Does HRT effect your male metabolism if you are MTF?

[Julie -2010]

For me HRT changed my metabolism.  I could stay or lose weight without really trying to.  Once on HRT, my weight started to go up and I had a hard time trying to keep it under control.  I'm at a point now that my weight is stable but I would like to lose some lbs and it is very hard.  I exercise and watch what I eat but I can't lose much.]

Julie

[Dorit]

Nope, it has no action by which it can be a diuretic - it's chemically unable to act that way. It's not listed as a side effect by the manufacturer, nor in any reference I've seen.

This is a very interesting discussion and may reflect the fact that there can be differences between what is written about a drug's side effects and what people actually experience.    In my country, Israel, Cyproterone Acetate in pills is used as the T-blocker in HRT.   Those of us who have been on HRT experience increased urination.   As a matter of fact, because of what you wrote about it not being a diuretic, I asked a new friend who just started HRT about four months ago, if she experienced increased urination.   Her reply was yes, I have had very increased urination.   Could it be the Estradiol, I doubt it?

[PurplePelican]

This is a very interesting discussion and may reflect the fact that there can be differences between what is written about a drug's side effects and what people actually experience.    In my country, Israel, Cyproterone Acetate in pills is used as the T-blocker in HRT.   Those of us who have been on HRT experience increased urination.   As a matter of fact, because of what you wrote about it not being a diuretic, I asked a new friend who just started HRT about four months ago, if she experienced increased urination.   Her reply was yes, I have had very increased urination.   Could it be the Estradiol, I doubt it?

Well, that was quite a rabbit hole..

As it turns out, it may well be the estradiol. It's known to play a part in fluid and sodium regulation, leading to increased thirst, amongst other things. Add to that the change from a primarily testosterone-driven system and I can see how estradiol could cause increased urination.

Oh, here's a question.. When you refer to "increased urination", do you mean increased volume, increased frequency or both? Increased frequency is often a function of low testosterone - and that can be achieved with estradiol alone.

There is zero scientific or medical evidence to suggest that cyproterone acetate is a diuretic. It's method of action is not one that can effect fluid regulation. I took the crap for 5 years, until I gave it up as a bad and unneeded joke a bit over 2 years ago - in consultation and agreement with my doctor. Yes, for the first year or so I did have increased urinary frequency, but that settled, along with some other things, as my body got accustomed to the new hormone balance. I'm non-op, take only estradiol now and have mid-range female T levels and a sufficient E level to keep it that way. 

[Devlyn]

All of the HRT meds are being administered for off label usage. It's going to be a crapshoot for each and every user. Hence the common wisdom of YMMV.

[Dorit]

Well, that was quite a rabbit hole..

Hi PurplePelican,

Its time for this girl to climb out of the rabbit hole!  I can let it remain a mystery why I lost weight when I started HRT.   It was nice to chat with you!

[Linde]

There's really no such thing as gendered metabolism (where metabolism is the process of taking in nutrient energy and expending calories as work energy).

If calories in are less than calories out then you lose weight and vise versa. The exceptions to that include that in addition to protein, the body must have some fat (it's possible to starve on a diet of rabbit).

It seems clear that appetite can be affected by hormone balance e.g. I've found that progesterone seems to make me crave a bit more fat in my diet.

If you have a training history emphasizing power & strength then loss of testosterone may result in some loss of muscle mass. I always trained for endurance and minimal mass strong musculature so this point has been moot for me.

This is exactly what I believe (and know from my profession).  Calories in, and calories used is what puts fat on or not.  I am diabetic (TypeII) and have to watch my diet pretty well, and I know exactly when I sinned!  And if I sinned a lot, the scale will tell me!
Females have naturally more fat than males.  But that more fat should be located in the boobs and in the butt.  Fatty tissue in any other place is fatty tissue that is not good and should go!

[pamelatransuk]

There's really no such thing as gendered metabolism (where metabolism is the process of taking in nutrient energy and expending calories as work energy).

If calories in are less than calories out then you lose weight and vise versa. The exceptions to that include that in addition to protein, the body must have some fat (it's possible to starve on a diet of rabbit).

It seems clear that appetite can be affected by hormone balance e.g. I've found that progesterone seems to make me crave a bit more fat in my diet.

Thank you Sadie for your scientific clarification on this subject which is one I have also thought about.

Just for the record, my weight for 9 months of HRT has remained stable at around 150 pounds.

Hugs

Pamela

[Maid Marion]

My wife studied this. She was an inch shorter and 1/2 a shoe size smaller.  I had the girly figure because I ate significantly less, on average.  We would eat fast food and I'd have the salad or a regular hamburger with some fries.  She would eat two larger entries in the time it would take me to finish my burger. I'd eat a lot at a really good meal, but on average I ate a lot less.

My wife would buy large tough cuts of steak.  I look for good deals on ribeye, NY strip and tenderloin.  I am really good at butchering meat and calculating on my feet, so not only do I look for nicely marbled ribeye, but I want what I buy to nicely divide up into 6 oz steaks (4 oz is my target for tenderloin).