Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hola,

I measured my height yesterday for the first time in ages because I have to monitor my BMI ahead of final surgery. It confirmed what I suspected: that I've lost 2" (5cms) in height. I used to be 1.88m, just under 6'2", and I'm now 1.82m - just under 6' or kind of 5' 11.6"

My bloods are all very good so I don't think bone density is an issue here. It seems to be either the estrogen or declining age (61 now), but if it's the latter then it has happened in just a handful of years. I'm guessing the estrogen.

Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon?

xx

p.s. I'm pleased as my height was a concern.

Lordosis. Increased estrogen can cause changes to tendons which position the hip, and result in a forward tilt. This causes increased curvature in the lower spine, decreasing the overall spinal length. It is normal in most Cis women and newly half of Trans women. 5 cm seems to be the normal height loss.

There is some misinformation within the medical community conflating Lordosis with Hyper Lordosis, a condition where the hip tilt is excessive, or uneven, which can cause hip and leg pain. Hyper Lordosis is treated by physiotherapy. There are doctors who are ignorant of Lordosis, and will tell you all loss of height is due to age related disc wear, but this is something which happens over decades, not months.

My doctor measured me prior to starting HRT at 173 cm (The same as I had always been) and again after 8 months on Estrogen. I lost 3 cm in that time, and my doctor could not explain it. My endocrinologist was also at a loss, suggesting that I may have osteoporosis and bone collapse! He referred me to have a bone density scan which showed normal density.(I found a new doctor for my hormones). I learned about Lordosis from an Osteopath who rolled their eyes and said few doctors knew about it.

I undertook a solid exercise program to p[repare for my surgery, and my stronger back increased my height by 1 cm by reversing some of the Lordosis.

Hugs,

Allie

I heard that as one ages the average loss is about one inch in height, with this loss starting around age 40.  Some of the reasons why are the degeneration of spinal discs, loss of bone density, and changes in posture.

Hi Tills,

I was 5ft 10in when I joined the military in 1978.  My height was measured last month as part of a medical, and I had shrunk to 5ft 9in.  I am not on HRT, mine is due to age. I will be 65 in October.

Such interesting responses: thank you so much.

So, some of it is perhaps due to age. Otherwise a lot of it due to Lordosis which I hadn't heard of before. It also seems to cause tummy to push out @Allie Jayne ? That might explain why I look slim everywhere except my tummy! I wonder if it has also caused my lower back ache that I've had a fair bit for about a year. I might need to go and see an osteopath.

Quote from: Tills on Yesterday at 01:08:55 PMSuch interesting responses: thank you so much.

So, some of it is perhaps due to age. Otherwise a lot of it due to Lordosis which I hadn't heard of before. It also seems to cause tummy to push out @Allie Jayne ? That might explain why I look slim everywhere except my tummy! I wonder if it has also caused my lower back ache that I've had a fair bit for about a year. I might need to go and see an osteopath.

Tills,

You look nice and even if your tummy may not be as trim as you would like, I think that you would be perceived by most anyone as the very feminine appearing woman that you are.

Chrissy

This is something I spend an obscene amount of time worrying about. I'm quite tall, and very worried about losing any of my height.

Yes, I was 5'10.5" in my younger days... about 5'7" now... chalking it up to age, spinal compression from decades of running and pelvic tilt from HRT...

Onward!

A 💕

One of the reasons I'm not on HRT.  At 5ft2in I'm also worried about losing any height.,

Marion

Based on what many trans women and cis-women and men that I have talked to ...
...my unprofessional and non-medical opinion is that it is not entirely HRT's fault,
it is more likely a bi-product of aging and "wear and tear" through the years.
                                Gravity !!!!
HUGS, Danielle

Quote from: Alana Ashleigh on Yesterday at 04:12:02 PMThis is something I spend an obscene amount of time worrying about. I'm quite tall, and very worried about losing any of my height.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Yesterday at 04:37:47 AMI heard that as one ages the average loss is about one inch in height, with this loss starting around age 40.  Some of the reasons why are the degeneration of spinal discs, loss of bone density, and changes in posture.

Quote from: tgirlamg on Yesterday at 04:24:05 PMYes, I was 5'10.5" in my younger days... about 5'7" now... chalking it up to age, spinal compression from decades of running and pelvic tilt from HRT...

Onward!

A 💕

Ashley, how can you tell when pelvic tilt has happened?

@Alana Ashleigh
Dear Alana:
   
      https://acpottawa.ca/do-you-have-a-pelvic-tilt/


HUGS, Danielle

Hi Everyone

I wake up to find myself 1.6764 m tall instead of 1.7272 m, exactly 5.08 cm shorter. Years of gravity pressing on the fluid discs between my vertebrae had slowly and inexorably squeezed me down, ever since I hit my mid-thirties and started blaming my shrinking on gravity alone.

In the pale morning light, I stretched my arms high.  A single deep breath.  A sharp, cool pull in my spine.  Then a couple of yoga poses that felt like I was bargaining with my vertebrae: "You give me height, I will give you with kindness and gratitude.

Next came two chin-ups on the bar which creaked in solidarity and I dangled there, feeling like a cat refusing to admit it's getting old.

My tape measure still reads 1.6764 m, but as I saunter into the kitchen for coffee, I feel renewed.  Every stretch, every pull, every witty aside to my spine is a small victory against gravity's unrelenting and surprisingly comedy ambitions."

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator

Hi Everyone

No. Estrogen therapy in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) does not cause one to lose height.  In fact, by helping maintain bone density it can slow or prevent the gradual spinal compression and vertebral collapse that often leads to height loss as people age and of course gravity.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator

When being treated for a spine injury in the military, they found that I have a couple of things working against me. I have a mild case of rotoscoliosis, so my right shoulder is slightly forward. The spine is twisted slightly to the left. They also found that I have a "reversed lordotic curve," which would be the "Posterior Pelvic Tilt" shown in the article.

They tried for over ten years of physical therapy to correct it, but genetics said, "No."

In high school, I was 5'11.5" and in the military, they just rounded it to 6 feet. I wonder how tall I would be if I could straighten my spine?

Quote from: Alana Ashleigh on Yesterday at 05:00:03 PMAshley, how can you tell when pelvic tilt has happened?

I am no expert but, I believe I don't have as much the straight up and down neutral posture anymore... leaning toward more of an anterior tilt like the diagram Danielle posted and Allie Jane referred to...

I used to have way more back issues and they are very rare and far less severe now... my back must like the tilt! 😀👍 That could also be partially due to about 40 lbs of muscle weight loss... I started HRT in 2014 around 170 and these days I am 130

Onward!

A💕

Quote from: Alana Ashleigh on Yesterday at 04:12:02 PMThis is something I spend an obscene amount of time worrying about. I'm quite tall, and very worried about losing any of my height.

Why does it worry you Alana?

Quote from: Tills on Yesterday at 01:08:55 PMSuch interesting responses: thank you so much.

So, some of it is perhaps due to age. Otherwise a lot of it due to Lordosis which I hadn't heard of before. It also seems to cause tummy to push out @Allie Jayne ? That might explain why I look slim everywhere except my tummy! I wonder if it has also caused my lower back ache that I've had a fair bit for about a year. I might need to go and see an osteopath.

Tills,
        Pelvic tilt can cause your tummy to push out slightly, but it will also cause your bottom to become more prominent! There is no structural change, but as it is postural, it can be changed with exercise. The same process with weakening muscle and ligaments can cause shrinkage in hands and feet, but this is less common than height loss. Provided it doesn't cause any discomfort, embrace the changes!

Hugs,

Allie

Quote from: Allie Jayne on Yesterday at 06:27:44 PMTills,
        Pelvic tilt can cause your tummy to push out slightly, but it will also cause your bottom to become more prominent! There is no structural change, but as it is postural, it can be changed with exercise. The same process with weakening muscle and ligaments can cause shrinkage in hands and feet, but this is less common than height loss. Provided it doesn't cause any discomfort, embrace the changes!

Hugs,

Allie

Seems like a reasonable mindset.

Chrissy

Quote from: tgirlamg on Yesterday at 04:24:05 PMYes, I was 5'10.5" in my younger days... about 5'7" now... chalking it up to age, spinal compression from decades of running and pelvic tilt from HRT...

Onward!

A 💕

Oooh, running! I hadn't factored that in either. I have done a stack of running. I used to train up to 120+ miles a week and made a reasonable fist of marathon times (2hrs 45 mins at the age of 50). I hadn't thought of that as another factor. I swapped running for hiking about 5 years ago and try to get out for at least 2 hours a day. In the light of the above replies I was reading about cartilage compression which seems to be an issue with prolonged running.

And as has been mentioned, gravity :)

I went from 5'10" to 5'7" so I am happy about that

OK, y'all got me curious!

Just now, I went and measured myself. No change. 5 feet, 11.5 inches. < sigh >

In January, I'll have been on HRT for six years, and that was also the last time anyone checked my height.

My dad says that the reason I am tall is all those days as a teen, out in the horse corral shoveling manure in the summertime. All that sunshine and fertilizer must have done something.  ;D

Lori: lol your last sentence  :D

I've been looking at some academic studies and there seems reasonable evidence that estradiol has an effect on ligaments. This meta study is a useful resource: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/03635465241310145

So even if the bones don't change, then as well as the tilt and posture issues mentioned above by several of you, the connecting tissues including cartilage and ligaments may well do, thus affecting the overall muscular-skeletal structure. It may explain why certain injuries are more prevalent in females than males e.g. ACL ruptures.

It appears that some of these changes may be associated with the hormone relaxin.

I'll add a caveat here: I'm not a medic or medical scientist and I've only been flicking through various sources.

5'11" to 5'9" !! I didn't think it was possible but found it true. Age, pelvic tilt, hormones, I don't care the reason just happy for the results. And Lori, I spent most of my life shoveling @#$*.