Just got back from my doctor! A Question for you all (mtf)~

[cryan91]

My doctor is putting me on Premarin and Spirolactone (am I allowed to put dosages here?).
I was wondering, is Premarin the common form of estrogen thats usually used? Is it effective, e†c? Also My doctor said that my facial hair will go down tremendously. I didn't think hrt was supposed to effect facial hair? And I asked if Premarin will change my facial appearance over time and he said no...No? From what I've seen from women here and on youtube, HRT usually makes their face more feminine. And I'm young (19) and already have feminine features...saying it wouldn't effect my face doesn't sound right.
Thanks for any input you can give!
Charlotte

[Ms.Behavin]

Generally Facial hair is not reduced that much on HRT.  Body hair yes, but facial hair not so much.  It can reduce some for younger people, So it might reduce hair growth some.

HUM...Most doctors I'm aware of prescribe an estrodol (plant based) Bio identical estrogen.  Permerin was used in the past all the time, but has fallen out of favor to the newer estrodol..  Permerin is effective, It will work, BUT  it can and does effect clotting factors and liver function far far more so then other newer forms of estrogen.  It's less of a problem when you are younger, but talk to your doctor.  spiro is pretty standard btw and works well for MtF

Doses, etc can not be discussed here btw...

Beni

[cynthialee]

I'll second what Beni said.

I am guessing your doctor and not an endo is handleing your HRT?
Either way you need to educate yourself about the HRT options available and learn what they can do.

You need to become an expert in this stuff because most of the doctors you will deal with durring your life will be unfamiliar with transsexual medical needs.

[Nicky]

My advice, no matter what you have been prescribed, make sure you get a blood test in a month or so to check your hormone levels. That will tell you whether it is working or not.

Best of luck, congrates on starting so young!

(oh I am 33 and my face has changed... for the better!)

[Janet_Girl]

20 plus yeas ago, my doctor put me on Premarin, as was the case in those days.  But Estrogens have changed over the years, and even the means by which they are administrated.  I still take pills, but they are micronized and I take them sublingual.  This help with the first pass through the liver.

Just make sure he is testing your hormone levels and liver function.

[JennX]

You need to become an expert in this stuff because most of the doctors you will deal with durring your life will be unfamiliar with transsexual medical needs.

This X 100000000. Most docs are not familiar at all, and many don't wish to educate themselves on these issues, so you really, really, really need to do your homework.

I also wouldn't recommend Premarin. There are much better (bio-identical) forms of Estrogen out there. Estradiol, Estradiol valerate, to name a few.

[ClaireA]

I am guessing your doctor and not an endo is handleing your HRT?
Either way you need to educate yourself about the HRT options available and learn what they can do.

You need to become an expert in this stuff because most of the doctors you will deal with durring your life will be unfamiliar with transsexual medical needs.

Truer words have yet to be spoke... The doc that I started HRT with was excellent - he spent most of his time treating trans patients and was extremely knowledgeable. Unfortunately, he closed his practice and referred me to a different doc. This new doc was completely clueless about trans patients, and it was so bad that it ended up being me telling him what dosage I was on and that I needed another six months, with him replying with a "uh, ok". Really, IMO, if you ever honestly have it so bad that you have to TELL your doctor what dosage you need, you need find a different doctor (that's what I did) - they're the ones that should be practicing medicine, not you.

As far as changes, your facial appearance will definitely change - not the bone structure, but the rest certainly will. Facial hair probably wont be affected much if at all - maybe, being 19, you might see an extremely small reduction, but that's probably not likely. I self-medicated (self-medication is horribly stupid - NEVER DO IT) when I was 16, and did see a modest change in the amount of facial hair that developed, but by 19, facial hair is pretty much set.