Best HRT regime for partial results?

[jayjay]

I am a pre-transition MTF and currently in a great relationship with a great woman and I don't want to lose her.  Inside I feel like I am a lesbian who just happens to have a permanently attached inflatable dildo.  It doesn't do that much for me, but my partner likes it.   

The problem is she is not a lesbian and she said she would leave me if I transitioned all the way.  I think/hope she would be OK if I partially transitioned into a more androgynous person with larger breasts and softer skin.  (I already have natural A cups and sometimes wonder whether I am really intersex because of my gynecomastia.  They are so big and lumpy that my doc makes me get mammograms. And I am not fat, either. )

I know that specific dosages are taboo on this board, but I would appreciate hearing about any experience with different HRT regimens for just growing breasts (and getting some emotional peace from the gender demons) while still allowing that icky male thing to inflate when needed.  What does Estrogen alone do without an AA?  Or spiro without estrogen? 

[imaz]

Leaving aside the why you want to do this, I would say from my personal experience of having been on HRT for over 17 years that Estrogen has less effect on one's sex life than Anti-Androgens.

To be frank I've been on Estrogen so long that if I come off it my libido disappears for some reason. Also I find Anti-Androgens tend to make me slightly depressed in some intangible way.

Hope that helps.

[Seshatneferw]

Your situation sounds very much like mine: an organic strap-on dildo making it possible to have a relationship with a(nother?) straight woman. The main difference is that I've pretty much come to the conclusion that I'm not pre-transition but rather at least in mid-'transition', from pretending to be male to wherever I'll end up going. Likely not all the way to female, but that's not really very important. The goal is to be me; how others see me is their problem.

I'm not fully on HRT, partly because I haven't (yet?) had to go that far and partly because that's one of the main things my wife cannot accept. Speaking of which, don't assume your SO would be all right with some sort of HRT, talk it through with her beforehand. It's much better either way.

Anyhow, my 'HRT Lite' started out as a finasteride prescription to halt the already much too far advanced hair loss. It works for that, sort of, but what I really like are the side effects, mainly a much reduced tendency of the, er, attachment to, um, inflate on its own, and a pair of small but quite unmistakeable breasts. Lately I've also tried some soy extract marketed for post-menopausal women (yes, staying within recommended dosage), and so far that feels good. Surprisingly, it now seems easier to manage the 'inflation', rather in line with what Imaz suggests about oestrogen and libido.

  Nfr

[coolJ]

I am a pre-transition MTF and currently in a great relationship with a great woman and I don't want to lose her.  Inside I feel like I am a lesbian who just happens to have a permanently attached inflatable dildo.  It doesn't do that much for me, but my partner likes it.   

The problem is she is not a lesbian and she said she would leave me if I transitioned all the way.  I think/hope she would be OK if I partially transitioned into a more androgynous person with larger breasts and softer skin.  (I already have natural A cups and sometimes wonder whether I am really intersex because of my gynecomastia.  They are so big and lumpy that my doc makes me get mammograms. And I am not fat, either. )

I know that specific dosages are taboo on this board, but I would appreciate hearing about any experience with different HRT regimens for just growing breasts (and getting some emotional peace from the gender demons) while still allowing that icky male thing to inflate when needed.  What does Estrogen alone do without an AA?  Or spiro without estrogen?

Wow, hi ,gee this sounds exactly like me! My non lesbian wife keeps asking me if I'm taking anything but I'm not--yet. I'm trying to find out if theres any natural route I can start with. So far Ive come up short.

[pheonix]

I am a pre-transition MTF and currently in a great relationship with a great woman and I don't want to lose her.  Inside I feel like I am a lesbian who just happens to have a permanently attached inflatable dildo.  It doesn't do that much for me, but my partner likes it.   

The problem is she is not a lesbian and she said she would leave me if I transitioned all the way.  I think/hope she would be OK if I partially transitioned into a more androgynous person with larger breasts and softer skin.  (I already have natural A cups and sometimes wonder whether I am really intersex because of my gynecomastia.  They are so big and lumpy that my doc makes me get mammograms. And I am not fat, either. )

I know that specific dosages are taboo on this board, but I would appreciate hearing about any experience with different HRT regimens for just growing breasts (and getting some emotional peace from the gender demons) while still allowing that icky male thing to inflate when needed.  What does Estrogen alone do without an AA?  Or spiro without estrogen?

Hmmm...

Here's the real challenge... if you do have some sort of mild intersex condition, the physical changes brought about by hormones could happen far quicker and be far more dramatic than for a typical transwoman, even on low dosages.   If you do have an intersex condition it also adds some medical risks as your hormone levels could spike very quickly.  As risky as self administration is for the typical transperson, it is more dangerous for those with a a minor intersex condition. 

In other words, use an endocrinologist and preferably someone with experience working with patients with intersex conditions.

That being said, it is possible to select hormone regiments which meet what you hope to accomplish.  Be specific with your endo about your desire to remain functional.  I personally selected Spiro because you can maintain functionality on low dosages.

The final thing I'll caution you with, you can't control what extent the hormones will affect your body.  Based on the expectations I had from HRT, I had assumed I could take hormones and be able to cover the effects while presenting male or androgynous.  But my reality turned out far different than expected.

My personal situation prior to HRT sounds comparable to yours.  I have a minor intersex condition and you sound similar to how I was starting off.  Initially I began only on Estrogen.  Within about 4 weeks I began to notice major changes in my breasts and aureole.  By four months I reached a full A cup in growth.  At that time, I began a very low dosage of progesterone. 

At the end of the seventh month, I reached a full B cup in size.  Within a month it was clear binding would soon not be an option and I made the decision I needed to go full-time.  At that point I began taking a low dose of Spiro to reduce body hair. 

By 12 months I was at a full C-cup.  At that point I was visibly jiggling even when bound so it was impossible to effectively hide the changes.  I went full-time.

I'm now 24 months since starting HRT.  I am right on the border between C and D cups and I'm still showing signs of growth.

If your growth curve is even half as dramatic as mine was, I'd suggest you spend some serious time working through these issues with your spouse before beginning any hormones.  Maybe couples counseling?  She needs to be ready for this potential and be knowledgeable with what's going on.  Any relationship is built on trust and you should be open with her about this.

[Wendy]

Hmm one girlfriend uses Bicalutamide and E.  She says she still performs for her wife.

My endo gives me spiro and e and a few other things.  I can give myself an O but I can no longer perform as a male.  My wife is turned off by girls so that is not an issue.  We still love each other so that we snuggle and that seems to work for the current period in our lives.  I present male and B cups are not a big concern.

[intelxtreme]

Hmmm...

Here's the real challenge... if you do have some sort of mild intersex condition, the physical changes brought about by hormones could happen far quicker and be far more dramatic than for a typical transwoman, even on low dosages.   If you do have an intersex condition it also adds some medical risks as your hormone levels could spike very quickly.  As risky as self administration is for the typical transperson, it is more dangerous for those with a a minor intersex condition. 

In other words, use an endocrinologist and preferably someone with experience working with patients with intersex conditions.

That being said, it is possible to select hormone regiments which meet what you hope to accomplish.  Be specific with your endo about your desire to remain functional.  I personally selected Spiro because you can maintain functionality on low dosages.

The final thing I'll caution you with, you can't control what extent the hormones will affect your body.  Based on the expectations I had from HRT, I had assumed I could take hormones and be able to cover the effects while presenting male or androgynous.  But my reality turned out far different than expected.

My personal situation prior to HRT sounds comparable to yours.  I have a minor intersex condition and you sound similar to how I was starting off.  Initially I began only on Estrogen.  Within about 4 weeks I began to notice major changes in my breasts and aureole.  By four months I reached a full A cup in growth.  At that time, I began a very low dosage of progesterone. 

At the end of the seventh month, I reached a full B cup in size.  Within a month it was clear binding would soon not be an option and I made the decision I needed to go full-time.  At that point I began taking a low dose of Spiro to reduce body hair. 

By 12 months I was at a full C-cup.  At that point I was visibly jiggling even when bound so it was impossible to effectively hide the changes.  I went full-time.

I'm now 24 months since starting HRT.  I am right on the border between C and D cups and I'm still showing signs of growth.

If your growth curve is even half as dramatic as mine was, I'd suggest you spend some serious time working through these issues with your spouse before beginning any hormones.  Maybe couples counseling?  She needs to be ready for this potential and be knowledgeable with what's going on.  Any relationship is built on trust and you should be open with her about this.

Lets see ur transition sounds good