Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hello everyone, I'm planning on starting HRT this month( hopefully), so I would like to get some feedback from everyone and see what to expect, I know it varies from person to person. But just to get a rough estimate on when and what will happen.
If you feel comfortable please write down your age that you started, what you take and how( injection, patch, pill, and etc.), and a rough estimate of your timeline. Like: week 1, week 2, week 3, month 1, month 2,... year 1, year 2... And so forth.

On a side question, did you guys notice any change on your hips( side)? This is one thing that is concerning me because I barely have any hips, butt is easily achieved with exercise, but when I look in the mirror, I look like a log...

Lastly, when you go to the doctor for the first time on informed consent, does the doctor prescribe the meds right away, or do you have to come back another day. Or if you take the injection( which is probably the one I'll take), does the doctor injected it on the same day? And to get your doses, does the doctor give you those, or do you have to go to a pharmacy and get them?

Thanks everyone!

Hi Eva,

I'm on HRT since 2004, I started young. I've been on pills, injections, patches, suppositories and gel. My face has significantly changed and feminized over the years, body hair also significantly reduced but I still had to remove facial, chest and abdominal hair with electrolysis, it took me about 3-4 years and I easily spent in excess of 10,000$. The fat started to go more to my thighs (especially), some to my butt, my upper arms, face, chest, my overall body looks softer/thicker, less muscular. Increased cellulite too but adding some testosterone post-op reversed some of that and I'm happy with this! :)

I've been on very high doses of estrogen, consistently but with not much breast growth (at most, an A cup) despite all the women in my family having large breasts (B to D). I've tried progesterone, at moderate to higher doses and it helped a little bit with the breasts. My best results were on a high dose of oral estradiol.

I don't have much in the way of hips, don't expect much, some surgical interventions by competent surgeons can help a little, shift fat from waist to hips.

For injections, I had them done by nurses for awhile, they taught me how to self-inject and then I was on my own. A breeze...

Back in 2004, I had to be evaluated by a psychiatrist, got my letter for 500$ (wink wink) and the doctor (in the gay village) was comfortable enough to prescribe me hormones, a low dose of oral estradiol + an anti-androgen (cyproterone acetate). Today, I'm under the supervision of mostly one doctor, a woman who specializes in female hormones but I also have two other family doctors, one of whom specialized in trans HRT and who just started (he's young) and finally, I have an endocrinologist who has extensive experience in trans HRT. I'm well surrounded. :)

Best of luck in your journey. :)

Hi, Eva.

I started on HRT at age 62.  It has been just over a year for me.  I am on patches for E and pills for spironolactone.

I had breast growth within the first month.  That has proceeded slowly, so now, at 1 year, I am an A cup.  At about two months, I started noticing facial changes, first my lips, and then my eyes and cheeks.  I have had a little fat redistribution on my body: just a hint of hips.

The rate of hair loss from my head has slowed considerably.  I can't see any evidence of regrowth, though.  My hair seems to have more body.  Facial hair growth has slowed down, but not stopped.  I never had much body hair, but there is less of it, and what remains is lighter in colour and grows more slowly.

I haven't noticed any loss of muscle mass.  However, while my breasts have been growing, my bust measurement has not changed, suggesting an equal loss of muscle and/or fat.  I do notice a loss of strength.  My chainsaw feels like it has put on about 20 pounds.

Mentally, my head is a lot clearer now, with less violent imagery.  I think that most of my emotional effects - I am much happier now - come from living full-time as myself, but no doubt the HRT contributes to that as well.

(I note that you ask about dosages.  The terms of service do not allow us to discuss dosages.)

Quote from: KayXo on February 01, 2018, 08:26:05 AM
Hi Eva,

I'm on HRT since 2004, I started young. I've been on pills, injections, patches, suppositories and gel. My face has significantly changed and feminized over the years, body hair also significantly reduced but I still had to remove facial, chest and abdominal hair with electrolysis, it took me about 3-4 years and I easily spent in excess of 10,000$. The fat started to go more to my thighs (especially), some to my butt, my upper arms, face, chest, my overall body looks softer/thicker, less muscular. Increased cellulite too but adding some testosterone post-op reversed some of that and I'm happy with this! :)

I've been on very high doses of estrogen, consistently but with not much breast growth (at most, an A cup) despite all the women in my family having large breasts (B to D). I've tried progesterone, at moderate to higher doses and it helped a little bit with the breasts. My best results were on a high dose of oral estradiol.

I don't have much in the way of hips, don't expect much, some surgical interventions by competent surgeons can help a little, shift fat from waist to hips.

For injections, I had them done by nurses for awhile, they taught me how to self-inject and then I was on my own. A breeze...

Back in 2004, I had to be evaluated by a psychiatrist, got my letter for 500$ (wink wink) and the doctor (in the gay village) was comfortable enough to prescribe me hormones, a low dose of oral estradiol + an anti-androgen (cyproterone acetate). Today, I'm under the supervision of mostly one doctor, a woman who specializes in female hormones but I also have two other family doctors, one of whom specialized in trans HRT and who just started (he's young) and finally, I have an endocrinologist who has extensive experience in trans HRT. I'm well surrounded. :)

Best of luck in your journey. :)

Oh wow! So you started a while ago, I wish I would've started around that time as well. But better late than never. So you probably started around college years?

Unfortunately all the woman in my family are A or B cups, and my ethnicity won't help at all.. oh and I'm a vegetarian. So I'll be lucky enough to have an A cup, but I like to be optimistic and hope for I'll get to a B cup. Lol. Realistically A cup.

Quote from: KathyLauren on February 01, 2018, 08:52:49 AM

(I note that you ask about dosages.  The terms of service do not allow us to discuss dosages.)

Thanks! I just removed it from the original post.
By the way do you know if the doctor has the informed consent. I'll be able to take the injection on the same day?

I suffer from anxiety, so if I'm expecting something to go a certain way, and ends up not being that way, I start to panic

By the way thanks for sharing your experience. I'm keeping note of everything you guys are telling me!

I've been on HRT for six months now. I use the E patch and Spiro.  I went to Planned Parenthood and had the prescriptions filled and in my hands that evening.  I've had the physical changes.  They take time.  I've also had the mental changes like calmness and the sort.  I've had blood work done twice and go back for another one next month.  Hopefully levels will be good.  My doctor looks at everything for me because of my age and previous blood work.  The only concern has been my cholesterol but it has been borderline fine last time. 

I can say happily that I have no intentions of stopping HRT.  I've been too happy being on it.  Yeah, switching out two patches on my butt every week sucks but boobs and soft skin are too good to pass up on.

Quote from: RobynTx on February 01, 2018, 04:18:44 PM
I've been on HRT for six months now. I use the E patch and Spiro.  I went to Planned Parenthood and had the prescriptions filled and in my hands that evening.  I've had the physical changes.  They take time.  I've also had the mental changes like calmness and the sort.  I've had blood work done twice and go back for another one next month.  Hopefully levels will be good.  My doctor looks at everything for me because of my age and previous blood work.  The only concern has been my cholesterol but it has been borderline fine last time. 

I can say happily that I have no intentions of stopping HRT.  I've been too happy being on it.  Yeah, switching out two patches on my butt every week sucks but boobs and soft skin are too good to pass up on.

I'm not familiar with planned parenthood, do you need health insurance to get the meds from them?
I'm definitely going to look it up! Thanks!

I have been on pills for almost 16 months. I started sub lingually but the dr said it's to late to worry about liver disease so now I just swollow them. Mentally it has done wonders. I have been depressed all my life until the last 6 months. My dr took some baseline tests and started the medication the next time I went about a week later. I had gone to the gender therapist 3 times. Got my referral on the third visit. Beginning to end about 6 weeks. Hair removal will take much much longer.


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Quote from: EvaT on February 01, 2018, 04:45:07 PM
I'm not familiar with planned parenthood, do you need health insurance to get the meds from them?
I'm definitely going to look it up! Thanks!

Not entirely sure on that.  The one I use in Austin just sends the prescription to my pharmacy and my insurance covers it.   

I have been on HRT for 7 weeks now. The breasts are growing but I am also losing weight and exercising, so the effects are a little more visible. My waist is getting smaller and hopefully redistributing to the hips.

In 2007 I was in therapy for self abuse. I got nowhere after going with 3 therapists who basically tried to push me away from any kind of transition. They wouldn't even bring it up or deflected the discussion if we got close to it.

I live in West Michigan which is very conservative. I gave up therapy for 10 years and only revisited with a psychiatrist because I told a new doctor that I had set up an orchiectomy procedure (I had to do something!). One week later I was sent to see the psychiatrist with the intent of putting me on anti depression drugs. After two sessions she told me that what I didn't need drugs as I absolutely was not depressed or suicidal. She told me what I really needed was a Gender psychologist. I found one and since I had been in counseling off and on for 11 years, she thought I had suffered enough. There was only two sessions with her. one for me and a second session for my wife to help her understand (a little better) what I was going through and that I was not going to leave her.

I was diagnosed as having Gender Dysphoria and PTSD - one week later I had an appointment with my new doctor who after my baseline blood-test, she put me on Spiro and Estrogen pills.

Within three days I started feeling balanced and right mentally. I am enjoying the slow changes as my body feminizes and shapes into what I should be. For the first time in 55 years (from puberty) I finally feel like I am me.
AJ

Quote from: DawnOday on February 02, 2018, 01:03:26 AM
I have been on pills for almost 16 months. I started sub lingually but the dr said it's to late to worry about liver disease so now I just swollow them. Mentally it has done wonders. I have been depressed all my life until the last 6 months. My dr took some baseline tests and started the medication the next time I went about a week later. I had gone to the gender therapist 3 times. Got my referral on the third visit. Beginning to end about 6 weeks. Hair removal will take much much longer.


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Oh wow 3 visits? The doctor I'll most likely to go to, is informed consent, so hopefully I won't need a referral.

Quote from: RobynTx on February 02, 2018, 02:17:39 AM
Not entirely sure on that.  The one I use in Austin just sends the prescription to my pharmacy and my insurance covers it.   

Gotcha, I'll look it up, thanks!

Quote from: ajtent on February 02, 2018, 05:21:59 AM
I have been on HRT for 7 weeks now. The breasts are growing but I am also losing weight and exercising, so the effects are a little more visible. My waist is getting smaller and hopefully redistributing to the hips.

In 2007 I was in therapy for self abuse. I got nowhere after going with 3 therapists who basically tried to push me away from any kind of transition. They wouldn't even bring it up or deflected the discussion if we got close to it.

I live in West Michigan which is very conservative. I gave up therapy for 10 years and only revisited with a psychiatrist because I told a new doctor that I had set up an orchiectomy procedure (I had to do something!). One week later I was sent to see the psychiatrist with the intent of putting me on anti depression drugs. After two sessions she told me that what I didn't need drugs as I absolutely was not depressed or suicidal. She told me what I really needed was a Gender psychologist. I found one and since I had been in counseling off and on for 11 years, she thought I had suffered enough. There was only two sessions with her. one for me and a second session for my wife to help her understand (a little better) what I was going through and that I was not going to leave her.

I was diagnosed as having Gender Dysphoria and PTSD - one week later I had an appointment with my new doctor who after my baseline blood-test, she put me on Spiro and Estrogen pills.

Within three days I started feeling balanced and right mentally. I am enjoying the slow changes as my body feminizes and shapes into what I should be. For the first time in 55 years (from puberty) I finally feel like I am me.
AJ

You live in Michigan too? I live in southeast area. I cant wait to start HRT, but at the same time I feel very nervous and anxious

I've been on hrt 3 years now. I was 17 when I started. I'm on estradiol injections, provera tablets and spironolactone tablets. I'm on a large dose of each. The results have been better than I expected. I've had very good results with my boobs, butt and hips. My boobs are a small C cup which is a lot more than I expected to get from hrt. I don't have a J-lo butt or anything but my butt, hips and upper thighs have filled out very nicely. My facial features softened very nicely too. The tiny bit of body hair I had thinned out to almost nothing and my pubic hair changed. My odors changed too. It took 3 visits to the therapist for a referral letter. Then when I saw the Dr for hrt she wanted another letter from a second therapist so I had to get another one. Drs aren't too anxious to prescribe hrt for a 17 year old. My dad had had a hard time finding her. My first visit she examined me, did lab work and talked to my dad and I about what hrt would do to me. I had my second appointment with her 2 weeks later after she had all my lab results back. She talked to us again, had my dad sign a consent form and finally prescribed hrt.  She taught me how to self inject and that was it. My brother has always done my shots for me so I haven't had to do it myself.

Quote from: Julia1996 on February 02, 2018, 08:03:55 AM
I've been on hrt 3 years now. I was 17 when I started. I'm on estradiol injections, provera tablets and spironolactone tablets. I'm on a large dose of each. The results have been better than I expected. I've had very good results with my boobs, butt and hips. My boobs are a small C cup which is a lot more than I expected to get from hrt. I don't have a J-lo butt or anything but my butt, hips and upper thighs have filled out very nicely. My facial features softened very nicely too. The tiny bit of body hair I had thinned out to almost nothing and my pubic hair changed. My odors changed too. It took 3 visits to the therapist for a referral letter. Then when I saw the Dr for hrt she wanted another letter from a second therapist so I had to get another one. Drs aren't too anxious to prescribe hrt for a 17 year old. My dad had had a hard time finding her. My first visit she examined me, did lab work and talked to my dad and I about what hrt would do to me. I had my second appointment with her 2 weeks later after she had all my lab results back. She talked to us again, had my dad sign a consent form and finally prescribed hrt.  She taught me how to self inject and that was it. My brother has always done my shots for me so I haven't had to do it myself.

What's Provera?

And while I can't smell, my daughter says I smell like vanilla.

Quote from: DawnOday on February 02, 2018, 01:03:26 AM
I have been on pills for almost 16 months. I started sub lingually but the dr said it's to late to worry about liver disease so now I just swollow them. Mentally it has done wonders. I have been depressed all my life until the last 6 months. My dr took some baseline tests and started the medication the next time I went about a week later. I had gone to the gender therapist 3 times. Got my referral on the third visit. Beginning to end about 6 weeks. Hair removal will take much much longer.


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Nice Dawn, you look great!

Quote from: Cassi on February 02, 2018, 08:09:23 AM
What's Provera?

And while I can't smell, my daughter says I smell like vanilla.

Provera is a brand name for progesterone.

Quote from: Cassi on February 02, 2018, 08:09:23 AM
What's Provera?

And while I can't smell, my daughter says I smell like vanilla.

You've gone noseblind. Lol

Quote from: Julia1996 on February 02, 2018, 08:14:03 AM
Provera is a brand name for progesterone.

Is that a T blocker?

Quote from: Cassi on February 02, 2018, 08:15:10 AM
Is that a T blocker?

No, progesterone is another type of estrogen. Some drs say it's not needed for hrt and others like my Dr think it helps with breast development.

Quote from: Julia1996 on February 02, 2018, 08:27:30 AM
No, progesterone is another type of estrogen. Some drs say it's not needed for hrt and others like my Dr think it helps with breast development.

Thanks. 

Hi Eva :)

I've been on HRT 1 month, Spiro and Estradiol Valerate. Just turned 36 in Nov. For me so far, tender breast, but really the left side more so than the right. Softening skin, I was not hairy at all, like no chest and back hair, I've had two laser sessions on my face and i can definitely say that growth there has slowed a bit. No BO, feel weaker than before and strangely enough, my jaw muscles feel worked everytime i eat. I've been sticking to a mostly vegetarian diet and exercising plenty (cardio & legs), emotionally i feel a little more in tune with myself and others, happier, but i think that's because I'm finally getting closer to me. Still have a loong way to go lol, hoping for some good results just from HRT. I'm excited for you! Good luck! You can see on my thread pretty much where im starting at (pics at 1 month), and also I was kind of bulky, so I've gotten down to 153 now, shooting for 145 at my height. 10 years of lifting did not help.

There's been a lot of good things already happening bodywise. Overall it's been good too and like I told my therapist my happiness baseline seems to have improved with hrt and I'm only 4 months.

Now I don't want to be the negative nancy that I've been lately... but maybe that's part of all this? I really can't be the only one can I? So my issue is trying to cope with with everything socially. Both in my past (regrets, should've started sooner) and now.



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Quote from: Julia1996 on February 02, 2018, 08:14:03 AM
Provera is a brand name for progesterone.

Provera is not a brand name for progesterone but for medroxyprogesterone acetate. Progesterone and medroxyprogesterone acetate are both progestogens but have different molecular structures. The former is bio-identical, meaning it is identical to what our bodies produce while the latter is man-made and has shown to be associated with a host of side-effects (increase in the risk of breast cancer, androgenic, mood disturbances, negative effects on cardiovascular/clotting/lipids) not observed with progesterone.

It is important to differentiate between the two. 

Quote from: Julia1996 on February 02, 2018, 08:27:30 AM
No, progesterone is another type of estrogen.

Progesterone and estrogen are entirely different and two different types of sex hormones. Progesterone and most progestogens have no estrogenic effects. They can reduce T output, some more than others, if taken pre-op.

As always, double check with your pharmacist and doctor. Read published studies too and endocrinology books, they might be helpful. :)

"You live in Michigan too? I live in southeast area. I cant wait to start HRT, but at the same time I feel very nervous and anxious"

You live on the side of Michigan that is a little more liberal and hopefully that could help you in your transition. Don't tell anyone about how great Michigan is - it is February and as I look out my window there is no snow on the ground and I just got back from my 6 mile walk on the local trail.

Like you, I was apprehensive but found that HRT has been an absolute blessing in confirming who I am.

I self-abused so much that I began to fear for my life and it escalated when my Father died in December 2006. Evidently he was my protection as I had not abused for years and when he died, it all started again. It scared me so I sought counseling to see why I was such a degenerate. I wasn't a degenerate, I had gender dysphoria and didn't have a clue.

For a while I thought I just needed to be a eunuch and made an appointment with Dr. Arnkoff to have it done last December. I then and a couple of high PSA tests and faced the possibility of prostate cancer. The tests were skewed and wrong as a third Mayo test called a PSI proved that my PSA was low-normal.

The cancer scare pushed me to do a lot of research and Dr. Arnkoff was a big help and counsel for me. I thought I had missed my opportunity to have the orchie as that procedure does not play well with prostate cancer in the long run.

I bumped into a Professor from British Columbia University - Dr. Richard Wassersug who was an expert on prostate cancer, eunuchs and castration effects. He advised me to be careful but to consider chemical castration as a 2 to 3 month test.

I thought yes, lets try chemical castration and along with that, begin estrogen therapy and then plan on getting the orchie in September of this year with Dr. Schecter in Chicago. My reasoning was that without testosterone, my bones and mind could suffer. Estrogen would protect me and I always secretly was trying to get rid of my "junk" and be a girl anyway.

HRT has been absolutely amazing for me. I love all of the changes and those changes are all in the beginning stages. F.E.A.R. is an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real  - so never let fear stand in the way of what you truly desire.

I am pretty sure that before you begin HRT you will need tests, liver enzymes, cholesterol and diabetes tests. My experience is you will take the tests one day then 2 or 3 days later the doctor will send your perscriptions to the local pharmacy.   My healthcare is through the VA and they are not paying for the meds right now, however my estradahl and Spiro cost less than $30 a month.  Planned Parenthood in NC does not accept any insurance.

Thanks everyone for all the information! I did some research and decided to schedule an appointment at planned parenthood, even without health insurance, until Medicaid gets accepted, or if it doesn't, then I'll just apply for BCBS or Humana.

Eva,

Started at age 59, been two years now. I take estradiol valerate im injection weekly, my necessary dose to hit normal cis levels is quite small, I'll pm you the details. I never needed an AA, estrogen fully suppressed my testosterone levels which haven't been above 22 micrograms/ml since I started HRT -- basically low end of female range. My E level is pretty rock solid at 220-250 pg/ml, hasn't appreciably changed once we got my dosage worked out.

I saw emotional changes within 2 weeks, sore breasts within a month and visible breast growth within. 2 months (which was a little surprising as I'd thought I had at least that long before I would see irreversible changes but I was fine to roll with it. At 2 years my breasts still tend to run a bit sore so I think they're still filling out. I've been on the small side of B cup for more than a year and expect I'll eventually fully fill out most B bras. My A cup bras are no longer comfortable.

Skin is definitely thinner and softer now, people who haven't been around to see the gradual changes sometimes don't recognize me.

My hips are a bit wider, enough that I can feel they hold a rock climbing harness differently **hallelujah!**, It's now less likely to slide down when carrying a lot of gear.
f the credit card payments and MIT payroll informs us that they will have the personal pumpkin checks in the mail by the end of the week.  Thank you for your patience with the process this year.  Next, Peter and I will now be digging in to see if we can do this a better way next year.
I've done my own injections from the very first time (RN who trained me checking that I did it right). I get he script at CVS, used to use my university's pharmacy.

I also take micronized progesterone (generic version of prometrium). That seemed to help with rounding out my boobs which were somewhat conical shaped before. It's also seemed to have a positive effect on my sex drive.