HRT isn't as effective now

[Tamaki]

Things seemed to have changed with my hormones and I'm wondering if it's something others have experienced.

I've been on hormones for almost 5 months now. The first month the doctor started off slow with half the dose I'm on now. Around the second month I had all the typical effects; breast tenderness, loss of morning erections, more emotionally liable and this subtle but pervasive calmness. Lot's of little effects that added up to something big.

Over the last few weeks I've noticed that the breast tenderness is lessoned which I know can be cyclical. I've also noticed it's not quite as easy to cry and I'm much more irritable. Tonight I realized that I don't have the same sense of calm I had before.

Is this normal?  I see my doctor at the beginning of May for a six month follow up. Should I move up this appointment?

[Melody Maia]

I'm at 5 months too. The changes do slow down. My emotions have stabilized. I am not swinging from one to the other as hard anymore, but I do still feel more emotional than at any point before I started HRT. Breast tenderness has come and gone for me. At the moment, the tenderness and itchiness have both picked back up. I feel more like myself now rather than a bundle of all these new experiences and feelings. I am trying to reintegrate those things that I thought were boy things into the girl me into what I hope is a more complete person.

[Janet_Girl]

Having been on HRT for 35 months now, I have had the cyclical flow of changes.  I don't even have the breast pain any more, but they are still developing.

Just like GGs when they develop.  There may be some pain or tenderness in the begin, but that will pass.  You will begin to find that they just seem to be bigger, as they start getting in the way or just being there.

[Tamaki]

That's good to know about the breast development but it isn't my biggest concern. This morning I was woken up by and uncomfortable, unexpected and unpleasant surprise. I haven't had that happen in a long time.

It feels like all of the good things I'm getting from HRT are starting to slip away. I just wonder if my T level has gone up for some reason.

[Dana Lane]

That's good to know about the breast development but it isn't my biggest concern. This morning I was woken up by and uncomfortable, unexpected and unpleasant surprise. I haven't had that happen in a long time.

It feels like all of the good things I'm getting from HRT are starting to slip away. I just wonder if my T level has gone up for some reason.

Talk to your doctor about your T levels.

[Robyn]

Sounds pretty normal. It can take a year or more for all the 'old' physical happenings to pretty much go away.

You didn't mention antiandrogen, but your doctor may increase your spiro dosage.

Irritable? Well, we all have things that irritate us now and then. E.g., how come my husband can get a dish to the kitchen counter but not into the dishwasher? I don't complain, though; he DOES do the laundry. 

Granny Robyn

[Apricot]

This is the exact same thing that's happening to me. I'm actually glad I'm hearing of someone who's going through something similar. I read so many stories of people who have so much success and are ecstatic about their changes but for me it's been one cruel joke after another. What you're experiencing happened to me at least three times already. I was given estrogen each time, but after a while the effects would completely wear off and I'd have to virtually start all over again.

I was told that a theory that my testosterone could be compensating for the sudden influx of estrogen [this was not from my doctor]. That's nice and all, but in my experience, that influx tended to be permanent unless there was some kind of dosage change. Talk to your doctor - they may schedule a lab appointment for you to check your T levels.

[V M]

I've had things slow down awhile and thought... "Well, I guess that's it", but then they've picked back up again

[Tamaki]

Thought I'd give everyone an update. My doctor checked my hormone levels and they are within normal female range for my age. I'm starting to feel a little more like I did when the hormones were really working. I don't know what's going on but I'm happy that my breasts are starting to hurt again.

[Caith]

It's your body and metabolism finally settling down after starting HRT.  These biochemical changes impact a very delicate balance of hormones between your pituitary and all the other glands in your body.  It takes several weeks for the initial impact of HRT to be felt, then it's many, many more weeks before things finally adjust and settle down.  This is when HRT begins working and you notice the subtle physical changes.  From that starting point, it's a long, slow process of small gains, then stability, then gains, then stability.  It's your female puberty and it should require from two to four (or more) years to complete. 

I'm glad your doctor checked your blood levels, but did they also check your T level?  The longer you stay on HRT, the less often you should be "surprised" with that issue.

[pebbles]

With me there was a splurt at 1-5 months then 8-9months then a smaller one in month 13.

It makes sense if you think about it females don't go about getting ever more female.

[Tamaki]

I'm glad your doctor checked your blood levels, but did they also check your T level?

Yes she did. My testosterone is 53 ng/dL and free testosterone is 6.8 pg/mL.

Caith and Pebbles, thanks for the info. I never really considered these more subtle aspects of HRT when I was researching it before I started. It's good to know that I'm not the only one.

[Caith]

If the units (ng/dL) are consistent with others I've seen, then you're below 70, which was formerly considered "castrate level".  With today's more sensitive and more accurate lab tests and measurements, the number has been lowered to 50, but anything below 100 is excellent for HRT.

[Princess Rachel]

it's good to read what I can expect, I obviously don't expect instant breast growth in a few days, still its nice to know that I won't be waiting ages for them either   Now, if I may ask a question ladies, what can I expect re fat deposition on the posterior, I've read that there will be some enlarging of my bum but it won't be an excessive amount