A quick question.

[KillBelle]

I met an MtF yesterday that told me she has had SRS about 10 years ago and stopped her hormone regimen altogether.
So my question is if this is a safe thing to do or are there health risks associated with not taking any type of estrogen whatsoever?

Thanks.

[LordKAT]

health risks which I believe include bone loss/weakening and organ difficulties.

[annette]

Hi Pam

Lordkat is right, you do need the hormones  for the bones.
For post op tg's it's normal to get a bone scan periodicly, so the doctors can see or the dose is right or should be adjusted.
When somebody don't use the hormones for such a long time it would not be suprisely if a bone spontaneus break.
It is'nt also very helpfull for your feminity because of the adrenals still making a small dose of testosteron.
So summarized....It's a very, very bad idea if you have the intention to stay walking and to stay as beautifull as you are now.

love
annette

[ameliat]

Yes Pam,
I think you want to stay on hormones, you could still be developing even though you are post op,,,I imagine you know this.
Hope you are well!
Amelia

[CaitJ]

Menopause will also occur if estrogens are ceased and there is an increased risk of heart disease linked to this.

[KillBelle]

thanks a lot guys =]

[rejennyrated]

The only way that you can stop hormones is if you do so under medical supervision.

You need to maintain a minimum blood level of around 200 ng/dl to be healthy. There are a few conditions that affect the adrenal gland and aromatase metabolism that can cause that to happen without HRT but they are decidedly not normal and should not be relied upon except under strict medical monitoring.

So no - in general it certainly isn't safe or advisable.

[Amazon D]

I haven't taken hormones in over 8 yrs and my Dr hasn't said i needed anything but some vitamin D which i think is due to a push on that with some old research. I go to the womens clinic at a VA hospital and my Dr is pretty smart and not real old and has superiors who check her results. I have heard that people who work hard keep their bone strength. Well its almost light here and time to load that cord of wood on the porch before snow covers it.

[KillBelle]

I haven't taken hormones in over 8 yrs and my Dr hasn't said i needed anything but some vitamin D which i think is due to a push on that with some old research. I go to the womens clinic at a VA hospital and my Dr is pretty smart and not real old and has superiors who check her results. I have heard that people who work hard keep their bone strength. Well its almost light here and time to load that cord of wood on the porch before snow covers it.

I think it is different for mtfs...?

[CaitJ]

I think it is different for mtfs...?

M2MtF2FtM was born male.

[Northern Jane]

I was off HRT for over 10 years and when I went back to an endo, she had a fit! She said lack of hormones causes osteoporosis and she was right - I had measurable bone density loss. It was 5 years ago HRT was restarted and between exercise and calcium supplements my bone density has returned to normal. When I asked how long I should stay on HRT she said the risks from HRT are statistically small but osteoporosis WILL begin again if I stop. She is a leading endocrinologist and researcher so I trust her opinion.

[Amazon D]

I was off HRT for over 10 years and when I went back to an endo, she had a fit! She said lack of hormones causes osteoporosis and she was right - I had measurable bone density loss. It was 5 years ago HRT was restarted and between exercise and calcium supplements my bone density has returned to normal. When I asked how long I should stay on HRT she said the risks from HRT are statistically small but osteoporosis WILL begin again if I stop. She is a leading endocrinologist and researcher so I trust her opinion.

I will broach this subject with my Dr the next visit. 

[KillBelle]

M2MtF2FtM was born male.

i dont get it...=[

[CaitJ]

i dont get it...=[

Read his signature.

[spacial]

i dont get it...=[

Complicated Pam.

But best let him tell you the story.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,75044.msg510956.html#msg510956

[Sarah B]

No, it's not a safe thing to do period.  Regardless of whether you are a male, female, or bigendered, the body needs hormones and it does not care whether it is estrogen or testosterone.  Hormones play an extremely important job in the functioning of the body's endocrine system.  Endocrine disorders occur when the amount of hormones are too small or too large. This causes the body to function abnormally resulting in sometimes serious health conditions.

I was off hormones for 6 years and before that I believe my hormone regime was sporadic at best. However, during that time I put on weight, my skin got more wrinkly, I was feeling down a lot more, I was tired, I was not thinking clearly, I started to get high blood pressure and started getting high blood sugar counts, I also noticed that when I got cuts they took longer to heal.  Just recently I had a breast examination and I had to go back for a second screening on my left breast.  During the second screening they found a cyst and fibrous material, I had biopsy on both and fortunately they came back clear.  I also had bone density tests and one of the tests on the hip came back with readings just under the normal range and a low sex drive.  These are just some of the problems that I had when I was not taking my hormones and are just some of the symptoms listed when you have low to no hormones in your body for a female.  Do I need to say more?

For the last year and half I have been back on a regular hormone dosage,  I will be visiting an endocrinologist in January next year to fine tune what I need to take.  However, suffice to say I will never go of my hormones ever again.  Why?  My blood pressure, sugar levels are back to normal.  I have lost weight, when I get cuts they heal a lot quicker.  I'm a lot happier, my skin is looking a lot healthier, I'm not tired or cranky and I have a lot more get up and go.  Is this just me saying what I think has happened?  No, my doctor has confirmed my blood and sugar levels and my work colleagues and family have noticed the other changes.

Yes, I'm aware of the increased risks of taking hormones long term, however the risks of not taking them far out weigh those small risks and of course I know I'm getting older so some of those symptoms may just be old age, oh well you can't win them all.

Kind regards
Sarah B
PS My partner is lot happier as well, including me  .

[KillBelle]

Thanks for the in depth story Sarah. I hope that your test results show healthy results come january?

I guess i asked because i am so paranoid and i keep thinking ill die early going the rate i am going on HRT. im sure it is just fear being born out of ignorance.

[Sarah B]

Hi KillBelle

You are more than welcome.  it will be the first time in more than 20 years that I have visited an endocrinologist, so it will be awhile before anything is settled in that direction.

Take care and all the best for the future.

Kind regards
Sarah B