It will not change the sacrum or position and shape of the sacroiliac joint.

So if you are young yes, estrogen can give you a feminine hip position depending on how much time you have before those growth plates fully calcify and fuse into a single pelvic bone on each side. Estrogen cannot undo bone growths caused by testosterone. So facial or upper body size cannot be changed.

[kellb]

To add to what's been said above, although you can't do much about bone growth, you will get some changes that will give you equivalent results.  I found that my height has decreased by 4 cm, and my neck, shoulders, chest and arms have all diminished in size due to reduced muscle mass.  I can tell my skeleton hasn't changed, but my profile has shrunk by a very satisfying margin.

So don't let the lack of bone change fool you - you will feel much better about your body shape with hormones.