Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi everyone;

I am wondering what emotional and mental changes have you experienced  through your process of taking HRT. Let me give you my thoughts. I have been back on HRT now for just over 8 months and initially on a low dose of Progynova only. Now that's been increased three times by my Doctor and I now have T levels below 1.0 in the natal female range.

For the first few months I noticed little changes, but by about Month 4, I started to realise that I was a lot calmer in my thinking, although I had an increase in my blood pressure which meant taking tablets to counter this, but after a month or so that stabilised. Around Month 5, I realised my Boobs were definitely growing and I passed the pencil boob test (It stayed there when I bent over), my skin had suddenly becoming silky soft and all of a sudden my hair on my bald patch was growing again (my hairdresser noticed this!).

Also in month 5 I noticed myself bursting into tears at just about any emotional thing on TV. For instance I watched Meg Ryan & Tom Hanks in You have got Mail and when Tom Hanks came in sight of Meg Ryan in the park and shouted " Brinkly" and Meg Ryan looked up and saw Tom Hanks walking towards her, I just burst into tears. With my eyes wet for a good 10 minutes.

My libido also basically vanished around the 6 month mark. What's it has been replaced with is a feeling of warmth all over my body, but especially in boobs and tummy when I feel aroused. Difficult to put a finger on it.

I have also found women are subconsciously treating me different. Women that meet me (as my male alter ego), now just want to give me a hug and kiss me on my cheek. I know my boobs are beginning to show, but somehow I have noticed dramatically they are treating me different - I am wondering if somehow I am giving off Pheromones which is triggering a different response.  I also find that some men are treating me differently too - like sort of patronising me.
I have always been interested in women and have had a number of female relationships over the years and I have always adored the feeling of a women's skin and their softness. There is something so quite sensuous about having a women's breasts brush against my breasts that brings an amazing rush to my tummy.

But I don't really understand it yet, In the 7th month I started to notice how the men around me started to smell and I am feeling a bit aroused with some mens bodies. This all seems somewhat strange to me, although when I transitioned before some 25 years ago, I had a very brief affair with a man called Peter. Before my 6th month, I could detect a woman's aroma, but that sense of smell has somewhow left me. I have also noticed that my Urine and body odour seems to have a musky smell about it.

Since about month 6, I have suddenly very interested in fashion and seem to have a different  sense of colurs almost as though somehow my eyes have changed.  I also notice that I can no longer drink as much. I used to be able to drink a full bottle of wine without any effect, but now after 2 glasses of wine, I get a bit tipsy.

Quite why it is I don't know, but I find myself dithering about stuff a bit more. I used to be a confident driver and reversing into car spaces was easy. Now aftyter a few months on E though, I find I am not so confident and my reversing skills  are definitely down.

As a man I was always pretty much an outgoing up front guy (I was in Sales), but as a Woman, I find myself very easily slipping into a more passive gentle state of mind. Its been a slow transition to this stage, but I am finding it much easier to let others taking the running at stuff and I am now more than content to listen  and not feel the need to interrupt or contribute. I think I am a bit slower as well in my movements, but I have noticed that I am finding a little harder to stay concentrated on stuff - you know the "dithering female" bit

In the last month I have also noticed another subtle change in that I am beginning to feel that I want to be the passive person in a relationship. I am sure this is the overall effects of contentment as Judith, but I am wondering if this the start of a changing mental and emotional change to a situation where I will be happy to be someone's wife and home maker.

I also am starting to recognise that I may be interested in getting more serious in Cooking (I do like doing it, but I am starting to read recipes now from womens magazines - something before I was never interested in) and I have seriously started to look at joining a sowing group.

All in All I feel good, a calmer person with a lot more empathy to others.

What are other people's experiences and are there more changes to come?

Judith

I am 2 months or so on HRT and emotions are heightened and I am less able to control it ( crying). I have been passive in many instances except when I am paid to perform at work. I listen much better and I am much more collaborative. Skin soft, libido less and orgasms are unbelievable. My dry eye condition and brain fog are gone. I love to snuggle. I can make a decision without weighing every alternative 50 times. I am so happy.

My skin is getting very soft. I have some hair regrowth. My fingers are getting thin and the joint swelling (minor) is gone. I have complete range of motion with no pain or stiffness.

Thank you very much for your candor, Judith and Cynthia. I really appreciate it. As silly as it may sound, I often wondered whether or not hormones would change my senses. Like I was wondering if I would even literally see the world the same way. I don't mean just my perception, mind you, except I know that changes. But you answered my question that colors will look different. Other have said that their sense of smell has become sharper, too. I guess that explains why you always see girls wrinkling their noses at bad odors. But I also wonder if food will taste the same. If I'll be more sensitive to certain frequencies. Like I've heard it mentioned that ones on hormones become even more sensitive to the cry of a babe. Guess the estrogen DOES cause a little conditioning in the brain. And yeah, I know that changes, too. I've always had a strong maternal instinct, though. And Cynthia, I must say that I'm looking forward to that emotional stability, and I'm hoping it will help with my pain, too. See, I've got fibromyalgia, and I've heard that your hormonal balance DOES affect it. So here is to hoping! And I am looking forward to being more emotional. I used to be, but I locked it away because my father hated that about me. But it seems that the estrogen will unlock that. I must admit that one reason why I'm even doing this is out of sheer curiosity. Haha. I don't know... I've just always wondered if we even live in the same world. Like, do males live in a different world than females? Do they look at some things the same way? Does music sound the same? Guess I'll find out in due time, hehe.