Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Shelina on July 11, 2009, 01:17:59 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Is it necessary to continue taking anti-androgens & DHT blockers post-op SRS?
Post by: Shelina on July 11, 2009, 01:17:59 AM
Post by: Shelina on July 11, 2009, 01:17:59 AM
Why do some still take anti-androgen and DHT blockers despite they already have undergone sex reassignment surgery? If the testicles are no more there to produce testosterone/androgen and the adrenals do not produce that much, what's this non-sense of taking anti-androgen & DHT blockers post-operation? Why do still some do it, can someone explain please?
Title: Re: Is it necessary to continue taking anti-androgens & DHT blockers post-op SRS
Post by: Sandy on July 11, 2009, 12:59:04 PM
Post by: Sandy on July 11, 2009, 12:59:04 PM
That is usually something that you would want to discuss with your endocrinologist post-operatively or while preparing for surgery.
About 90% of the testosterone comes from the testicles and either orchiectomy or SRS will remove them. About 10% of the testosterone (as well as some of the estrogen hormones) are also produced by the adrenal gland.
Depending on your post-op blood tests, your doctor may choose to keep you on anti-androgens to suppress this testosterone as well if your testosterone levels are above the minimum for a woman. You do need some amount of testosterone for proper health and sexual function so having no testosterone can be an issue as well. It is a balancing act that we have to do for the rest of our lives.
I stopped my spironolactone just before my SRS and I have not needed it since according to my blood tests.
-Sandy
About 90% of the testosterone comes from the testicles and either orchiectomy or SRS will remove them. About 10% of the testosterone (as well as some of the estrogen hormones) are also produced by the adrenal gland.
Depending on your post-op blood tests, your doctor may choose to keep you on anti-androgens to suppress this testosterone as well if your testosterone levels are above the minimum for a woman. You do need some amount of testosterone for proper health and sexual function so having no testosterone can be an issue as well. It is a balancing act that we have to do for the rest of our lives.
I stopped my spironolactone just before my SRS and I have not needed it since according to my blood tests.
-Sandy
Title: Re: Is it necessary to continue taking anti-androgens & DHT blockers post-op SRS
Post by: Shelina on October 15, 2009, 06:42:42 AM
Post by: Shelina on October 15, 2009, 06:42:42 AM
Quote from: Sandy on July 11, 2009, 12:59:04 PM
Your doctor may choose to keep you on anti-androgens to suppress this testosterone as well if your testosterone levels are above the minimum.
But are the testosterone production not suppose to be automatically stopped after SRS? I don't think the adrenal could produce that much to cause an issue.
Title: Re: Is it necessary to continue taking anti-androgens & DHT blockers post-op SRS
Post by: Sandy on October 15, 2009, 01:08:03 PM
Post by: Sandy on October 15, 2009, 01:08:03 PM
The amount of testosterone produced by the adrenal gland is not affected by the removal of the testes by SRS or orchiectomy. It is produced regardless.
As I mentioned it is appropriate for a healthy female to have about a tenth of the testosterone in her system as a healthy male at the same age/development. It usually does not cause any masculinization such as beard hair, upper body muscle development or other secondary sexual characteristics normally associated with a male.
-Sandy
As I mentioned it is appropriate for a healthy female to have about a tenth of the testosterone in her system as a healthy male at the same age/development. It usually does not cause any masculinization such as beard hair, upper body muscle development or other secondary sexual characteristics normally associated with a male.
-Sandy