I have been on estrogen for 3 weeks now. I've noticed a huge boost in mood and energy. It also seems to have obliterated my dysphoria. I no longer have much desire to crossdress where before it was a constant obsession. Is that a normal effect? It seems like I'm ok being male and taking estrogen now. Weird.
I think you are also taking a blocker or you may be one of the lucky ones for who estrogen is enough to block the testosterone in your body. What you are feeling is pretty common but you will need to take this with a grain of salt. If you stop HRT, the dysphoria will return. If you read through the site you will find a number of people who have quit and restarted HRT because they think they are cured and can stop HRT only to have the dysphoria return.
You will find others who have learned this lesson and have decided to remain in the male role but continue HRT. They do this because they feel they would lose to much should they transition so it's a tradeoff the chose to take.
Totally normal. Just wait until you try to stop though...
I've got exactly the same feelings and I'm been on E for almost three months. The old me is using this as an excuse to tell the new, correct, me that I don't need to transition and that I'm not really trans.
If you're like me you'll probably find that you feel better and better the longer you're on E. I've suffered a small setback as I'm just had an GnRH agonist administered and the T boost has messed me up a bit. I can't wait though 'till it goes away and I start to feel fabulous again.
Take care.
J xx
This is my experience too.
About 2 weeks ago I stopped spiro because the cravings for salty food were driving me nuts. I'm staying on the estradiol and hope it can keep my mental state on solid ground for a while.
This happened to me as well. Within about a week of beginning a low dose of E I felt like I had been cured and may not be trans after all. I continued with it and increased the does about a week ago according to the doctor's instructions. I feel real good now, but I'm fairly certain the dysphoria would return if I stopped the E.
... So, what are the effects of low E and could a T blocker alone help?
Claire (née Dori)
Hi everyone;
Dena is absolutely correct. To tell my story - you can read my posts, but simply I transitioned to full time some 30 years ago, then after living full time for a number of years and on HRT for that period, I was forced thru economic circumstances to revert to my male self. I had though to be weaned off my HRT (It took a year slowly cycling down). Anyway about 6 years ago a crisis in my life brought back my urgent need to transition and as things went from bad to worse, I had a major breakout of dysphoria. I was spiralling out of control. To stop it my GP put me on a very low dose of Progynova after blood tests confirmed that I had very low T levels ( almost female levels). Over the last 3 years like all of you, the dire to be female seems to quieten down, but after a few months something will trigger another breakout and also as your body get used to the oestrogen (and for those of you on Progesterone, you will find that in order to gert back on an even keel you will need to increase your dosages as your Testosterone levels will climb again and te urges will be back. Its about trying to find what is a certain level.
Over the last 3.25 years, my Doctor has increased my Oestrogen only dosage effectively 8 times, although I started on very very low dosage. On my last dysphoria outbreak, my doctor said that another increase would put me basically onto a Transition dosage. The problem is that this level has robbed me of much of my former self "drive" as I feel very submissive and not so interested any longer in any masculine work focus. I would much rather spend the day in the beauty salon than pursuing my career. Mind you hormonally now my T levels are only 0.5 and my oestrogen over 250 - so my doctor tells me I am hormonally now female. Also it now very difficult to pass as male even if I wanted to. Male trousers don't fit as my buttocks are too rounded and project outwards with rounded curves. Over the last 2-3 years when I found myself basically transitioning too quickly and losing my "masculine business drive and focus, I slipped my dosage back, but the dysphoria breakout gets more often, so it really does eventually push you into the transition phase. "I suppose in reality, the HRT changes one's perspective on life. As a Hormonally female I now have different needs and wishes. I would like to be married to a nice man and to be looked after and cherished, letting my partner fulfil my past role, so that I can focus on their well being.
Judith
Quote from: dori on May 18, 2016, 10:27:06 AM
... So, what are the effects of low E and could a T blocker alone help?
Claire (née Dori)
The results seem to vary depending on the person. T blockers will make a big difference if you have normal T levels. Estrogen levels are a bit different. I noticed no difference between no estrogen and estrogen emotionally but others seem to be more affected. I can't explain the difference in the response to estrogen but if you are resisting transition, I would suggest you start with the blockers and then determine if more is needed. Bump up the estrogen only if needed.
Quote from: judithlynn on May 18, 2016, 10:44:06 AM
as your body get used to the oestrogen (and for those of you on Progesterone, you will find that in order to gert back on an even keel you will need to increase your dosages as your Testosterone levels will climb again and te urges will be back.
Why would testosterone levels go back up if the same dose of E keeps on being taken and keeps T low and progesterone does not raise T levels (confirmed by study)? I'm post-op, take E and P and my T levels are very low, no need to increase doses after a year + on either. My T levels have actually been lower since being on a high dose of E and P. The lowest they've ever been in all my years.
QuoteThe problem is that this level has robbed me of much of my former self "drive" as I feel very submissive and not so interested any longer in any masculine work focus. I would much rather spend the day in the beauty salon than pursuing my career. Mind you hormonally now my T levels are only 0.5 and my oestrogen over 250 - so my doctor tells me I am hormonally now female.
In my case, total T levels are 0.3 nmol/L while E levels around 5,000-14,000 pmol/L, similar to first term pregnancy levels (I assume your 250 is in pmol/L, quite low given women's range is 73-2,382). Perhaps low E and T could account for lack of drive (?). E normally gives focus, energy, drive.
Quotethe HRT changes one's perspective on life. As a Hormonally female I now have different needs and wishes. I would like to be married to a nice man and to be looked after and cherished, letting my partner fulfil my past role, so that I can focus on their well being.
Judith
On HRT since 2004 and I have to say my sex drive remains quite high and I want to experience as much as I can so right now, not sure being married is what I want and need...still need to live out some wild and crazy dreams I have...then and only maybe then, will I settle. :)
To each their own. Hoping your dream comes true. ;)