Body Hair and HRT

[christene]

Hi All,

I was just wondering how long it took for any of you to notice a significant reduction in body hair, once started on HRT. I have been on for 8 mos now, and I think things are thinning out, but I still shave my breast area, which is annoying. I have been dealing with the facial hair for a while and its almost gone, but I was wondering if I should just be a little more patient with the rest of the body. The hormones are treating me well so far...

Thanks for any input!!

Christine 

[Dora]

I was just wondering how long it took for any of you to notice a significant reduction in body hair, once started on HRT.

Christine,

I'm at 7+ months on HRT. I have read posts online that it does very little for body hair so I was not expecting great results, if any. I then came across a V-Blog posted by a TS who said that when she started HRT she was "like a bear" but two years later she has now lost most all her body hair. That made me a bit more optimistic because I too have a lot of body hair. Still, I wasn't looking for significant decrease of hair and was planning on having electrolysis done to clear it up. 

Last week I was visiting with my sister when all of sudden she exclaimed, "Wow, look what has happened to the hair on your arms." I hadn't noticed, but it was true, it is definitely thinning. I'd say less then half the amount as before. I'm not sure about my chest and legs as I shave them regularly, but the HRT is making a huge difference on my arm hair.  Thank goodness!

Dora

[christene]

Thanks Dora.

I'm noticing a definate thinning myself...but I guess I am just getting anxious. Some days I notice differences and somedays it seems like it is all at a standstill. I guess I will just keep popping these pills faithfully and be patient....

Christine

[Dora]

Some days I notice differences and somedays it seems like it is all at a standstill. I guess I will just keep popping these pills faithfully and be patient....

[laugh] Me too! People are starting to notice things that I do not see. And when they point them out to me, it does look different, but...

As the vulture said to the other vulture, "Patience my ass! I'm gonna eat something." 

Dora

[Terra]

Year and a half later, i've still got body hair. But its alot finer and maybe sparser. Certainly is taking alot longer to grow back, and shaving my chest works to hide my body hair. Unlike before where i'd have to use makeup to hide it if my chest showed.

Doubt HRT would make it stop completely, but I do know girls who have lower back and stomach hair.

[reginaNJ]

I have been on hrt for well over 2 years now. I have very little hair growth on my arms or legs and it is very fine I shave about once every 2 weeks.On my stomach and under arms growth has virtually stopped. even my beard growth has gotten alot slower . I shaved on a tuesday and by friday I still only have what some men get by 5

[christene]

Thank you all for your replies. And thank the Maker there is a forum such as this....there are so many questions that arise and get answered here....it is really wonderful, and needed.

Christine

[Robin_p]

I spend less time shaving my whole body. I still have to shave my chest and belly usually a couple of swipes. I have been on HRT for six months. Every other month i have to Nair my back. The thing for me are my eyebrows i have to get them Waxed every week.

[soldierjane]

Hi All,

I was just wondering how long it took for any of you to notice a significant reduction in body hair, once started on HRT. I have been on for 8 mos now, and I think things are thinning out, but I still shave my breast area, which is annoying. I have been dealing with the facial hair for a while and its almost gone, but I was wondering if I should just be a little more patient with the rest of the body. The hormones are treating me well so far...

Thanks for any input!!

Christine 

Hey Christine,

It usually depends on the person, their hair strength and how late they started transitioning, but in general expect a dramatic reduction in the first months with stuff turning more into peach fuzz or lightening up in the coming years.
Like your body shape and boob growth, it may take time.

[HairExpert]

Hello, I am a male who is not contemplating conversion.  However, I despise a lot my body hair, and have had itching thinning head hair for years -- so I have done a lot of research related to scalp hair loss, body hair removal and dandruff/psoriasis/eczema etc...  I take Fincar (like Propecia) and Rogaine at the moment for my scalp hair loss, and get electrolysis done on myself once a month.

Anyway, can someone tell me what names/types of these HRT drugs reduce body hair the most.  Can I take those same drugs less frequently than you guys to reduce some body hair, and not get other major side effects such as boobs and a feminine face?

Thanks so much for those who reply.  Please feel free to add anything else too.

[Just Mandy]

Spironolactone and 17β-estradiol are the drugs.

But in one word... don't... don't even try it!

Spiro reduces testostorone to nothing (not good for a man)  and 17β-estradiol provides estrogen (female sex hormone).

You will grow breasts (fairly quickly) and you will lose the ability to get an erection. You scalp hair will look beter than
it has in years and bald areas will re-grow somewhat... but with breasts and mr limply most women will not care.

Oh... and you may look female

[HairExpert]

Thanks for your kind reply.  Do you use topical Spiro or tabular Spiro?

[lady amarant]

Thanks for your kind reply.  Do you use topical Spiro or tabular Spiro?

Hon, this is not something you should be dong on a whim. Spiro has serious side-effects, and depriving your body of any sex hormones at all can lead to all sorts of complications - osteoporosis, heart-problems, all sorts of crap.

If this really IS something you want to do, then you need to speak to a doctor who can advise you on alternatives, but unless you are replacing your birth hormones with the other set, you are heading for trouble.

[soldierjane]

Thanks for your kind reply.  Do you use topical Spiro or tabular Spiro?

Hon, this is not something you should be dong on a whim. Spiro has serious side-effects, and depriving your body of any sex hormones at all can lead to all sorts of complications - osteoporosis, heart-problems, all sorts of crap.

If this really IS something you want to do, then you need to speak to a doctor who can advise you on alternatives, but unless you are replacing your birth hormones with the other set, you are heading for trouble.

Indeed. If you want hair reduction only you should look into laser.

[Just Mandy]

I'm having a hard time trying to imagine why a normal man would want to
reduce testosterone to nothing just to have less body hair or more scalp hair.
I agree that what you need is laser.

Sweetie, taking Spiro orally is like getting castrated and if you do not replace the testostorone
with Estrogen you will have health problems. SERIOUS health problems. And if you take
estrogen you will grow a nice set of breasts, have true female emotions, shapely body,
female facial characteristics, etc. If that's what you want then welcome to the club

But please don't "just try it", I really, really don't think it's what you want.

I guess to each his own, I won't judge you if you don't judge me.

[HairExpert]

Ok thanks for the replies.  I said earlier that I wanted to try a lighter dose than what you guys take, meaning that I would want to reduce my testosterone by say 50 percent, which might still be okay?!  A ton of people on hair loss forums take Spiro, although a lot take the less dangerous topical form and thats why I was curious if anyone here takes the topical version. Please read the following:

http://www.hairlosstalk.com/newsletter/article157.htm

By the way, I tried laser hair removal on my forehead and it only grew more hair and temporarily darkened my skin, which is slightly dark to begin with.  LHR is more successful on lighter skin.

I have long ears and dark undereye circles and the balding look doesn't suit me well.

[Tanya1]

try the topical version- because that would affect hair the most.

So yea...

[lady amarant]

although a lot take the less dangerous topical form and thats why I was curious if anyone here takes the topical version.

I doubt you'd find anybody on here taking the topical version. Keep in mind, we wanna kill the little buggers off or at least block them as efficiently and murderously as possible.

[Just Mandy]

I agree I don't think anyone here is going to be using the topical but I may be wrong.

I think I know what you're feeling, we feel the same way about our bodies
and apperance and will stop at nothng to make what we think, feel and see in our
minds match what's on the outside.  But sweetie, you are going about it the
wrong way. As a man you do not want to have half the testosterone in your
body just for the sake of hair. Testostorone is what makes you a man and
gives you your sexual drive and ability to have erections without it or at reduced
levels your sex drive will be lower or non-existent and so will your erections.

I went to your link and then to "Spironolactone Forum" and some of those
guys are taking much much more than I do (against forum rules to talk about doages) and
I can guarantee that their testosterone levels are ZERO. ZERO. ZERO. That
is crazy. For a TS spiro and estrogen completes us, for you, in my opinion will destroy
what makes you a man.

[christene]

Hi all,

Checking back and find things have strayed a bit? Im still wondering about some others experiences with body hair loss with the HRT. Im in nine months now of HRT and it does seems to be getting thinner and lighter.

Christine