Hormones - What happens?

[Davina]

Can anyone give me a first hand account of the affects of hormone treatment. As I have started therapy to have hormone treatment I am naturally curious the affects it has on ones body and mind. When do you physically start to feel different? Mentally, do you feel different? How soon can you feel the changes?

Love
Davina

[rejennyrated]

Unfortunately it's really not a simple question and there is no one size fits all answer.

Physically - everyone is different. Some don't respond at all, some get a degree of redistribuition but not enough, some, like me, get the full effect. To some extent your age has a bearing as before 30 hormones have a MUCH larger effect. But it really does depnd on how you are wired.

Mentally - very difficult for me to say because I've been on the things for around 30 years and postop for 25 so I don't recall. In any case you will be looking out from the inside, so to you everything will seem normal. It's everyone else who is going to notice any changes.

I would say that the effects start pretty quickly but build up slowly over twelve months or more and although the changes eventually slow they probably don't stop for five or more years.

[Pippa]

For me, I am starting to see some of the physical effects, boobs growing, etc but almost more important are the emotional and mental effects.   I did go through a period where my emotions were all over the place but they seem to have settled down somewhat.   I feel much calmer inside ,ike a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.   I still getted stressed with 'coming out fear' but that is why I am undertaking therapy, to build up my courage and to make me settled inside myself .

The physical effects are good.   The emotional effects are better.

[Janet_Girl]

For me, at 54, when I started.  It wasn't anything for about a month.  I felt more at peace because I was just taking them.  Then the boobs began to hurt and grow.  Slowly.  My mind began to become clearer.  But the rest of the body has not responded.

Now the 'E' has even a great reign over my body without those nasty 'T' Factories.  So we shall see over the next year.

YMMV

Hugs and Love
Janet

[JodieBlonde]

I agree - it's different for every one and your results might not be anywhere the same.

As it is, I can only speak anecdotally - but I have opted to not go all the way and am happy the way I am. Still on estrogen in the form of Progynova, I originally started with Premarin which really hit me pretty hard.

In just a few weeks I had substantial breast growth, but emotionally I was a wreck. I cried at Three Stooges movies and couldn't even watch anything that normally would not cause me to tear-up and cry. Thankfully, this treatment (for migraines) lasted only six months - but by then I was wearing a pair of Bs and had a serious case of chest jiggles.

Fast forward to more recently and I am on Progynova - NO emotional highs/lows and I can even watch movies with sad themes without much crying at all. I "mist-up", but the crying jags are not there any more.

Fat redistribution wasn't so obvious on Premarin, but I didn't stay with it for longer than my EENT suggested for my migraines - which is why I took it in the first place. BTW: In spite of others' anecdotal stories, the migraines ceased almost immediately and have never returned after that treatment - go figger!

Today on Progynova for a substantial amount of time, I have good fat distribution, breast growth and especially they have filled in underneath to give great volume and shape. I have some nice cleavage and have gone to an almost D now, as "my cup runnith over" a little in Cs.

Weight gain was typical for anyone going over-the-hill, and I guess that although I am in no way fat or chunky, I can see a little tummy bulge now. As soon as I can get some pixs, I'll post a few of me here. 

Hips, of course will not widen after male-pattern puberty has happened, as the bones get "fixed" into position and won't bend or grow in a new pattern. I imagine there is a surgical repair or modification available, but I haven't heard of it. 

[V M]

I tend to be rather sensitive to stuff and started noticing changes within the first month.

i.e. Boobs perked up, gained a bit in the rear and on my belly. Smoother skin and softer, more elastic hair

I also seem a bit more emotional

As other's have mentioned, everyone is different and may get varied results 

[K8]

As the others have said, it all depends.  I started at age 65. 

Three days after starting progesterone I felt suddenly calm and at peace with myself for the first time in my life.  That feeling has persisted. 

The estrogen effects took longer.  Gradually I became much more emotional - not in a bad way, just not as unfeeling as I had always been.  I tear up easily and am far more sentimental.  I also have become chatty and almost perky, but that may be the freedom to be myself and not the hormones.  At eight months on hormones I have good A-cup breasts, some fat on my lower belly and gradual growth (fat) on my hips, butt, and thighs.

For me, it was the emotional effects that have been the most remarkable and the most welcome.

- Kate

[Dana Lane]

I started blocking Testosterone about 7 months ago and noticed within a few weeks or so that I was much calmer. To the extent I haven't experienced 'anger' since. I can get mad but it never escalates beyond that.

2 months later I added estrogen and within a month or so noticed my skin getting softer and hair growing a bit faster and actually began growing new hair. About that time my breasts started developing as well. The painful nodules behind the nipple area has persisted since. I am an A cup at the moment hoping for continued development.

In the last couple of months my face has changed a lot. The fat is redistributing a bit and my cheeks have filled out and my face rounded a bit.

I love the changes so far but the changes in my mental state are most important to me! I am now calm and patient which I never really experienced before. It is awesome!

[Maddie Secutura]

I started my hormones back in April but had to take a month of and  then resumed in June.  I had a somewhat androgynous appearance before and 6 months later I'm definitely over the edge into looking more female than male.  The effects have been subtle but looking back I can see definite changes.  I'm rocking about an A cup right now and they still have some growing to do (look up tanner stage 3 if you want a better indicator).  There's been a little bit fat redistribution and muscle loss; enough that I've gone from looking like an average male to a muscular female. 

As far as the emotional effects I find there hasn't been too much of a change except for a little more emotional sensitivity but I don't get drastic mood swings or anything. 

[Firelight]

I'm only about half a year in, so take it for what it is. I'm 26 now and started when I was 25, so that's helped quite a bit.

Emotionally, I really don't think I'm that much different. It's not to say that there isn't some effect there, but I've always been very sensitive to others, and even more so, I've always been pretty good at keeping my emotions in check without repressing them unhealthily. A time and a place for everything, as they say.

I don't know when I first noticed it - maybe a month or two ago - but I actually had to blink and do a legitimate double-take when I looked at my chest in the mirror and saw it was sticking out a ways. I still don't have full-scale breasts by any means, but they're definitely and visibly beginning to come along.

My shoe size has already gone down a ways. I can wear a size 10 (women's) shoe now, which gives me a lot more options at the store, hehe. My skin is softer, and although my weight as stayed about the same, my belly has become softer as well.

In addition, my body hair growth has thankfully diminished quite a bit. I used to have to shave my arms and legs every other day. Now I can get by for a week or so without absolutely needing to.

Finally, I've been told a couple of times that my face is beginning to look a little different. While I hope this is absolutely true, and I've wondered if I'm seeing it myself, I still don't think I've changed my appearance significantly. Here's hoping, though!

[Firelight]

I disagree with the notion that age is a major factor with HRT. I am 51 and am very happy with the effects it has had on me over the past few years.

Remember that ANY time an anecdotal subject like this comes up, it should always come with the tagline: "Your results may vary."

Some people into their 50s and even 60s get very fast, very dramatic results. While some people in their early 20s see almost nothing at all. We're not saying that age is the absolute, be-all end-all factor to hormone results, we're just saying it can sometimes be a factor.

[JodieBlonde]

I wonder if those who are really declining in their male hormones - which seems to drop off around the early twenties or so - and actually started the regime in their 50s or early 60s would have an easier and more dramatic change than if the same person tried HRT at a younger age in the time right after adolescence and up to their late 40s or so.

Just wonderin'

I know that once the male patterns are established, it takes a lot of hormone intervention to make the radical changes to a typical male body after that in most cases (the caveat!) .

If as it sounds - the male hormone starts to decline and drop off in the latter twenties then the estrogen may have an easier time generating bodily changes by waiting for a few years.

I know most here are looking for  "now results" and that may not seem right - but like I said I'm just wonderin'. 



I'm in my early sixties now, and I have no real problems passing. But I find that I am getting better and more visible changes as I find my natural testosterone levels are almost dried up now.

[Asfsd4214]

I wonder if those who are really declining in their male hormones - which seems to drop off around the early twenties or so - and actually started the regime in their 50s or early 60s would have an easier and more dramatic change than if the same person tried HRT at a younger age in the time right after adolescence and up to their late 40s or so.

Just wonderin'

I know that once the male patterns are established, it takes a lot of hormone intervention to make the radical changes to a typical male body after that in most cases (the caveat!) .

If as it sounds - the male hormone starts to decline and drop off in the latter twenties then the estrogen may have an easier time generating bodily changes by waiting for a few years.

I know most here are looking for  "now results" and that may not seem right - but like I said I'm just wonderin'. 

Sorry but there are several reason's that's inadvisable at best.

For starters, testosterone level's in males don't tend to start decreasing until well into their 30's.

In addition to that, there's also permanent changes still being accumulated by testosterone during that period.

Then there's the fact that anti-androgen's can decrease the testosterone levels in your 20's or earlier anyway.

In short, waiting a few year's simply has no positive effects as far as HRT's effectiveness, but potentially and likely many negatives.

[Luna!]

Then there's the fact that anti-androgen's can decrease the testosterone levels in your 20's or earlier anyway.

For an example, I'm 23, and I'm actually starting to develop breasts on just the absence of testosterone; my own slight estrogen production is enough to set them off.

Sensitivity to these things drops quite a bit once you get past 30 or so, eventually to about 50% of what it was at 20. It's not really a matter of "need twice as much estrogen to get the same result" as it is "will only achieve half as much development (at best), regardless of dosage".

If you can get on these in your 20s, it should be done then. Waiting for a natural lull in testosterone isn't going to help any.

[shanetastic]

This is so subjective really though, as each person is physiologically different.  It is pretty much all luck of draw and what you have to work with when you begin.  I don't think hormones make you a totally different person psychologically or physically, but more so ever just alter some areas of your life (Okay that might be contradicting).  The trend goes the younger you start the better the results, however that's not entirely accurate as well.

Pretty much, only way to tell what happens is if you do it :p  I can look at old pictures and think to myself wow like I used to look like that.  But at the same time, I look very similar to how I used to look just with slightly modified areas which I believe are for the bettering.   

[Asfsd4214]

This is so subjective really though, as each person is physiologically different.  It is pretty much all luck of draw and what you have to work with when you begin.  I don't think hormones make you a totally different person psychologically or physically, but more so ever just alter some areas of your life (Okay that might be contradicting).  The trend goes the younger you start the better the results, however that's not entirely accurate as well.

Pretty much, only way to tell what happens is if you do it :p  I can look at old pictures and think to myself wow like I used to look like that.  But at the same time, I look very similar to how I used to look just with slightly modified areas which I believe are for the bettering.

While nothing in this is "that" predictable. I think it is pretty safe to say that doing it later will always be worse than doing it sooner, from a physiological standpoint. You're not going to be able to get better results by waiting longer before starting. 

[K8]

You will get better results the earlier you start.  However, it is possible to get good results starting late, depending on the receptors in your tissue.  I don't buy the idea that if you don't start by the age of 20, say, your life will be ruined.  (I've seen that sentiment on this forum, although not on this thread.)

But it's not as simple as just get them as soon as you can.  Taking hormones will affect your physical development and your life from when you start them until you die.  While some 12 year-olds are very certain of themselves, some 40 year-olds are still struggling.  (I was one of those latter ones. )  Read the threads and articles about de-transitioning and regrets.

Hormones are just one aspect of a very complex process to become who you should be.  They may seem to be a simple solution to a complex problem, but they are not the solution for everyone.  Rushing into them because you are already 18 or 20 or 30 is a bad idea.  We're talking about your life here – probably the only life you're going to get.  Take care of it.  Be careful.

- Kate

[kelliBennett]

Things I have noticed while currently taking Anti-Androgens, Estrogen, and Propecia all for about the last 6 months. (I actually started the Propecia a few months before.

Physically, I my skin is a bit softer, my chest is starting to approach a good A cup. and I am seeing fat redistribution in my face and on my hips. Add in the propecia and I am seeing great results on the top of my head. my MPB was mild to begin with but the regrowth has surprised me a bit.

Emotional I feel fine, wonderful actually. Nothing new, I was always considered a sensitive man, but they are much more vibrant or intense when they occur. But I have never felt on a roller coaster.

All this at the age of 34.

[pamshaw]

I was older when I started HRT but fortunately I was small boned and feminine naturally. HRT has helped me mentally even more than physically. I am much more calm and have lost any agressive thoughts. I always think flight rather than fight. I am very relaxed but emotional and I am OK with crying and expressing my emotions. Physically my skin is softer and the small mounds on my chest are very nice. I will have an orci soon so I will be finished with T for good.

Pam

[V M]

I had heard that HRT would have less effect on older folks 

But I've been pleasantly surprised by my results at 48