Susan's Place Transgender Resources

My doctor has no answer regarding the presence of a slight fishy odor. I still have  male plumbing, minus the testes. I wonder if others experience this, or have any knowledge on the cause. Could it be from years of hormone use?  I have heard of post-ops having this odor, but not pre-ops.

I used the search, and came up with nothing.

I would suspect it's a combination of HRT and skin folds where a little moisture can be retained. I am seeing three different set of order, One with testosterone, one with nothing and one with HRT. The most interesting thing I have discovered is there appears to be a difference between Permian and estradiol as I am seeing differences in my body with estradiol that I never saw on permian.

Quote from: Dena on July 12, 2016, 12:03:01 AM
there appears to be a difference between Permian and estradiol as I am seeing differences in my body with estradiol that I never saw on permian.

Sorry Dena for my ignorance, but could you explain what is Permian ? Is this a form of estrogen ?

Interesting.... :-\

Ive always had a touch of this odor, on occasion... I wouldnt say I stink, I just know now and then It would be stronger and get my attention. I just thought it was normal for men and women. But maybe not... perhaps its another indicator that I am intersex :D

My plumbing has always smelled, to me, like the plumbing of women... I never smelled a mans plumbing so I had nothing to compare it too...

Quote from: Lucie on July 12, 2016, 03:05:42 AM
Sorry Dena for my ignorance, but could you explain what is Permian ? Is this a form of estrogen ?

Premarin - my and the spell checker's mistake. It used to be the gold standard in transitioning. It was estrogen from horses. Its expensive and in my view nowhere near as effective as estradiol tablets. Patches, injections and implants came latter on.

Quote from: Dena on July 12, 2016, 08:34:39 AM
Premarin - my and the spell checker's mistake. It used to be the gold standard in transitioning. It was estrogen from horses. Its expensive and in my view nowhere near as effective as estradiol tablets. Patches, injections and implants came latter on.

My insurance recently decided Premarin was too expensive, and switched me to Estradiol. However, the faint fishy smell has been present since my scrotum shrank away to nothing and the perineum scar became obvious and pink... around 22 years ago.

in 1996, my GF at that time used to tell me that my scent changed once I started Premarin.  I do not know what the smell was, but she said she could tell the difference from before to after.

Fast forward to today and the same is not true.  My scent has altered, but only in that I smell "less strong".  Like, I can go out and ride my bike till I am soaked with perspiration and simply towel off and no-one can tell I was active.  It is sort of weird...we cannot tell what clothes are dirty or clean by odor at all.  I am using Estradiol and there is a distinct difference from what we used in........."the old days" :)

I used to joke with the guys about having 'that not so fresh feeling'.  Not so funny now that I'm a postie.
youtu.be/6a-To0CNnDY
As I recall the non-semen fluid would smell fishy at times.  Could be residual stuff still in the tube rotting away.
In all seriousness...After a long day I tend to smell more like pee than fish...TMI?

Added: So, since starting HRT I don't smell at all...have not used deodorant in 2 years.  Does not matter how rough of a day...or days it has been.  Of course this statement excludes super private areas.

Thank you,
Anne
EOM

Quote from: Dena on July 12, 2016, 08:34:39 AM
Premarin - my and the spell checker's mistake. It used to be the gold standard in transitioning. It was estrogen from horses. Its expensive and in my view nowhere near as effective as estradiol tablets. Patches, injections and implants came latter on.

Oh ok, I know Premarin. I am stupid, I should have realized that it was a typo.

I have noticed that even as a pre-op you need to be very diligent about cleanliness and maintenance down there. But other than that - I rarely apply deodorant these days and I can usually hang my blouses back up at the end of the day without having to wash them - the old funky smell is gone.

Is there a history of trimethylaminuria in the family?

Oh God, yes.... I can wear clothes for several days without smell.... it amazes me as Im used to being stinky after a hard day...  now my pits are always fresh smelling no matter what I do. And my hootch, OMG.... I just adore the way it smells, even on the occasion it gets a touch of fishy fishy... Im talking like if I lil goldfish swam past, not a carp moving in.

The odor I speak of is a pleasant fish odor, such as a freshly cooked and breaded fish tender. It drives my husband crazy when it becomes noticeable.

I do clean myself up down there often enough that it doesn't become strong. I've been in lady's restrooms that smell like an outdoor Chinese fish market, and don't want to get to that level.

Quote from: Lady Sarah on July 12, 2016, 10:17:28 PM
The odor I speak of is a pleasant fish odor, such as a freshly cooked and breaded fish tender. It drives my husband crazy when it becomes noticeable.

I do clean myself up down there often enough that it doesn't become strong. I've been in lady's restrooms that smell like an outdoor Chinese fish market, and don't want to get to that level.

Yes, I agree... its a pleasant smell that reminds me of some of the womens fish tenders I have been near.