Currently i have yet to start HRT i will be MtF but i am curious about several things about HRT.
1: Does your bone and body structure change at all other than the obvious breast growth?
2: Do you lose body hair or is some treatment needed for removal? (I ask because due to a car wreck i cannot shave other than my face.)
3: Does your libido change at all right now i have a very high libido and am curious if it will change as well?
4: Weight gain is it easier to gain weight or lose for that matter?
5: Will a MtF experience a period and menopause?
I cannot remember the other questions i had but when i think of them i can post them on this topic. Also i would like to thank everyone in advance for their replies.
1. Bones won't change unless you're quite young.
2. I've found it reduces a lot, except for the face.
3. Libido is very much lower.
4. Weight gain is much easier, but conversely I've found it easier to lose weight since I'm not depressed.
Quote from: AnonyMs on January 21, 2017, 05:09:00 AM
1. Bones won't change unless you're quite young.
2. I've found it reduces a lot, except for the face.
3. Libido is very much lower.
4. Weight gain is much easier, but conversely I've found it easier to lose weight since I'm not depressed.
Thank you very much for the reply i was just trying to understand greater of what exactly to expect when going through HRT.
Also i meant to ask if the buttocks changes as well?
I have been on steady HRT for about 4 years now (Estradiol Inj. & Spironolactone ) and the changes depend largely on the individual (health, diet, age etc.)
I would have to say, while there has been noticeable breast growth, the biggest physical changes have been, softening of the skin and the reposition of fat, especially around the middle and back side.
That being said, HRT is a very slow process, and most of the time you will not notice much of a difference at all. Not saying that there isn't changes, just that their so slow that it's difficult to notice them, especially at more advanced ages.
However, the biggest change for me is emotional. From about 6 months to a year, I had noticed that I was significantly less prone to anger. Of course, I would still get upset at stuff, but instant displays of anger or rage gave way mostly to first thinking "was that thing that used to get me super angry right away, really worth my time?"
In addition to the reduction of anger was the increased moments of sadness at things that I used to not even think of before. It's not that I cry for no reason at all, but I am much more likely to feel emotional sadness about things that used to not bother me or did bother me but I was able to cover them up.
All in all, HRT has helped me to feel some of the things that used to be a big part of me when I was a child, but had found ways to hide them through the years.
In that way, HRT is an amazing experience.
Katie
Quote from: katie Brennan on January 21, 2017, 06:25:12 AM
I have been on steady HRT for about 4 years now (Estradiol Inj. & Spironolactone ) and the changes depend largely on the individual (health, diet, age etc.)
I would have to say, while there has been noticeable breast growth, the biggest physical changes have been, softening of the skin and the reposition of fat, especially around the middle and back side.
That being said, HRT is a very slow process, and most of the time you will not notice much of a difference at all. Not saying that there isn't changes, just that their so slow that it's difficult to notice them, especially at more advanced ages.
However, the biggest change for me is emotional. From about 6 months to a year, I had noticed that I was significantly less prone to anger. Of course, I would still get upset at stuff, but instant displays of anger or rage gave way mostly to first thinking "was that thing that used to get me super angry right away, really worth my time?"
In addition to the reduction of anger was the increased moments of sadness at things that I used to not even think of before. It's not that I cry for no reason at all, but I am much more likely to feel emotional sadness about things that used to not bother me or did bother me but I was able to cover them up.
All in all, HRT has helped me to feel some of the things that used to be a big part of me when I was a child, but had found ways to hide them through the years.
In that way, HRT is an amazing experience.
Katie
WOW that is so insightful thank you so much. it will be a great experience when i go through it then i have kind of shut off all emotions for myself except happiness and an occasional anger where i grit my teeth really hard without realizing it but that really does my anger spouts lol. As far as past i have a lot and i mean tons of stuff bottled up so it will be nice to finally release it. (I do expect a lot of crying with that part.) The softening of the skin sounds wonderful i don't know if it will help with my psoriasis or not but one can be hopeful i guess but i would kindly ask what you mean by re-positioning of fat around middle and back side?
One more thing I forgot to add. Though your sexual drive, in the physical sense, gets more and more diminished, and the....let's say evidence, becomes void. The enjoyment is so much more increased. That is because, at least in my experience, the emotional connection to yourself and your partner is at such a high level, that the other stuff really doesn't seem important. I have come to call it an "emotional orgasm."
You can still have the physical one without the....."evidence", but I love the emotional one much, much better. :)
Katie
The re-positioning of fat means that, as time goes buy, you may notice fat in places where you used to have muscles; especially around the middle (waist and hip area). And though your bone structure does not change, the new fat can give you the illusion of having wider hips. (A very good thing). :)
Quote from: katie Brennan on January 21, 2017, 06:59:56 AM
The re-positioning of fat means that, as time goes buy, you may notice fat in places where you used to have muscles; especially around the middle (waist and hip area). And though your bone structure does not change, the new fat can give you the illusion of having wider hips. (A very good thing). :)
That does sound perfect and what i was hoping for also hoping some of it goes to my butt at least it wouldnt hurt anything if it did lmao.
Yes, we can have menopause. My endo is carefully monitoring levels quarterly. I'm on low dose estrogen now.
Quote from: Nina_Ottawa on January 21, 2017, 07:28:34 AM
Yes, we can have menopause. My endo is carefully monitoring levels quarterly. I'm on low dose estrogen now.
Good to know if possible i want all of the experiences of being full female seeing as i have missed out for so long i want as much of it as i can. It will be great to finally fill whole for once.
Quote from: Arianna Valentine on January 21, 2017, 07:36:50 AM
Good to know if possible i want all of the experiences of being full female seeing as i have missed out for so long i want as much of it as i can. It will be great to finally fill whole for once.
I am doing just the opposite, I have no desire to enter a menopause, ever, especially when I am barely out of my adolescence. My first female puberty was a non-starter due to medical interventions, and now that I am back on track later in life, I have no intentions of fast-tracking into old age. Maybe i will feel different after 20 good years at child-bearing hormone levels, but nope, no sooner than that, thank you.
My endo/gyno feels this is an entirely legitimate approach, and he is of the mind that menopause is an unnecessary and avoidable geriatric condition that SHOULD be delayed for the many health advantages avoiding it affords.
There is a book called "The Hormone Symphony" that lays out the argument that menopause is an unnatural and avoidable consequence of women living so much longer than we used to, and that because the medical profession is dominated by old men in white coats, the topic is largely dismissed as inevitable. I believe we have the right to our own self-determination, and that starving our bodies of the sex hormones we need to stay youthful and healthy is the wrong way to go...
Just sayin', that's my view, and I am not alone in thinking it..
Missy
Quote from: MissGendered on January 21, 2017, 07:47:56 AM
I am doing just the opposite, I have no desire to enter a menopause, ever, especially when I am barely out of my adolescence. My first female puberty was a non-starter due to medical interventions, and now that I am back on track later in life, I have no intentions of fast-tracking into old age. Maybe i will feel different after 20 good years at child-bearing hormone levels, but nope, no sooner than that, thank you.
My endo/gyno feels this is an entirely legitimate approach, and he is of the mind that menopause is an unnecessary and avoidable geriatric condition that SHOULD be delayed for the many health advantages avoiding it affords.
There is a book called "The Hormone Symphony" that lays out the argument that menopause is an unnatural and avoidable consequence of women living so much longer than we used to, and that because the medical profession is dominated by old men in white coats, the topic is largely dismissed as inevitable. I believe we have the right to our own self-determination, and that starving our bodies of the sex hormones we need to stay youthful and healthy is the wrong way to go...
Just sayin', that's my view, and I am not alone in thinking it..
Missy
I can completely understand and honestly at 36 i don't want to go through it maybe in 15-20 years if i have to it would be ok but this soon might be a little to much.
The body hair will take time if you are at all hairy. Many months if not years. Plucking and epilating is best since it removes the root but as an Italian myself it took years for me and it still requires maintenance.
You will definitely drop libido. Massively. You'll have a lot of new time to spend on other things haha!
Quote from: LShipley on January 21, 2017, 08:32:10 AM
You will definitely drop libido. Massively. You'll have a lot of new time to spend on other things haha!
Amen to that, sister, lol...
Omigosh, when I think back to how much time I used to spend in front of a computer, how on earth did I get anything else done at all, ha ha! ;-)
Soooo relieved to not be driven like that all day, every day, wowza!
Missy
Quote from: LShipley on January 21, 2017, 08:32:10 AM
The body hair will take time if you are at all hairy. Many months if not years. Plucking and epilating is best since it removes the root but as an Italian myself it took years for me and it still requires maintenance.
You will definitely drop libido. Massively. You'll have a lot of new time to spend on other things haha!
Luckily i dont have much body hair except legs and underarms and slightly facial hair. The libido thing might not be to bad its extremely high as it is.
As has been stated, everything goes along at a slow pace. We see ourselves every day and so usually do not notice anything is really different, but it starts to become apparent to the observant as you come to 6 months or so. I remember at around that point is the first time I had a customer notice that I had "buttery soft skin" and promptly as me for my 'secret'.
At about 9 months, my Endo stopped me in the hall as we were walking out after an appointment. She had not noticed before, but once I was upright...butt and hips are here, middle is slimmed down. She told me that my form had started to shift to a feminine fat distribution.
At each point, I was unaware that anything was externally notable...but the only one not seeing it was me apparently.
The best changes, the ones that have really made me happy are not physical though. I know they seem like the most important when you first start...OMG, cannot wait for my girly body...but within a few weeks I noticed a quiet had taken hold in side. The prattle of T being gone, suddenly I found myself enjoying the simpler things. The feel of my shirt as I walked, the sound my pant legs make when they touch while walking. Sex drive diminishing, I could start to connect to people on a deeper level and would realize how tainted my world had been with that drive.
Be ready for an awesome ride, regardless. Enjoy the subtle unforeseen alterations that will begin to manifest in to who you are becoming. It is an incredible step along the path!
In my experience, libido/desire dropped way off but arousal and functioning are totally achievable.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
For me the reduction in libido was very nuanced. Spontaneous erections and such were gone, but I still very much look fantasize and admire attractive women. I still think about things of a sexual nature often. The difference is that it is much easier to ignore/put out of my mind. Also, it's not nearly as incredibly frustrating when sexual desire is thwarted. Now it's more of an "oh well, maybe some other time" feeling. This has been incredibly helpful with 3 small children in the house.
Hearing everyone talk just makes it to where i can't wait to begin to become who i was meant to be a beautiful woman. And the loss in libido as i said before definitely will not be a big loss for me as a male you think about something naughty and on impulse you have to act to take care of the matter. It will be so good to not be tied to those urges anymore to just say eh i don't want to or eh i don't feel like it today.
Having been on HRT for just 2 months I can validate that yes the libido is one of the first effects I noticed. At the same time, this reduction really quieted my mind.
The emotional connection to my wife has improved and we have been intimate a few times, though it isn't as easy to perform as before. I also found that we have to both be "into" it, which means I can no longer just "do" it like a man can.
It is so wonderful to have so many peoples input and answers to my questions. I thank you all so much for your answers as well. I had another question though does your hair texture change at all i mean the hair on your head of course also will i need breast surgery to have my areola and nipples made correct or does HRT make them more female looking to match the breast growth?
My hair remained pretty much the same but my hair didn't have issues before hand. Some people have reported that their hair has improved as the result of HRT.
As for nipples, that is something personal as my nipples remained pretty much the same in appearance but they have grown in diameter. Again, others have reported changes in size, color and shape. I was told that some CIS women have somewhat masculine appearing nipples so variations are normal.
Quote from: Dena on January 21, 2017, 11:10:55 PM
My hair remained pretty much the same but my hair didn't have issues before hand. Some people have reported that their hair has improved as the result of HRT.
As for nipples, that is something personal as my nipples remained pretty much the same in appearance but they have grown in diameter. Again, others have reported changes in size, color and shape. I was told that some CIS women have somewhat masculine appearing nipples so variations are normal.
Thank you so much Dena. The reason i was curious about hair change is my hair is very thick, wavy and curly at the ends but feels very smooth yet dry so i was wondering if i would still have that same feel or maybe it would look shiner and such thank you for your reply.
As breast development takes place, you will likely see a change in the nipple region as well. My areola have spread and become very soft. My partner swears my nipples have gotten larger, but I am not sure. They look the same to me.
There is no way to know where it will go and once you start HRT, there is a bit of time as things start shifting about. My endo told me to wait to consider any sort of breast surgery until at least a year and a half at transitional doses. This went along with the wise words of my sisters that are off ahead of me...patience! I am glad I heeded now.
One thing about breast growth, for me at least, a small lump appeared in about 3 weeks and that small nodule appeared to grow quickly. Percentage wise it was fast. But as I approach 3 months the growth appears to have slowed down. But I'm reality the increase in the amount of. "fat" is still increasing at the same rate but the changes are less apparent week to week.
Consider blowing up a balloon. To go from a 2 inch balloon to a 3 inch balloon doesn't take a lot of air. But going from a 6 inch to 7 inch does. So the day is still being put there at the same rate, the percentage change becomes less noticeable.
Quote from: Arianna Valentine on January 21, 2017, 11:00:12 PM
It is so wonderful to have so many peoples input and answers to my questions. I thank you all so much for your answers as well. I had another question though does your hair texture change at all i mean the hair on your head of course also will i need breast surgery to have my areola and nipples made correct or does HRT make them more female looking to match the breast growth?
My head hair grew thinner, as in each strand grew thinner. Dutasteride helped me regain the little bit of hairline creep I had had pre-HRT. Once my boobs began to grow, my nipples also grew and the areoli spread a little too. Think of a balloon, if you draw a small circle on one, then blow it up, the circle gets bigger. Mine are still on the smaller side, but I have been with a lot of girls with smaller ones, so that isn't a concern for me. Breast implants tend to stretch areoli, the bigger the implants, the tighter the skin, the more spread one gets..
Hope this helps.
Missy
Quote from: Denise on January 23, 2017, 05:17:29 PM
Consider blowing up a balloon. To go from a 2 inch balloon to a 3 inch balloon doesn't take a lot of air. But going from a 6 inch to 7 inch does. So the day is still being put there at the same rate, the percentage change becomes less noticeable.
How funny, we both used balloon metaphors at the same time, lol...
Missy
Quote from: MissGendered on January 23, 2017, 05:24:49 PM
How funny, we both used balloon metaphors at the same time, lol...
Missy
I'm reminded of the quote - great minds think alike.
Quote from: Denise on January 23, 2017, 05:37:01 PM
I'm reminded of the quote - great minds think alike.
OMG!! Me, too!!!
Ha!
;D Missilicious
Denise and Missilicous, you must be twins.
My vote, boobs bigger, nipples bigger unless cold, and hair and skin drier. Not sure what happened to my balloon. Oh come on, don't burst it! >:-)
Moni
Quote from: HappyMoni on January 23, 2017, 05:53:58 PM
Denise and Missilicous, you must be twins.
My vote, boobs bigger, nipples bigger unless cold, and hair and skin drier. Not sure what happened to my balloon. Oh come on, don't burst it! >:-)
Moni
Oh, yeah, after HRT, when the high-beams go on, they go waaay on, much more so than pre-HRT. I could put an eye out nowadays, so I am extra careful when I have overnight company on these frigid, winter nights, ha!
Also, something else, notice how happy and care-free and good-natured the girls are that are answering your questions, Arianna? I would bet most of us were grouchy and less-than-light-hearted pre-HRT, also. Just a hunch, tho', lol...
;-) Miissadelishus