Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I just got done reading a thread to my hubby who is FTM and it got me thinking about the other way around...

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,109402.20.html (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,109402.20.html)

So can you all tell me the pros and cons of Estrogen as well as how long you've been on it? Hopefully I'll be starting soon and am looking forward to the process but I'm curious how it's effected anyone else. Also I do apologize ahead of time if this thread has already been done.

Pros

• It makes you happy
• It does a bunch of physical things

Cons

• It makes your metabolism slow down
  
  • You will always be cold
  • You can't eat like a linebacker anymore

Mixed

• With less alcohol dehydrogenase in your system you'll get drunk easier

As far as I know, there are no cons. :)

with my weekly estrogen shots i noticed some pros and cons

Pros: physical transformation was lightening fast. I do not think i would have had the same results with the pill but who knows?

Euphoria by mid week.

Cons: Since i am being injected with pure estrogen for a weeks worth in one shot on Monday I am pretty emotional on day one since i have more estrogen in me than 3 pregnant women lol.

Day two not as emotional but still there

Day three, four, five and six I am right as rain

Day seven I am cranky as the estrogen has tapered and im ready for the next shot.

Quote from: Annah on November 07, 2011, 08:42:22 AM
with my weekly estrogen shots

I've always wanted to try shots to see if there was any difference. I always hear shots are more effective. The problem is my HRT doc lives about 1 hour and 45 minutes away. I don't have a problem going once a year for a checkup/refills but once a week would be crazy.

Do you go to the doc once a week or do you inject yourself? If you do, how much do you pay for each office visit?

Quote from: Renate on November 07, 2011, 07:51:50 AM
Pros

• It makes you happy
• It does a bunch of physical things

Cons

• It makes your metabolism slow down
  
  • You will always be cold
  • You can't eat like a linebacker anymore

Mixed

• With less alcohol dehydrogenase in your system you'll get drunk easier

I have a friend who has just started testosterone and IS A FURNACE.  I practically cling to him every time the weather drops because I'm always cold.

Quote from: JenJen2011 on November 07, 2011, 08:53:04 AM
I've always wanted to try shots to see if there was any difference. I always hear shots are more effective. The problem is my HRT doc lives about 1 hour and 45 minutes away. I don't have a problem going once a year for a checkup/refills but once a week would be crazy.

Do you go to the doc once a week or do you inject yourself? If you do, how much do you pay for each office visit?

I see my doc about 4 times a year now. He gives me refillable prescriptions. I go to the pharmacy to pick up the vials and I go home and do the shots myself. Pop it in my arm once a week. I'm too squeamish to do it in my thigh lol.

I am too squemish  to give anyone a shot, let alone myself.  I will stay with the patches even though I sometimes forget to change them on time. 

  I see no cons to estrogen use.  :)

Quote from: JenJen2011 on November 07, 2011, 08:53:04 AM
I've always wanted to try shots to see if there was any difference. I always hear shots are more effective. The problem is my HRT doc lives about 1 hour and 45 minutes away. I don't have a problem going once a year for a checkup/refills but once a week would be crazy.

Do you go to the doc once a week or do you inject yourself? If you do, how much do you pay for each office visit?

   I self inject, my doctor gave me an injection in the butt cheek my first vist but after that i started injecting on my own.

Quote from: Annah on November 07, 2011, 11:28:44 AM
I'm too squeamish to do it in my thigh lol.

   Lol i never tried injecting in the arm. I ususally rotate from my thigh's to my butt cheeks.  :D

  Only thing i hate about injecting into the thigh is if you have a muscle contraction right as your pushing the needle down it HURTS like hell.  :'(

Quote•You can't eat like a linebacker anymore

I don't eat as much but everything tastes SO much better!

Julie

2 years on xxx of spiro.

Pros: Look at the avatar.

Cons: Killed my dick from functioning.

My advice to you: Hormones aren't magic.

Quote from: Mahsa the disco shark on November 07, 2011, 02:14:38 PM
2 years on xxx of spiro.

Pros: Look at the avatar.

Cons: Killed my dick from functioning.

My advice to you: Hormones aren't magic.

They're clearly distilled encapsulated manifestations of the miracle of SCIENCE.

Quote from: Wonderdyke on November 07, 2011, 03:25:32 PM
They're clearly distilled encapsulated manifestations of the miracle of SCIENCE.

Science is just applied magic or something geeky.

Quote from: Annah on November 07, 2011, 11:28:44 AM
I see my doc about 4 times a year now. He gives me refillable prescriptions. I go to the pharmacy to pick up the vials and I go home and do the shots myself. Pop it in my arm once a week. I'm too squeamish to do it in my thigh lol.

Now I'm not scared of needles but I have to ask, Does it hurt injecting yourself?
I had a variety of health issues and such when much younger I got calloused to needles but the idea of injecting myself makes me squirm XD Doesn't bother me when someone else pricks me but darn the thought of myself doing it... eeeeiii

Quote from: Mahsa the disco shark on November 07, 2011, 03:32:12 PM
Science is just applied magic or something geeky.

I'm going to go with "something geeky".

Biology is my bête noire right now...

on E for about 11 weeks (however I've only been on Spiro for 2 months).

Cons

Itchy skin
Loss of sex drive (Doesn't bother me at all)
Fragile nails
Skin more prone to cuts
Nipples so itchy it keeps me up at night sometimes!
Dry skin
Emotional range more dramatic (I can be yay!!! :) :) :) or NOOOOO  :'( :'( :'( or GRRRRRRRRRR  >:( >:( >:( ... used to be, 1 face is about all the emotion I had!)
Loss of strength (DRAMATIC)

Pros

Softer skin
Less body odor
Less oily hair & skin
Less body hair
More sympathetic
Calmer
I look cuter :D
Muscle loss (Yes, it's a con too, but I don't like looking all bulky)
Emotional range more dramatic (Hey, being really happy is great!!!)
No spontaneous erections (But they were rare for me anyways)

Quote from: Sam(my)I am on November 07, 2011, 03:36:31 PM
Now I'm not scared of needles but I have to ask, Does it hurt injecting yourself?

  Sometimes yes, it feels like a pin prick for a second or two then it's all over. I found the easiest way to self inject is to hold the syringe like a pencil and quickly thrust the needle forward with one simple wrist motion. Trust me if you slowly push the needle in it hurts alot worse. 


    :icon_invision:

Quote from: Rukia87xo on November 07, 2011, 05:26:35 PM
  Sometimes yes, it feels like a pin prick for a second or two then it's all over. I found the easiest way to self inject is to hold the syringe like a pencil and quickly thrust the needle forward with one simple wrist motion. Trust me if you slowly push the needle in it hurts alot worse. 


    :icon_invision:

hehe ok then, just have to be worried now about jabbing and hitting the wrong spot terribly XD

Pros:
Feel so much better about being me
Don't ooze oil like tar pit
Don't stink like a tar pit
Hardly perspire (always cold maybe?)
Much softer skin, but needs plenty of TLC
Less body hair and regrowth takes forever
Actually have emotions and feelings

Cons:
Freeze may ass off more then ever before. A/C is the creation of the devil
My rubber finger nails aren't so rubbery, especially during the cold and dry winter air.
  - A minor benefit is getting really good at repairing my nails

I've done both pills and shots. Pills were either premarin or estradiol. Overall the shots rock. Far greater effect then pills ever had. I do a shot about every 10 days. The chocolate gorilla lets me know when  ;D  About a day or two after my breasts are super sensitive, otherwise I seem fairly even given my new emotional standard.

I,m 44 and six months on estrogen

Pros:   My face is more femenine
          My body is changing to a more femenine look
          I feel more self-confidence

Cons:  None     
       

Pros:
Softer skin.
l am horny when I want to.
I was always super calm anyway but I got even more calm.

Cons:
I´m afraid of breast cancer and my health in general.
Tiredness. (but it´s passing)
Painful tits for soon 2 years straight. (of course it´s because they are growing but it´s still painful and they aint growing very much)
Damn glue marks from the patches!

All and all it has not been a big revolution for me but it is still so much better than having all that T in my body. Not looking forward to going off my patches before GRS (sometime this winter!)

Pros:
Drier face, no longer an oil slick.
Got rid of "dude skin", complexion looks brighter and more like a female's.
Body skin is like silk now, sometimes I don't even put lotion on because I'm scared that if I laid down on a bobby pin, it could puncture me.
Reduced body hair, thank Jesus for this.
Hairline is coming closer, I know that this doesn't happen for everybody, so I'm lucky.
Gives me a little bit more confidence.
Boobie growth!
uhh.. etc?

Cons:
None I've found so far.

Pros:
Mood is wayyyy better most of the time.  Self confidence up.
Happier with self image, yay I can look in the mirror and feel something besides despair
No longer oily or nearly as sweaty.  My hands and armpits used to sweat like CRAZY.
Non-greasy hair
Smooth, awesome skin
No acne
Breasts and female fat distribution! :)
Sex drive WAY down

Cons:
Um... bruise more easily I guess.  Doesn't bother me much though.

Quote from: Beth Andrea on November 08, 2011, 06:09:38 PM
After reading this thread...I can't wait to get on E etc.

:)

It doesn't guarantee feminization. Why do you think I say that EVERYONE needs to WERQ?

I'm not tryin to be RuPaul here.

Quote from: Mahsa the disco shark on November 07, 2011, 02:14:38 PM


Cons: Killed my dick from functioning.

not when it didn't work well to begin with, i prefer it

Pros: Most changes estrogen brought about.

Cons:
I miss begin as physically strong as I used to be.
Ejaculating did used to feel kinda nice.

Cons: fragile skin and nails, decreased metabolism (food will stick to you not go through you)

Pros: Control over sex drive, feeling emotions

I got lazy and gained more weight.

Quote from: Mahsa the disco shark on November 10, 2011, 12:46:35 AM
I got lazy and gained more weight.

   :o  Girl if you want that slim body you gotta WERQ!!


     I can't stop saying that now....damm u mahsa!  :icon_shakefist:   :laugh:

Quote from: Rukia87xo on November 10, 2011, 01:16:23 AM

   :o  Girl if you want that slim body you gotta WERQ!!


     I can't stop saying that now....damm u mahsa!  :icon_shakefist:   :laugh:

I am like shamu...if she was 138!!!!!

Quote from: Annah on November 07, 2011, 08:42:22 AM

Cons: Since i am being injected with pure estrogen for a weeks worth in one shot on Monday I am pretty emotional on day one since i have more estrogen in me than 3 pregnant women lol.

Day two not as emotional but still there

Day three, four, five and six I am right as rain

Day seven I am cranky as the estrogen has tapered and im ready for the next shot.

Annah,

I'm so sorry. I do humbly apologise, but that cracked me up something fierce. "More estrogen in me than 3 pregnant women."

Fear not dear lady, my day of retribution approaches with great alacrity. You will be duly notified so as you can have front row seats to hear first hand of my shameless behaviour, once it takes effect. I humbly request, yet understand if the request is denied; that there be no laughing, aloud, or should that be spelt "allowed." Take it whichever way you prefer.

Enjoy your week and be safe, well and happy
Lotsa luv
Catherine

Posting only to say that I find transdermal estrogen works very well for some people. I use a gel, my body is transforming slowly but steadily.