Hormone blockers!

[JaydinEVOLUTION]

Okay, so tomorrow I'm travelling 9 hours from home to see an Endocrinologist for the first time to see about beginning testosterone therapy. I've done all my research...except Im still a bit fuzzy on what (if any) effects, blockers will have on me and am having a hard time finding any sort of reliable info sources...

Can anyone help me out ?!

[PandaValentine]

Hormone blockers merely stop the effects estrogen has on your body. I have heard that there are some pretty ugly side effects with it though. So even if menstruation ceases you have to worry about a possibility of discharge down there. You got everything from chest pain, to dizziness, to night sweats, mood swings, swelling, and more. My therapist wanted me to take them before I started T, I refused. You can find out more from the endocrinologist, they really like it when people who want to start T are curious and ask a lot of questions but also are quite well researched.

Good luck with the appointment.

[JaydinEVOLUTION]

You can refuse them? I definitely didn't know that...I really hope I can dodge that bullet and go straight to T.

[Sean]

Hormone blockers are not typically given pre-T, unless you are very young and just delaying puberty effects until you are old enough to take T.

It is insufficiently researched whether there is a benefit to taking hormone blockers prior to T. Most doctors don't go that route primarily because they are expensive. It's unclear that your endocrinologist would even recommend them.

That whole list of side effects is BS. That's some of what might happen when your body shuts down estrogen production. Some of that stuff happens to guys who go on T without taking any blockers. I did the blocker route before T (but only for a short time) and I experienced NONE of the side effects that panda mentioned, not even hot flashes/night sweats (which is the most common one). I did experience one or two other effects unique to me.

Please talk to your doctor and keep an open mind. Ask questions. Figure out what's best for you. No one knows what side effects any of us will get, and you certainly can't get medical advice online from people who HAVE taken blockers (like me) OR from people who have NOT and are reporting rumors that they have heard (like panda).

Taking hormone blockers is NOT a bullet to be dodged. It is a path recommended by some pretty experienced endocrinologists, and it is a path that some others may not feel necessary.

Good luck at your appointment...

[PandaValentine]

Note my use of the word 'possibility.' 

This stuff can happen to guys on T? Oh poor boys, I would hate to have any of those terrible side effects, oh except I did get the flashes on T...two days oddly enough. Not even sure how that makes sense.

To be honest though they really are a waste of time. It makes no sense going on them at an older age since stopping menstruation can also be achieved by birth control. :| That is basically the only benefit besides the doctor trying to buy time and see if you are ready for testosterone. My family doctor thought they'd be useless to me.

They are not rumors...they were side effects mentioned to me by my doctor when my therapist was contemplating having me on them. Also this was only because of a recommendation by CAMH therapists, my endocrinologist didn't mention a word of hormone blockers to me. When I told him they wanted me on them, he didn't seem to find it made any sense. But who knows maybe all my doctors are crazy or misinformed. 

Also please note, I did say 'you can find out more from your endocrinologist.' I wouldn't expect anyone to make life decisions based on what someone posted on a forum. 

[mcZ]

I was on blockers for just over a year before starting T and the only side affect I experienced was the hot flushes, and they stopped after about a month.  If you are going to be on them for more than a month or two I would recommended  taking calcium supplements and vitamin D because the blockers can lower your bone density. My endocrinologist prescribed both of these for me when I started on the blockers and there have been no problems.

[Wolf]

My therapist / clinic seems to do this ... It's for under 18's here in the UK, seems to me like a 'safe' thing for them... They seem to think that without the hormones I might have a clearer head and then they will know for sure I want to take T and etc. etc... The system does not seem lenient and I am not allowed to start T until I am 18 (few freaking months away) so it's better than nothing, I don't want to take birth control because that's just more unnecessary hormones in my system. Though it seems like a long winded route, for me I feel like, well at least I am getting the WRONG hormones OUT which will make me feel happier at the very least.

You wouldn't happen to be the person I met at my last appointment? He had to travel 9 hours too and we forgot eachother's names. I'm with the Tavistock.

[ty.to.the.man]

well i hav been on hormone blockers for about 6 months and there hav bin no side affects. i havent had my period since b4 i got them and i hav seen breast reduction (very little) but still some. yeah so just givin the facts from my  expirience. im actually goin 2 check my estrogen levels soon 2 c how much they lowered.

[JaydinEVOLUTION]

Okay. I had my appointment...turns out Im not doing the blockers anyway. The doctor is starting me on T in 4 days =]

[ty.to.the.man]

thats awesome!!

[mcZ]

Congrats, man.

[ty.to.the.man]

yeah i wud say if u r goin on T pretty soon then its not worth takin blockers. but if yur not goin on T for a little/long wile then hormone blockers is deffinetly a good choice.