The Plus and Minus of HRT

[Lacey Lynne]

I'm glad that others are facing up to the reality of the situation.

Hi:

Looking at your picture here, you are actually having much better results than I am!

My gender counselor is guiding my hormone replacement therapy.  I'm on estradiol and nothing else.  No androgen blockade.  No secondary estrogens.  She is nationally-renowned in her field and has been in it for nearly 30 years.  I trust her implicitly. 

Inasmuch as I'm older, I told her that I don't expect much from hormone replacement therapy physically ... I really don't.  She told me not to doubt it and said that I'd be surprised.  Many of her clients are in my age range and have excellent results.  Indeed, I actually saw one my age in her waiting room.  She looked fabulous! 

At only 4.5 months into hormone replacement therapy, maybe I'm expect too much.  After all, a GG does not blossom full-force just 4.5 months into puberty.  I'm speaking to myself here!

Going by your picture, you're doing better than I am.  Keep the faith!  My best!

L.L.   

[jesse]

without arguing your counselors methods im not sure why she is only having you on estrodial. this counter to what ive heard every other provider due i will be interested to know what results your having after a year.
jessica

[Lacey Lynne]

without arguing your counselors methods im not sure why she is only having you on estrodial. this counter to what ive heard every other provider due i will be interested to know what results your having after a year.
jessica

Jessica:

I totally agree with you!

I've very much wondered about this selfsame thing and have broached the subject several times tactfully and diplomatically during my most recent sessions.  If you don't mind, would you (or anybody knowledgeable on this forum) tell me precisely what your regimen for hormone replacement therapy is?  I realize this is personal and that I may be asking too private a question. 

Advice or comments, anyone?  Feel free to send me a private message (e-mail) at this website.  Thanks!

L.L.   

On the "plus side" of the equation:

The psychological effects are marvelous!  Most of you are too young to remember this.  Perhaps K8 and Janet Lynn may remember it. 

In the mid-1960s, British singer Donovan had a song called "Mellow Yellow."

That about says it for me!  Some mood swings, but I recover very quickly.  I get over negatives quickly.  Overall, I'm happy as all get out ... in a mellow way ... peacefully happy ... almost euphoric!

However!  I STILL get off on The Rolling Stones doing "Brown Sugar," Jimi Hendrix doing "Vodoo Chile" and, of course, R.E.O. Speedwagon doing "Roll with the Changes!"   I'm nuts ..., and I love it!   

[cynthialee]

Sorry Lacy...
Discussion of doseing of HRT is forbiden fruit around here.
Sorry.

[LordKAT]

HRT is allowed, dosages are not.

[Naturally Blonde]

Hi:

Looking at your picture here, you are actually having much better results than I am!

My gender counselor is guiding my hormone replacement therapy.  I'm on estradiol and nothing else.  No androgen blockade.  No secondary estrogens.  She is nationally-renowned in her field and has been in it for nearly 30 years.  I trust her implicitly. 

Inasmuch as I'm older, I told her that I don't expect much from hormone replacement therapy physically ... I really don't.  She told me not to doubt it and said that I'd be surprised.  Many of her clients are in my age range and have excellent results.  Indeed, I actually saw one my age in her waiting room.  She looked fabulous! 

At only 4.5 months into hormone replacement therapy, maybe I'm expect too much.  After all, a GG does not blossom full-force just 4.5 months into puberty.  I'm speaking to myself here!

Going by your picture, you're doing better than I am.  Keep the faith!  My best!

L.L.   

My profile picture is from 2004 and I have always looked the same as I do now, even long before I started HRT. But I haven't noticed any changes from the HRT apart from a fat belly and a tiny bit of breast growth. But my fat distribution hasn't improved or changed. Also why do you think you are older than me?

You have only just started on HRT, so it's far too early to find out how it will effect you personally. But you need to be on an anti - androgen as well as estradiol. I'm not quite sure why your endocrinologist isn't giving you anti-androgens?

[Asfsd4214]

If the dose of E is high enough and effective enough; you can forego blockers.
Some people have adverse reactions to blockers and cannot take them, so this is how they compensate.
Ever noticed that FTMs don't take 'estrogen blockers'?

That's because testosterone overpowers estrogen far more easily than vice versa, which is exactly WHY anti-androgen are important.

Given the usually relatively mild side effect profile of spironolactone, I'd be interested to hear the reasons some people can't take them. (In private though, don't wanna derail the topic)

I'm glad that others are facing up to the reality of the situation.

Ok now really, I've been letting this drop because the Admins asked me too. But this is EXACTLY why I made those posts.

By sayings like that, you are indirectly saying that any of us who don't agree with you are denying reality.

I don't really think that's ok. 

But whatever, I won't post anything else related to naturally blond.

Getting back on topic, I haven't really had any noticeable psychological effects. Maybe slightly less aggressive? For me the psychological affects are virtually nonexistent.

Physiological affects however have been many and rapid. Softer skin, facial fat redistribution, massive body hair loss. My voice has changed a lot without me really doing anything, but that's probably more subconscious if only because it's generally accepted that HRT can't do ANYTHING for that. Breast development started within the first week or so.

Personally I have nothing negative to say about HRT. The only thing I would consider a 'side effect' is having to pee more often because of spironolactone, and that's reduced a lot over time.

[Naturally Blonde]

Ok now really, I've been letting this drop because the Admins asked me too. But this is EXACTLY why I made those posts.

By sayings like that, you are indirectly saying that any of us who don't agree with you are denying reality.

I don't really think that's ok. 

But whatever, I won't post anything else related to naturally blond.

You really do like an arguement don't you Ashley? You are 21 years old and HRT might work better for you being such a young age. I'm well over twice your age so give me a break! I was agreeing with Lacey who had similar effects from HRT (See post underneath:). Some people get fat around the belly from HRT and don't get the fat on the hips or butt:

Virginia Marie:

I'm on hormone replacement therapy now for approximately 4.5 months.  Pretty much, I'm having the same effects that you are.  The psychological effects are the best.  I could go on and on. 

The one minus is weight around the middle.  I had very little of that before hormone replacement therapy.  The weight is around the middle and NOT at the hips!   Grrrr!   Maybe it will shift eventually. 

L.L.   

[Asfsd4214]

You really do like an arguement don't you Ashley? I was agreeing with Lacey who had similar effects from HRT (See post underneath:).

You were agreeing in such a way that was a put down to anyone who don't agree with your assertion that your experiences are the norm.

Anyway, lets just drop this before we incur the wrath of the admins (if I haven't already).

[V M]

Any more arguing and I will request this topic locked

[Janet_Girl]

ENOUGH!

Some have a great experience, some have had nada.

Leave it that!

I will lock this thread if everyone does not quit the bickering,  This fair warning, the next person who decides to push it further will receive a 10 percent warning

[Nero]

You really do like an arguement don't you Ashley? You are 21 years old and HRT might work better for you being such a young age. I'm well over twice your age so give me a break! I was agreeing with Lacey who had similar effects from HRT (See post underneath:). Some people get fat around the belly from HRT and don't get the fat on the hips or butt:

I'd just like to reiterate the fact that some natal women carry weight on the abdomen as opposed to the hips and behind. I was a relatively normal biological female who never was able to experience weight gain on the lower body. It all went to my upper body. This is a normal occurrence that happens to many natal females and has nothing to do with whether HRT works or not (I had normal female hormone levels before HRT).

[andream]

You don't necessarily need anti-androgens, especially if you are on injectables or pellets. I think LaceyLynne said she was on a very low dose of oral hrt before the dosage was edited out, so in that case I think an anti-androgen would be beneficial. Depending on the type of AA you use, there are other benefits too, such as the progestin side-effect of Androcur. Androcur will make your testosterone level plummet within a couple of weeks. Androcur is popular here in Australia, and in Europe, but I don't think it is available in the US.

In the long run you don't need an anti-androgen because E suppresses the testosterone anyway, eventually, but I think the anti-androgen sure makes the process quicker.

[shanetastic]

hrm  . . .

to divert this back on topic! 

I don't think I've seen a ton of changes on HRT but I mean the softer skin, more emotion, less sex drive has probably been the top of my list for pluses.

the only con is that I have to use the restroom a lot now because of spiro.

[Lacey Lynne]

To Everybody:

I edited out the dosages.  Sorry!  I did not know the discussion board etiquette and protocol on this subject.  Never again shall I mention dosages or comment on this subject, for that matter.  No offense intended.  I've learned.  

FYI:  By profession, I'm a quality control coordinator of medical editors/transcriptionists for the top company in the field in the USA.  In my job, it IS ... brain surgery, open-heart surgery, orthopedic surgery, gynecological surgery ... and medications and dosages (... often very advanced ones in very precise dosages ...) all day long, every day, every year.  My eyes are "the last stop" these reports make before they go to the hospitals (top hospitals in the nation) and become people's official medical records.  Rattling of medications and dosages is second nature to me because of this.  That's why I fired off dosages and Latin abbreviations reflexively. 

Anyway, I shall NOT mention ANY dosages here on Susan's Place heretofore!

Sorry about the blunder ... Thanks!   

L.L.   

[rejennyrated]

I'd just like to reiterate the fact that some natal women carry weight on the abdomen as opposed to the hips and behind. I was a relatively normal biological female who never was able to experience weight gain on the lower body. It all went to my upper body. This is a normal occurrence that happens to many natal females and has nothing to do with whether HRT works or not (I had normal female hormone levels before HRT).

Thank you nero - I've been thinking that for some while as I've lurked in this thread. All the women in our family are like that, massive boobs and a spare tyre around the midriff isn't my ideal look - but I have simply learnt to keep it under control. The alternative seems to be my Alison - who was like a bean pole, yet had the most feminine shaped hips and backside that I have ever seen on a transwoman - but ultimately had to have BA surgery because after decades on HRT she couldn't even get to an A cup. It's just a lottery.

The plus points of HRT are that (unless I get really ill) I feel so well all the time, I'm far more emotionally open, my language skills have improved, my small amount of body hair disappeared, and my skin is soft.

Negatives, my spatial perception, which was never that good, is rubbish (so for example I have difficulty reversing a car into a space), Weight gain all around, attacks of the munchies on days when my progesterone is high, my stamina and upper body stength is like ZERO while my thighs are now like tree trunks.

[Naturally Blonde]

All the women in our family are like that, massive boobs and a spare tyre around the midriff isn't my ideal look -

Oh I wish Jenny! I have hardly any breast growth and long for 'Massive Boobs'! I have the spare tyre though!

[Naturally Blonde]

Implants! 

Yes, I have been for a consultation already!

[Virginia]

(An Androgyne chiming in)
I started HRT for one reason- to help control the life sucking malaise of my Gender Dysphoria. It took a transition level estrogen/spiro regimen to keep me from suicide. HRT has been a godsend.

Simply put, my brain needed the female hormones my body was unable to produce for me to be at peace with being a guy. I have not experienced any other emotional or psychological effects. As a 49 year old bean pole, the physical effects have been mild, another positive for me as it is extremely important to me to be able to present female AND as a guy. Although my libido (albeit low before HRT) has not been affected, the cessation of erections and messy orgasms is quite nice. I developed full A cup breasts within 2 months, small enough to hide when I am not in girl mode, but a huge positive to my sense of female self.

The only negative I can think of it having to take medication. I have always hated to take anything, but that is such a small price to pay for all the advantages.  I'm not sure why the medical profession seems so hesitant to prescribe HRT for other transgendered folk besides transsexuals. I mean it's not like you are going to get hooked from the first pill you put in your mouth and you'll know long before the effects become irreversible if it is right for you. I guess they just have more experience with HRT and that group?

[cynthialee]

Hi Virginia you are like the mirror situation of my spouse. S/he is a transitioning female androgyn.
I have noticed a vast improvement in hir mental stability since HRT became part of hir world.

If it works use it.