Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I am terrified of starting hrt because I have heard so many negative side effects and because I dont want to lose my sex drive. How often does this stuff actually happen I need to get some kinda peice of mind.

Firstly: Never do anything that you do not want to do.

Secondly: Never take HRT without the help and advice of a therapist and supporting medics. Taking HRT is not a miracle cure for anything and will change your body.

People respond to hormonal therapy in different ways, some people have slow changes others quite dramatic and you really can't choose. Yes some people go on 'low dose' therapy to keep changes to a minimum but there are no guarantees.

I think that you would be very well advised to spend some time talking to a good therapist, go through your thoughts and drives and then make decisions in consultation with your medical team.

QuoteFirstly: Never do anything that you do not want to do.

Secondly: Never take HRT without the help and advice of a therapist and supporting medics. Taking HRT is not a miracle cure for anything and will change your body.

People respond to hormonal therapy in different ways, some people have slow changes others quite dramatic and you really can't choose. Yes some people go on 'low dose' therapy to keep changes to a minimum but there are no guarantees.

I think that you would be very well advised to spend some time talking to a good therapist, go through your thoughts and drives and then make decisions in consultation with your medical team.

There ^ is all the advice you will ever need. If you don't want the effects its not for you.

Over the years, I have noticed that the younger transitioners seem to retain their interest in sex, although from a new perspective and the older transitioners seem to be less interested, but about the same as cis-women from their age group.

For the MTF transitioner, it is really not so much as a loss on libido, but we now experience our emotions from a different point of view. Men are obsessed with sex. That is what Testosterone does. It is just part of life. Women seem to have a more controlled experience, more willing to receive someone's advances if there is a positive relationship established.

Of course, these are generalizations and there are some women who have amazing libidos and if they pass well and are younger than most, they have a very active sex life.

I'm 38 and have had no loss of libido.  I've been on "full" doses for over 2 years and have not had any real issues, other than Medroxyprogesterone.  I had a horrible reaction to Provera (Medroxyprogesterone), but it went away as soon as I switched to Prometrium (micronized progesterone).  If anything my libido had increased.  I'm not certain if it was the hormones, or if it was my comfort level with my body... but it has been a wonderful experience.  There was a steep learning curve with some of the heightened emotions, but I figured it out in the first few months.

I don't think that the negetive side effects are all that common.  There are a few medications that have a higher incidence rate of negative side effects, but thankfully there are many alternatives that clear up the issues.  Medroxyprogesterone, and Finasteride have given negative reactions.  Spironolactone is fairly mild, but it will make you pee a lot. Some have a problem with the highs and lows of estrogen pills, but there are also injections, patches, and pellets...  etc.  If you get a good doctor, they'll ensure to find a combination thats right for you.

I'm post-op, started HRT in 2004. Libido is quite good but I also take a small amount of T with E so that helps. The right type of hormones (i.e. bio-identical) is quite safe. In essence, we end up taking the same hormones our bodies naturally produce so we are on par with the rest of the population, as far as health risks go. ;)

My sex drive has changed but I have had zero reduction in it, even post orchi.  It's much different when getting aroused but the same level of desire is still there.  One thing that changed was the urgency that testosterone gave me to have sex.  Desire is the same, urgency and method of arousal are different. 

Also, you can absolutely start hrt and if you have any effects that make you want to stop you can if you need to.

I wouldn't worry too much about libido. For me it went away by degrees until it was practically non-existent after about 8 months, then it started coming back again.

It's never gone back to what it used to be and I am quite glad to be honest.

As for other side effects, I think a lot of them are just things women have to deal with more anyway (like increase risk of breast cancer, duh!).

However, as others have stated, don't force yourself to take anything you don't feel comfortable taking!

 I think the fear of side effects is vastly over inflated. Modern HRT preparations have a very good safety profile when used responsibly under medical supervision. I am almost 15 years post surgery and on hormones and my libido is as strong as ever. The only negative side effects I ever experienced were migraines when my dose was adjusted too rapidly or when I ran out of medication. Nothing in the world will ever convince me to go off hormones.

The changes are very slow in my opinion if you're on the most typical HRT regime (Spironolactone and E), you won't just lose your sex drive overnight. And you can always stop at any point if you're not happy, I don't think the loss of sex drive is an irreversible change.. should come back as your natural T levels return.

If you can find a doctor that doesn't consider testosterone to be the devil and helps you maintain some level of it then your sex drive should still be there. It will still be different to what you're used to though. Also you may lose your sex drive altogether while your body switches from one dominant sex hormone to the other, that's what I experienced. It's temporary though.

thank you ladies for the advice ill talk to my doctor about what she recomends because I cant take looking like a boy much longer