I was wondering if any of you other girls who had been on hrt for quite some time (over a year or two) did something different or experienced something new that suddenly or even gradually improved your physical feminization. On Aug. 16th I'll be 2 years into hrt (yay) and around 14-15 months full-time (double-yay). Except that I'm known in the town where I live, I live the life that most cisgender women get to live (three cheers). But here's my problem as I round the two-year bag. Although I pass as the woman I am, I really would like to increase, improve my overall feminization of my features in terms of body fat distribution and breast development. You might say I'm greedy, and maybe I am. For the record, my E and T levels have been normal range cis-female for at least eighteen months. And I take my estradiol sublingually. (The photo in my avatar is me at 17 months, I can get a recent photo posted soon)
Umm, I would not insist - maybe it was just a coincidence of other factors unknown (like reaching critical mass of E within body), but after I started to take micronised progesterone (Prometrium), within one month I started being gendered female more and more regularly.
Thanks, Emily. I would willingly give that a go, but my physician is set against prescribing Progesterone. I don't know if I should change dr.'s I like her in every other way. (In the US a doctor who helps out with insurance's resistance to paying is very valuable).
Injectables? voodoo?
Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on July 31, 2014, 07:25:56 AM
... voodoo?
Alright, but just this once. Don't tell anyone. I don't want to get mobbed.
Do you exercise? That has really seemed to help my overall body shape.
Hikari, That might be a good idea. I only walk. I've been fearful of losing my too sparse body fat. I've very thin at 5'8", 140. At this point, what could it hurt?
Thanks!!
My next suggestion was Tiramisu and the Oxygen channel. Any one else with help?
I just made a thread in Hormone Replacement Therapy section, that would probably help you. A list of healthy foods and such that could kick start your body even further. My doctor says its good too.
Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on July 31, 2014, 02:31:53 PM
My next suggestion was Tiramisu and the Oxygen channel. Any one else with help?
You need a recipe? :) I just made one earlier this week :).
I'm with Emily on the progesterone, but only if your doctor thinks it's safe for you.
You haven't said what you feel isn't feminine enough about your presentation, in your avatar you look like a very pretty woman so I'm not sure what other changes you might need. :)
I was thinking of posting something similar. I also blend in very natural and I'm even told I have curves. I am also on the thin side and somewhat petite, I'm 5'6" at 130# my curves don't need to be overly big but would be nice if I had a bigger booty :) I have tried to eat more unhealthy, I do many times already, but any fat I get goes to my belly....though it does help give me a very natural curve, especially from the side....but I'm still lacking in the back side.
I have recently been sticking to taking my progesterone regularly, I seem to get some depression and out of time experiences on it. I have gone on and off for awhile since starting about 1 1/2 years ago (I've been on hrt for over 4 years now) I know my levels are good, maybe too good! My Estradiol is at 829 pg/ml and my testosterone is under 2.5 ng/dl this was with my last test, which was very recent. For this test I also made sure I was past due on my weekly shot because other times I also ran high but had recently took my shot. I am very surprised with the high levels this time.
I did notice that feminization seemed to progress more when I went to the intramuscular shots. When I started shots I administered them every other week, but after about a year I went to every week, it seemed to help with the highs and lows.
I recently received an email from WebMd talking about if your breasts are normal and common concerns woman have about there breasts. The article was a quiz about breasts, it asked multiple questions. One question was what is a breast? an Appendage, an organ or a muscle? The answer was an organ. This did not surprise me, but part of the answer did. This is what it said: Organs have a purpose. The breast's job? Making milk. It's created in small lobules inside the breast, and a series of ducts carry it out through the nipple. Fun fact: Men don't have these lobules, since they don't breastfeed.
Because of this one article, I am ashamed and somewhat excited to say I recently ordered a breast pump!!! hey beats BA! For which I can't afford anyways. I let you know in about 3-6 months how they are doing. I'm surely not doing it for the milk, but it that will most likely be a major side affect. I also found out that it helps to take a drug called Domperidone to stimulate prolactin. I'm not going that far since its not entirely recommended.
Just my FYI
http://click.messages.webmd.com/?qs=5b0017b316e8e2b6593ef6e0510c1bdfe6ab37fbcaa899e58d2275c6a819ac2062b1696e70d3acb7bcb149ffa9c02020
Hers a pic of my lack luster curves!!
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1229.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee461%2Fshellydrae%2Fa78002f9-3204-4488-b8cc-29d048eb27ed_zpsbf0e918b.jpg&hash=1d5e98fabe28cef48a5a3fa6e53739064f8056f4)
Quote from: Just Shelly on July 31, 2014, 04:22:26 PM
I have recently been sticking to taking my progesterone regularly, I seem to get some depression and out of time experiences on it. I have gone on and off for awhile since starting about 1 1/2 years ago (I've been on hrt for over 4 years now) I know my levels are good, maybe too good! My Estradiol is at 829 pg/ml and my testosterone is under 2.5 ng/dl this was with my last test, which was very recent. For this test I also made sure I was past due on my weekly shot because other times I also ran high but had recently took my shot. I am very surprised with the high levels this time.
I did notice that feminization seemed to progress more when I went to the intramuscular shots. When I started shots I administered them every other week, but after about a year I went to every week, it seemed to help with the highs and lows.
Yeah every other week injections makes no sense. These serums typically have an 8 day absorption rate for valerate and 10 days for cypionate. Going out further than 8-10 days is going to create some big sudden drops in your highs and lows. You're getting all your therapy at the front end of the train (and probably overkill), and none near the caboose. ;D
Edit: Hey BTW nice to see ya Shelly! LTNS
>Evelyn, Nice to see you too!!!
I have lurked here and there....but just in no mood to post anything. Been having some problems....well actually only one problem.....MEN!!!!!!
Why oh why have I become attracted to them but they still disgust me!! I definitely don't want to socialize with them as friends ick!! But I want to be with them for my personal socialization :)
(Shelly :D)
Another interesting question is when and how exactly do you know if you've reached peak short-term feminization in your transition...
Better living through chemistry.
But someone mentioned exercise. I've started doing some the ones in this video. I can't report any results yet, but it seems like they should work. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8udQ-h4Y4BY
I've ad some thoughts on this recently. I'm 18 months on HRT and I still see changes, recently I noticed that my once muscular pecs had almost diminished and that my breast seemed smaller as a result which is not the case. I was advised against progesterone, thought it increased the possibility of breast cancer. I doubt that we can have full female hips as we are not cis females who have a genetically wider pelvis. The easiest solution - implants.....
Quote from: katiej on July 31, 2014, 10:08:43 PM
Better living through chemistry.
But someone mentioned exercise. I've started doing some the ones in this video. I can't report any results yet, but it seems like they should work. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8udQ-h4Y4BY
This is neat, has some of the same Ideas I had too, neat watch.
Quote from: Ms Grace on July 31, 2014, 03:36:57 PM
I'm with Emily on the progesterone, but only if your doctor thinks it's safe for you.
You haven't said what you feel isn't feminine enough about your presentation, in your avatar you look like a very pretty woman so I'm not sure what other changes you might need. :)
Thanks. Grace. (And all the others too!) At this point it's more a collection of minor complaints (except for my tiny boobs-grrrr). I think my forearms are still sinewy, my calves and legs a bit skinnier than I would like, residual muscularization, and I can still get erections without much work (although spontaneous ones haven't happened since two weeks after I started). I have muscles under my chin still. I know I've no place to complain, but I still want more softness, which just may not be happening at my age/weight.
For those of you who were prescribed progesterone, what were your effects? I haven't given up on the idea of consulting another dr. to see if she or he might prescribe it.
Love to you all, and thanks.
And, Emily, thanks for the offer. I've actually made tiramisu with my sister-in-law (now ex). It's quite involved, isn't it.
And, Shelley, if a woman can be as lovely as you and still wish for more feminization, then it might be possible that I'm just being crazy (See what you all get when my therapist takes a month's vacation).
And, Evelyn, your question deserves its own thread!!!
And, Katie and Hikari, the ideal me will be working out any day now.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
The problem is of course that I can't say what effects the progesterone has specifically had - to do that I'd have to have another me who is only on estrogen for comparison. Wikipedia lists a variety of actions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone_replacement_therapy_(male-to-female)#Progestogens) of progesterone, I feel that it has allowed my skin to be softer, better body fat distribution and rounding out of my breast development. I notice in that list it mentions a calming effect, and I'd say I have experienced that also.
Hi (you look amazing btw). I am wondering if bouncing weight gain /loss will help redistribution of fat. I think there was a thread on this a while ago. The idea being that under female hormone levels you lose male fat cells first and put on female fat cells as you gain. If you where always slender maybe that will help.
I have no idea of the validity of this.
In terms of exercise, I would focus on core body exercise. Firm up those core muscles and the hormones will help shape them the right way too.
Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on August 01, 2014, 05:19:39 AM
And, Emily, thanks for the offer. I've actually made tiramisu with my sister-in-law (now ex). It's quite involved, isn't it.
And, Shelley, if a woman can be as lovely as you and still wish for more feminization, then it might be possible that I'm just being crazy (See what you all get when my therapist takes a month's vacation).
And, Evelyn, your question deserves its own thread!!!
And, Katie and Hikari, the ideal me will be working out any day now.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Well you are crazy!! The only reason I didn't just tell to stop worrying about nothing is because I have those same insecurities!! I am finding out that many of them are related to my new gender, many woman have the same exact insecurities I have, the difference is they also don't have the insecurity of once being a man in the past. Maybe in some ways it should be easier for me or maybe you.....at least we have something to blame our flaws on :)
I could go on and on about all the features I have that don't look too feminine, but then I could also list many that are feminine. I try to concentrate on the ones that are positive and try and fix the ones that are fixable.....skin, hair, body shape (to some point). The problem is there are some that I have no control over. One feature that bothers me are my hands, in no way are they manly hands....but their also not overly feminine, and there bigger hands for a woman my size ugh!!
I think you just need to keep doing what your doing.....and maybe add some progesterone (not sold on it myself though) but I think the biggest thing you can do and more so myself is to just be confidant with what we have. I may not have the curves or looks I may want, but does any woman! I also need to realize I do at least have a decent shape and my looks are at least average.
Progesterone, I would say calmer definitely. My breasts are more tender and my nipples and areola are larger and well as my breasts (just a bit).
I do not know if it is from everything I am doing but my leg vascular issue on the surface of skin on my shins is going away. I had this since I was 18. The large brown areas are just spots of brown and fading.
Quote from: Evelyn K on July 31, 2014, 05:09:01 PM
(Shelly :D)
Another interesting question is when and how exactly do you know if you've reached peak short-term feminization in your transition...
I agree Evelyn this question needs it's own thread.^^____^^ It might make an interesting topic.
Allie :icon_flower:
^^ Yeah I thought about it in brief, then I realized it was mental masturbation to try to measure these kinds of things.
Different body chemistries, genetics, age, medication combinations, dosages, diets, will power, tarot cards, prayer, astrological alignment, earth magnetic fields, etc. etc.
Everyone's mileage will vary.
It would be a highly subjective topic. Boring.
Quote from: Evelyn K on August 02, 2014, 05:20:42 AM
^^ Yeah I thought about it in brief, then I realized it was mental masturbation to try to measure these kinds of things.
Different body chemistries, genetics, age, medication combinations, dosages, diets, will power, tarot cards, prayer, astrological alignment, earth magnetic fields, etc. etc.
Everyone's mileage will vary.
It would be a highly subjective topic. Boring.
Good points ^^___^^ I hadn't thought about it like that. I'm glad you did though.
Allie :icon_flower:
Quote from: Evelyn K on August 02, 2014, 05:20:42 AM
^^ Yeah I thought about it in brief, then I realized it was mental masturbation to try to measure these kinds of things.
Different body chemistries, genetics, age, medication combinations, dosages, diets, will power, tarot cards, prayer, astrological alignment, earth magnetic fields, etc. etc.
Everyone's mileage will vary.
It would be a highly subjective topic. Boring.
I'm tired of my mileage varying. I want bigger boobs! ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on August 03, 2014, 10:26:17 PM
I'm tired of my mileage varying. I want bigger boobs! ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
I want mine to slow down a little: 7 months and 32B's? I'm too tiny up top for huge booby's. Nice full B's or even small C's will be perfect. Anything bigger though and I'll look top heavy, lol!
Allie :icon_flower:
As I understand it, progeserone will help the boobs develop from Tanner Stage 4 to Tanner Stage 5 (fuller, rounder). I don't know if I'd want to go from stage 4 to stage 5, as the slightly more 'perky' version just seems more attractive, to me.