Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hey girls, just popped over from the ftm board for a bit of a nose around :D just a quick question, how effective is HRT for you gals? I just wondered how well you can pass by using it, us guys are quite lucky as testosterone seems to be pretty good at this, hope you're all ok and life's treating you well :)

Welcome to our side of the aisle! For me, HRT (after 4 mos) is creating a noticeable difference...slight, but there nonetheless. I can't wait to see what a year does! (Ok, I can wait...don't have a choice with that! LOL)

Emotionally, quite stable (unless it's been a few hours since my last dose of E). "Tanner stage 3" currently.

For most of us, I think it's a bit more work to pass (damn 5 o'clock shadow...) but it can be done.

Pretty good! Been passing all up and down the block :D Even at gay bars / clubs, nobody suspects anything.

Umm starting to see some difference, but got a long way to go :embarrassed:
Think tbh with mtf hrt its a bit hit and miss.

I always pass but I've been on HRT for about a year and a half and full-time for almost a year so I have some advantages in that department, lol.  I could pass after roughly 6 months on HRT though

*laughshappily* Passing for most of us is 80% attitude and sense of self, 10% hair/hair removal, and 10% HRT. I passed before HRT and I started at 29. HRT just made things happier inside my sense of 'me' and my body. Glad that T is treating you well!

Oh what a fun little topic. 

Thanks for coming here to share how great the testosterone works for you ftm's.

For us HRT is actually really pathetic, most of us will need FFS to remove our testosterone grown features.

I wonder how the girl always says she passes so well with that very noticeable beard shadow,I think some people just believe what they want to believe.

Most trans-woman will not pass as a female from hrt alone.

Quote from: vlmitchell on May 30, 2012, 03:43:38 PM
*laughshappily* Passing for most of us is 80% attitude and sense of self, 10% hair/hair removal, and 10% HRT.

Double Ditto - Although I think some of that 80% percentage should be allocated to developing a fashion sense that works for your body  and makeup skills.

Quote from: Alainaluvsu on May 30, 2012, 01:48:55 PM
Pretty good! Been passing all up and down the block :D Even at gay bars / clubs, nobody suspects anything.

Like Alaina I have been passing very well, and recently I passed "the acid test!" I went to an all girls high school and not a single stare, giggle, or comment. I am lucky in that I have no facial hair, round features, slender. I was passing long before HRT, but after 8 months the good old estradiol has helped much by giving me a B cup; nothing to brag about I know, but it makes soooo Happy to feel my breast and to see my "girls" in the mirror.

If I had long and styled hair, I could pass right now.  I certainly wouldn't win a beauty contest, though.

There's only 3 reasons I'm not already full time, passing.

1. Hair isn't long enough
2.  Need voice training
3. Need laser on face

Will just have to wait and see, have only been on hrt for a week.  Two Doctors I've had say they think I will be pretty, hope they were giving an honest opinion.

Btw, I only pass when the viewer is more than 30' away, and I'm in my vehicle...then they get all apologetic and stuff, "Sorry! I thought you were a woman!"

HRT for MTF is, like was said earlier, "hit or miss"...although I see some (small) changes after a few months, others wait years with almost nothing.

Testosterone is a very powerful hormone. I wonder if the FTM world has cases where someone is on "full dose" for years with little or no changes?

Beth: Quick note: be patient. If you've got significant issues, three months just isn't enough time. Exercise and diet also help as it's the best way to tell the body to move fat cells around. Anything else, we'll want to move to another thread though.

Quote from: vlmitchell on May 31, 2012, 10:20:02 AM
Beth: Quick note: be patient. If you've got significant issues, three months just isn't enough time. Exercise and diet also help as it's the best way to tell the body to move fat cells around. Anything else, we'll want to move to another thread though.

Oh, not a prob. I'm patient! E has done wonders for my overall mood and etc.

sounds like hormones for you girls is a bit unpredictable! ive been asked to produce a leaflet for the nhs in my county to help young transpeople like myself to deal with gender dysphoria so could use all the info i can get!! thanks ladies :)

Weeeeeellll... younger is different. The younger the trans girl is when she starts, the more dramatic the effect. Testosterone is a brutal modification hormone and the effects are rather fast and hard. From 12-14, a young woman has a chance of missing most of the harsh effects but the voice drops riiiight around then so it's a pain if not caught before then. From 13-15, there's a good chance that she'll be statistically normal in various areas (waist to hip ratio and whatnot) but hands will always be larger (seems to be something in the Y that does this). After that, diminishing returns.

I started at 29 and got nice results for someone that age but nowhere near what I'd call 'awesome'.

OTOH, once it's done, you guys are left with the wider pelvis and gait as well as the small hands and generally smoother heads but yeah, testosterone is a pretty intense one way trip.

OTOOH, the effects of the hormones on mental states and perception are 100% guaranteed. If your brain is wired for the hormone opposite of your apparent sex, correcting this is always a noticeable and genuinely welcome change. Also serves as a kind of litmus test for "are you really sure about this?"

4 years on HRT, and you tell me.  Avatar is the most current.

6 months, and I've seen some noticeable changes as far as body/facial fat distribution, breast growth, and muscle shrinkage. I have my fingers crossed that there is more to come (I'm looking at you, Boob Fairy! *shakes fist*)

Boob Fairy, in case anyone is wondering:
The Boob Fairy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl6w_DqvNbA#)

Hi CJ,

I think the affect of T on the guys is quite pronounced on the face, as in development of the beard and changes of hair to the male pattern 'baldness'. You also get a voice deepening effect. So 'passing' can be maybe easier in the public eye from the immediate visual cue. In the woman on HRT we seem to get more body effect, redistribution of body fat to the curvey bits, boobs and hips in particular. but less facial and voice effect. Unless we are pre pubescent of course, but once T has done its job during puberty on our hair and beard and voice, blocking T doesn't change it, nor do P and E to any great degree.

So there are mixed responses.

Having said that I know several guys who have been on T for some time, and they are very male looking, all of the guys who are pre-T or early T (that I know) are quite feminine in appearance and 'act' more female than male.

All the woman I know who have been on HRT for some time and living as woman, all pass as woman. The girls who are pre HRT or are only just starting tend to look quite masculine, and 'act' more male than female.

So it isn't just the hormonal changes, it is the  developmental changes we all go through that alters how we are all seen and perceived.

Not sure if that is what you wanted :laugh: But if you are writing a report to help TG people as they begin their lives, I think it is important to state that hormones are not everything. They are a very important part for many of us, but they are not the magic potion that will turn you into a physical male or female. They are an aid in your self identity.

Cindy (also CJ :-*)

Quote from: CJ on May 30, 2012, 12:55:11 PM
Hey girls, just popped over from the ftm board for a bit of a nose around :D just a quick question, how effective is HRT for you gals? I just wondered how well you can pass by using it, us guys are quite lucky as testosterone seems to be pretty good at this, hope you're all ok and life's treating you well :)

It's hard to gauge HRT because I passed a lot before I started talking it. But I've now been on HRT for over 12 years and It hasn't done an awful lot for me. I still haven't got the right fat distribution and my upper body fat distribution is bigger than my lower body fat distribution, so I am a bigger size at the top than the bottom. I haven't got any hips, my breast growth is limited and small and when I try and put on weight it goes in the belly area rather than my butt or my hips. I don't have any issue with my voice as it never broke, so the assault from T was fairly limited in some areas when I was growing up.