Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi all,
I've been on hrt and an anti androgen for five years. However, the last three years I've not been on any form of hrt due to several long term health issues which include a tissue connectivity disorder and osteopenia.

I completely pass and live my life like any other girl. The issue I have is this- I cannot have the op due to health issues and frankly I like having a functional girlcock. I do not want to go back onto the antiandrogen because it really affected my libido last time and I love having a high sex drive.
I have more than enough breast development at tanner stage 4, but the last two years full body hair has returned. I have brought a laser package to deal with this but I know it will just return without some way of reducing the t.

So I wanted to ask, would a low dose patch estrogen potentially reduce the t alone as I've heard this is possible? Is there anything else I could go on that isn't an anti androgen? My bone mineral density is an issue so being on an antiandrogen is even more risky, but I cannot also have high estrogen doses due to clotting issues! Complex I know. If I could just get the body hair down that would make life so happy for me, but I don't think the 8 full body sessions of laser will cut it in the long run as my body will just absorb more t.

Thanks for your help girls!
Lara x

Hi, Lara!

Welcome back to Susan's.  I see it's been a while since you were here, so I'm posting the welcome links for you again.

Your best bet for figuring out what is the best hormone regime for you is to talk to your doctor.  In fact, given the complications you describe, you might need to talk to an endocrinologist.

Estrogen can suppress testosterone in high enough doses.  What dose will do it for you is something that your doctor would likely determine by trial and error.

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Hi Kathy,

Thanks for your reply. I am actually training to be a doctor myself so know all the factors. Sadly the endocrinologist just says- no you need blocker and e or it won't stop. Never any other suggestions, but after becoming quite ill with postural orthostatic tachycardia and getting lots of signs like varicose veins grey streaks and hot flushes, it seems to me I need to see another endocrinologist as he's very time pressured at the gic.
My haemoglobin has been raised since the symptoms came on four years ago too. Which means my bloods thickened. I wonder if the hrt did that?
 
Best,
Ally

Welcome to Susan's Place. This is a very much your milage can vary thing. If you have fairly low T, E will have a relatively easy time of blocking T. We have member running over 200 pg/ml with injections or implants and that can suppress more normal levels of T in most people. The other approach is to remain on blocker until T levels are low and then back off the blockers allowing E to take over the job. This isn't cook book endocrinology and requires regular monitoring to verify everything is working according to plan as it doesn't always work.

High hemoglobin is normally associated with high T levels. Some of the guys actually need to make regular blood donations to keep it under control as they don't want to reduce their T dosage. The primary issue with E is liver damage and DVTs. Both are relatively rare but it can be serious in a few people.

Last but not least, there are other blockers out there but unfortunately they are somewhat limited by the country you live in and cost. The very best ones are extremely costly where as Spiro is cheap but not the best one available.

Thanks for the reply.

As a doctor in training I know all the risks. In the UK I am put on decapeptyl for free, which is very costly, but it completely drops all t and that means it often removes functionality and libido too. My t is around 19 and it's weird because if you see photos of me etc, it doesn't look like it's had any masculinising effects, except for body hair.

Maybe I'll try the blocker, wean off it and let estrogen do the work approach. The issue I have with that is I don't want to throw money away on laser and have the hair return!

Hi Lara,
Transdermal estrogen in patch or gel form goes direct to tissue and bloodstream and bypasses the liver. It doesn't load up the liver like pills or tablets.It can be very beneficial for bone density compared to anti- androgen alone. Clotting risk or thrombosis with transdermal estrogen is not normally higher than a cis woman of the same age with the same E level. Your suggestion of transdermal E may be a good one. Don't take my word for it- check with your doctor. This was the same recommendation I received when discussing regimens with my doctor. Also your Tissue Connectivity Disorder may benefit from the anabolic effects of your natural androgens. You may well be on the money with your patch suggestion though - good discussion material for you and your doctor.
PS you pass well on low dose - I am jealous.
Kind regards, Kirsten.

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I think maybe a step back.
It is not uncommon for ciswomen to have 'excessive' body hair.  Controlling or attempting to control hair growth with anti-androgens would maybe be a poor use of medication.

Before starting transition I had quite a bit of body hair.  During the time when I was strongly considering but had not decided to transition I tackled facial hair with electrolysis, and body hair with a year of laser followed with electrolysis.  The day I started HRT I hadn't touched anything with a shaver in more than a year.