So, how long to the point of no return...

[Sandy]

The Kansas song is ringing in my head.

Just about every well read person on this list knows that after a certain period on spironolactone the effects on the testicles are irreversible.  Also the amount of time on estradiol and progesterone can produce irreversible changes in the body through changes in the skin, musculature, gynecomastia, hair and other secondary sex characteristic changes.

From what I've been able to determine, between six and eight months is getting into the difficult to reverse time, and anything past eight months and a year is really into the "changed for life" zone.  YMMV 

But is this time given for only being on one medication like just the spiro or estradiol?  What about a combination, or all three?  Is the period where changes are reversible shorter?

I've never seen any posts from anyone that said what medication regimen they were on then stopped and how long, if ever, it took to get back to the functioning as a male.

Actually, my question is more academic than anything else, I have no intension of stopping my HRT for anything less than a life threatening reason.  I certainly don't want to go back and have my masculine secondary sex characteristics rear their ugly heads any more.  I'm becoming quite comfortable with my  feminine secondary characteristics! 

I was just wondering.

Inquiring minds want to know...

-Sandy (the curious)

[Hazumu]

When I was discussing a trial period of HRT with my therapist, he said that two months was very low risk, but we would be able to tell if HRT and transition was right for me in that time.

It seems that if the goal is a test to see if you are TG/TS, go with the shortest period possible.

Submitted for your consideration;

Karen

[Sheila]

Sandy,
  I have heard a lot of time lines under the year marker. It really depends on you. Everyone is different. I never lost anything from my penis and I even had an orchi. Now, my skin and fat started to change within about 6 months from starting estrodial and prometrium with spiro. My breast started to grow, but very slow. After my orchi my skin changed a lot and I stopped my spiro and my muscles started to atrophy. Then for some strange reason after my SRS surgery my breast grew faster. I gained a whole cup size within about 3 months after surgery. Now, I don't know about being fertile as I had a vasectomy when I was 22.
Sheila

[cindianna_jones]

I never lost the libido.  The night before surgery, I had a wet dream.  How's that for embarrassing?  But it was almost like every other night of my life.  I had been on hormones for about 15 months at that time.  I think that the HRT cocktail available now works better.

EEEW!  What an icky subject!  EEEEWW!

Cindi

[tinkerbell]

The night before surgery, I had a wet dream. 

I remember reading this on your book, or maybe what I read was related to a different episode.. >

EEEW!  What an icky subject!  EEEEWW!

Bad Cindi, Bad Cindi, bad, bad, bad....LOL


Yes, hormones work better now; well, they usually prescribe you massive dosages anyway, so they'd better work!

tinkerbell

[Kate]

From what I've read, breast growth is more or less permanent once it occurs... though I've heard a few people report they lost some volume after stopping.

Regarding sexual performance, the most often quoted line I find is, "and permanent sterility can occur in as little as six months." And yet, I've never found any medical evidence of this. People have told me they've fathered children after years of HRT. The general rule seems to the that the longer on HRT, the less sexual performance (sperm count, fluid volume, etc.) that comes back if HRT is stopped, and the longer it takes to do so IF it does come back. But everyone is different, so timeframes are impossible to pin down.

I don't think the other changes, such as body hair, muscle tone, skin texture, etc. are irreversible at any point - though I could be wrong.

Kate

[LostInTime]

I actually had to untransition after I went FT the first time around.  At the time I had been on hormones for about a year or so.  I was able to firm up my chest by lifting some weights but still had to layer afterwards and occasionally bind.  However, my chest has been fleshy since I was very young.  Skin texture, body hair (what I have of it), and sexual performance went back to about normal.  I actually ended up having more body hair than before come back in and always said that was the testosterone getting it's revenge.     As far as sperm count and the like, I have no idea.

Of course YMMV and all that.

[Kimberly]

While not really in the spirit of question but in my opinion still a valid answer...

The point of no return is when the per verbal genie is let out of the bottle; When the facade cracks and the house catches on fire for the last time.

Or said another way, "It is too late when you have gone too far.". For some of us the moment we started was way way to far.


But more or less on topic 6 to 8 months is what I have heard for the "too far" mark, fwiw.

[melissa90299]

I clearly recall readiang that anything after the three month point can be "the point of no return" or the least the latest point of safe demarcation. Even before that, if one wishes to pass on their sperm, she should do that before even starting HRT.

Personally, the second day on estrogen and Spiro was my point of no return.

[Jolene4ever]

Hi ladies, I am new to this site,it sounds great. I've been on estrodial and spiro for 7 months and I have to agree with Melissa, when you make the decision to start. It's such a wonderful feeling, I can't imagine anyone going off. Jolene

[KarenLyn]

I've been on high doses of estrogen and spironolactone since mid '98. I'd really like to be able to stop taking some of the pills, especially the spiro. If anyone has citations regarding what changes are irreversible, I'd love to see them.
I  don't have to eat breakfast any more. By the time I've taken all my pills, I'm full.

Karen Lyn