I just wonder why there isn't already a post about this.
Anyway, I'm in a little bit of a bind here, I know I don't identify as male, but I'm not sure I identify as female either. I know that is isn't anything new, but the thing is, I'm also not sure I want estrogen. but I feel like I'll go insane if I don't get blockers, but will they let you have blockers without taking hormones too? I know that there can be side effects from doing this, so I don't need you to point it out and that's not what I asked. Granted, I probably will end up taking hormones anyway, but I'm not ready for estrogen yet, but as I said, I feel like I'll go insane if I don't take blockers. I found this post on yahoo answers:https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130720010609AApkJtN
and the person who gave the best answer said the genderqueer/non-binary people are covered under the WPATH Standards of Care version 7, but I found a pdf of that(right here:http://www.wpath.org/uploaded_files/140/files/IJT%20SOC,%20V7.pdf ) and I didn't see anything about non-binary people taking blockers.
It's certainly happened. There are many on here who have taken blockers and/or low doses of oestrogen/testosterone.
However, I'd always recommend you try and straighten your head before you re-align your body. You may find small steps in a less medical and institutional direction might help you just as much.
In my earlier non-binary days, I tidied up my appearance, I experimented with beauty treatments and different cuts and colours of clothing. I read much and pondered much and tried to strip who I was and what I wanted to its bare essentials. A few bad experiences helped me do the latter part but afterwards I felt much more comfortable with myself.
So much more comfortable that I eventually didn't feel much need to go further externally because the internals fitted better.
Finally, the mind does work by hormones and chemicals and such, but that's not all it is. We are self-reflexive beings with the ability to look both in and out. Reflecting through different lenses really can help. Plus, never forget to look out.
- Blimey I am sounding preachy today...but that's the end of the sermon, thank goodness.
The main side effect is greatly increased risk of osteoporosis. There may be other side effects. This isn't usually done for transgender people, but is routinely done as a treatment for prostate cancer. It works for that because, from what I understand, prostate cells need testosterone in order to replicate, and so do cancerous prostate cells...this is a highly specific treatment for a highly specific form of cancer but it is fairly effective if caught before it spreads to other organs where this sort of treatment has no effect.
Yes, you can. I'm on exclusively anti-androgens at the moment and plan to start on a small maintenance dose of E at some point. The risks associated with using them in a manner for treating cancer are not quite as present since the amount you take as part of chemotherapy is considerably higher.
Regarding WPATH, this might help! <3
http://nonbinary.tumblr.com/post/12417564069/wpath-announces-new-standards-of-care-for
I asked my endo about this because Sweetie was having issues. He okayed it. I didn't end up doing it because Sweetie said she would rather I was happy. I imagine you have to monitor closely, take supplements like a woman in menopause, etc.
I love the idea of revealing my feminine side to the world but to me the most annoying thing is being a man. I hate having any sort of masculinity.
You might try either Finasteride or Dutasteride to block DHT. DHT being the nastier version of Testosterone. I'm only on Dutasteride right now, it blocks almost all DHT. I have noticed it's made me calmer, soften my skin and just made me feel 100% better. I do feel my masculinity disappearing and it feels wonderful. I've been told by others that this reaction isn't typical but you never know it may be worth a try as a starter.
Good luck,
Paige :)
You can also try Saw Palmetto, it also blocks DHT, but as it is a supplement, not a whole lot of studies have been done on it. It is cheap, and legal, though. You can buy it at Walmart. I've only been taking it for a few months, I don't know yet if there is any real change to my hair loss, maybe it's slowing it, I still have a full head of hair but a few spots are a bit thin. They haven't got any less thin, but haven't got any more thin. To an extent, they have always been a bit thin, as I naturally have always had really fine hair. One side effect, though, is that it's made me incredibly horny. This actually supports the idea that it is working, as if whatever mechanism that converts free testosterone is blocked, then one has more free testosterone. Maybe my aromatase is picking some of it and turning it into estrogen also, my moobs seem more sensitive, and maybe have grown.
Technically, yes. It's possible to be on a low enough dose of blocker that you don't necessarily risk osteoporosis.
But it may not lower testosterone sufficiently for you to be happy with the result, and it is like dancing on a knife edge.
If you are under the age of 40, it's generally advised to maintain as much bone density or increase it as much as possible. Osteoporosis is nothing to sneeze at, it's potentially debilitating and some of the meds used to manage it, such as Biphosphonates are downright nasty.
In other words, do it with a good endo. :)
Personally, I went down the route of low E, low spiro, got sick of pills, and switched to a pellet implant. I do feel as though I'm running on the limit and risk feminising excessively.
I am transitioning but not wanting to be androgynous for the rest of my entire lifetime.
To me it is more of a way of feeling myself out, from one aspect to the other.. Blending.
I enjoy it right now, I do not go with a full effort of being androgynous but at times, yes.
But I consider it trandrogynous, meaning, sure you know I am transitioning but do you know which way!? Ha!
All love and play.. True but enjoy yourself, also do you internally identify as a gender.. totally rushed to commenting.. BEED! :D
Quote from: luna nyan on April 04, 2015, 07:07:14 AM
If you are under the age of 40, it's generally advised to maintain as much bone density or increase it as much as possible. Osteoporosis is nothing to sneeze at, it's potentially debilitating and some of the meds used to manage it, such as Biphosphonates are downright nasty.
I'm unfortunately very close to that age number, I'm close with a guy that is on T blockers for Prostate Cancer. They just have him take Tums to replace calcium...granted, Osteoporosis isn't all that bad compared to Cancer, but by itself is still pretty bad...
Quote from: VeronicaLynn on April 04, 2015, 12:27:10 AM
You can also try Saw Palmetto, it also blocks DHT, but as it is a supplement, not a whole lot of studies have been done on it. It is cheap, and legal, though. You can buy it at Walmart. I've only been taking it for a few months, I don't know yet if there is any real change to my hair loss, maybe it's slowing it, I still have a full head of hair but a few spots are a bit thin. They haven't got any less thin, but haven't got any more thin. To an extent, they have always been a bit thin, as I naturally have always had really fine hair. One side effect, though, is that it's made me incredibly horny. This actually supports the idea that it is working, as if whatever mechanism that converts free testosterone is blocked, then one has more free testosterone. Maybe my aromatase is picking some of it and turning it into estrogen also, my moobs seem more sensitive, and maybe have grown.
I tried both Saw Palmetto and Pueraria Mirifica almost religiously over the 20 months or so between referring myself to a GIC and then getting my prescription for anti-androgens. I didn't notice any positive effects from either (I took very high doses) and if you seek androgyny as a MAAB person I'd be keener to recommend spending the money on laser hair removal instead.
The effects I noted were;
Calming effect within the first month. This was soon lost.
Ease of weight gain increasing. This led to slightly more weight on my breasts but no development occurred and my chest size barely increased at all. I still appear very flat chested and fat distribution remained masculine.
Dysphoria worse on days when my genderfluidity swung very much towards feminine.
Heightened temper and deeper lows. Different in sensation to what I have experienced from starting on cyproterone acetate.
Greater body hair growth. My chest was effectively hairless before starting on SP and PM but now it isn't.
Much darker and thicker body hair.
The last one is really the only positive and that is in the somewhat perverse manner of the darker hair being easier to laser off...
I'm glad I came around and went poking around the boards (been off this site for a while).
All I generally find about transitionioning on the internet generally seems to be focussed on the FtM/MtF paradigm and generally has little info about non-binary experience. The little information that googling does turn up about Non-Binaries seems to be focused on FAAB non-binaries masculinizing their bodies; taking T and getting Breast reduction.
I briefly questioned my sanity (not really) if there were others who were looking to transition in a different manner. I was wondering about MAAB's who decided to go with Feminizing Hormones and/or Breast Augmentation (because I think my existing boobs are great and think I want more boobage I guess?), and what their experiences have been.
I'm finally getting my ass into a LGBT friendly doctor (after not having a GP for a long time), and among other health issues I was hoping to get some sort of medical treatment and I wanted to be armed with a little bit of information from other peoples experience.
Quote from: omdorastrix on April 20, 2015, 04:16:42 PM
I briefly questioned my sanity (not really) if there were others who were looking to transition in a different manner. I was wondering about MAAB's who decided to go with Feminizing Hormones and/or Breast Augmentation (because I think my existing boobs are great and think I want more boobage I guess?), and what their experiences have been.
I've been on HRT for two years and ended up getting SRS because I could. I'm living full time as a woman and loving every minute of it.
I generally don't tell people I'm non-binary. They don't need to know. Only close friends and people here at Susan's know the details of my gender identity.
Very Important Fact: Non-binary people are not required to sit on the sidelines cheering binary folk on as they transition wishing we could get into the act. We have
just as much right to transition to the gender presentation that suits us.
Does this help?
So like TBH it depends on where you are and who you ask. It is *possible* but most doctors are GICs will be reluctant because of later health effects, but are more willing if you take a low dose of hormones with it. Shop around for your doctors if you can. If you're UK based try and get treatment from the Laurels rather than other GICs.