Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Topic started by: ZombieDog on June 24, 2016, 02:27:41 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Questions about estrogen blockers/aromatase inhibitors
Post by: ZombieDog on June 24, 2016, 02:27:41 PM
Post by: ZombieDog on June 24, 2016, 02:27:41 PM
I went to my doctor last week to get my T refilled and talk in general. She had previously upped my dose and doubled it this time as well because she's concerned I'm not virilizing as well as I ought to. She'd discussed it in the past so she prescribed me Femara(letrozole), which is an aromatase inhibitor that will prevent my body from converting T into estradiol.
The drug is originally marketed for women with breast cancer or men with gynecomastia. I have heard of it used in FtMs but no one I know personally. When I asked for it at the pharmacy the pharmacist came over and looked at me weird and asked why I needed it so I told him. He told me that I had better not ever want kids because it would destroy my fertility. I told him that two years of T had probably done that already. But he made me feel freaked out about it.
Have any of you used letrozole or another aromatase inhibitor and how did you handle it? I should mention that I'm done growing so the drug will not help me in that sense.
The drug is originally marketed for women with breast cancer or men with gynecomastia. I have heard of it used in FtMs but no one I know personally. When I asked for it at the pharmacy the pharmacist came over and looked at me weird and asked why I needed it so I told him. He told me that I had better not ever want kids because it would destroy my fertility. I told him that two years of T had probably done that already. But he made me feel freaked out about it.
Have any of you used letrozole or another aromatase inhibitor and how did you handle it? I should mention that I'm done growing so the drug will not help me in that sense.
Title: Re: Questions about estrogen blockers/aromatase inhibitors
Post by: Alexthecat on June 24, 2016, 04:08:54 PM
Post by: Alexthecat on June 24, 2016, 04:08:54 PM
Never even heard of it but it sounds unnecessary. As long as your T dose is not too high then it won't turn to E and you won't even need that medication.
Title: Re: Questions about estrogen blockers/aromatase inhibitors
Post by: FTMax on June 24, 2016, 07:18:52 PM
Post by: FTMax on June 24, 2016, 07:18:52 PM
Agree with Alex.
Blockers are most frequently used for transgender teens to delay puberty onset. I don't think that anyone regularly takes HRT with blockers concurrently. I think there may be some overlap initially, but if you're at a proper dose of T there should be no risk of significant E conversion which would render blockers a waste of time/resources.
Is your insurance going to be covering them? AFAIK, blockers are very expensive.
Blockers are most frequently used for transgender teens to delay puberty onset. I don't think that anyone regularly takes HRT with blockers concurrently. I think there may be some overlap initially, but if you're at a proper dose of T there should be no risk of significant E conversion which would render blockers a waste of time/resources.
Is your insurance going to be covering them? AFAIK, blockers are very expensive.