Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Well, I'll start with something that I'm confused on. E is supposed to make your breasts grow larger, I am curious on two things here for why people take E. 1. Is there a chance the boobs won't grow/how long till you know they won't grow and how rare is it for this to happen? 2. I am confused as to why people who're trans are taking E. I mean I get it helps grow breasts but aside from that, I am confused as to why it's still taken after growing the breasts? Do the breasts shrink/disappear if you stop taking it? Is the E what's needed to make you feel female? o_O Sorry I'm just so confused and other people here who've I've talked to months ago on this confused me when I tried to get an answer to this question. All I got was their body just felt right with their mind which make little sense to me. ??? Can someone explain it all to me please? Thanks in advance. Also, how exactly and what are all the ways one takes E? I heard most aren't safe but a few are so can you tke the the same ways as the none safer ways? Lastly, I want big breasts (Not massive just big) so is there any proof that starting HRT after you've had SRS would give you bigger breasts or is there any ways that help give you bigger breasts?

eeeer dear ,hrt does a lot more things aside breast a growth...
search it on google...

The wiki articles here give a good description of the whats and whys of hormones..

But I'll give you an analogy..

You have a car, it's a nice cat, but it really wants to run on premium gas.. You've been running it on standard.. And it doesn't run quite right..

For me, taking estrogen is like putting premium in the car, it suddenly just runs better..

Quote from: Shana-chan on March 21, 2014, 05:14:30 PMIs there a chance the boobs won't grow/how long till you know they won't grow and how rare is it for this to happen?

Boobs will grow, but at different rates, according to dose prescribed, individual genetics, age.

Quote from: Shana-chan on March 21, 2014, 05:14:30 PMI am confused as to why people who're trans are taking E. I mean I get it helps grow breasts but aside from that, I am confused as to why it's still taken after growing the breasts? Do the breasts shrink/disappear if you stop taking it? Is the E what's needed to make you feel female?

We take E not only to grow breasts, but to feminize in general, look like females on the outside, to develop secondary sexual characteristics typical of females (curves, less body hair, softer skin, rounder face, etc.). It also feels more natural to us, on a psychological level. We feel more like "us", calmer, etc. E is also needed to replace androgen which we try to inhibit to reduce masculinization and help with feminization.

If we stop taking E and have no androgen, we won't feel good (low energy, depressed, insomnia, hot flashes), we will age faster (look older) and will develop neurological (cognitive impairment) and physical complications (osteoporosis). Breasts will also reduce in size, will look less perky, full. 

Quote from: Shana-chan on March 21, 2014, 05:14:30 PMAlso, how exactly and what are all the ways one takes E? I heard most aren't safe but a few are so can you tke the the same ways as the none safer ways?

E can be taken orally or non-orally (injectables, sublingual, pellets, patch, gel, cream). The safest form of estrogen is bio-identical estrogen (17 beta estradiol). Orally, it is quite safe. Non-orally, absolutely safe.

Quote from: Shana-chan on March 21, 2014, 05:14:30 PMLastly, I want big breasts (Not massive just big) so is there any proof that starting HRT after you've had SRS would give you bigger breasts or is there any ways that help give you bigger breasts?

You need high enough estrogen and low testosterone to reach your maximum potential. How much depends on your genetics, your age, your metabolism, etc. It's always best to start low, find the lowest effective dose that triggers breast growth and go from there. Breast development can take years (up to 10 years) before it reaches its maximum and final size. Doses may be increased over time, as long as safety is ensured, to see if maximum has been reached. A lot of trial and error.

If you want big breasts quickly, then there is breast augmentation. There are risks with any surgery and implants usually have a limited lifetime so might have to be replaced. Implants might look less natural.

In the end, you choose what is best and safest for you, with doctors. :)

Personally, I take estrogen now because I'm in surgical menopause as of age 34. :) My hormone-producing organs have been removed; without ANY sex hormones at all, I have all the same unpleasant symptoms as any other menopausal woman, including the high risk of osteoporosis. And I was too young to do that to myself. I'm still debating whether, when I hit 55 or so, I'll taper down to a very very low dose or just quit altogether.

However, as others have said, estrogen has tons of effects besides breasts, including a lot which *are* reversible if you stop.

I use patches, which my endo says are among the safest methods.

(As for big breasts, patience [time] and genetics are the main defining factors. Nobody can know in advance what they'll get, just like cis girls at puberty.)

Quote from: Jenna Marie on March 21, 2014, 07:50:31 PMI'm still debating whether, when I hit 55 or so, I'll taper down to a very very low dose or just quit altogether

Why? Continuing estrogen increases benefits more than it increases risks. It reduces risk of colon cancer, reduces risk of coronary heart disease, prevents osteoporosis, neurological impairments such as Alzheimer's, is anti-depressive, keeps you looking young, keeps your breasts firm and perky, gives you energy/vigor, keeps you mentally sharp, etc. There is no risk of DVT with transdermal. Breast cancer risk is not increased (and can actually be decreased) with the use of only estradiol, breast cancer risk is extremely rare amongst transsexual women. We have no uterus. So I ask again...why?

Kay : Because I want the experience of menopause, especially since I feel like I missed all the other female "life cycle" milestones.

It's not really something that's up for debate; like "I just feel mentally right on estrogen," it's a personal desire.  And like I said, I might feel differently then. I'll have been on estrogen and post-transition for over 20 years by then - maybe my opinions will will have changed. Or maybe, even likely, the medical technology will have changed too and I'll reconsider if it means implanted ovaries or whatnot.

(Also, if estrogen keeps breasts firm and perky, we ought to tell that to all the cis women out there whose breasts sagged! But you know what? I *want* my breasts to eventually look like an older woman's and not a teenage girl's; I'm happy that they're starting to sag a bit. I like the mature look. Another personal preference for my own body.)