Hi,

I'm curious as to how HRT affects a person pursuing a MtF transition, specifically the brain. I know hormones can have a great deal of influence over mood but can anybody offer any insight into their experiences during HRT and whether there was any significant changes in thoughts, mood, interests, concentration etc? I had heard of a scientific study that concluded estrogen made a person "smarter", and also leads to a stronger immune system, which is why women apparently deal with illness better than men.

Any information you may be able to offer will be of considerable interest to me, thanks

Estrogen didn't do much for me.

Anti-androgens made me calmer and more reflective.

Haven't noticed any change in thinking ability.

Quote from: suzifrommd on July 21, 2013, 09:36:57 AM
Estrogen didn't do much for me.

Anti-androgens made me calmer and more reflective.

Haven't noticed any change in thinking ability.

I suppose being calmer and more reflective could lead to the potential to think more and therefor become "smarter"?

Oh my, the changes have been wonderful. It's hard to describe the difference T and E on the same brain. Beyond general hormonal effects, it's just so profound and feels so right, so perfect.

And changes are still ongoing from what I can tell. While I love every minute of this, nothing is fixed... Everything is free to move about and change ( including sexuality if that happens ). Seems to alter taste too... apparently I may not like Vegemite after all!

I feel a little bit slower than I used to. Not noticeably to outsiders, but I can see it. And it's harder to stay concentrated, but I chalk that up to ongoing changes for now. I think it'll sort itself out in time.

My sense of direction is fading somewhat. I never used to get lost... now, absolutely! This can be frustrating as I don't always remember street names etc. So thankful for my phone with GPS.

All of my interests changed pre-HRT as I let the old fake life die awhile ago. Although I want to get into dancing down the track when I'm more fem. That's new! It's hard to describe... a burning passion which came out of nowhere ( or maybe was always there, hidden ). I hope there are more!

Quote from: sam79 on July 21, 2013, 04:16:28 PM
Oh my, the changes have been wonderful. It's hard to describe the difference T and E on the same brain. Beyond general hormonal effects, it's just so profound and feels so right, so perfect.

And changes are still ongoing from what I can tell. While I love every minute of this, nothing is fixed... Everything is free to move about and change ( including sexuality if that happens ). Seems to alter taste too... apparently I may not like Vegemite after all!

I feel a little bit slower than I used to. Not noticeably to outsiders, but I can see it. And it's harder to stay concentrated, but I chalk that up to ongoing changes for now. I think it'll sort itself out in time.

My sense of direction is fading somewhat. I never used to get lost... now, absolutely! This can be frustrating as I don't always remember street names etc. So thankful for my phone with GPS.

All of my interests changed pre-HRT as I let the old fake life die awhile ago. Although I want to get into dancing down the track when I'm more fem. That's new! It's hard to describe... a burning passion which came out of nowhere ( or maybe was always there, hidden ). I hope there are more!

That sounds fascinating. Although I admit your description of experiencing lack of concentration does concern me. But then, as you say, HRT can be like a second puberty can it not? It's difficult to say what ones mind will be like when the hormones begin to settle.

Hi Dreams,
This theme has already been dealt with quite a lot in other threads. You will fin an example here: https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,138087.msg1123639.html#msg1123639

and I'm sure there are plenty of other ones if you look around.
Take care.
Donna

I don't feel like my mood or anything has changed one iota. I am happier and calmer but I attribute that to the fact I am finally doing something about my GID and the whole point is to be happy. The calm prolly calms from the lessening of GID symptoms and the constant horror I felt at having to live as a male.

Quote from: Donna Elvira on July 21, 2013, 11:28:16 PM
Hi Dreams,
This theme has already been dealt with quite a lot in other threads. You will fin an example here: https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,138087.msg1123639.html#msg1123639

and I'm sure there are plenty of other ones if you look around.
Take care.
Donna

Thank you for the link, it was very insightful. I apologize, I know it must get trying having newbs ask the same questions over and over.

Quote from: Dreams2014 on July 22, 2013, 02:06:58 AM
Thank you for the link, it was very insightful. I apologize, I know it must get trying having newbs ask the same questions over and over.

No it isn't at all.

Guess what? We were all newbies once and in some matters we still are!

There is no reason at all to ever not ask a question on this site, and if anyone ever says you that should not ask a question let a Mod know!!!

I was counselled by my psychiatrist (we have to have them where I am, a local law) that going onto HRT could affect my mental state and as I'm a Prof it was a concern. To be honest I think the warnings are a bit like any medical procedure warning. In that iIf there is any risk no matter how small there is a duty of care to tell the patient.

In my case I did need to talk to my psychiatrist about some mental changes post HRT that I was having trouble with. The problem was that I was joyous and I had never experienced that emotion so I sort help to understand it.

I have also found extreme delight in being me, looking forward to each day, getting out of bed instead of hiding in it. Having fun and generally enjoying my existence.

Dangerous stuff that HRT! 

Cindy

I haven't felt any changes so far (at least that I notice) but I feel like I CAN get lost easier if I'm totally not paying attention, whereas before, I could not get lost even if I wasn't really paying attention. I think it has to do with a shrinking attention span, though that could be more from being more tired.

Quote from: Cindy. on July 22, 2013, 02:56:38 AM
No it isn't at all.

Guess what? We were all newbies once and in some matters we still are!

There is no reason at all to ever not ask a question on this site, and if anyone ever says you that should not ask a question let a Mod know!!!

I was counselled by my psychiatrist (we have to have them where I am, a local law) that going onto HRT could affect my mental state and as I'm a Prof it was a concern. To be honest I think the warnings are a bit like any medical procedure warning. In that iIf there is any risk no matter how small there is a duty of care to tell the patient.

In my case I did need to talk to my psychiatrist about some mental changes post HRT that I was having trouble with. The problem was that I was joyous and I had never experienced that emotion so I sort help to understand it.

I have also found extreme delight in being me, looking forward to each day, getting out of bed instead of hiding in it. Having fun and generally enjoying my existence.

Dangerous stuff that HRT! 

Cindy

Thank you for your contribution Cindy!

It's good to hear you were able to experience joy.

So as a professional did you find your HRT affected your ability to do your job? Or did you find that you were able to do some things better but not others? I'm assuming you're not a construction worker as that would obviously be more difficult post HRT

Quote from: smile_jma on July 22, 2013, 04:32:43 AM
I haven't felt any changes so far (at least that I notice) but I feel like I CAN get lost easier if I'm totally not paying attention, whereas before, I could not get lost even if I wasn't really paying attention. I think it has to do with a shrinking attention span, though that could be more from being more tired.

This is not the first time I have been made aware of a loss of sense of direction, and It does concern me. I wonder if anybody else would be able to contribute their experiences?

Calmer, happier, somewhat more extroverted. That pretty much sums it up for me. I have also become slightly less tolerant of silly errors that people make at the office, something that did not irritate me as much previously. In some ways I've become more capable at my job, if only because my brain feels as if everything is right with the world vs. wasting energy trying to figure out why the heck there is this odd T stuff circling around in my body. I would not call that "smarter" though, simply less distracted, albeit subconsciously.

My sense of direction etc. is unaffected to date. The only other changes I've noticed are the way I write my university stuff (doing an MBA on the side). Hard to describe, but the style is different, slightly more biased toward the effects of things rather than just their function.

The bulk of the changes remain physical, as well as the sheer joy of seeing said changes in the mirror and going "that's me!".

Quote from: Dreams2014 on July 22, 2013, 02:06:58 AM
Thank you for the link, it was very insightful. I apologize, I know it must get trying having newbs ask the same questions over and over.

Hi again,
Nothing to apologize for Dreams. I only provided the link as there was quite a lot of information on that particular thread which I remembered for obvious reasons. I was not suggesting for a second that there was something wrong with your question. As Cindy said, we were all Newbies once...
Take care.
Donna

It's not that my sense of direction is gone, I can still look at a map, learn the key turns and drive to a place I've never gone to before with no problem, but it just seems easier that I could get lost easier. It feels like I could because my mind is focused more on other things, especially if I'm driving in the city.. (oh that's a cute dress..I like her hair..OH ->-bleeped-<-, I have to turn. VS oh..nice dress, nice hair, now where's that street..alright, here it is).

Quote from: Dreams2014 on July 22, 2013, 06:58:59 AM
Thank you for your contribution Cindy!

It's good to hear you were able to experience joy.

So as a professional did you find your HRT affected your ability to do your job? Or did you find that you were able to do some things better but not others? I'm assuming you're not a construction worker as that would obviously be more difficult post HRT

I'm a Professor!   Yes I did find I could do my job better but also I had some issues. I realised that I had buried myself in my work as a way of hiding and not dealing with my own issues. I'm now far more relaxed and enjoy my life - in fact I now have a life!

I'm more emphatic, so dealing with students problems are easier and less triggering. I'm more relaxed which makes planning and management easier and more positive.  I'm also happy and I can't really describe how that massively impacts on daily life.  Life is now something I enjoy.

You really can't give yourself to anything in life unless you enjoy life, you can exist and do stuff, but to be positive and to enjoy makes it all so much different.

Hugs

Cindy

Those changes are very subtle and sometimes I dont even notice them until they just pop up in the proper situations .
I am with those who said that in overall I am getting calmer - I dont get irritated as quickly and if I do, it usually fades away very quickly - especially if I pay attention to get back into my calm mode. I am a bit slower now - I do not speed when I drive and if I see the lights changing when I approach, I wont do anything to cross it before it turns red. I can wait - nothing bad will happen if I take a pause for a minute .  I do not feel that the world is constantly challenging me and need to go into that alertness mode all the time - I do not perceive all strangers as possible competitors, but instead – which is something completely new for me  - I try to evaluate if I want really to be nearby them and what if (it could sound like the same but instead of thinking – I could knock him out if he gets violent, I try to see what kind of avenues of escape I have and what to do if all else fails.... weird). I think HRT adds a bit of feeling of that insecurity and vulnerability – or that might be social conditioning... I once had to go to my Office on the weekend – the building was totally empty – stairways, elevator, hallways – of course there was security alarm and RFID card access, but I never ever felt so uneasy, exposed and vulnerable while waiting for elevator... I did not enjoy that feeling, not at all .
I do smile and laugh a lot – often without apparent reason – even for me.
I spend much more time in front of the mirror
I used to be very keen observer of human behaviour, buti f I noticed something and felt like ,,its not my business" then I just switched on the ,,carry on and ignorē" mode – now I approach and talk. In fact, I talk much more than I used to  - and I was quite a talkative person for a ,,guy" – the best way if You need some information .
My emotional barriers and brakes are totally gone. If I hear a music, my body will almost like start moving with the rhytm – I desperately wanted this when I was teen, but I almost felt like something inside of me was holding me and saying ,,Dont! You will look stupid and not manly!" Now, I just dont care anymore.  I dont care about many things anymore – like when I do something stupid and clumsy – I just smile, laugh and try once more. Girls are supposed to be clumsy with technical stuff .
I am also losing a bit of my concentration – at times, it is very easy for me to get focused, but there are days when I just cant pull my self together – I almost feel like a total air-head at those days.
I have always been bad with spatial tasks and reading maps, so I dont really feel any decrease in that area .
My libido has went down significantly – to the extent that it is my bramin which decides whether I want to or not.
My most surprising change was the way how I perceive women now. I am getting a bit more jealous when looking at them, wishing to get those hips and other curves, observing them, trying to find ,,manly" features and then being happy when I see that a cis-girl has the same facial features that I do and it means that they are not much masculine at all. My sexual attraction towards women has changed too and I did not even notice when did that happen... Yeah, I am looking at guys differently now to, but I wont get into that area now .

I had 6 weeks of pretty low dysphonia, until last week. Now I see specifically the style I like and want.
Libido down, happy with a smile on my face,
gained weight,
Calm
listen better,
more empathy,
starting to challenge bigotry at work ( getting guts),