Quote from: Missy~rmdlm on June 21, 2014, 12:56:32 AM
Yes, the key term was -low dose- estrogen. High doses of E alone can indeed wipe out T and provide a serum residual... That's an archaic form of HT at this point though.

Not archaic. Still done, much less frequently though. But, it can be done quite effectively without significantly increasing risk, non-orally as I explained before. In fact, it could even pose less risk than taking an anti-androgen since the estrogen is bio-identical and taken non-orally.

Quote from: Annabolton on June 20, 2014, 08:14:13 PM
I'm getting really worried that I may never grow breasts how likely is that?? Seriously I can't stop worrying about this

Pretty low so don't worry. Unlike natural women we have the option of how much Estro we need to grow properly. Aka we can tell our bodies to kick into becoming momma mode and grow the body for nursing. Just the same as a cis woman who is growing a baby while her body grows/changes for supporting a child. So don't worry girl! Just be sure the doctor knows you want this. Maybe they think your not serious and you might change your mind!

I went dressed male to my endo and I felt out of place the entire time with my man clothes not fitting and my skin tone and my girly phone and girly shoes. lol My doc even asked why I wasn't dressed and I was honest. I didn't have enough time after work to change to what I liked. 

Low dose estrogen CAN lower T to cis female levels, as it worked that way for me. However, my trans-specific endo was shocked, so it's not common and nobody should be disappointed or panicky that it doesn't work that way for them.

I second everybody else who says it can just take a long time to grow boobs; some cis girls develop early and/or fast, some don't, but they all get what they were going to get. It's the same for us.

(My wife says her breasts budded at 10 and she wasn't finished growing until 24 or so... and she's a 36J now. Speed does not equate with size, either way. And even if it did, 3 months is still very early.)

I'm in the same boat as you Anna. Just over 3 months HRT and nothing. Occasionally my nipples feel extra perky but that's it. There's no puffiness, soreness, or any visible change. I also still get the annoyingly random erections downstairs. It's frustrating, especially when I read other's stories about how quickly things changed for them on HRT.

My endo has been pretty conservative though and started me out pretty small. I just got him to raise my dosage, but he would only do it for a small amount and only for the estrogen, not the spiro. Which sucks because my T levels are still pretty high.

But anyway, I don't think we'll be incapable of growing breasts, it's just going to take time as the others have said. Probably not until our dosages have gotten high enough to put our T and E levels in the ranges normal for a cis female.

I have my endo appointment on monday and I will discuss all this with my endo as well as getting to see what my levels are.

Quote from: Annabolton on June 21, 2014, 02:58:57 PM
I have my endo appointment on monday and I will discuss all this with my endo as well as getting to see what my levels are.

Keep us informed!! ^_^

Good luck!

Quote from: KayXo on June 21, 2014, 07:30:58 AM
Aren't these the same? Finasteride does not block DHT, it only reduces it. Some anti-androgens just block androgens, others only reduce and some a little of both.

AAs are not absolutely necessary regardless of age or hair loss pattern. Estrogen alone can act effectively as an anti-androgen since it reduces androgen production in the body and has some anti-androgenic effects in cells as well, it seems, based on several studies. BUT, if that approach is taken, usually estrogen is taken non-orally, by injections or pellets. DHT inhibitors like finasteride are however useful for girls with significant scalp hair loss or who are prone to baldness due to genetics.

Not so sure about that. When we are young, our body seems more sensitive, the process of aging hasn't yet started and growth hormone levels are at their highest.

I'm intersexed and had a Feminine hair loss pattern -not male pattern baldness. I kept my feminine hairline and wasn't completely bald. My hair in a couple of small patches on the top left side of my head had thinned. This has been reversed by the AA/DHT blocker or reducer I'm taking and my hair has come back with a lot of new growth and continues to thicken every day (It's growing like a weed too, lol!). My AA/DHT blocker/reducer isn't Finasteride. It's the other more thorough way more expensive one (sorry I'm not mentioning my drug names/doses due to forum rules). In any case I'm on a full transition dose of my hrt meds but my E isn't maxed out yet. I'm only at 5 months and 3 weeks however my Endo will be increasing my E upon my next visit in the first week of this coming month. It's delivery method will be changed to a more efficient one as well.

As for age. Yes, I wanted to and would nave been much happier had I transitioned much earlier but I went through a literal hell to get to where I am now which included two suicide attempts which, if it weren't for the quick thinking of certain friends during the first, and, an act of God (or shoddy ammo manufacturing) during the second I wouldn't be here writing this right now. In addition I was in an aircraft accident in 91 that really put things off I was lucky to live through. I was only merely stating that based on my experience, I believe that genetics has a lot more to do with how hrt affects us than age does. I in no way meant to imply that age makes no difference and if it came out that way I apologize for not choosing better words. I also did not mean to imply AA's were necessary. I only stated that in my case they are. However regardless of age I do feel the T blocker/suppressor is necessary in most cases to avoid taking very high doses of E that can be dangerous.

Ally

Quote from: the old mare on June 20, 2014, 05:45:54 PM
Just sounds like your doctor is slowly ramping you up to see how you do and it doesn't sound as if she is ruling out antiandrogens altogether, just putting them off to see how you do on e alone. not necessarily a bad approach, so give it some time.

Reading this thread just proves how different everyone is.  My understanding is that most endos take a cautious approach at first and then tailor the HRT regimen based on the individual's response to the first few months.  And that seems to be more common in some countries.  What country are you in?

Quote from: katiej on June 22, 2014, 01:34:37 AM
Reading this thread just proves how different everyone is.  My understanding is that most endos take a cautious approach at first and then tailor the HRT regimen based on the individual's response to the first few months.  And that seems to be more common in some countries.  What country are you in?

I guess that is what Annas Doctor is doing, its probably the right approach considering her age, having said that its still a little strange that absolutely no AA has been included. I understand from what I have discussed with my Doctor, that the older you start your transition, then the more aggressive the AA and hormone treatment might have to be.

Quote from: Allyda on June 21, 2014, 11:52:29 PM
sorry I'm not mentioning my drug names/doses due to forum rules).

You can mention the drug name, just not how much and didn't you mention finasteride anyways?! hehe...anywho, I'm happy you are doing better.

Quote from: KayXo on June 22, 2014, 11:38:22 AM
You can mention the drug name, just not how much and didn't you mention finasteride anyways?! hehe...anywho, I'm happy you are doing better.

Well, in that case the AA I'm taking is Avodart (Dutasteride). It really has made a difference and has given me my hair back. Here's a photo showing how my hair is full again. Before taking Avodart, my hair was thin and stringy. I also take a woman's One a Day vitamin, and a good Hair, Skin, and nails vitamin. This photo was taken a little over 2 weeks ago on the Wednesday after coming home from the DMV when I had my gender marker on my driver's license changed to female.

Ally

Quote from: Allyda on June 22, 2014, 01:57:20 PM
Well, in that case the AA I'm taking is Avodart (Dutasteride). It really has made a difference and has given me my hair back. Here's a photo showing how my hair is full again. Before taking Avodart, my hair was thin and stringy. I also take a woman's One a Day vitamin, and a good Hair, Skin, and nails vitamin. This photo was taken a little over 2 weeks ago on the Wednesday after coming home from the DMV when I had my gender marker on my driver's license changed to female.

Ally

You must be good at describing yourself because that is  exactly 100% what i always pictured. You just look like a very normal lady, 100% female>3

Quote from: Abbyxo on June 22, 2014, 02:11:20 PM
You must be good at describing yourself because that is  exactly 100% what i always pictured. You just look like a very normal lady, 100% female>3

Thanks Abby I really appreciate it. I bought that dress I'm wearing in the photo to celebrate getting my gender changed on my license to female.

Ally

Quote from: Kyra553 on June 21, 2014, 09:33:28 AM

I went dressed male to my endo and I felt out of place the entire time with my man clothes not fitting and my skin tone and my girly phone and girly shoes. lol My doc even asked why I wasn't dressed and I was honest. I didn't have enough time after work to change to what I liked. 

Kyra, don't you hate not being able to get out of the boy disguise at the end of the work day!?  It makes me go nuts, but thankfully I have only 22  boy days left... can't wait!   

Quote from: Allyda on June 22, 2014, 03:01:56 PM
Thanks Abby I really appreciate it. I bought that dress I'm wearing in the photo to celebrate getting my gender changed on my license to female.

Ally

Well you look very lovely and I'm sure your photo will look lovely <3

Quote from: Julia-Madrid on June 22, 2014, 03:14:05 PM
Kyra, don't you hate not being able to get out of the boy disguise at the end of the work day!?  It makes me go nuts, but thankfully I have only 22  boy days left... can't wait!

Yes!! I completely hate it because it just feels weird in my old clothes and I feel like a small child wearing her dad's giant baggy shirt and pants now.  My polished oval nails also make me a constant boy fail. lol!

Congrats on the days left!

Quote from: Abbyxo on June 22, 2014, 04:02:12 PM
Well you look very lovely and I'm sure your photo will look lovely <3

It does look much better than the old one did. My old photo looked like a mugshot, lol! Also, I'm very proud of that F beside the word Sex on my license. I now show my ID with pride instead of shame. I had it changed a little over 2 weeks ago on a Wednesday. I've gotten my bank accounts changed, my house deeds changed. All I have left now is Social Security and the VA. I did the DL first because it's the hardest.

Thanks again Abby for the compliments. I love your new Avatar by the way. You look great.

Ally

Sheesh, people want it all at once. YEARS, it will take YEARS and there is nothing you can do to speed the process up, like ever. your Endocrinologist will find the perfect combination of medications for "YOUR" body and "YOUR" transition which will deviate from other people's experiences. It took me ten years, A FREAKING DECADE to get my boobs. TEN YEARS! Breast growth has to do with a host of variables such as genes, how far after puberty HRT was started, what and how much sex hormones and anti-androgens are taken, how much prolactin your body produces, growth hormones, ect. What you take is ultimately up to your doctors, but you should be well learned in these areas and you can go to more than one doctor. Second opinions happen daily.

Ok so I found out yesterday that my estradiol levels went up from 20 to sixty something... but the results for my t levels aren't ready yet and they will have them by Thursday. So what do my e levels tell everyone??