Starting HRT

[TransElizabeth1950]

I am about to start HRT in the next couple of weeks.

I would be interested to have any advice on what the early effects might be and when there might be the start of physical changes and breast development.  I am mainly interested in becoming emotionally more a woman, but obviously looking for some physical change as well.

When is breast development likely to start and how quick will it be - knowing of course that everyone is different?  When should I plan on starting to wear a Bra, and what is the best kind of bra to start with?

Elizabeth x   

[Megan.]

Hi! I've been running my own thread on this for some time :

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esusans%2Eorg%2Fforums%2Findex%2Ephp%3Ftopic%3D226510%2E0&share_tid=226510&share_fid=50490&share_type=t

Re. Bras, everyone responds differently to HRT. As I went full-time before HRT,  I wore one with breastforms initially, and have now (after 11 months) stopped needing the forms.

Good luck. X

Sent from my MI 5s using Tapatalk

[RobynTx]

It will vary from person to person.  The first few weeks you hopefully will notice more mental calming.  Your skin should start getting softer and your body odor will be less.  Breasts for me didn't start for about four months.  I started with camis and then sport bras.  Next came regular bras and more sport bras. Look for a sale when you need a bra.  Chances are you won't be able to fill it for very long since they are growing.

It's a great ride so enjoy it but remember be patient about it.  It will take some time.

[Northern Star Girl]

I am about to start HRT in the next couple of weeks.

I would be interested to have any advice on what the early effects might be and when there might be the start of physical changes and breast development.  I am mainly interested in becoming emotionally more a woman, but obviously looking for some physical change as well.

When is breast development likely to start and how quick will it be - knowing of course that everyone is different?  When should I plan on starting to wear a Bra, and what is the best kind of bra to start with?

Elizabeth x

@TransElizabeth1950
Dear Elizabeth:
It doesn't take a lot of browsing around the Susan's Place Forums reading other members postings to see that you are not alone with your question about what and when to expect regarding breast development and other body changes.

You need to know that usually nothing happens very fast with HRT.   As you read others postings here you will see that for some HRT may work rather quickly with significant body changes....   and for others, HRT may work more slowly with less significant body changes.   
Every BODY reacts in it's own way and in it's own time to HRT... it is up to your own body and your genetics.   One thing is for sure, HRT will eventually do what it's going to do, so hang in there and be PATIENT....    Patience is required for sure.   
Nothing happens as fast as we all desire, our human nature says to us...
   "I want it ALL and I want it NOW"

Changes in your breasts are one of the first things you will notice with HRT.   For some, breast tenderness, itching, erect nipples and some swelling around the nipples and areolas can occur the very first few weeks or perhaps a month.  After that you may start feeling a small lump under each nipple.  These breast buds may slowly start getting larger and more noticeable as time goes on and you could happily start seeing your breasts turn into small mounds and actually start looking like the start of small breasts. In my own experience expect tenderness and if you bump them the tenderness could be painful.

If you are still going around in male-mode you don't have to worry about a bra unless you think that others can see your nipples and/or developing breasts protruding....   loose fitting and patterned shirts will work best to mininize the fact that your breasts are showing....  an inexpensive sports bra will help conceal your secret for a while.   Watch the color combinations...  a black or deeply shaded sports bra will show through lightly colored shirts.
 
After 3 to 6 months or so, again depending on how your body reacts to HRT, you might experience noticeable jiggling as you run up and down stairs, etc.  You then may want to consider getting a bra to help with that, then of course going stealth is going to start becoming more of an issue.

The "pencil test" has been around for decades regarding when young teen girls should start wearing a bra.
"If you can place a pencil horizontally in the skin crease below a breast and let go of the pencil and the pencil stays in place.... You Need to Wear a Bra"

You are in for an exciting journey as you continue toward your transition goals.   It would be great if you could post your progress updates as you feel comfortable doing so.

Hugs and well wishes,
Danielle

[TransElizabeth1950]

Thank you so much for these lovely and helpful replies.  I will certainly look Megan's thread closely - it looks so helpful for someone about to start out

I have the meds in my drawer ready to start but we are going away for a few days holidays so I am planning to wait till we come back - though super-impatient!  I will probably start on 26 June, and will certainly record progress on here

Thank you for the advice on bras - I am still stealth at present so important to get this right.  Love the pencil test - and look forward to that day.

My doctor wants me to go full-time, and I increasingly feel I need to live as a woman for emotional and wellbeing reasons.  After I have been out and about as a woman I often just feel that I won't/ can't go back to man mode, but not just quite finally ready for that step yet.  HRT will be another step in that direction I think

[AutumnGurl81]

Hi Elizabeth! I just wanted to say congratulations, and welcome! There's plenty of sound advice in this thread and throughout the forum.

As stated, everyone's experience is different. For me, I've always been a bit more in tune with my emotional side--though I was good at not showing it for a long time. After about a 1.5 months on HRT (I've only been on for 5.5 months w/about a 3 week break) I really began to feel as though I was synced to that once again. Though, its very liberating to know that you have found who you are, so its possible is half placebo and half emotional enhancement from the E. I would say most people will start to see changes around 2-4 months, depending on age and lifestyle. But everyone surely has a different experience, and I'm sure you will find yourself more as you move forward with your transition. Bra's--I still haven't got them figured out lol, some work better than others for me, but because I still have muscle beneath my newly developed breast tissue I'm in a 36-38 B/C depending on brand & type. I wish you the best and hope to see your progress! And hang in there, it will feel slow and you will want things to happen quicker than they actually do, but things WILL be happening, one day you'll just start noticing changes.

[KathyLauren]

Don't put a lot of faith in the "pencil test".  You will likely want a bra before you pass that test.

I started noticing growth sensations in my breasts at about three weeks on HRT.  Since I wasn't yet out in my community, I was planning on wearing a sports bra in a few months' time, for concealment when they stated to show.  I very quickly realized that I couldn't wait that long: I needed the protection right away, from shirt abrasions and minor impacts.

Now, at 18 months on HRT, I am an A cup, and I still fail the pencil test miserably.  But I need a bra for support, because a brisk walk or trotting down stairs are painful.

[Megan.]

I'm another pencil test fail, but there is no way I'd go without a bra these days, and running without support would be super uncomfortable! [emoji33]

Sent from my MI 5s using Tapatalk

[Northern Star Girl]

I'm another pencil test fail, but there is no way I'd go without a bra these days, and running without support would be super uncomfortable! [emoji33]

Sent from my MI 5s using Tapatalk

@Megan.   @KathyLauren   
Certainly I only mentioned the pencil test as a cute and interesting curiosity. 
In my own experience when I was an A cup and wearing a bra full-time I also could not pass the the pencil test.  Finally about a year and a half ago when I was getting toward my present B or C cup I could certainly and easily pass the pencil test.
Again ... it was a cute thing that was in Dear Abby years ago that I tought I would share.
Hugs
Danielle

[TransElizabeth1950]

Hi Elizabeth! I just wanted to say congratulations, and welcome! There's plenty of sound advice in this thread and throughout the forum.

As stated, everyone's experience is different. For me, I've always been a bit more in tune with my emotional side--though I was good at not showing it for a long time. After about a 1.5 months on HRT (I've only been on for 5.5 months w/about a 3 week break) I really began to feel as though I was synced to that once again. Though, its very liberating to know that you have found who you are, so its possible is half placebo and half emotional enhancement from the E. I would say most people will start to see changes around 2-4 months, depending on age and lifestyle. But everyone surely has a different experience, and I'm sure you will find yourself more as you move forward with your transition. Bra's--I still haven't got them figured out lol, some work better than others for me, but because I still have muscle beneath my newly developed breast tissue I'm in a 36-38 B/C depending on brand & type. I wish you the best and hope to see your progress! And hang in there, it will feel slow and you will want things to happen quicker than they actually do, but things WILL be happening, one day you'll just start noticing changes.

Thank you - I am so looking forward to the emotional and physical changes.  As you say, will just have to figure out the bra thing. 

Don't put a lot of faith in the "pencil test".  You will likely want a bra before you pass that test.

I started noticing growth sensations in my breasts at about three weeks on HRT.  Since I wasn't yet out in my community, I was planning on wearing a sports bra in a few months' time, for concealment when they stated to show.  I very quickly realized that I couldn't wait that long: I needed the protection right away, from shirt abrasions and minor impacts.

Now, at 18 months on HRT, I am an A cup, and I still fail the pencil test miserably.  But I need a bra for support, because a brisk walk or trotting down stairs are painful.

Wow - three weeks sounds pretty good, I would be more than happy with an A cup.  I am not yet out either  but sounds like maybe I need to think about being in a sports bra in a few weeks for concealment and protection.  Did you find you had to wear one all the time?




[/quote]

I'm another pencil test fail, but there is no way I'd go without a bra these days, and running without support would be super uncomfortable! [emoji33]

Thank you Megan - again sounds like we are talking about a bra sooner rather than later - that is so helpful to know

@megan  @KathyLauren 
 
Certainly I only mentioned the pencil test as a cute and interesting curiosity. 
In my own experience when I was an A cup and wearing a bra full-time I also could not pass the the pencil test.  Finally about a year and a half ago when I was getting toward my present B or C cup I could certainly and easily pass the pencil test.
Again ... it was a cute thing that was in Dear Abby years ago that I tought I would share.
Hugs
Danielle

Thank you Danielle - so loved the pencil test.  Hopefully I will be able pass it one day.  So how long did it take you to get to an A cup and start wearing a bra full-time?

Thanks again, and love and hugs to you all,

Elizabeth

[Northern Star Girl]

Thank you Danielle - so loved the pencil test.  Hopefully I will be able pass it one day.  So how long did it take you to get to an A cup and start wearing a bra full-time?

Thanks again, and love and hugs to you all,

Elizabeth

@TransElizabeth1950
Dear Elizabeth:  I was at an A cup before the 6 month HRT mark and was then wearing a bra full-time...  then after a little more than a year of HRT I soon became a B cup and then at a year and a half it was soon becoming my present C-cup.   
Again, this is just my unique experience and my body's reaction to the hormones....  not necessarily anyone else's expected results.
Enjoy your transition journey but understand they may be frustrations and doubts along the way, but with time the HRT will do it's magic...   Patience is required for sure.   
Please keep us all updated if you feel so led.
Hugs,
Danielle

[TransElizabeth1950]

Thank you Danielle - that is so useful to know on what possibly to expect - I know everyone's experience is different but clearly you have had a lot of lovely breast development quite quickly.

As you say I will be patient - just can't wait to get started now.  It is so exciting.

Hugs, Elizabeth

[KathyLauren]

Wow - three weeks sounds pretty good, I would be more than happy with an A cup.  I am not yet out either  but sounds like maybe I need to think about being in a sports bra in a few weeks for concealment and protection.  Did you find you had to wear one all the time?

I grumble a lot about how small my breasts are, but in fact I am very happy with them.  They are still growning, albeit slowly, but even if I never make it to a B, I'll still be happy with them.  I know a cis woman who has much smaller breasts than mine.

I don't wear a bra much at home.  I'll wear one when doing physical work like shovelling, because of the risk of bonking them.  And I always wear one when out in public, because it would be rude not to and because I like a little "enhancement".

[steph2.0]

I started noticing bumps about two months after starting the initial (very low) dose HRT, then things accelerated after going to full-dose. Coming up on a year I have 36As and if conditions are just right, can pass the pencil test. The interesting thing is while the A cups don't seem any fuller than they have been, the girls seem to have much more definition and look better. The suggestion was that they aren't getting bigger, just filling in and rounding out. I'll take it...


Stephanie

[KathyLauren]

The interesting thing is while the A cups don't seem any fuller than they have been, the girls seem to have much more definition and look better. The suggestion was that they aren't getting bigger, just filling in and rounding out. I'll take it...

Me too!

I am still getting growing pains, especialy when starting a new patch, and my breasts continually feel fuller to the touch.  (And I like touching them! )  While they aren't necessarily getting bigger - my bust measurement has not changed at all - they seem to be filling out laterally, giving me a nicer shape.

[steph2.0]

Me too!

I am still getting growing pains, especialy when starting a new patch, and my breasts continually feel fuller to the touch.  (And I like touching them! )  While they aren't necessarily getting bigger - my bust measurement has not changed at all - they seem to be filling out laterally, giving me a nicer shape.

Shows how some things are similar and others differ. I'm not feeling any aches or pains at all. In fact, they feel a bit numb, and bumping them is an annoyance more than the "scrape me off the ceiling" experience it used to be. That's good in some respects, but it also means that while they're nice to look at, touching doesn't do much. [emoji53]


Stephanie

[TransElizabeth1950]

I grumble a lot about how small my breasts are, but in fact I am very happy with them.  They are still growning, albeit slowly, but even if I never make it to a B, I'll still be happy with them.  I know a cis woman who has much smaller breasts than mine.

I don't wear a bra much at home.  I'll wear one when doing physical work like shovelling, because of the risk of bonking them.  And I always wear one when out in public, because it would be rude not to and because I like a little "enhancement".

Thank you - this is so encouraging.  Really looking forward to being able to wear a bra now.  I am still in Man mode so have been a little nervous about breast development from HRT - With this discussion I now realise how much I want to have nice firm plump breasts - it is such a dream!

I hugged a girl friend yesterday and she had such lovely big, soft breasts - showed me that that is what I really now want. 

I suppose this may mean going full-time fairly quickly - not sure how long you can stay stealth with well-formed breasts and a bra.

I started noticing bumps about two months after starting the initial (very low) dose HRT, then things accelerated after going to full-dose. Coming up on a year I have 36As and if conditions are just right, can pass the pencil test. The interesting thing is while the A cups don't seem any fuller than they have been, the girls seem to have much more definition and look better. The suggestion was that they aren't getting bigger, just filling in and rounding out. I'll take it...

This sounds so lovely and love the idea of them filling in and rounding out - I will take that too!!

Me too!

I am still getting growing pains, especialy when starting a new patch, and my breasts continually feel fuller to the touch.  (And I like touching them! )  While they aren't necessarily getting bigger - my bust measurement has not changed at all - they seem to be filling out laterally, giving me a nicer shape.

So love the idea of touching and playing with them - so can't wait

Shows how some things are similar and others differ. I'm not feeling any aches or pains at all. In fact, they feel a bit numb, and bumping them is an annoyance more than the "scrape me off the ceiling" experience it used to be. That's good in some respects, but it also means that while they're nice to look at, touching doesn't do much. [emoji53]

They just sound so, so lovely!!

Love and hugs, Elizabeth

[TransElizabeth1950]

First day on HRT today.  I wasn't sure how it would affect me but it has felt a really significant and profound experience.  I thought I could maybe give HRT a try and maybe go back if it didn't work.  I now realise it is what I have deeply wanted and there is no going back.

Main feeling is just huge relief and happiness that I have started at last and that the oestrogen is beginning to flow around my body.  It feels so reassuring and validating. It has felt much like a birthday - a really important personal day for me that I will always remember. 

Now of course I just have to be patient and wait for the lovely changes to begin.  I just feel on course to becoming much more fully a woman

[Megan.]

Good luck with it, and as always, enjoy the ride! X

Sent from my MI 5s using Tapatalk

[KathyLauren]

Congratulations, Elizabeth!  We tend to accumulate several rebirthdays in this journey, but starting HRT is one of the biggest.  As Megan said, enjoy the ride!