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Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: ifonlyican14 on August 15, 2010, 02:24:14 PM

Title: is testicular atrophy depends on the amount of estrogen or the presence of it
Post by: ifonlyican14 on August 15, 2010, 02:24:14 PM
hi, i want to ask about the testicular atrophy, is it depend on the amount of estrogen taken or the estrogen taken it self, also, will i have testicular atrophy if iam on finasteride only, and the last question is could i regain the normal testosterone level after stopping hrt for 6 monthes and not regain the fertility ?

thanks
Title: Re: is testicular atrophy depends on the amount of estrogen or the presence of it
Post by: pebbles on August 15, 2010, 04:52:32 PM
Finastride doesn't lower T it inhibits an Enzyme that converts Testosterone into its more potent metabolite Di-hydro-testosterone. your T level was never lowered.
Title: Re: is testicular atrophy depends on the amount of estrogen or the presence of it
Post by: ifonlyican14 on August 15, 2010, 07:33:58 PM
thanks
but you didnot answer the first question
is atrophy occurs due to estrogen even in small quantities, or requires full dose of estrogen ?
Title: Re: is testicular atrophy depends on the amount of estrogen or the presence of it
Post by: Flan on August 15, 2010, 07:36:44 PM
no, it's from low T, not presence of (synthetic) estrogen
Title: Re: is testicular atrophy depends on the amount of estrogen or the presence of it
Post by: Kay on August 15, 2010, 08:49:27 PM
Finasteride doesn't cause atrophy.  I was on the high dose of Fin alone for almost 2 years before I started HRT. 
.
I'm pretty sure the atrophy has to do with large Spiro dosages, and not due to the estrogen.
.
As far as stopping HRT after 6 months, most sources I've read put 6 months as the 'point of no return' as far as fertility goes.  If you're looking to try threading a needle of returning testosterone to normal but still removing fertility, I'd say that's a bit unlikely.  Anything at that point of HRT length is a bit iffy.  No one can tell you how your body will react to HRT, or if your body will be able to recover its testosterone levels to pre-HRT levels after such a drastic change in hormones.  My guess is that you may be able to take T injections to return to old T levels, but I wouldn't bet on your body being able to do it without help.  You're rolling the dice, and you won't know the results until after the 6 months are up.  If you're not sure that you want to take HRT for the rest of your life, think long and hard before you start it.
Title: Re: is testicular atrophy depends on the amount of estrogen or the presence of it
Post by: Nicky on August 16, 2010, 10:01:03 PM
Quote from: Flan on August 15, 2010, 07:36:44 PM
no, it's from low T, not presence of (synthetic) estrogen

Although it is the estrogen that would actually make you sterile in the long run.

Ask your health provider about it, I'm sure they will be able to give a much better answer.

Most people have both estrogen and testosterone in them anyway, so I am sure the dose really matters.

Title: Re: is testicular atrophy depends on the amount of estrogen or the presence of it
Post by: Nicky on August 16, 2010, 10:03:12 PM
Quote from: ifonlyican14 on August 15, 2010, 02:24:14 PM
and the last question is could i regain the normal testosterone level after stopping hrt for 6 monthes and not regain the fertility ?

thanks

Yeah, that is possible I think, in theory. But no sure things here.
Title: Re: is testicular atrophy depends on the amount of estrogen or the presence of it
Post by: Rock_chick on August 22, 2010, 06:04:07 AM
My counsellor told me about some one who was going through transition and had managed to stay with her wife. they really wanted another child, so she came off the hormones a few weeks early prior to SRS , they conceived and the she had her surgery. so nothing is really a given.

and as for shrinkage I had that start from just drinking spearmint tea
Title: Re: is testicular atrophy depends on the amount of estrogen or the presence of it
Post by: Renate on August 22, 2010, 08:29:10 AM
Decrease or complete cessation of testicular function will occur with the correct hormone regimen.
Whether the testes will actually shrink in volume is very variable.
YMMV
Title: Re: is testicular atrophy depends on the amount of estrogen or the presence of it
Post by: lilacwoman on August 22, 2010, 12:45:02 PM
Quote from: ifonlyican14 on August 15, 2010, 02:24:14 PM
hi, i want to ask about the testicular atrophy, is it depend on the amount of estrogen taken or the estrogen taken it self, also, will i have testicular atrophy if iam on finasteride only, and the last question is could i regain the normal testosterone level after stopping hrt for 6 monthes and not regain the fertility ?
thanks
you need to think hard before you start taking hormones as to if you would ever feel the need to stop them and revert to male.  most people start on hormones with the intention of finishing with all maleness and are quite happy to see the male bits wither and then get chopped off.  That's why therapy is a good starting point.

If you're thinking that maybe it would be nice to feminise a bit but are still interested in getting a girl and making babies then basically you're not TS but are someplace on the TG spectrum.

Have a surf for the story of Sam the Sham aka Sam Kane/Samantha Kane/Charles Kane who during a fit of depression ussed his money and surgeon's skills to make himself into a very attractive woman only to find that he didn't like the trivialities of a woman's life - shopping etc and he missed climbing on them (or guys) for sex so he sued and got surgery to take his boobs away and make him a penissy thing by skin grafts.   
Title: Re: is testicular atrophy depends on the amount of estrogen or the presence of it
Post by: Renate on August 22, 2010, 09:50:55 PM
Yes, the case of Samantha Kane is well known.

http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Warning.html (http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Warning.html)

Still, you're not implying that this is Sam the Sham of "Wooly Bully" fame?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_the_sham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_the_sham)