Hi folks. At my last therapy appointment we discussed the idea of me going on testosterone blockers, prior to actual estrogen hormones. We've been holding off on the estrogen because at the moment I don't really have a solid support system in place, and it would probably only make things harder if I suddenly started growing boobs and so on, and after a point some things become irreversible. But despite that, I've been moving forward in other ways so thats how the idea came up, since the effects of testosterone blockers aren't permanent.
So my question is, for people who have been on testosterone blockers but without estrogen, what is it like? I'm interested to know as much as possible before I dive in (it'll probably be a couple months anyway before getting a doctor's appointment for them).
Blocking T for a while without estrogen would be okay but when your T gets to a certain level your sex hormones would be out of balance. This can cause hot flashes, night sweats, cold sweats and osteoporosis.
Some common side effects of Avodart include a decreased sex drive, depression, impotence, abnormal ejaculation and breast changes.
Good stuff ;) Spiro is about the same and things really get fun when you use them both.
Being on just antiandrogens feels "okay". I did it for a couple months before adding the other stuff and I felt fine physically, they just can't get carried away with the dosing. I honestly can't say if my improved mood and was from the meds or from the acceptance and progress, because I had a firm start date for full hrt.
There was some skin softening and a slight dip in metabolism, but nothing too dramatic. The big thing I experienced and that I worry about when people hatch plans like yours is a compulsion to move ahead into total androgen supression and supplemental estradiol. It's like the half dose AA gives you a little taste of what life could feel like and you want more More MORE.
I may also make the natural estrogens already in your body give you breast development...
Thanks for the feedback everyone! It won't be for a few months anyway, and even then it's still up to the doctor. Just wanted to get some... realistic ideas of what to (maybe) expect :).
Ketsy, how old are you & do you know what you want?
27, and what I *want* is a pill that will make me wake up different tomorrow. Since that doesn't exist yet, I have to figure out how to get from B to A without ending up in a homeless shelter :P.
What are you worried about losing most?
Well, at the moment there really isn't much, other than the convenience of not having to explain to or deal with people about my situation, since it's still all in the closet except for here and therapy. I don't particularly have many friends at the moment, and I'm not super close with my family.
What's on the line if you go full throttle?
I'm not sure what you're asking -- by full throttle do you mean the AA+estrogen as well?
I Live in Vero Beach Florida. And I'm looking for a therapist anyone know of one in my area ?
I have been on just spiro for over 2 months. I can't say that I feel much difference than before I started. Well maybe other feeling a bit better knowing I have started going down the path. I guess I didn't really understand what effects would happen. I will be discussing the addition of low dosage E with my endo, in about 3 weeks. I will have had my next blood work done by then as well, and I will get my hormone levels.