T-blockers

[Merm]

Hey everyone!

I have been on estrogen only for close to four months. I was on spiro before, but stopped taking it. I liked how I felt when I was on it, though I was concerned about losing sexual function. Sticking with just estrogen seemed like a safer bet.

I was hoping folx could share their personal experience or any scientific studies (is there such a thing? lol) on the effects of spiro+e vs. just e. Specifically I'm interested to hear about the effect on:
- Sexual function
- Skin quality (I have a lot of acne)
- Breast growth
- Fat redistribution
- Mental health (anxiety, depression, etc.)

Thanks for your help!

[V M]

Hi Merm 

Welcome to Susan's Place    Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

How about stopping by our Introductions Forum and introducing yourself so more folks can get to know you a bit better 

Here are some links to the site rules and stuff that we offer to all new members to help them along

Things that you should read

Site Terms of Service & Rules to Live By	Standard Terms & Definitions	Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar)	Cautionary Note
Reputation rules	News posting & quoting guidelines	Photo, avatars, & signature images policy	Membership Agreement

Hugs

V M

[Northern Star Girl]

Hey everyone!

I have been on estrogen only for close to four months. I was on spiro before, but stopped taking it. I liked how I felt when I was on it, though I was concerned about losing sexual function. Sticking with just estrogen seemed like a safer bet.

I was hoping folx could share their personal experience or any scientific studies (is there such a thing? lol) on the effects of spiro+e vs. just e. Specifically I'm interested to hear about the effect on:
- Sexual function
- Skin quality (I have a lot of acne)
- Breast growth
- Fat redistribution
- Mental health (anxiety, depression, etc.)

Thanks for your help!

@Merm
Dear Merm:
     I am so very glad that you have become a member here and this is your very first posting.   I am happy to see that you found the Susan's Place Forums.

    As you post on the forums you will be able to exchange thoughts and comments with others that are experiencing many of the same things that you are.   I expect that you will be getting many members offering their thoughts and suggestions as you continue to post here. 

    This is the right place for you to be to find out what others may have to say that may have been in your circumstances and with your questions and concerns.
    There are a lot of members here that will be able to identify with your situation and as you continue to feel free to share with all of us.

    I see that our lovely member @V M has already Officially Welcomed you I also want to warmly WELCOME you to Susan's Place. 
You will find this a safe and friendly place to share with others and to read about others similar trials, tribulations, and successes.

    As you are certainly aware you can share with others and involve yourself with some give and take with other like-minded members.  When frustrated or if you have successes you can share it here if you wish and receive support from others and offer support to others. ....
     ***There is a very good chance that you might find that you will make some new like-minded friends here. 

    Please come in and continue to be involved at your own pace.
   
    In her welcome message  V M  attached important and informative LINKS that will help you to navigate around the Forums and will allow you to enjoy the features here.     
Please look closely at the LINKS in RED, answers are there to many questions that new members ask.

Again, Welcome to Susan's Place.
Danielle

[Northern Star Girl]

@Merm   
Oh, and another thing Merm...
As our member @V M suggested in her welcome message please plan to write a post and tell us more about yourself in the Introductions Forum so that other members will be aware of your arrival... therefore you will be able to share your thoughts with more members here.
     
Thank you again for joining Susan's Place and being involved in the Forums here.
Best wishes to you,
Danielle
NOTE: Now after all of this Greeting Stuff I will let you have your thread back so you can pursue answers to your questions.
Other members here will certainly be along to give you their comments and suggestions that you may be seeking

[Northern Star Girl]

Hey everyone!

I have been on estrogen only for close to four months. I was on spiro before, but stopped taking it. I liked how I felt when I was on it, though I was concerned about losing sexual function. Sticking with just estrogen seemed like a safer bet.

I was hoping folx could share their personal experience or any scientific studies (is there such a thing? lol) on the effects of spiro+e vs. just e. Specifically I'm interested to hear about the effect on:
- Sexual function
- Skin quality (I have a lot of acne)
- Breast growth
- Fat redistribution
- Mental health (anxiety, depression, etc.)

Thanks for your help!

@Merm
Dear Merm:
All of the things that you asked about can certainly be affected by BOTH Estrogen and by Spironolactone.   
Every unique body reacts uniquely to HRT drugs and it can be difficult to predict exactly what effects you will experience.   Plan to do some reading around the various threads here on the Forums and you may get an idea of what is possible... but remember, what you read about others experiences with HRT may most likely not be exactly like yours.   The saying we use around the forums is YMMV ... Your Mileage May Vary

Once you introduce yourself on the introductions forums more members will be aware of your arrival and you can seek more answers to your question from some of the other members.

My question to you is ... what are you being told by your prescribing doctor?  Your doctor obviously would be your best source of information specific to your body, blood test results and the HRT dosages you are being prescribed.

Again, Welcome to Susan's Place,
Danielle

[Sophiaprincess2019]

I have been on estrogen only for close to four months. I was on spiro before, but stopped taking it. I liked how I felt when I was on it, though I was concerned about losing sexual function. Sticking with just estrogen seemed like a safer bet.

I was hoping folx could share their personal experience or any scientific studies (is there such a thing? lol) on the effects of spiro+e vs. just e. Specifically I'm interested to hear about the effect on:
- Sexual function
- Skin quality (I have a lot of acne)
- Breast growth
- Fat redistribution
- Mental health (anxiety, depression, etc.)

Thanks for your help!

Merm, welcome to our little corner of the world. It's awesome you are taking HRT and want to see the effects, however, you should probably not self-adjust your medications unless you were directed by your Doctor to do such.

I'll use my own experiences to highlight something. Prior to beginning HRT I researched like a crazy woman to consume every bit of information I could find, including threads here that pertained to routes of administration, etc. I must have read 200+ threads about how Doctors almost never gave people over 40 estrogen pills, always injections or patches. Then, bang, out of no where there was a woman here who was prescribed estrogen pills at 66 y.o. Postings about E pills said most were concerned with DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) along with other side effects.

Low and behold I was prescribed E pills at my Endo appointment AND Spiro. My Dr put me on a VERY high dose of E right from the beginning and guess what? She was 100% correct. My particular body handled both medications flawlessly without any harmful side effects. I'm 50 years old and in perfect health. I have the cardiovascular system of someone in their late 30's and I do not regularly exercise. It's my genetic makeup along with several other factors that led my Endo to prescribe my HRT meds in the fashion she did.

Just a little food for thought. Your rationale it "seemed like a safer bet"... My question: safer than what? There is no evidence you didn't hasten losing sexual function by changing your meds yourself much less avoid it right?
So you see, unless you KNOW for sure (directed by your Dr.) to change prescription medications it's best to let the Medical Doctors do their thing!.

Hope you are in good health. Everyone on this site is in your corner always. We offer our opinions because we care.

Hugs my friend,

Sophia

[Northern Star Girl]

@Merm
Dear Merm:
Well now, you have read my reply to you about HRT meds and possible effects and now PLEASE read carefully the reply that was just posted by our lovely member @Sophiaprincess2019

Her own experiences that she detailed them back up perfectly with what I had stated regarding relying on your doctor to properly prescribe your HRT regimen and to alter the dosages as your doctor sees fit based on your blood test results and your physical exams.   There is not one answer that fits all... we all have unique bodies that require unique treatments under the medical supervision of your doctor.

As member Sophiaprincess2019 mentioned at the end of her comment reply:
  "Everyone on this site is in your corner always. We offer our opinions because we care."

We are all your biggest fans and we are rooting for your success!
Please continue to keep us all posted about your continuing and exciting journey.

Best Wishes to  you.
Danielle

[Dani]

I was hoping folx could share their personal experience or any scientific studies (is there such a thing? lol) on the effects of spiro+e vs. just e. Specifically I'm interested to hear about the effect on:
- Sexual function
- Skin quality (I have a lot of acne)
- Breast growth
- Fat redistribution
- Mental health (anxiety, depression, etc.)

Greetings Merm,

I am so happy you found us here at Susan's Place. There are a number of medical professionals here who give quality information or they can tell you where to find this information so you can verify the accuracy of our statements. I am a retired Pharmacist, so I do comment on HRT quite a lot.

To answers to your specific questions.

For sexual function as a male, both Spironolactone and Estradiol will decrease male sex drive which is driven primarily by Testosterone.  Spironolactone actually blocks the receptor site of Testosterone. When Estradiol is taken for a while, your body's own production of Testosterone will decrease. 

As for acne, again both will help resolve that problem, but good skin care also helps as well. Benzoyl Peroxide is a well known treatment for acne and is probably faster acting than Estrogens or any testosterone blocker.

Breast growth has two components, glandular tissue and fatty tissue. Some people do increase their glandular tissue with Spironolactone, but everybody increases their fatty tissue on their breasts and thighs with Estrogens, assuming you have the genetics and diet to deposit fat in those areas. Some of us who are incredibly thin often do not display much of any breast growth.

As for mental health, Estradiol has been a life saver for me and many other M2F transgender people. The decrease in sex drive is not as bad as it sounds because my male sex drive has been replaced by a more typical female sex drive for my age. I am almost 70 years old. Many other ladies here report a new sex drive different than before transition, but we embrace our new feelings with joy because we are now feeling more in tune with ourselves.

Lastly, it is true that older ladies seem to get prescribed injections or patches in order to reduce the cardiac risks. There are also tablets that can be taken sublingual which are just as safe as injections or patches. I am taking bio identical Estradiol sublingual for several reasons. It is cheap and available. I am involved in water sports and patches are not an option. I prefer not to use injections, but that is just me.

My point is there are many options available today. Each method has it's own advocates and detractors, but these methods are safe and effective. I do not advocate oral Estrogen tablets, especially Ethinyl Estradiol which was used in birth control pills for many years and gave Estrogens a bad name, which still persists today.