What if you just don't do harmone therapy?

[DL71]

I was sitting here reading up on everything, and I'm trying to figure out if hormone therapy is even necessary for MTF. I'm sure it is and I haven't found out why yet. I just don't want to do something that big to my brain unless it's totally necessary. A lot of the things like getting hips and bigger breasts could be taken care of with cosmetic surgery. My hip bones themselves are wide enough and I don't think I want any more there (they make me sad because I work hard to maintain under 6% body fat but I still have love handles because of my bones ). Any thoughts?

[Renate]

There are many different ways to transition.
HRT (for mental and physical effects), FFS, SRS and presenting as female are all somewhat independent.
Many people start out wanting a subset of the above and end up wanting everything.
Still, there are many people who hold back on specific items for specific reasons.

I would have to rate the mental/emotional effects of HRT to be extremely important for me.
I wanted to do something "that big to my brain".
I'm very happy.

[The None Blonde]

I was sitting here reading up on everything, and I'm trying to figure out if hormone therapy is even necessary for MTF. I'm sure it is and I haven't found out why yet. I just don't want to do something that big to my brain unless it's totally necessary. A lot of the things like getting hips and bigger breasts could be taken care of with cosmetic surgery. My hip bones themselves are wide enough and I don't think I want any more there (they make me sad because I work hard to maintain under 6% body fat but I still have love handles because of my bones ). Any thoughts?

Honestly, hrt doesnt do that much to the brain... people make a big deal about it because it makes them happier... more comfortable, but doesnt CHANGE them... you dont 'become' a woman if you aernt one, and you dont magically become someone else.
The HRT is to stop the male hormones making you more... um, male, and to put the 'right' hormones in your body.
Your hips really wont grow that much in all honesty, if at all, and while you can get the same results with surgery, it costs a LOT more, and why bother when you can have it naturally? ie, you...

my question is why not? HRT, for a transsexual person, really doesnt have any downsides in the results category.

[Renate]

Honestly, hrt doesnt do that much to the brain...

Sorry, I beg to differ. This is a case of YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).
My brain is entirely different on HRT. It's been the ingredient that I've been lacking.

[The None Blonde]

How so?

I mean, hrt made me more... emotional, but thats a hormonal thing anyway, it broadened feelings... tastes etc... all chemical. Nothing about me neurologically is that different, I was a girl before, I am now, I guess its different for everyone, but I cant see how you'd 'change'.

[Imadique]

You can't get the same fat redistribution through surgery, I would imagine you wouldn't get as good a result from Breast Augmentation if you don't use the hormones to grow a bit of breast to begin with and there's all the minor effects that add up too like the smoother skin, finer body hair etc. Not to mention halting further male development if you're younger and the fact that the "changes" to your brain are positive from most reports. Speaking for myself I can say I think a lot more clearly and have been happier since HRT, though obviously it's not a cure all

[Dana Lane]

Sorry, I beg to differ. This is a case of YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).
My brain is entirely different on HRT. It's been the ingredient that I've been lacking.

I am with you on this. I am calm when I used to be angry, I am more understanding and patient, I have more empathy and just a general feeling of well being. Those things are in your brain and not another part of your body. This has had a huge effect on me. And let us not forget about pheromone production and reception. Receptors in the brain will change to match that of a female (if you are MTF).

And to the OP. There will be a lot of physical changes such as softer skin, less body hair, fat redistribution in face, waist, hips and thighs.

[Krissy_Australia]

I would have to rate the mental/emotional effects of HRT to be extremely important for me.
I wanted to do something "that big to my brain".
I'm very happy.

How so?

I mean, hrt made me more... emotional, but thats a hormonal thing anyway, it broadened feelings... tastes etc... all chemical. Nothing about me neurologically is that different, I was a girl before, I am now, I guess its different for everyone, but I cant see how you'd 'change'.

Renate why did you feel you needed hormones to change your mind

HRT is not thinking about becoming a woman

[Renate]

Renate why did you feel you needed hormones to change your mind

Um, it didn't "change" my mind.
HRT was the missing ingredient that I needed.
It gave me calmness, patience, serenity and happiness.
In some ways, for me, it had very little to do with gender.
In other ways, for me, it had a lot to do with gender and giving me emotional 3 dimensionalism.

[Krissy_Australia]

Then why say
I would have to rate the mental/emotional effects of HRT to be extremely important for me.
I wanted to do something "that big to my brain".

Post Merge: October 30, 2009, 07:33:56 AM
i wanted to change my body

[Dana Lane]

There is the 'brain' and then there is the 'mind'. 
http://aebrain.blogspot.com/2009/09/effects-of-hormones-on-brain.html


The Effects of Hormones on the Brain
Two for the reference library:

Changing your sex changes your brain: influences of testosterone and estrogen on adult human brain structure by Pol et al, Europ Jnl Endocrinology, Vol 155, suppl_1, S107-S114 2006
Abstract

Objective: Sex hormones are not only involved in the formation of reproductive organs, but also induce sexually-dimorphic brain development and organization. Cross-sex hormone administration to transsexuals provides a unique possibility to study the effects of sex steroids on brain morphology in young adulthood.

Methods: Magnetic resonance brain images were made prior to, and during, cross-sex hormone treatment to study the influence of anti-androgen + estrogen treatment on brain morphology in eight young adult male-to-female transsexual human subjects and of androgen treatment in six female-to-male transsexuals.

Results: Compared with controls, anti-androgen + estrogen treatment decreased brain volumes of male-to-female subjects towards female proportions, while androgen treatment in female-to-male subjects increased total brain and hypothalamus volumes towards male proportions.


Conclusions: The findings suggest that, throughout life, gonadal hormones remain essential for maintaining aspects of sex-specific differences in the human brain.
In other words, sex hormones cause gross changes in volume in some brain structures.

[The None Blonde]

Ok that's what I meant.... Hormones dont 'change' your brain.... at all.

They do however have chemical effects generated by the hormones themselves....

Same engine
DIfferent fuel... engine performs differently?

[lpfix2009]

Renate why did you feel you needed hormones to change your mind

HRT is not thinking about becoming a woman

Im with Renate on this one because you do feel tranquility! It is not "about becoming a woman"

However it helps one's center to be one with self!

There's an arithmetic equation between the serotonin levels with estrogen that come into effect. You feel "Happy" and "Glad" and relief all in one! 

[FairyGirl]

I can also list all those positive aspects that have already been mentioned. I've heard it described as being like the difference between seeing the world in black and white, and seeing it in color, which seems fairly accurate.

Having said that however, if you think you're a male now, hormones won't suddenly make you think you're female. We already think as females, that's the problem and why I don't understand why anyone who suffered dysphoria would not want to replace the poison in their bodies with something more compatible. Hormones affect a lot more than just brain chemistry, breasts and hips. There are myriad subtle and not so subtle changes that it brings to both mind and body. I can't speak for those who just want to grow breasts or whatever. In that case, yeah, get surgery. But if you feel trapped in the complete wrong body as a lot of us do, then hormones are a necessary part of making yourself complete.

[K8]

I can also list all those positive aspects that have already been mentioned. I've heard it described as being like the difference between seeing the world in black and white, and seeing it in color, which seems fairly accurate.

Having said that however, if you think you're a male now, hormones won't suddenly make you think you're female. We already think as females, that's the problem and why I don't understand why anyone who suffered dysphoria would not want to replace the poison in their bodies with something more compatible. Hormones affect a lot more than just brain chemistry, breasts and hips. There are myriad subtle and not so subtle changes that it brings to both mind and body. I can't speak for those who just want to grow breasts or whatever. In that case, yeah, get surgery. But if you feel trapped in the complete wrong body as a lot of us do, then hormones are a necessary part of making yourself complete.

Amen, sister.

I don't know if the hormones changed my brain, my mind, or what, but I feel "right" for the first time in my life.  Now I am extroverted instead of introverted.  I am chatty instead of quiet.  My feelings are all over the place instead of restrained and I can feel things deeply for the first time.

I started hormones to change my body.  Now I need them because of how they make me feel. 

Hormones are not like happy pills.  I've tried those, and the effects I get on HRT are nothing like them.  Someone described it as finally running on the right grade of fuel.  After seven months on hormones I am beginning to understand what it might mean to be whole.

As always, YMMV.

- Kate

[Janet_Girl]

Ok that's what I meant.... Hormones dont 'change' your brain.... at all.

They do however have chemical effects generated by the hormones themselves....

Same engine
DIfferent fuel... engine performs differently?

_{Emphasis is mine.}

I like that NB.  And that is how I look at HRT.  My mind was running on Regular.  Now it is on a mixture of Regular and Premium.  After my Orchie, my mind will be running on pure Premium.

Can you do this without HRT?  Yes, but for surgery one must conform to the SOC, which includes HRT.  Otherwise, to my mind, you are not TS, but Like the mayor of Silverton, OR, TG.

JMHO,
Janet

[Naturally Blonde]

HRT haven't been a mind altering drug for me and I'm the same as I've always been no matter if I'm on HRT or off it. The effects I've found are limiting and disappointing in the fact they haven't implimented the physical effects I was looking for.

[heatherrose]

What if you just don't do harmone therapy?

You might not be able to find any harmony. 

[Naturally Blonde]

I was sitting here reading up on everything, and I'm trying to figure out if hormone therapy is even necessary for MTF. I'm sure it is and I haven't found out why yet. I just don't want to do something that big to my brain unless it's totally necessary. A lot of the things like getting hips and bigger breasts could be taken care of with cosmetic surgery. My hip bones themselves are wide enough and I don't think I want any more there (they make me sad because I work hard to maintain under 6% body fat but I still have love handles because of my bones ). Any thoughts?

I don't think anyone would know if you did or didn't, the effects are so slight. I know a TG person who has been on HRT for many years and still works as a man. No one at work suspects he had ever been on HRT.

[Hannah]

I know a TG person who has been on HRT for many years and still works as a man. No one at work suspects he had ever been on HRT.

as I read this all cuddled up and warm and nekkie after having decided not to get out of bed for a few more days, i'm sure glad I didn't believe the naysayers when I started looking into hrt. My dramatically changed face, incredibly enhanced emotional capacity, this warm, soft, hairless skin and perky little b cups would never have happened.