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Worried HRT isn't working

Started by SophiaF, July 03, 2014, 08:49:07 PM

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SophiaF

So I'm worried HRT isn't working at all, I havn't noticed many if any feminizing effects, I've been taking hormones for 4 months now and I'm now taking Estradiol sub-lingually and Spironolactone, I have no breast growth at all, I'm still at AA, I'm seen as a girl even if I'm wearing male clothes but I only think that's because I make attempts at looking more feminine such as wearing make-up, doing my hair, plucking eyebrows, etc. Since starting the hormones I've had no side effects whatsoever which I'm not sure whether to interpret as a good or bad thing because if I had some side effects atleast I'd know they were working, I've had no mood swings, no tender nipples or breast tissue, no increased appetite, just nothing.

Any tips? Should I just give it longer? Should I increase my doses? Should I consult my doctor? What should I do? I'm wondering if I should add a progesterone to the mix, or change my estradiol from oral to needle. Any ideas or input girls? Very much appreciated
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Jessica Merriman

Hi, 4 months is not long at all. You just have to be more patient. Cis girls mature over 8-10 years and that is with not fighting "T".  :)

By the way, welcome to Susan's!

Please read these very important topics.

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stephaniec

I agree with Jessica . I just started being able to see results after 8 months
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Adam (birkin)

Welcome. :) And yes, I agree with the others - I've seen time and time again with the girls that it can take a while to see substantial changes.
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SophiaF

Yeah I thought so, it's just a bit discouraging hearing about other MTFs whos breasts have started to mature in just a short amount of time.

And thank you :)
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transwomanph

ive been on hormones for 4 months too,but im not worried. i need to wait few months to see the effect..
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SophiaF

I guess it's better that I look like a girl before i develop breasts anyway, when I went to my doctors last week the receptionist who i've known for a long time didn't recognise me because she saw me as a girl  ;D
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mrs izzy

Quote from: SophiaF on July 03, 2014, 09:01:50 PM
Yeah I thought so, it's just a bit discouraging hearing about other MTFs whos breasts have started to mature in just a short amount of time.

And thank you :)

Everyones body handles HRT differently and also a key board will stand still for anything.

Take a lot of posts with a grain of salt. Not all is true in internet land.

This is why many have the HRT blues.

Puberty did not happen naturally over night... takes years.

Relax and enjoy the ride
Izzy
Mrs. Izzy
Trans lifeline US 877-565-8860 CAD 877-330-6366 http://www.translifeline.org/
"Those who matter will never judge, this is my given path to walk in life and you have no right to judge"

I used to be grounded but now I can fly.
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Ltl89

It takes time.  Honestly, I didn't even start noticing anything substantial until I reached the same hrt length.  And finding the right dose and medication combo matters too.  I didn't respond much to lower E doses, though some do. Also, make sure to check your levels.  I feel like I haven't been making as much progress as I was before, and sure enough, my E levels were much lower than they should be.  It's a process, so expect ups and downs with it.
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galaxy

I think there are two ways: HRT works or HRT doesnt work.

It depends on your genes and on your body, less on your medication. I'm 17 month on hormones now and it happens nearly nothing. After changes the medication/application/antiandrogen every 5-6 month i recognized that i cant do anything more and my genes are not "good enough" for feminization. Its a hard fate. :'(

The huge task is to learn to live with the that.
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kelly_aus

Quote from: galaxy on July 04, 2014, 04:48:35 AM
I think there are two ways: HRT works or HRT doesnt work.

It depends on your genes and on your body, less on your medication. I'm 17 month on hormones now and it happens nearly nothing. After changes the medication/application/antiandrogen every 5-6 month i recognized that i cant do anything more and my genes are not "good enough" for feminization. Its a hard fate. :'(

The huge task is to learn to live with the that.

Galaxy, the trick is to go live life anyway. It's worked for me.
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JoanneB

Ahhhh... but what is "Not working" Grasshopper?

HRT affects far more than your physical form. Emotionally, what changes, if any, have there been?

I have been on/off HRT several times in the past since my early 20's. Primarily for what I call the brain reset. It helped immensely for dealing with the dysphoria. Any feminizing effects did not present for about 6 months time. Usually first manifested by things not working as they used to downstairs. A major problem for someone who just wanted to be a "normal guy". My first sign to start stopping.
.          (Pile Driver)  
                    |
                    |
                    ^
(ROCK) ---> ME <--- (HARD PLACE)
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galaxy

Did you have emotional changes?

Not for me. I'm the same person as before. I always felt like a woman. Of course the tears come a little bit faster and ive deeper up and downs but my feelings kept the same as the many years before. I'm interested in the same things, i love or hate the same things.

I always dont know what people mean when they talk about "emotional changes" ...
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ana1111

im in the same position... 3 months hrt and pretty much nothing...
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AnnaCannibal

Quote from: Annabolton on July 04, 2014, 10:37:39 AM
im in the same position... 3 months hrt and pretty much nothing...

If your picture is anything to go by, do you need HRT?  I meant that as a compliment!  :)
Is it progression if a cannibal uses a fork?
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Megan Joanne

I think she wants the boobies!  ;D I don't blame her, me too.  ;) To anyone worried they aren't going to get any or much changes (breasts as well as other physical changes, hips, butt, face, ect), give it some time, lots, you're probably just slow to develop, like me. I got recognized as a woman after a year on them, but still to me didn't understand how so because I didn't look much different than I was before the hormones, just those little things I had done such as plucking hair, make-up and choice of clothing. It probably took me nearly a decade to completely fill an A cup bra, much my time before that I was shopping for bras in the little girls department, now that was embarrassing, to be a full grown woman but having tits like a sparrow. The most breasts growth I think I had was last year, it was very noticeable not only to me but my mom even say it, "Do you have a bra on?" Nope! Hehe  ;D

I know you want it, the changes to be fast, but don't rush it, you'll get there, just enjoy the feeling you have within yourself. I suppose the hormones have to be doing something for how you feel, think, your emotions? Mental is the first thing, body comes after. I also know how difficult and upsetting it can be being this whole internet thing and seeing so many others that look drop dead gorgeous, have had such dramatic changes, and then some that results happened so quickly for them, its discouraging (thankfully my only form of internet back when I started was the old WebTV, so very limited on what I could see on screen, otherwise I'd probably had been a mess too) I know and I'm already there and still look at myself critically. As some of the others said, several months just isn't enough time (for some it may be but most not), double or triple that then perhaps you'll see the results you are looking for.
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Hikari

Oh god WebTV, I remember that as a kid lol. Still I dialed a BBS or two so even though I was young at the time I think I am showing my age....

I am wondering, if there are some commonalities between those who HRT seems very effective for like me (my breasts are already C sized and I am 5 months in) and those who it isn't very effective on.

People say age, but that seems to change what changes there are not if it is or isn't effective. I don't really buy the genetics argument either because looking at the girls around I am pretty sure that there isn't much evidence for the one cup size down theory. I also don't think it is regimen, because girls on all different doses and meds have similar and divergent outcomes.

Perhaps diet? Perhaps epigenetics? Some lifestyle factor we are missing? There has to be something at work here.
15 years on Susans, where has all the time gone?
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AnnaCannibal

It is my suspicion that diet and metabolism do indeed play a drastic part in the effectiveness of hormones.  I mean, doesn't it make sense that you need to put a bit of fat into your body for the fat redistribution to actually occur?  Also, if you were super skinny with a high metabolism to begin with, why would that suddenly change?  I mean your body may gain those few extra pounds, but I feel the fat redistribution will take longer. 

I think there is some confusion about fat redistribution to begin with, I know I was.  The fat you already have will not move around just because you start HRT.  You need to intake some fat for your new setup to occur.
Is it progression if a cannibal uses a fork?
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galaxy

Quote from: Hikari on July 04, 2014, 12:14:51 PM

People say age, but that seems to change what changes there are not if it is or isn't effective. I don't really buy the genetics argument either because looking at the girls around I am pretty sure that there isn't much evidence for the one cup size down theory. I also don't think it is regimen, because girls on all different doses and meds have similar and divergent outcomes.

Perhaps diet? Perhaps epigenetics? Some lifestyle factor we are missing? There has to be something at work here.

Two facts are important, nothing more: AGE and GENETICS.
After study really much about endocrinology and hormones, blood counts and transition these two facts are the essence of that all. In most cases it really doesnt matters if you take pills or injections, it doesnt matters if you habe 3mg or 5mg E2, which antiandrogen ... its on you genes and if your genes say you got a breast, you got it. Nothing more. The results are so random ... but if you are young you have good results and if your genes are good you have good results too. Its that simple.
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SophiaF

Well I don't know what my genes say, guess none of us do, I've always been quite feminine even before hormones, I'm 22 and the women in my family all have C and D cup breasts.
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