I'm not sure if I should transition but I am wondering if low-does HRT will help my dysphoria. All of the women in my family have large chests, I don't think anyone is less than a solid D. I'm in my 50's. Do you think there is a risk of serious breast growth? I don't think I'd mind it, but not during my day job. I'd like to stay stealth as long as possible while figuring out the extent of my dysphoria.
It's the testosterone blocker that will suppress much of your dysphoria and the low dose estrogen just makes sure you have some sex hormone in your system for health reasons. There are two threads where this approach is being taken and I have included the links.
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,130268.0.html
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,209589.0.html
I relied on low dose HRT a few times over the decades for the much needed Brain Reset. It helped a lot with the dysphoria. I always had to stop after a few weeks to months due to things taking a hit below the belt which conflicted with The Prime Directive of being a normal(ish) guy. Having always leaned a bit towards the gynocomastic side (and very prone to pack on pounds), I know there was some ever so slight growth each time that faded away over the following year or so.
YMMV
Both previous comments are excellent, very useful I believe to figure out what you want and need. I personally found that the blockers had a more significant impact on my feeling and emotions, but they obviously impact on your libido. If you can't have your sexual capabilities impacted, you'll need some serious talking with your endocrinologist on how to proceed. Low dose E can be useful with limited physical changes, but it will all be a balancing act. Remember some changes become permanent depending on how long you take them, so you'll have to accept that reality before starting any HRT.
Good luck.
I guess my experience is not in the usual/normal spectrum of HRT changes. I was hoping for overall averaged-out changes (skin, odor, face, fat distribution, muscle loss, breasts) to be spread out and even. However, for me, I am guessing that at least 80% of my change has been breast growth. My breasts have grown steadily during my 14 months of HRT and are now quite noticeable in any shirt I wear. I am very slim so they are obvious. I am happy with my breasts, but I am closeted and always have to be (sadly). So I don't know what the future holds for me if they keep growing. The women on my mother's side are all very large breasted, so I am fearful of much more growth to come. It's the usual YMMV for each of us. I guess the only way to know how it affects you is to start low dose and stay there for a while. Hard to predict...
Baggy and dark shirts are common bits of advice here. The Second Type Woman says that almost all of us will just eke out A cups, B if we're lucky. But there are exceptions like Shellie. One person here says she has 42DDs without augmentation.
Annie Richards (who runs the Second Type website) points out the obvious fact that some of these girls bragging about huge bustlines might be kidding themselves or just fabricating things, too. It needs to be said! I'd like to see a good study on this.