Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Wolf Man on January 04, 2010, 12:23:52 PM

Title: HRT short term?
Post by: Wolf Man on January 04, 2010, 12:23:52 PM
I kept going back in the threads and I couldn't find something exactly right, but I'm sorry if this is something that has come up.

I wanted to know how things have worked for those who have chosen to do hormones short term. Getting the permanent effects and then stopping.

Guys, how long did you stay on T?
How did things work out if you got top surgery?
How has life been after stopping T?

Thanks for any answers I get.
Title: Re: HRT short term?
Post by: shanetastic on January 04, 2010, 02:50:53 PM
Quote from: No-Name on January 04, 2010, 12:23:52 PM
I kept going back in the threads and I couldn't find something exactly right, but I'm sorry if this is something that has come up.

I wanted to know how things have worked for those who have chosen to do hormones short term. Getting the permanent effects and then stopping.

Guys, how long did you stay on T?
How did things work out if you got top surgery?
How has life been after stopping T?

Thanks for any answers I get.

I am only speculating here as I'm not necessarily FTM. . . but I would imagine it would be hard to get T if you had the thoughts of stopping it after getting the desired effects.  Doesn't sound completely unheard of. . . I just don't think it would be the healthiest though nuking your system with different hormones on and off.
Title: Re: HRT short term?
Post by: Nero on January 04, 2010, 02:55:55 PM
Quote from: shanetastic on January 04, 2010, 02:50:53 PM
I am only speculating here as I'm not necessarily FTM. . . but I would imagine it would be hard to get T if you had the thoughts of stopping it after getting the desired effects.  Doesn't sound completely unheard of. . . I just don't think it would be the healthiest though nuking your system with different hormones on and off.

This. Also T is not like estrogen. T has almost immediate irreversible changes. It can't really be used as a 'test' like estrogen is.
What effects would you be looking for?
Title: Re: HRT short term?
Post by: Wolf Man on January 04, 2010, 07:30:09 PM
I'm looking for the changes that will make me seem as close to unmistakably male as possible: a lower voice, hair growth, hairline change. These few things are what I feel can make a difference, aside from my already decided choice to have top surgery.

It's not that I want to play with the hormones if that's what either of you think, it's simply that, at the moment, I do not feel comfortable taking something that can cause many issues in the long run. Meaning I do not feel comfortable with the thought of taking T for life, but I do feel comfortable taking it anywhere from 6mo to 2yr. It has to do with my current predisposition to health conditions that can come with the use of Testosterone.

I've heard of other people doing this. Am I wrong to think of this as an option? Were these people wrong? I'm not accusing, I'm just unsure. Am I missing something and does anyone have some suggestions? Should I simply wait until I begin my therapy to discuss it with my therapist? Thank you in advance for your comments.

Also, thank you for your comments shanetastic and Nero.
Title: Re: HRT short term?
Post by: Nero on January 04, 2010, 07:35:03 PM
I've heard people have taken it and gone off it. As long as you know what you're getting into, it should be okay.
Title: Re: HRT short term?
Post by: Flameboy on January 05, 2010, 09:27:48 AM
I'm not actually convinced that most changes are irreversible if you stop using T - contrary to popular opinion. A mate of mine had to stop taking T for health reasons, and found that most changes reversed - even those which were always considered to be permanent. Of course, this might just be him, and might not happen to anyone else, but it is a possibility - however small - that this could happen to you also.
Title: Re: HRT short term?
Post by: Wolf Man on January 05, 2010, 10:42:17 AM
If all else fails, my voice will remain. Women's voice drop as they get older as well and my current voice is androgynous enough to help me pass as a young boy. If I take T it will drop into the male range, but if it in fact reverses I will have a well enough voice.