HRT and Body Hair (MTF)

[Iztaccihuatl]

Unfortunately I am a very hairy person, with body hair practically everywhere including the back (yuck!). Even 24 hours after shaving my chest I can already feel the stubbles and the chest hair becomes visible on day two. Kinda like the beast from Beauty and the Beast. And doing a full body shave every other day really sucks! I am pre-HRT.

I am contemplating laser hair removal but that would work only on the non-gray portion of my hair. I have read that HRT has the capacity to reduce body hair, which either might disappear or become thinner and shorter due to reduced growth rates. Is this true and/or what was your experience with body hair after starting on HRT? Would HRT accomplish the same thing as laser hair removal?

Thanks,

HM

[LizK]

Hi

Laser seems to work pretty well for non grey/blonde hair especially on the body. I had my chest done and it worked really well. HRT certainly does work for some people in reducing their body hair but it is also one of those things that seems to take a bit longer. After nearly 3 years on HRT I don't have a lot of body hair and it is easily now controlled with an epilator. I hope you can work it out.

Take care

Liz 

[pamelatransuk]

I started strangely with significant body hair on my back and some on my abdomen and nipples but virtually none on my legs and arms. After 6 months of Laser on those 3 areas and 13 months HRT, my body hair is almost eliminated.

I remain on Electrolysis for face only.

Hugs

Pamela

[Dena]

Until you have been on HRT for about a year, it would be best to spend your money on facial hair removal as HRT doesn't affect it that much. Body hair is another story and some people experience a great reduction in body hair given a little time.

[KathyLauren]

I was never very hairy on my body, but the difference with HRT was very noticeable after about a year.  I still have a little bit of hair on my legs, especially my shins, but it is not nearly as much as I used to, and not enough to be worth shaving.  Lots of cis women have hairier legs than me.  On my forearms, I have a little bit of peach fuzz that is only noticeable in particular light.  If I see a longer one catching the light, I'll take a razor to it.  I never had any back hair that I know of.  All my chest hair is gone except for about half a dozen thin fair hairs around my areolae.

As always, YMMV.  Since you are starting out with more than me, it is likely that you will end up with more than me.  But it is highly likely that you will see quite a reduction.

[Iztaccihuatl]

Thanks everybody for your comments and advice. I'll keep it in mind when it comes to making decisions in regards to hair removal or HRT.

HM

[Linde]

I have no body hair to speak off, some peachy fluff on my arms, but it is colorless.  Hair around the nipples seems to be pretty common, even for cis women.  My wife was definitely a very feminin person, but I always made fun of her because she had some hair around her nipples, and I did not! 
I think the speed of my facial hair growth has slowed down a little since starting HRT.  In fact, I shaved yesterday, and cannot shave anymore until Tuesday to have enough hair showing for the electrolysis session than.

[Jeal]

Thanks everybody for your comments and advice. I'll keep it in mind when it comes to making decisions in regards to hair removal or HRT.

HM

My electrolysist, who has worked almost exclusively with trans woman for the last several years, and my endo who only works with transitioners and has worked with over a thousand patients both suggested what Dena says; if the hair bothers you do the face/neck and wait a year or two on HRT to re-evaluate the body hair.

I am with you... also a hairy beast

[Chloe]

*sigh* google "hirsutism bicalutamide" for body hair it's a lot cheaper, albiet maybe not faster, than electro or laser but does the trick - permanent zero body hair (save public area), for me at least!

[Linde]

*sigh* google "hirsutism bicalutamide" for body hair it's a lot cheaper, albiet maybe not faster, than electro or laser but does the trick - permanent zero body hair (save public area), for me at least!

And what can be done for the pubic area except laser or electrolysis?
I have this uncomfortable situation that I was fully shaved for my orchi, and now the hair is growing back, and itches (I found one ingrown hair already).  I might as well keep it down down there now that it is gone anyway.  But shaving is kind of a horror for me, because I am afraid that I cut everything off this way, but I still need a little bit of the plumbing for bathroom purposes.

[Megan.]

And what can be done for the pubic area except laser or electrolysis?
I have this uncomfortable situation that I was fully shaved for my orchi, and now the hair is growing back, and itches (I found one ingrown hair already).  I might as well keep it down down there now that it is gone anyway.  But shaving is kind of a horror for me, because I am afraid that I cut everything off this way, but I still need a little bit of the plumbing for bathroom purposes.

Basically you've listed your options already, laser or electro.

I'm currently having electro to prep for surgery. The 'tech can use a more powerful zap than for facial,  so progress is reasonable. Laser, if your hair is dark and skin pale,  would probably be best.
The other option would be waxing, which over time would likely heavily reduce coverage.

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[Linde]

Basically you've listed your options already, laser or electro.

I'm currently having electro to prep for surgery. The 'tech can use a more powerful zap than for facial,  so progress is reasonable. Laser, if your hair is dark and skin pale,  would probably be best.
The other option would be waxing, which over time would likely heavily reduce coverage.

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Thanks Megan (my daughter in law has the same name, she is also British, her last name is White)!  You are talking about brutal pain here!    I can choose between a rock and a hard place.  Great thoughts for down there!

[Megan.]

Thanks Megan (my daughter in law has the same name, she is also British, her last name is White)!  You are talking about brutal pain here!    I can choose between a rock and a hard place.  Great thoughts for down there!

I'll be honest, the pain varies alot, some areas are truly bad, others you hardly feel a thing -  and that's with electro.

Give yourself a smothering with Emla, and a laser session will be over faster than a flash!

I fully intend to have laser downstairs after my GRS is all healed up [emoji846]

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[Chloe]

. . . the pubic area except laser or electrolysis?

         Uh lol you could at least save cash & DIY? Know someone here who's done it, but does help if ur a masochist! Easier than the face? Lindi, get a chance to check out The Maercks Institute in MIA? Technique sounds very promising, getting good reviews! 

He also does a form of FFS. lol Maybe he'll point my ears too? Missed church this morning "CB" is killing me oh my body aches!

[Linde]

         Uh lol you could at least save cash & DIY? Know someone here who's done it, but does help if ur a masochist! Easier than the face? Lindi, get a chance to check out The Maercks Institute in MIA? Technique sounds very promising, getting good reviews! 

He also does a form of FFS. lol Maybe he'll point my ears too? Missed church this morning "CB" is killing me oh my body aches!

Thanks, just wrote an email to them.  they are about 2 to 3 hours driving away form me.

[Iztaccihuatl]

*sigh* google "hirsutism bicalutamide" for body hair it's a lot cheaper, albiet maybe not faster, than electro or laser but does the trick - permanent zero body hair (save public area), for me at least!

Thanks, Chloe, I'll check it out. Did you use bicalutamide alone or in combination with estrogen as part of your HRT meds?

HM

[Chloe]

. . . in combination with estrogen as part of your HRT meds?

       Yes, a low dose (as suggested for hirsutism) works well in lieu of other anti-As like spironolactone. Being long-time contradicted in cis women its total block of DHT protects head hair as well but, having NO IDEA how it actually works on follicles, I can only suspect it was the emerging trans community use that is leading to its further study!

       It's been totally UNFAIR! Why should a cis woman have to shave legs but not us? Now after 10 years and being "older" I have since stopped it's use, taking just "E" only, with no "relapse" of body hair growth at all! @Dietlind as an experiment I recently shaved "down there" as well to see what kind of regrowth, if any, would occur but am not getting the same "itichies" so suspect hair may be softer, more vellus type than before?

       Who knows? All can say is "try it you'll like it" other terminal type like underarm and chest is gone! Studies show results take 9-12 months so don't get discouraged it's new generics are making its use as inexpensive as other anti-As and cannot imagine why anybody would want to pay electro or laser prices instead!

[Linde]

       Yes, a low dose (as suggested for hirsutism) works well in lieu of other anti-As like spironolactone. Being long-time contradicted in cis women its total block of DHT protects head hair as well but, having NO IDEA how it actually works on follicles, I can only suspect it was the emerging trans community use that is leading to its further study!

       It's been totally UNFAIR! Why should a cis woman have to shave legs but not us? Now after 10 years and being "older" I have since stopped it's use, taking just "E" only, with no "relapse" of body hair growth at all! @Dietlind as an experiment I recently shaved "down there" as well to see what kind of regrowth, if any, would occur but am not getting the same "itichies" so suspect hair may be softer, more vellus type than before?

       Who knows? All can say is "try it you'll like it" other terminal type like underarm and chest is gone! Studies show results take 9-12 months so don't get discouraged it's new generics are making its use as inexpensive as other anti-As and cannot imagine why anybody would want to pay electro or laser prices instead!

My problem? or luck??? Is that I do not have any body hair, not even hair under my arms!  The only hair on my torso is the pubic hair.  I have no clue if it is soft or hard, because I have nothing to compare it to.  The only clue I have is that it probably similar to the hair females have down there, because it grows in a typical female pubic hair pattern (the inverted triangle with a clear line at the top).  Is female pubic hair softer than male?
But no matter what, it itches now that it is regrowing, and I am scared to tackle this area with a shaver, and would prefer simpler methods of hair removal.
I don't believe that my orchi will have any influence on the growth, because females have as little T as I, and still grow nice bushes down there.