My T levels are almost within CIS female range after 4 months on patches. My Doctor advises I wont ever need to go on T blockers for my HRT. Does this sound right or does anyone else have this same issue?
Please reply, thanks
Estrogen can indeed lower testosterone.
Absolutely. My doctor only prescribed estrogen for me, because my pre-HRT testosterone levels were on the low end of normal. With estrogen only, at the right dosage, my testosterone levels are now comfortably in the female range.
I'd double check the blood levels myself just to make sure he doctor knows what he's doing.
I could have used blockers but they weren't available. We didn't test T levels so I didn't know where I was but others in my therapy group reported the lack of male function so I suspect their T levels dropped pretty low on estrogen alone. Ask what your levels (with unit) are and we can double check it for you but at the moment, you should consider yourself lucky as it's better if you can get by without the blockers.
I guess my main question is, am I missing out at all?
Do T blockers give the same physical changes/benefits as lowering it naturally with E? Or is it just the same thing. Will just being on the E (and pushing my T down) naturally stop hairline changes, face changes etc like effects T blockers do.
Does that make sense?
You are missing out on the side effects. You will have the same results as somebody who is on T blockers as long as your tests indicate your T levels remain low. The T blockers are used for only one reason and that's to drive the T levels down.
Some never need T blockers. I have a relative who didn't need T blockers and I'm not on very much myself in regards to them either. They key being it differs for everyone. Congrats on not needing them. Hugs
Mariah
I had similar results; I used only patches and my T levels were in the lower end of the cis female range at the 3-month recheck. Estrogen *does* lower testosterone to some degree. Essentially, E IS a T-blocker, but it generally isn't enough by itself unless it's taken in dangerously high doses. But for those of us who are especially fortunate, it's enough by itself. I was grateful I didn't need to take another drug. :)
(I was on a super low dose of E, too.)
And I had fantastic results, if that's any reassurance; by six months on patches alone I couldn't pass as a guy even when dressed as one and I was 42C.
Do T blockers have more physical affects though? Or is it just the same as having it low by itself?
By suppressing T, the natural estrogen may cause some development. The side effects from the blockers are such that you are lucky if you can transition without them. The only reason the blockers are given is to drive the T levels down so if you have naturally low levels, there is no reason to use them.