Height and HRT

[Icephoenyx]

Boys: When you started T, did you notice any growth spurts? Or any changes at all?

Girls: Anyone getting smaller? I am over six feet tall and would do anything to be even an inch smaller, I hate public places because I feel like I stand out and am so different.

If so, how much has it changed in what time frames?

And I'm talking about changes that may be from HRT, not from puberty, aging, medical conditions, etc.

Thanks!

Chrissi

[lilacwoman]

lost almost two inches over perhaps three years.

[marleen]

this makes me really wish this is going to happen, as I'm 6'4", and it would reduce the light-house effect :-)
But unfortunately, after 5 months of HRT, no noticable changes...

[pebbles]

I was 5'9 I've shrunk a tiny bit to 5'8

[pheonix]

I've lost about a 1/2" since being on HRT

[Icephoenyx]

But how long have you all been on HRT for these changes to happen?

Also, did you feel yourself shrinking, such as reverse growing pains if there is such a thing??

Chrissi

[Janet_Girl]

Having been on HRT for 29 months, I have not shrunk at all.  Sorry.

[lilacwoman]

the loss was quite gradual and perhaps 2/3 years.

re the reverse growing pains in the last year of being at home all day and doing no heavy work my shoulders have started clunking and banging as though they are seriously worn out.   I'm hoping I won't be needing shoulder operations soon but any attempt to scratch my back makes awful pains and noises so something is not right.
I did a male life of heavy work which would explain my eventually getting shoulder problems but to get them after being idle for 5 years is a bit strange as logically a nice restful life would allow healing to take place?  And in fact most males who did heavy work get back problems not shoulder ones.
Do we have to think that strong broad shoulders is a male/testo thing so cutting the T to zero and getting a female E level means that our shoulders are lacking some essential hormonal input?  I eat a really good diet so I'm not lacking in anything vitamin or mineral wise.

[pebbles]

With me I don't precisely know when it happened I read a topic about it and went "that's not how it works you don't shrink" *checks* but I had infact shrunk an inch.

[Terra Anne]

@lilacwoman,

This is just a slightly educated assumption, maybe someone with a better education on the subject could clear it up, but to my understanding when hitting the end of your growth spirts the ends of your bones close off preventing them from shrinking. (Im kind of confusing myself with the subject matter & whats been said but im going to try and ramble myself through it) It makes sense to me that if any shrinking happens its most likely caused by your bodymass itself becoming smaller & bones moving closer together so perhaps the shoulder problems you are  experiencing is caused by your shoulder blades rubbing up against the connecting bones ?

The only source of knowledge i have on the subject is what i have read researching foot size. My feet havent grown since i was 12 years old. I wear a 7.5 mens or a 9ish womens and have always wanted smaller feet. To my understanding, wearing tight shoes while off your feet or sleeping (to avoid major foot pain) can cause your feet to adjust to the space their given but while bones dont shrink it can cause major foot problems because of the bones rubbing together.

I hope that made sense although I am no medical professional so dont take my word for it, thats just my understanding.

[Adabelle]

I'm encouraged in reading this. I would hope that with HRT that I could possibly lose a little height, that would be great. If anyone else notices that they have lost a little height I'm sure there are others that would be really interested in hearing about it!

[westminstersub]

Well... being 6,2 I would love to shrink a bit... but I don't think that would be due to HRT...

The bones are already set, and you cannot change that. However, the way to stand, how you carry yourself, the body position, if you spend too many hours seated in front of a computer... those can make you "smaller" because you are "curving" your body... and we don't want that!!

Women usually stand more straight than men... and well... if clothes are not an issue... tall and slim women are looked as beautiful... so yes... we will stand out in a crowd... but hopefully will not be for the worst!

[lilacwoman]

does anyone have any contacts or leads in the male bodybuilding world who might know if and how much bodybuilders lose height when they stop doing heavy workouts?
most men shrink in old age so perhaps the estrogen can shrink a MtF the way lack of T can shrink a man?

[Aidan_]

Shrinking in old age is part of osteoporosis isn't it? That's not a great thing =.=

[Terra89]

I'm pretty certain science shows there is no shrinkage from taking HRT.  I think most of the reports of shrinking are from the people who are older and are losing height in general and confusing that with the effects of hormones.

[Nigella]

I've shrunk too, from 5ft 7in to 5ft 5 1/2 in over about two years. Its more to do with the loss of muscle mass in the vertebra and back.

Stardust

[aubrey]

I started HRT at 30 and am 2 inches shorter, which happened in the first year. I think it's due to spinal curvature, overall posture change due to joint/ligament/whatever-you-call-it changes, and muscle loss. My tailbone clearly sticks outward much more, center of gravity is lower etc...

[Debra]

I last measured my height years ago at 5'10 and as a guy I always tried to say it was closer to 5'11.

I've dated guys that were 5'10 or even 6' and I am starting to think I need to remeasure. I may be like 5'9 now

[Madison (kiara jamie)]

lots of people have actually experienced this effect of shortening while on hrt, most drastic are people that are at a younger age,

i believe that the change in height is due to one of the effects that is already known about hrt, a reduction in cartilage all over the body, this is most likely the greatest factors in change in height,

every joint in our body is coated with cartilage, and when there is an increase in wear on them (increased muscular tension), or in males a higher testosterone level, these cartilage increase in thickness to reduce shock and prevent wearing out.

now if every joint in your body that had an effect on your height had its cartilage reduced by only 1/32th of an inch how much height could you potentially lose, greatly reducing your height in your torso area due to the number of joints in your vertebrae.

any conflicting medical insight into my assumptions would be much appreciated

[regan]

The growth plates seal at the end of puberty due a surge in estrogen and height should be relatively fixed at that point.  Some slight changes are possible through life, as people have mentioned, due to muscle/fat changes throughout the body and the later effects of osteoporosis.

As for the tall among us (myself included)

www.tallwomen.org