Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I've been taking Fin. for about 6 months along with normal my HRT/E patches & spiro. I cannot see any improvement in hair growth. Has anyone had nice real results with this drug?

It seems to work for me, but it took a full year to make much of a difference, and now twenty months on is still helping.  I started off mostly bald, 5% Minoxidil helped, but things really began to change a year ago January after a year on Finisteride.  I need to put up a new avatar picture.  The hair thing is better now than when that was taken.  Patience and persistence is something this process is good at teaching.

Peace,
Julie

Thanks, I ordered another 3 month supply, we'll see, maybe.

Yep, it has been really really slow but finally I feel more confident growing my hair out. 6 months to a year more and my hair should be done. :)

Approaching three months in, I've noticed subtle differences on my crown which I'm not just attributing to growing hair.  Thankfully, I've not experienced  any of the nasty side effects I hear about, including issues with focus and depression.  In fact, I've been feeling much better while on the drug.

YMMV but hair growth will take some patience.

Fin worked for me.  I wasn't that far gone, but was thinning like crazy on top like a middle aged rocker.  No bald spot, but receding a bit and noticing my pony tail getting thinner every day.  I started taking it 2 months before I started a low dose of E.  I had no side effects, but I noticed a lot of new hairs popping up in about 2 months.  I added dutasteride and upped my E dose six months after I started on E, and I started to REALLY notice a difference.  I mean, it basically all came back.  It's not thin anymore and looks very feminine now.   The only problem is that I keep having to cut it so the shorties blend in better.   I miss having hair almost down to mah butt.

I have taken it for about 2 years, but I am not quite sure of the effect.

barbie~~

Thanks girl friends. Is there anything better than fin.???

I'm taking a medium dosage. My body hair has greatly reduced since hrt which is nice however my scalp hair is still so thin. I almost have to change TV channels when the Wen Girl commercial comes on, so frustating.

Thanks for any advise & good luck to us all to have nice thick hair. 

Finisteride + Minoxidil + Biotin is about as good as it gets unless you want to go the transplant route.  It does kind of suck that for some of us hair growth/regrowth takes years rather than days/weeks/months.  Even then there are no guarantees.  I may be doomed to a pixie cut, but I'm still hopeful.

Julie

May I suggest you add microneedling to your regimen?

A Randomized Double Blind Study on the Effects of Microneedling in Androgenetic Alopecia (http://www.ijtrichology.com/article.asp?issn=0974-7753;year=2013;volume=5;issue=1;spage=6;epage=11;aulast=Dhurat)

Basically, microneedling once a week and using Minoxidil twice a day the other six days produced an average of 4 times as much hair as Minoxidil alone for seven days a week.

You can buy a microneedler cheaply at Amazon for something like $12-$18 usually. I bought mine a bit over a year ago and I was a full Norwood 7 hair loss (worst sort) when I started. I am slowly approaching a Norwood 5 situation. If I can get enough back for a Norwood 5, I should become a good candidate for hair transplants rather than a really bad candidate as when I started.

I will check it out.  Thank you.

Thank you to all. I use Biotin however I've not added Minoxidi. Good luck GF's.

I was prescribed finasteride and will receive it in a few days. However, I am taking it for reducing testosterone and for an enlarged prostate. I hope it works for both!

Yep that is it's on label use.  At lower doses it is an effective DHT blocker which is why it works for those of us with thinly covered pates
J

Quote from: LizMarie on August 28, 2014, 06:05:01 PM
May I suggest you add microneedling to your regimen?

A Randomized Double Blind Study on the Effects of Microneedling in Androgenetic Alopecia (http://www.ijtrichology.com/article.asp?issn=0974-7753;year=2013;volume=5;issue=1;spage=6;epage=11;aulast=Dhurat)

Basically, microneedling once a week and using Minoxidil twice a day the other six days produced an average of 4 times as much hair as Minoxidil alone for seven days a week.

You can buy a microneedler cheaply at Amazon for something like $12-$18 usually. I bought mine a bit over a year ago and I was a full Norwood 7 hair loss (worst sort) when I started. I am slowly approaching a Norwood 5 situation. If I can get enough back for a Norwood 5, I should become a good candidate for hair transplants rather than a really bad candidate as when I started.

Liz Marie, Thank you but can you expound on this microneedler device?  I guess it stimulates the scalp? Is it used along with Minoxidil? Where can I or we purchase one direct, a little $ is just fine if this combination will really help. Thank you so much. I'm so tired of receiving Paula Young catalogs I could just scream.   

I have noticed a pretty significant difference too with Fin.. once a day, (was told to take it at night by pharmacist).. Biotinn also, (recommended by my stylist to promote growth).  I have a couple bottles of 5% minoxidyl, but I havent broken them open yet.. My loss has slowed quite a bit, tho I'm still seeing some hairs in the sink after drying/brushing it.  Less than before.. still better than it was.  After a couple months, my stylist happened to mention while it really helps head hair, it also help whiskers grow..  well, that explains a lot..   I actually didnt think of that, tho I sort of guessed it isn't a smart bomb.  eh.. more hair on the head is easy trade off for having to shave chin, arms, legs more often.

How can we girls ever win??? Also hair growth on our bodies along with our scalp, terrible. It's time for a little cry almost. 

Been on Finasteride 6 months.

I think the biggest thing I've noticed is a vast reduction in hair loss. Before it used to be depressing to run my fingers through my hair. Now I still shed some but it is a MASSIVE reduction.

Secondly, over the last several years the corners have kind of receeded/thinned whatever because life sucks. BUT! If you look closely now, very closely, the area is now swarmed with tiny super thin light vellous hair. I'm not sure if these will become real hairs, baby hairs, or stay the same... but there's a good chance I have more of these in places I can't see in my scalp.

So that said, I'm willing to give it more time. The reduction in hair loss by itself is a blessing and a success.

My physician just prescribed Finasteride, but I've not yet picked it up from the pharmacy. I had requested that dutasteride to address corners and a front that had thinned pre-hrt. So what do you think? Should I pick Finasteride up and take it or call her and re-request dutasteride?

Most defiantly, I was told when 1st starting out that it could take atleast 6 months for the fin to start working

Ladies - fin needs to be taken daily. Dutasteride can be taken 3X a week and still suppress DHT to nearly 0 levels (at least for me).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-alpha_reductase#Dutasteride

I like it because it's a matter of convenience - and when it comes to DHT - it doesn't mess around. Its therapeutic half life spans weeks vs finasteride's 6 hours.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Foi58.tinypic.com%2F4kyxrm.jpg&hash=67f3d99e1ce23c6eb8600861448e8ab51ff764c7)

If you are serious about hairloss then dutasteride + minoxidil + your HRT regimen is about all you can really do aside from some experimental and questionable stuff being tossed around on the hairloss sites.

BTW: You'll need to get off dutasteride for at least 6 months if you plan on having children. Sperm banking is recommended.

Thank you & I'm sure all others also thank you. I'm going to start a better plan.

Quote from: MyKa on August 28, 2014, 10:36:32 PM
Most defiantly, I was told when 1st starting out that it could take atleast 6 months for the fin to start working

Do you mean start HRT from Day 1, or starting Fin by itself?  I'm about 3months in (week short of 3mos) and my recovery  is def noticable.  the spot on the back of my head used to look like the umpire brushed everything way..  now, I got growth there!  Not a lot but it isn't a clean plate anymore.

I stopped taking it, after around a year

It was good but it has some side effects that seem to effect some people. One being anxiety, which I started getting for no good reason. So I assume that was the finasteride. However it did work well while I was on it, I still have plenty of hair and since being on HRT proper have not noticed any issues with my hair.

I do suggest though that you read up on the potential side effects with regards to the effects of 5 alpha-reductace inhibitors. They do a lot more than just prevent DHT formation.

FYI dutasteride is stronger.

I've been on Finasteride for close to 2 years and it is still helping me. My hairline never receded THAT much, but I had no idea it could regrow so much and make my forehead look so small now, even with hair pulled back.

I've recently tired Nizoral(ketoconazole) 1% OTC and it appears to be helping a little. My hair line is not bad but definitely receding and thinning.

Dutasteride looks promising from my personal research.

I've been taking it for a few years, I can't tell if it is responsible for increased hair growth or the estrogen, the minoxidil mixed with RapidLash (has anyone else tried this? I learned about it last year, and I think it works), the Biotin, or the laser comb. I had to take a lot of powerful antibiotics to counter an infected hip last year, and it was almost like chemotherapy, and I lost a bit of hair as a result. Its all come back, and my stylist says she can tell the difference. But I follow this intense regimen to keep my hair dignity.

Thanks to everyone. I started 5% Minoxidil today. I had no idea this product was so inexpensive or I would have started it long ago. It's only $17 for a 3 month supply, Equate generic brand. Good luck GF's.

I've been taking Avodart (Dutasteride) for over 8 months now and I swear by it. It not only saved the hair I had but is promoting new growth that is thickening into mature healthy hair. To me there is no substitute for inhibiting the evil DHT. My hair also grows at a rate of 1" per month, and doesn't stop at a certain length as it did before.

Most hrt Doc's prescribe Finasteride because it is only a fraction of the cost of Avodart(Dutasteride) and most insurance companies won't require prior authorization for it. Finasteride does work don't get me wrong, You just get better faster results with Avodart(Dutasteride).

Ally :icon_flower:
DISCLAIMER: I'm not a Doctor so the above is only my opinion based upon my personal experience and personal research. Just my $.02 worth. As always, you should follow your doctor's recommendations.

I got a Dutasteride presciption that I take daily since the beginning of my HRT.  I don't really have a basis for comparison of its effects since I've always been on it.  However I can say I have definitely experienced significant hairline regrowth, and I continue to notice improvement.

At the start, I had lost about 3/4" of hairline at the corners, and a little in the center.  I did not expect this to regrow at all, but after about 3 months I noticed some unusually thick peach fuzz in this area, much larger and longer than normal head fuzz.  That fuzz continues to be present, and over the months has VERY slowly grown into normal hair from the back forwards.  Now, about 1.2 years into the process, I've regained about half of what I had lost.  The changes are very, very slow but I believe it is continuing to progress to this day.

Judging from the distribution of thick fuzz, I do not believe this will completely feminize my hairline.  But I do believe I can now get away with a very small number of hair follicle grafts and call it good, as my body will likely fill in around it with shorter regrown hairs.

Since the vast majority of HRT regimens do not appear to include a 5AR inhibitor, and the predominant wisdom states that hairlines should not be expected to regrow at all - I can only assume that these results can be attributed to my Dutasteride.  Not exactly a scientific result, but good anecdotal evidence that seems to mesh with others on this thread.  :)

My finasteride came in and this is the fourth day on it now. I take it late afternoon, as they say to take it at the same time every day. My hair is still fine on my head at my age, so the only reason for taking it, like I mentioned earlier, is for reducing the prostate and to do the DHT thing with the testosterone. Six months it is supposed to do its job on the prostate, so we will see. As far as more breast growth, that can happen sooner, from what I also read, which differs from person to person. Time will tell.

With all of this, YMMV!

I have used finasteride for about 2 and a half years and while it has filled the bald area in a bit, it hasn't done enough.  I am unable to use minoxidil as my skin reacts immediately.  I carried on with it in various forms but it just caused too much damage.

So I have stopped fin and have just settled for wigs for the rest of my days.  A local hair transplant surgeon reviewed me and said they could do wonderful things for me but only with a typical male hairline.  An overseas one said they might be able to get me to an average male hair pattern and that would exhaust my donor stock.  If that is all one of the leaders in this field will commit to, I am not going to try.  With the risk it doesn't work well enough, and the cost being many years worth of human hair wigs, clothes and shoes, I have decided to withdraw from this particular battle.

Disappointed but I should have attacked it 20 years ago!  It probably reflects the years I have been losing hair and the low chance of reviving follicles so long dormant if alive at all.  Time to move on.

If fin + minox + HRT work for you, you are lucky.  Value what you have.

Emma

Quote from: FrancisAnn on August 28, 2014, 08:23:48 PM
Liz Marie, Thank you but can you expound on this microneedler device?  I guess it stimulates the scalp? Is it used along with Minoxidil? Where can I or we purchase one direct, a little $ is just fine if this combination will really help. Thank you so much. I'm so tired of receiving Paula Young catalogs I could just scream.

I am sorry I missed this earlier, Francis!

Microneedlers can be bought at Amazon for usually $12-$18. Once you have one, it will basically last years and years unless you abuse it.

The study I linked described the usage pattern. Normally Minoxidil is applied twice per day, seven days per week.

However, when microneedling, you use Minoxidil twice per day six days per week. On the seventh day you microneedle the scalp. The study again describes how much, basically until the scalp is left red but not bleeding.

The device has hundreds of tiny needles on it. Rolling it back and forth across the entire scalp basically produced thousands of "micro-trauma" sites that are punctures of the epidermis but not deep enough to bleed. This stimulates any stem cells in the scalp to move to the micro-trauma site and begin repairs - aka cell growth. Since Minoxidil encourages formation and growth of hair follicles, more micro-trauma sites means more chances for Minoxodil to cause a hair follicle to form instead of just skin cells.

According to the study, standard Minoxidil control patients (7 days a week twice a day) generated 22 hairs per square centimeter. Microneedling patients, however, generated an average of 96 hairs per square centimeter, more than 4 times as many as standard Minoxidil usage. Note that normal hair density is in the 100-150 hairs per square centimeter range so the micro-needling approach almost generates normal hair cover for some patients. (It's an average so some got more and some less.)

Quote from: LizMarie on September 12, 2014, 11:56:35 PM
I am sorry I missed this earlier, Francis!

Microneedlers can be bought at Amazon for usually $12-$18. Once you have one, it will basically last years and years unless you abuse it.

The study I linked described the usage pattern. Normally Minoxidil is applied twice per day, seven days per week.

However, when microneedling, you use Minoxidil twice per day six days per week. On the seventh day you microneedle the scalp. The study again describes how much, basically until the scalp is left red but not bleeding.

The device has hundreds of tiny needles on it. Rolling it back and forth across the entire scalp basically produced thousands of "micro-trauma" sites that are punctures of the epidermis but not deep enough to bleed. This stimulates any stem cells in the scalp to move to the micro-trauma site and begin repairs - aka cell growth. Since Minoxidil encourages formation and growth of hair follicles, more micro-trauma sites means more chances for Minoxodil to cause a hair follicle to form instead of just skin cells.

According to the study, standard Minoxidil control patients (7 days a week twice a day) generated 22 hairs per square centimeter. Microneedling patients, however, generated an average of 96 hairs per square centimeter, more than 4 times as many as standard Minoxidil usage. Note that normal hair density is in the 100-150 hairs per square centimeter range so the micro-needling approach almost generates normal hair cover for some patients. (It's an average so some got more and some less.)

Thank you so much for your time & reply. I'm using Minoxidil as instructed. Guess I will order one on these microneedlers & try it. I'm not sure about needles into my scalp however to have nicer hair would be one of the nicest things in life I could imagine. I get so upset every time I see the TV commercial saying I'm a WEN girl I could scream. CIS women are so lucky. Thank you again so much & good luck to all of us.

Can you use Dutasteride and finasteride together?

I had a chance to talk to my SRS surgeon a couple of weeks ago, and he said that I was overdoing it taking Finasteride daily,

I'm thinking that I'll switch over to Durasteride though, as it sounds more effective. The microneedling sounds interesting too. One thing I can't stand about Rogaine is the greasy effect it has if I get it on any of my hair (the liquid, anyway).

Some advise please on Finasteride.  I see where other GF's are taking a much lower lever. I need all the help I can with trying to regrow my hair but I surely do not want to cause my body any harm.   Help?

Unless you are on fin for prostate issues specifically

Quote from: Christine167 on September 18, 2014, 06:38:06 AM
Unless you are on fin for prostate issues specifically

Thank you!

I should preface that with a check with your doctor about the dosage as well. I'm on call and on 4 hours of sleep here.

From what I have read isn't necessarily dangerous it just becomes wasteful if your goal is hair loss prevention and to regrow hair.

Quote from: Christine167 on September 18, 2014, 06:50:51 AM
I should preface that with a check with your doctor about the dosage as well. I'm on call and on 4 hours of sleep here.

From what I have isn't necessarily dangerous it just becomes wasteful if your goal is hair loss prevention and to regrow hair.

I understand. Real person experience from our nice members sometimes means more to me than my doctor. All is OK.

hi
i read up on this a while back and for the hair loss was the optimal dose. more than this didnt make the dht reduce any better for hair loss there is a level to lower it to and then lowering it anymore doesnt improve the hair growth. as always listen to what the doc recomends but if you search the net theres loads of medical papers all saying the same. the doses above that seem to be for the prostate treatment. so tempting to think if a little works then more must be better but sadly it isnt it just takes time

is fin available in the US?
I got an endo appointment tomorrow and wanted to ask him about this drug
I was prescribed spiro but that lead to me passing out and spending the night in the ER.
Spiro lowers blood pressure and since my blood pressure was already a little low giving me spiro probably wasnt the best idea.
but I will say this
I use to suffer from high blood pressure and hypertension ever since starting HRT my blood pressure has been normal c :

My HRT doctor upped my dosage my estrogen. (Plus I switched to injected estrogen.) She thought my testosterone was too high (below male, but above normal female) and didn't want to up my Spiro any more. She said the with the upped finasteride combined with the increase estrogen, it should reduce the free testosterone in my body.

As far as being wasteful, a 90 day supplewas $24, but the same 90 day supply of is cheaper at $13 at Costco. Simply because the is for MPB (cosmetic) and the is for Prostate (medical).

On finasteride, for over two weeks now. Haven't felt anything different as yet, but is said to take 6 months to reduce the prostate. Any other effects that are favorable is yet to be seen.

Stephanie, You are not going to feel anything I do not expect. I've been on fin. daily for the past 6 months & I do not feel any different. Hair growth, not much of an increase that I can determine.

No dosages please thanks. If the prescribing doctor won't talk about the drug they are prescribing find another one who will communicate.

Quote from: Flan on September 24, 2014, 06:36:27 PM
No dosages please thanks. If the prescribing doctor won't talk about the drug they are prescribing find another one who will communicate.

OK, sorry.

Ive been on it for a short time and I have centimeter fuzz rounding out my forehead. I'm not sure when it's supposed to thicken or even if it will. I've taken to wearing hats when I'm not wearing my wig though.

Anyone else have any experience with this stage of hair regrowth?

Also the closer the hairs are to my hair line, the longer they get. I'm not sure about density yet but I'm pretty excited the growth keeps creeping forward. My significant other pointed out to me that I should've started sooner. Story of my life.

I been taken it for a month and I got the fuzzy also at the hairline .... But wondering do one need to take this forever like with rogaine ?

Good question. I don't know.

Three weeks on it now and no ill effects. So, it really agrees with me, so I am a happy camper! Hope it helps the enlarged prostate and to help reduce testosterone as well, which is the reason that it is supposed to work.

Sorry if this is a silly question, but if I don't have baldness and hair is still thick and seems to be growing, albeit slowly, should I be speaking to my doctor about taking any of these medications as a precautionary measure? I always thought one of the benefits of HRT in MtF was that male pattern baldness is stopped in its tracks.

Sure, it never hurts to ask.

I actually have new hair growth, it's not thick however there is no doubt as to more hairs. So maybe Fin works. I've been on it for 7 or 8 months & I just started Minoxidil a month ago. So yea!

Quote from: FrancisAnn on October 04, 2014, 07:06:40 AM
I actually have new hair growth, it's not thick however there is no doubt as to more hairs. So maybe Fin works. I've been on it for 7 or 8 months & I just started Minoxidil a month ago. So yea!

Yes. It is a good news!

I am going to get a prescription for finasteride for 1 year next week, whether it works or not.

barbie~~

My physician last week said it should work over time & it does seem to help. I've been told not to post the dosage level however more is better. Take care Barbie, you always look great.

After I run out of my fin in switching to dutas... Which suppose to be more potent ...

I have been on Dutasteride for a month and with additional of HRT I have a great growth response already.

Quote from: TinaVane on October 05, 2014, 10:01:55 PM
After I run out of my fin in switching to dutas... Which suppose to be more potent ...

Quote from: Mariah2014 on October 05, 2014, 10:10:30 PM
I have been on Dutasteride for a month and with additional of HRT I have a great growth response already.

Darn, I bought a 2 or 3 month supply of Fin. a few weeks ago. I really hate to waste it so I'll wait however I'm definetly going to change over soon. So many girls report much better growth with Dutasteride. Thanks & good luck to all of us for some thick nice hair.

I wouldn't get to flustered because genetics is definitely playing a role too. Fin is a great start especially if paired with Spiro or another blocker.

Quote from: FrancisAnn on October 08, 2014, 07:42:12 AM
Darn, I bought a 2 or 3 month supply of Fin. a few weeks ago. I really hate to waste it so I'll wait however I'm definetly going to change over soon. So many girls report much better growth with Dutasteride. Thanks & good luck to all of us for some thick nice hair.

Mariah, That was nice to reply. My genetics are terrible so I'm just trying the best I can & yes on spiro for over a year. My hormone levels seem nice. However I sure have Paula Young on my speed dial so to speak. I ordered a nice new wig yesterday. Hugs to you GF.

Quote from: FrancisAnn on October 08, 2014, 04:07:02 PM
Mariah, That was nice to reply. My genetics are terrible so I'm just trying the best I can & yes on spiro for over a year. My hormone levels seem nice. However I sure have Paula Young on my speed dial so to speak. I ordered a nice new wig yesterday. Hugs to you GF.

I don't expect to be wig soon either. They sure come handy at this point. It wasn't for the hair growing I would invest in a better wig. This one isn't bad, but it could better. I hope yours turns out to your liking. My genetics are helping when it comes to this but have played havoc in other ways. Hugs to you too GF.

Mariah, It's kind of funny. My mother owned a beauty shop & did women's hair for years. I was always around as a child (little girl really) & it was cool to see women so proud of their new do. However my mother had thin hair & my father, oh well you guess. So I'm sure it will be Paula Young for me for quite a while, I have 4-5 wigs. Take care GF. Nice to talk with you

Francis Ann, my mom used to be a hair dresser before I was born but had to stop because she became allergic to the chemicals used. My mom's hair is still as thick can be, but my dad was nearly bald. I bet, but nothing wrong with Paula Young. I should add another in the mix to mix up hair styles until things have gotten to a length and coverage I want. Cool that you have that many of them. You take care too. Nice talking to you too.

Mariah, That's cool that your mother was also a hair dresser. My mother owned a nice shop for all her life really. That stuff used for perms back then sure smelt nasty, no doubt. Those were great days, my mother has passed away. She always knew I was a little girl, loved me so much & proud of me however in those days it was almost impossible to get any "HRT"......... Oh well good luck to you nice GF. 

Francis Ann, I'm fortunate to still have my mom still alive, but her health could be a lot better. Sorry to hear yours is no longer around. Before I was born, my mom was told she was having a girl. My often use to dress me up in girl's clothes when I was baby provided my dad wasn't home. She knew as well that I was and my dad did too. Probably why my dad put a bunch of rules down to try and make sure I looked like a boy, which is why she had to do things while he was at work. At least we are able to get HRT now days. It's amazing how much things have changed and become available. I'm glad they have. Good luck to you as well nice GF.

Mariah, Such a nice story, We were both very similiar during childhood. My mother had a very nice life, she was very caring & had so many life long friends. It has been 3 years now so I do not hurt as much as I did. She wanted a little girl also, her first born was a boy. I used to love to play dress up with her red lipstick, my little feet in her high heel shoes...... She knew & it was OK with her. And like your father mine was not happy at all, long nasty story & I left for college a week after high school. Mother never dressed me as a girl that I can remember but I always chose as feminine clothes as possible. I thought I was a little girl until first grade when the teacher told me I was a boy, I was so upset & spent as much time with the girls as possible............I'm so gald that your mother is alive. I hope you two are close. Nothing is so nice as the love between a mother & her daughter. It's so nice to find each other. Maybe we can be friends for a long time as life goes forward. My email if you want is francisann52@gmail.com & I have a nice 100% female facebook page. Take care GF.

Mariah, I looked at your profile page. Age 37, lucky girl. I'm old enough to be your mother. It's good that you are correcting your gender early rather than waiting around like me...... Take care again.

Francis Ann, due to my health and a family situation I'm doing it now instead of even sooner. I would have been 28 instead, but better now than never. It would have also taken me awhile to tell the doctor at the time. I suppose that is one benefit of having waited because by the time I told the primary care doctor I had gained the strength and courage to do so. My blood pressure (164/90) truly showed how anxious I was. I figured as much. My mom is 67 going on 68 and if my dad was alive he would be 87. He didn't marry tell much later since he was soldier in 3 different wars and retired from the military. It is great to be correcting this early, but either way at least we are correcting it even if it is later. Sorry yours didn't start tell you were even older than I am, but if it helps my trans Aunt start when she was in her mid 60's. It's never to late to correct our gender. You take care as well.

Quote from: FrancisAnn on October 08, 2014, 09:11:05 PM
Mariah, I looked at your profile page. Age 37, lucky girl. I'm old enough to be your mother. It's good that you are correcting your gender early rather than waiting around like me...... Take care again.

Mariah, 67 is not old for your mother. I hope she is OK. My mother lived into her 80's & she had a great life. You & your mother hopefully have years together & you can become even closer as you truly become her daughter. That is a lovely thought to me. I'm OK, yesterday is over & only tomorrow counts. Life is good. Take care GF, It's late here so bed time.

She is holding in their, but the 2 strokes and diabetes have done a number on her body. I still cherish this time that her and I get together and we are in many ways getting closer together as mother and daughter now. We were close as mother and son, but in some ways distant too. True. I agree that yesterday is over and that tomorrow is what counts. I had to embrace that concept hold heartily to get things moving. It's what truly freed me to move forward with my transition. You care too GF. It's not really that much earlier here. I should be getting to bed too.

Quote from: FrancisAnn on October 08, 2014, 10:52:28 PM
Mariah, 67 is not old for your mother. I hope she is OK. My mother lived into her 80's & she had a great life. You & your mother hopefully have years together & you can become even closer as you truly become her daughter. That is a lovely thought to me. I'm OK, yesterday is over & only tomorrow counts. Life is good. Take care GF, It's late here so bed time.

Mariah, 6 AM for me. That is very sad about your mother. I know you hurt for her. All I can suggest is to enjoy all the time you can with her. Let her tell you every little stroy about her life, everything. I so enjoyed my mother, we could talk for hours & she sharred everything about her life, boys she dated, life, how a man got her pregnant & left her alone to have the child, ......... Please have a great day & hugs to both of us becomming more caring nice women like our mothers.

Francis Ann, I'm very much so. Sorry to hear she had have a child alone. No one should have to do that. I was barely 13 when my dad died and my youngest sibling was 10 and 1/2 at the time. He battled cancer for 5 years so as a result he wasn't much help for several years earlier. You also have a wonderful day. Hugs and take care GF.
Mariah

Quote from: FrancisAnn on October 09, 2014, 06:04:28 AM
Mariah, 6 AM for me. That is very sad about your mother. I know you hurt for her. All I can suggest is to enjoy all the time you can with her. Let her tell you every little stroy about her life, everything. I so enjoyed my mother, we could talk for hours & she sharred everything about her life, boys she dated, life, how a man got her pregnant & left her alone to have the child, ......... Please have a great day & hugs to both of us becomming more caring nice women like our mothers.

Well I reordered 5mg of finasteride again. I've been on it for almost a year & I really do not see much improvement with scalp hair growth. As I just wasting my time & money? I also use midoxodil direct & still minimal growth???

I wish I could answer your question. I just finished month three. I don't expect to see regrowth in the very front where it thinned a bit because I know it's too soon. I also don't think I've had any shedding, which may not be a promising sign. It strangely either has kick-started my breast growth (after or a year's dormancy) or has coincided with that awakening. Best wishes.

Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on December 05, 2014, 05:17:26 AM
I wish I could answer your question. I just finished month three. I don't expect to see regrowth in the very front where it thinned a bit because I know it's too soon. I also don't think I've had any shedding, which may not be a promising sign. It strangely either has kick-started my breast growth (after or a year's dormancy) or has coincided with that awakening. Best wishes.

Thanks, other areas have improved nicely, breasts are a B cup & growing, far less body hair, facial hair is going away.......... it's just my scalp & no new growth at all that I can see, so just yuck. I would love thicker longer hair.

It has taken me 2 years pretty much, 1.5 years of finasteride and then half a year of spiro to get proper noticeable results on hair regrowth. I am starting now in the last months to get a return of some terminal hairs. Not that I ever had terrible hair, I just wanted my temples and corners back and they be coming.

I've been on dutasteride at first, but I've been on finasteride for the last 3 months, out of the 8 months, 3weeks n 6 days I've been on HRT n the U shape around the forehead has became less defined.
I'm gonna try n get dutasteride back again tho.

There are only 2 dosages of finasteride ever prescribed normally. One is for hair loss. The other is for prostate issues and is 5 times higher.

I was taking hair loss dosages of finasteride and got some but not much regrowth. Three weeks ago I asked my doctor if I could take the higher dosage instead. He said fine and grinned and said the feminizing effects it might have weren't a worry for me, were they? I grinned back and agreed.

In three short weeks I am seeing a dramatic difference in hair growth from the higher dosage of finasteride. And it's cheaper, plus covered by insurance. (The lesser dosage is not, at least on my insurance.) So for me the higher dosage has been a win-win so far.

Lucky girl. I've been taking the higher dosage for a long time. I just do not see any new growth on the front area of my scalp. So ugly. I may later look into hair transplants. I just cannot imagine going thru the rest of my life without some nice hair. 

I am 21 months fin and 18 months HRT. I do micro needling 2mm ( I roll twice a week but I do not go nuts, started 6 months ago) and use minoxidil twice a day( started 6 months ago). I added LLLT two weeks ago and use an 80 laser ( 5 mW) helmet 30 minutes every other day.

I noticed some regrowth 9 months on fin and 6 months on HRT. Now I notice growth on 90 % of the once bald areas. It is not thick but I am noticing more small hairs growing. So I stepped up my process because if I can get some regrowth I can get more.

My goal is to have enough hair for a minimal transplant.

Thank you, several months ago the micro needling system was suggested & I did not order one. Now I will & I also use minoxidil twice a day. It there any brand of microneedler that you recommend????