Ok, so I know things have been crazy here on susans with all the gay guy stuff and ->-bleeped-<- related stuff causing problems. Which has caused me to be really scared to ask this question, And i know most of you will frown on my question and intentions. But I really need to know this! I want to get on hormones for obvious reasons, same as all of you here, I don't think I need to explain. Ok here goes how bad will being on hormones affect me being able to function dowstairs? My dyshoria doesn't have anything to do with my genitals! I am lesbien, have a serious girlfriend I plan to marry, and I like having a built in "toy" for her. We enjoy making love together and it doesn't cause me issues. I really don't want to lose it functioning! I don't care about the not producing sperm thing. Is there a way to make this work? I have read you lose function. Maybe watching the doses of hrt?? I don't know. I don't mean to offend anyone here, sorry if this does!
Yes I want to present as female! "No one needs to know what's in my panties, only my S.O, my doctor and me! " I read this somewhere and I agree!
Please help any advise or knowledge will be appreciated.
Please no negative judgements, to each there own, we all have different dyshoria and needs/wants, this is mine. Thank you all in advance!
I've been on HRT for about 8.5 months.. And it still works.. Kind of.. It all depends on my mood..
Mine still functions just fine(Minus ejaculation)... It dosen't function on it's own however and most of the time I can't be bothered.
Quote from: MyAlias on January 16, 2012, 03:39:07 AM
I am lesbien, have a serious girlfriend I plan to marry, and I like having a built in "toy" for her.
I don't care about the not producing sperm thing.
Sounds like you haven't started HRT yet, and do you and your girlfriend plan to have children together? You can always "bank sperm" for later.
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,111371.msg844021.html#msg844021 (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,111371.msg844021.html#msg844021) (See Reply #32)
Functionality does decrease, but it takes a while. By then your male sex drive will have been replaced by a female libido and you probably won't care any way. You could always follow Padma's suggestion on another thread and use a hollow strap-on over it. Might be worth looking at his thread.
I guess Viagra or Cialis would still work, so that is an option. Others might have tried that.
It is possible to learn to be orgasmic with stimulation to other parts of the body too, and I know for a fact it is more likely to produce whole-body female type orgasms. Much better than the other. :)
Karen.
From what my doc explained to me, libido and "functionality" all rest on how much testosterone you have in your system. Over 3 months, I went down from 20.6 nmol/L (which is high in the normal male range) to 0.67 (which is low in the normal female range) and have over the last month lost my ability to sustain an erection hard enough for penetration. According to my doc, this is entirely a consequence of taking oestrogen. Other doctors may see this differently, I don't know.
It certainly seems from reading posts on Susan's that people's experience varies greatly on hormones - some lose no functionality, some lose all of it, and everything in between. So there's no infallible formula to help you be sure you'll keep your hard if you're going to be on HRT. It's probably worth watching your testosterone level, but if it drops too far it takes quite a while to come back up again after if you change your dosages (and in some cases remains permanently low).
I've found it quite difficult to adjust to this myself, as my girlfriend also enjoyed what I had, and we're both going through a letting-go process (before we try out hollow strap-ons). But the effects on libido can be just as significant as the effects on your hardware. My libido has really dropped, and gone 'female' in the sense that I now find getting turned-on to be a matter of conscious decision rather than "oh, there it is". But the sensation is all very good :).
This is a mixture of personal experience/info and stuff I've picked up froom others on here, so I hope it's useful but it's not necessarily gospel.
PS: justmeinoz, that's 'her thread', not 'his thread', if you don't mind :).
Smackey fingers for misgendering Padma. HER thread!! :embarrassed: thinking too far ahead as usual.
Sorry.
Well I've been on hormones personally for 2 and abit years now And my function is as discribed in my post above.
Hrmm I notice alot of the Transwomen who claim to loose all function tend to be abit older I wounder if age is a significant factor in loosing that aspect of function?
I'm sure age is one of many possible factors - though of the trans women who've said they are still getting it up fine, many of those are older too, so it's swingers and roustabouts.
It's also possible that state of mind comes into play. Maybe in my case, my mind finally got around to telling my body "hey, that function is about to be deprecated, better stop using it." [bad computer joke with some actual relevance...]
Quote from: Padma on January 16, 2012, 06:21:59 AM
I'm sure age is one of many possible factors - though of the trans women who've said they are still getting it up fine, many of those are older too, so it's swingers and roustabouts.
It's also possible that state of mind comes into play. Maybe in my case, my mind finally got around to telling my body "hey, that function is about to be deprecated, better stop using it." [bad computer joke with some actual relevance...]
No no I assure you I'm no fan of my downstairs parts :/ Hell I'm a technical virgin for that reason not for lack of oppertunity but because it's psychologically jarring thus I tend to ignore the thing most of the time only entertaining such notions out of curiosity or bordom.
After 3 months and a bit, I can still maintain a strong erection, though what comes out is usually clear dribble which isn't even sticky anymore ;D If I wanted to, though, I think I would still be able to penetrate. Although it is true that if I lose even a bit of focus, it goes down. Fast. :)
I don't mind it, though, my sex drive took a plunge so I feel much better overall. Being horny all the time annoyed me to no end.
Quote from: Beverley on January 16, 2012, 08:11:33 AMMy libido is lower - no question of that, but what I really dislike now is male orgasm. It is like hitting the 'off-switch'.
SO TRUE! The "climatic male experience" is definitely much less intense but the overall "glow" lasts longer ! MyAlias, I think you'll find
THE DEMANDS of your girlfriend will eventually become more than you can handle - ya just can't "have yer cake & eat it too" !
Libido is all in your head, really has nothing to do with age or what one is taking but, with that being said as an older pre-op myself and ON for over 6 years, I have found "Casodex (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicalutamide)" to be less inhibiting than "Spiro" and recently started taking a low dose of progesterone as well. Testes size along with seminal production will go down to absolute zero
so sperm banking sooner rather than later would definitely be a wise decision too.
QuoteBicalutamide blocks (as opposed to "acting on" or "inhibiting" T production) androgen receptors. This prevents testosterone and other androgens from binding to the receptors. Bicalutamide may cause sexual difficulties and a decline in sperm count. Nevertheless bicalutamide monotherapy appears to have minimal effect on sexual activity.[17]
Blockade of androgens receptors by bicalutamide in the brain will eliminate the negative feedback loop of testosterone on the release of luteinizing hormone (LH). This in turn will lead to a dramatic increase in ["free", unbound] testosterone and estrogen levels.[18] Bicalutamide treatment will block the effects of rising testosterone levels, but the effect of rising estrogen levels will remain unopposed and lead to feminizing effects, the most notable one being gynecomastia, which is often painful.[19]
If bicalutamide is combined with an LHRH agonist (we don't do this) or surgical castration then the [natural!] elevation of estrogen levels will be prevented and the risks of excessive estrogen (is there such a thing in our case?) will be reduced.
1.5 years HRT... and everything still works pretty much as before HRT... comes to attention when called, etc.
It's different for everyone. Age and physiology being the two biggest deciding factors I'd wager.
Thank you all for all your responses help and advise! i never thought of sperm banking, but yes thant is a fantastic idea, it made her day to know we could have children in the future.
Quote from: justmeinoz on January 16, 2012, 04:30:44 AM
Functionality does decrease, but it takes a while. By then your male sex drive will have been replaced by a female libido and you probably won't care any way. You could always follow Padma's suggestion on another thread and use a hollow strap-on over it.
I guess Viagra or Cialis would still work, so that is an option. Others might have tried that.
It is possible to learn to be orgasmic with stimulation to other parts of the body too, and I know for a fact it is more likely to produce whole-body female type orgasms. Much better than the other. :)
Karen.
I probably won't care, but she will! I don't want to use a strap on if I got it built in! I am sure it is possible to learn to be orgasmic in other ways, which we will explore but I do enjoy the penetrating her as well, I wont feel it with a strap on!
"I guess Viagra or Cialis would still work, so that is an option. Others might have tried that. " Has any one tried this????
Quote from: Padma on January 16, 2012, 04:38:22 AM
From what my doc explained to me, libido and "functionality" all rest on how much testosterone you have in your system. Over 3 months, I went down I guess Viagra or Cialis would still work, so that is an option. Others might have tried that. and have over the last month lost my ability to sustain an erection hard enough for penetration. According to my doc, this is entirely a consequence of taking oestrogen. Other doctors may see this differently, I don't know.
It certainly seems from reading posts on Susan's that people's experience varies greatly on hormones - some lose no functionality, some lose all of it, and everything in between. So there's no infallible formula to help you be sure you'll keep your hard if you're going to be on HRT. It's probably worth watching your testosterone level, but if it drops too far it takes quite a while to come back up again after if you change your dosages (and in some cases remains permanently low).
I've found it quite difficult to adjust to this myself, as my girlfriend also enjoyed what I had, and we're both going through a letting-go process (before we try out hollow strap-ons). But the effects on libido can be just as significant as the effects on your hardware. My libido has really dropped, and gone 'female' in the sense that I now find getting turned-on to be a matter of conscious decision rather than "oh, there it is". But the sensation is all very good :).
This is a mixture of personal experience/info and stuff I've picked up froom others on here, so I hope it's useful but it's not necessarily gospel.
PS: justmeinoz, that's 'her thread', not 'his thread', if you don't mind :).
Thank you so much Padma, great to hear from experience
Quote from: Maja.V on January 16, 2012, 07:37:56 AM
After 3 months and a bit, I can still maintain a strong erection, though what comes out is usually clear dribble which isn't even sticky anymore ;D If I wanted to, though, I think I would still be able to penetrate. Although it is true that if I lose even a bit of focus, it goes down. Fast. :)
I don't mind it, though, my sex drive took a plunge so I feel much better overall. Being horny all the time annoyed me to no end.
Penetration is important to me and her. what do you mean by focus? you have to concentrate to keep it up? I don't mind being horny all the time.
Quote from: Kiera on January 16, 2012, 08:15:42 AM
MyAlias, I think you'll find THE DEMANDS of your girlfriend will eventually become more than you can handle - ya just can't "have yer cake & eat it too" !
oh no no she is not demanding at all! please don't take it that way! This is as much my desire as it is hers , if not more! I am the one who wants to have the cake and eat it too! they are my demands! lol! My dysphoria has nothing to do with my genitals, and I quiet enjoy penetrating her, so...yeah...
Quote from: JennX on January 16, 2012, 10:39:11 AM
1.5 years HRT... and everything still works pretty much as before HRT... comes to attention when called, etc.
It's different for everyone. Age and physiology being the two biggest deciding factors I'd wager.
god i hope this will be my results!hopefully longer, I mean!
i just started hormones and pretty much have no libido.
It takes work but I can get an erection.
I personally enjoy having no libido right now, and i didn't think I would.
Quote from: MyAlias on January 16, 2012, 03:39:07 AM
Ok here goes how bad will being on hormones affect me being able to function dowstairs?
As has already been suggested... whether your penis will still function after an extended period of HRT is a matter of luck. I'm thirteen months in, and I have noticed that I am still perfectly functionable, minus the ejaculation - I seem to be fairly dry. Some retain function, some don't, and there's really no way to know what will happen in advance. However, if function is lost, there are, of course, products that can be taken to induce function.
:) Best wishes.
Quote from: Kelly J. P. on January 17, 2012, 10:48:41 PM
As has already been suggested... whether your penis will still function after an extended period of HRT is a matter of luck.
I believe ->-bleeped-<-Girl15 (
is it?) on youtube said in a blog that she has a girlfriend and wanted to keep functionality, so she talked to her doctors, and they tried many different things till the result was satisfactory.
It was interesting her post about how many trans girls feel that they shouldn't have a libido and are glad when it's gone- but I heard that if one wants orgasmic organs after "surgery" they need to be working beforehand.
Something to look into maybe?
Cheers,
Jenny
It's seven months since my orchiectomy and my T levels have been measured as low as a natal woman's. I'm 53 years old and have been taking estrogen twice daily for over two years. My libido is nicely in control, thankfully. But everything still functions, often times when I'd rather it didn't. I really wish it would just give up and quit, honestly.
I'll just add one more case here, the OP will probably be interested. I would.
One month HRT and my erection is nearly totally gone. I guess it behaves like it would on a 70 yo man or something. Given, I take high doses on all medications, and my original T wasn't very high, so...
Libido is gone too. Before, I used to watch porn movies every single day.. sometimes twice a day, even if I was with my girl. Now it's once every 3 days, mostly, when I'm not with my girl. If I'm with her, I don't even remember that exists. And yes, I'm damn happy with that. As someone else said, "being horny all the time annoyed me to no end".
Oh, but one thing we all agree is that the orgasm changes. A lot. And it's a wonderfully completing feeling.
Well mine functions fine, and even before I started HRT it was a really runny clear liquid. : p
Now there is just less of it, but I still derive pleasure from masturbation.
I never really got morning wood, or spontaneous erections, nor could I usually be turned on without physical stimulation. (Only one guy ever turned me on.)
So I'm guessing my testosterone levels were pretty low even before HRT, but I seem to have little to no trouble functioning. :3
I've been on hormones since 2005 and I have no problem with "functioning".
When I took just estrogen, my libido dropped by about half (so instead of masturbating once or twice a day, it went to every other day). However, I needed to 'concentrate' more in order to function, but it's still entirely possible on HRT, and ejaculate will probably be reduced to a clear liquid, which I presume is what is produced from the prostate minus the sperm, as I still get a small amount of this ejaculate even through clitoral stimulation post SRS.
The estrogen won't hurt your able to get erections, anti-androgens do that. If after starting HRT (spirolactone) you experience a major decrease in libido and can't get an erection then ask your doctor about lowering your spiro doesage just enough so it can do it's job (lower T levels so E can work) and still maintain erections. ->-bleeped-<-s who work in the porn industry take hormones but in lower dosages so they can get the feminizing affects and still be able to perform on the job.
I personally hate getting erections and hate my penis in general so i'm glad i've lost most function down there.
Yay for hormones! :D
Again thank you all for your replies!
Quote from: Jenny_B_Good on January 18, 2012, 02:18:51 AM
I believe ->-bleeped-<-Girl15 ( is it?) on youtube said in a blog that she has a girlfriend and wanted to keep functionality, so she talked to her doctors, and they tried many different things till the result was satisfactory.
It was interesting her post about how many trans girls feel that they shouldn't have a libido and are glad when it's gone- but I heard that if one wants orgasmic organs after "surgery" they need to be working beforehand.
Something to look into maybe?
Cheers,
Jenny
Thank you so much Jenny, I will look her up!
Quote from: Viamonte on January 22, 2012, 04:00:09 PM
I'll just add one more case here, the OP will probably be interested. I would.
One month HRT and my erection is nearly totally gone. I guess it behaves like it would on a 70 yo man or something. Given, I take high doses on all medications, and my original T wasn't very high, so...
Libido is gone too. Before, I used to watch porn movies every single day.. sometimes twice a day, even if I was with my girl. Now it's once every 3 days, mostly, when I'm not with my girl. If I'm with her, I don't even remember that exists. And yes, I'm damn happy with that. As someone else said, "being horny all the time annoyed me to no end".
Oh, but one thing we all agree is that the orgasm changes. A lot. And it's a wonderfully completing feeling.
Thank you for your input! yes I was very interested. this is what I am afraid of.
Quote from: Zylphia on January 22, 2012, 04:29:29 PM
Well mine functions fine, and even before I started HRT it was a really runny clear liquid. : p
Now there is just less of it, but I still derive pleasure from masturbation.
I never really got morning wood, or spontaneous erections, nor could I usually be turned on without physical stimulation. (Only one guy ever turned me on.)
So I'm guessing my testosterone levels were pretty low even before HRT, but I seem to have little to no trouble functioning. :3
Very interesting.
Quote from: JenJen2011 on January 22, 2012, 04:59:01 PM
I've been on hormones since 2005 and I have no problem with "functioning".
I like this answer and hope to have the same results thank you so much JenJen! you give me hope!
Quote from: Danielle×o on January 22, 2012, 05:26:27 PM
The estrogen won't hurt your able to get erections, anti-androgens do that. If after starting HRT (spirolactone) you experience a major decrease in libido and can't get an erection then ask your doctor about lowering your spiro doesage just enough so it can do it's job (lower T levels so E can work) and still maintain erections. ->-bleeped-<-s who work in the porn industry take hormones but in lower dosages so they can get the feminizing affects and still be able to perform on the job.
I personally hate getting erections and hate my penis in general so i'm glad i've lost most function down there.
Yay for hormones! :D
very good pooints and thank you for the info. I hope my doctor understands and doesn't just think i am a freak!
Quote from: Viamonte on January 22, 2012, 04:00:09 PMOh, but one thing we all agree is that the orgasm changes. A lot. And it's a wonderfully completing feeling.
In my experience the orgasm itself is different/more powerful dependant on how many you have within a specific time frame. If HRT = Lower libido then it follows that your probably gonna have less orgasms (external variables excluded)
When I ignore the thing for like 6 months it's so powerful and big it damn near shakes my hip bones loose.
Yup, I'm down from a couple a night to a couple a month these days since my T went from 21 to 0.67(!), but when they happen, they make me make a lot of noise!
Quote from: pebbles on January 16, 2012, 03:55:59 AM
Mine still functions just fine(Minus ejaculation)... It dosen't function on it's own however and most of the time I can't be bothered.
Unfortunately after 12 years of HRT I still get the occasional unwanted morning glory!
I dont spontaneously function, it takes my brain to get it going. The brain is the strongest sex organ in the body afterall. When it does happen, the only difference now is the erections arent as hard and the end result is a very tiny amount of clear liquid. It may take me a longer amount of time but not by much. I dont get the all over orgasms but I wish I did. My nipples dont turn me on either.. but theyre kinda at the stage where they just feel uncomfortable at all tines, so i dont really want them touched!
Quote from: Jenny_B_Good on January 18, 2012, 02:18:51 AM
but I heard that if one wants orgasmic organs after "surgery" they need to be working beforehand.
QFT :)
Quote from: Alainaluvsu on January 26, 2012, 11:44:40 AM
I dont spontaneously function, it takes my brain to get it going. The brain is the strongest sex organ in the body afterall. When it does happen, the only difference now is the erections arent as hard and the end result is a very tiny amount of clear liquid. It may take me a longer amount of time but not by much. I dont get the all over orgasms but I wish I did. My nipples dont turn me on either.. but theyre kinda at the stage where they just feel uncomfortable at all tines, so i dont really want them touched!
I wish I had some sort of control over my genitalia. I sometimes wake up in the morning and it's full on and it won't go down, even though I need a pee!
I'm different from you I get turned off if the thingy is touched but get very turned on if my nipples are played with!
Quote from: Naturally Blonde on January 26, 2012, 11:52:54 AM
I wish I had some sort of control over my genitalia. I sometimes wake up in the morning and it's full on and it won't go down, even though I need a pee!
I'm different from you I get turned off if the thingy is touched but get very turned on if my nipples are played with!
I almost never woke up that way even before hrt. And anybody touching it but me... it goes down. Ive never liked it to be touched. Its always made me feel awkward. My sex drive is quite a strange one. I was pretty close to asexual, but i did like men. Now i can smell men like i never could before and it turns me on pretty easily.
I get turned on by the sell of a guy too. o_o
Ok, so I have put off and have avoided getting on Hormones this whole year since I started this thread, due to I was scared of losing my function, I like sex with my girlfriend both oral and penetration. My function is very important to me. Anyways I can't stand not being on hormones any longer. I got my letter and have my endo appointment in January! I am still scared of losing function and I hope I don't lose it! I appreciate everyone who responded to this thread. Has anything changed for any of you since then? I also would love to hear from others. Thanks
My experience (over 25 years) makes me think that:
1 If you get very little change on HRT (boobs etc), from perhaps a low dose, then you will get only a slow loss of function. Difficult to quantify but I would say about 50% per five years.
2 For rapid change, the function loss can be very quick (in 2 months on E alone).
3 Even when the loss has been complete, Ciallis still works but it is an effort. Viagra not so good.
4 If you start off with a low sex drive, faltering erections, then the change will be quicker
5 If you stop HRT then function does return and takes about the same time as the time you were on HRT
6 Sex with HRT+ ciallis is completely different (better for both of you)
7 As much as I enjoyed sex, which was a lot, I love life without T.
read up on sex after prostate cancer and impotence but ignore the angst over losing masculinity and you will discover for male bodied individuals, there are many ways to have a fantastic sex life without erections or ejaculation, and it can very much include orgasms. So if you lose it but find these other ways satisfying, then maybe it will be okay?
That's been my mental approach as I step toward a lose dose regimen (can't fully transition due to career and community)
I have not lost any function. I no longer get the random erections, but if I want one I can make it happen. Also, my sex drive has increased considerably since I started HRT. Not everyone on HRT loses function. I hope things work out how you want them to.
I posted back in January and things have changes since then. Now my erections are very soft. I never liked penetrating anything but I couldn't see myself able to do it even if I wanted. Also, my penis shrank over an inch since I started HRT. But HRT really hit me hard, so it may not be as dramatic to you as it was to me.
Quote from: Alainaluvsu on November 30, 2012, 11:02:55 AM
I posted back in January and things have changes since then. Now my erections are very soft. I never liked penetrating anything but I couldn't see myself able to do it even if I wanted. Also, my penis shrank over an inch since I started HRT. But HRT really hit me hard, so it may not be as dramatic to you as it was to me.
Same here, my libido was not strong to start with and now its virtually gone. When I remember to actually try and masturbate I can't maintain an erection that could actually penetrate anything and to reach orgasm takes much longer. Also I get no fluid ejaculate and I have not experienced any of these "whole body" orgasms I hear some girls talk about. The actually orgasm is less powerful and not very fulfilling. Making the whole thing seem like a giant chore for little payoff. But I have tried to do it more often to see if increasing frequency makes it better as I want to be orgasmic if I can ever get bottom surgery. So far my efforts have not shown any gains.
I'm a year n a half now on hrt. In a serious relationship with another woman just like you. It does not function as well as it used to. I am easily thrown off mentally while we are in the actual act and it loses strength very quickly now. It has shrunk a little bit also.
You might not have similar issues because u r happy to have our current equipment and I on the other hand have a lot of dysphoria about it and long to be just like her..
Regardless of that, it is weaker.
i've been on hormones for two years and it still works unfortunately :/
Quote from: Sadie on November 30, 2012, 11:25:48 AM
Same here, my libido was not strong to start with and now its virtually gone. When I remember to actually try and masturbate I can't maintain an erection that could actually penetrate anything and to reach orgasm takes much longer. Also I get no fluid ejaculate and I have not experienced any of these "whole body" orgasms I hear some girls talk about. The actually orgasm is less powerful and not very fulfilling. Making the whole thing seem like a giant chore for little payoff. But I have tried to do it more often to see if increasing frequency makes it better as I want to be orgasmic if I can ever get bottom surgery. So far my efforts have not shown any gains.
Been on HRT 4 months now, before that Spiro for 7 mo., no ejaculate, hurts some to get it erect, looks like its bulging in the middle, getting more orgasm back, and "Morning Wood" is very, very, very rare now!
Quote from: Alainaluvsu on November 30, 2012, 11:02:55 AM
I posted back in January and things have changes since then. Now my erections are very soft. I never liked penetrating anything but I couldn't see myself able to do it even if I wanted. Also, my penis shrank over an inch since I started HRT. But HRT really hit me hard, so it may not be as dramatic to you as it was to me.
One of the "Nice Things" is I don't want to penetrate anything! As to intercourse with a Natal Female...No. It would probably hurt and make me feel very unhappy and dissatisfied. And that I feel good about! Mine has shrunk also, an Inch probably.
Quote from: MyAlias on November 30, 2012, 04:21:54 AM
Ok, so I have put off and have avoided getting on Hormones this whole year since I started this thread, due to I was scared of losing my function, I like sex with my girlfriend both oral and penetration. My function is very important to me. Anyways I can't stand not being on hormones any longer. I got my letter and have my endo appointment in January! I am still scared of losing function and I hope I don't lose it! I appreciate everyone who responded to this thread. Has anything changed for any of you since then? I also would love to hear from others. Thanks
Sincerely, your reasons for starting HRT are your own, and you are going to see an Endo, so you are going about this the better way. If HRT doesn't work for you, you will know within several months or less. You might be "pleasantly surprised" with what happens to you on HRT. Either way, don't be afraid. :angel: