It appears as if there is a lot of interest in low dose, so it would be helpful to have an evolving discussion on the topic. Low dose was mentioned quite a bit when I first joined over a year ago, but I could not find much information outside of the helpful information posted by luna nyan. I did not want to intrude on her personal topic on low dose HRT, so I have started a new topic where everyone can post information about their thoughts and experiences. It is unsettling for me to propose something like this not knowing how well this would be received, so I could use your support.

First, I could use help on the definition of low dose. I have always thought that application of a low dose is for those intending to receive some relief from gender dysphoria with some degree of feminization/masculinization of the body. The dose is lower compared to doses for those intending to transition quickly. Please help by adding to or changing any part of the definition.

It would be helpful to have those that have been on low dose HRT to write about their experience. Please keep with forum rules and do not include dosages.

1. How long have you been on low dose and reasons for choosing low dose.

2. Describe to what extent low dose has helped with dysphoria.

3. Changes with low dose.

4. If changed to transitioning dose, explain reasons for change as well as length on low dose before change in dose.

5. Other thoughts.

First entry  .

1. How long have you been on low dose and reasons for choosing low dose.

Ten months now on low dose. It was needed. Dysphoria was crippling and my mind would not shut down. Lack of sleep, chest tightness, headaches, heavy drinking, constant crying out of sadness. Something needed to change.

2. Describe to what extent has low dose helped with dysphoria.

The second night on HRT I was able to sleep for over eight hours which was something I had not experienced in months. Since then, it has worn off to some degree, and I still have difficulties from time to time with dysphoria. Considering where I was before HRT, I am in a good place and dysphoria is usually manageable.

3. Changes with low dose.

I still present as male for family reasons, but I have experienced significant changes. Breasts are developing quite well and a shrinking waist keeps me from wearing fitted shirts. My waist has shrunk from 35 inches to 31.5 inches, but some of that was due to weight loss. Soft skin, heightened emotions, and low libido are changes that I enjoy very much. No fat development around hips. I have not observed a large degree of muscle loss, but I stay active. When taking measurements, there is some loss around thighs, calves, and arms since starting. It is easy for me to keep weight manageable.

4. If changed to transitioning dose, explain reasons for change as well as length on low dose before change in dose.

Still holding on to low dose, but it is difficult. I must remain patient knowing that my time will come. Timing is not right for now.

5. Other thoughts.

HRT was adopted as a means for survival, and the choice of transitioning/not transitioning was not considered at the time. I tried anti depressants and anti anxiety meds prior, but they did not work because they were not fixing the root cause of my problems. Since starting the low dose, I do feel that I have time to take transitioning slowly and may choose not to transition for quite some time. Hoping that I can still manage dysphoria which is a concern that never leaves. It is still painful to think back at when my dysphoria was unmanageable, and I do not want to go back there. Neither does my wife.

I have always had soft male features and have been out as female many times with no strange stares or double takes from others. I wonder how people see me now after all of the changes. No obvious male fail at this point when presenting as male. No unwanted side effects. Lab tests are good.

1. How long have you been on low dose and reasons for choosing low dose.

I was on low dose - very low dose - for the first six months or so.  Chose low dose for a number of reasons.  First, it helped appease the spouse, who was nervous about the whole endeavor.  Second, I too was somewhat unsure as to whether I was actually trans at that time, and I had been told by numerous sources that low dose is a great diagnostic tool: you'll know within a very short period of time whether HRT is "right".  I could have listened to my therapist for months saying, "Yeah, Brenda, you sound pretty trans to me," but until I took the concrete step of trying low dose HRT, I would never have been convinced.

2. Describe to what extent low dose has helped with dysphoria.

Within days, I felt euphoric.  I have never looked back.  Dysphoria went from 11 to about 2.  There's still occasional spikes, but it's nothing like it used to be.

3. Changes with low dose.

I gradually ramped things up from ultra low to low to medium to transitioning.  I doubt I could have ever stayed on low dose given its ability to make me extremely happy with how I felt.  Addictive stuff.  Physical changes: sore nipples after a week or so, but slow boob growth.  My skin softened, my face started to get a little rounder, and my backside got slightly larger.  Strength plummeted.  No changes in body, face, or head hair growth.  Eyes began to sparkle .

4. If changed to transitioning dose, explain reasons for change as well as length on low dose before change in dose.

Upped the dose because although the low dose calmed my mind a little, it made me realize how badly I wanted a female body.  Low dose stabilized my mind firmly in the "female" side of things, but the result was that I still looked male for all intents and purposes.  Had to push forward with changing my body more aggressively.

5. Other thoughts.

I highly recommend a few months of low dose HRT for anyone questioning their gender identity (from a MtF perspective, at least - no experience with what low dose T does for FtM guys.)  It causes virtually no physical changes (although there are those who experience big changes), but the mental effects are astounding.  It's a harmless but effective baby step to see whether transition would be the right path for you to take; no need to jump in at the deep end with full-strength HRT, immediate electrolysis, bras and high heels.  Low dose is essentially undetectable to anyone but the patient, and is a very private, simple means to explore the realities of transition without outing yourself to anyone.

Thanks for that information. All the information given so far has helped me a great deal in understanding the impact that low dosage can have. I am more than ever ready to start my journey.

A couple of the threads intertwine - loss of strength. Right from the time I came out to my wife, I have been wondering about how I could go forward competing in tennis, on the men's team. Our thoughts, my wife and I, as we have had my discussions around transition, is that I need to listen to my inner voice and all she has to say, trust in my skills and play smarter not harder. I can not try to out muscle them but I can out smart them. This will apply to many of the physical tasks we need to do where previously we could rely on that bit of strength, not that I have ever had great upper body strength.

I will say up front that my experience does not appear to be typical, but it is one possible outcome nevertheless...

1. How long have you been on low dose and reasons for choosing low dose.

I started on a very low dose (within the range of what is prescribed to menopausal cis women) with the intention of ramping up to a higher dose gradually; in other words, neither I nor my endocrinologist actually *intended* me to be on a long-term low dose HRT regimen. However, at the three-month checkup the liver test returned alarming results suggesting that I was taking too much HRT, and the original low dose was cut in half; I have been on that halved/'very very low" dose for five years next month.

(Full disclosure, I also had GRS about two and a half years ago, which led to another year of 3-month retests but didn't change the dose in the end.)

2. Describe to what extent low dose has helped with dysphoria.

98%, and GRS fixed the last 2%. But, again, for me this ended up being a "transitioning dose."

3. Changes with low dose.

Essentially, full transition; I was outed by breast growth at work at four months (42C then, 42DDD now), could not pass as male at six months, and have been fully transitioned including at work for 4.5 years.

5. Other thoughts.

The main reason I'm answering this is to be a warning example, basically - you cannot control which changes you'll get or the speed at which they happen. I'd intended to take things much slower, but the facial and body changes wouldn't allow it.

HRT is a fairly individual thing so low dose HRT is a somewhat nebulous thing to define.

Low dose HRT could be defined as the administration of cross gender hormone therapy at a dosage far lower than that which would be considered optimal for transition for an individual.  This may be for therapeutic purposes (relief from gender dysphoria) or diagnostic purposes.   Dosages would be considered 1/2 or lower that which would be usually used in a transition situation.

As my personal thread has plenty of information, I won't repeat my experiences here.  I would say the Jenna is an example of an extreme in one outcome whereas I'm  an example of the other.  People considering low dose HRT have to be prepared for all consequences of doing so.

1. How long have you been on low dose and reasons for choosing low dose.

I started on a low dose of Spiro in late August, and tapered up pretty quickly to what might be considered a medium dose. It dehydrated me, so I stopped. I started on a very low dose of  Estrace in September and a very low dose of Androcur in October. I've been on the same doses since, but I'm going to ask my doctor to increase them at my next appointment. My doctor wants to take it slow because of my low body weight (45ish lbs).

2. Describe to what extent low dose has helped with dysphoria.

It has helped tremendously. More specifically, what it has done is remove any lingering doubts I had, because it feels so RIGHT.

3. Changes with low dose.

I suffer(ed?) from cystic acne and very oily skin, both of which ceased to be an issue within 2 months of starting Androcur (it had also cleared up on Spiro). I still get the occasional pimple on my face, but nothing serious. My hair is much less greasy, because there's less oil. Before, I couldn't go two days without washing my hair, now I can go a week if I wanted to. My skin has become more fragile. I've been noticing strange nicks, almost like paper cuts, forming on my hands and arm (but I don't remember hitting anything). My body hair growth has slowed. Breast development started in late December after I had been off E for a week because my prescription lapsed before I could get into my doctor. A few days later, my nipples were very sore, and they were bigger, darker, and perpetually erect. They're soft now, not very sore, and a bit smaller than they were. Is this normal to start?

4. If changed to transitioning dose, explain reasons for change as well as length on low dose before change in dose.

I'm hoping that my doctor will double my dosage at my next appointment, but even then it would still be considered low dose. It's tricky given my weight. What could be a low dose for a regular girl could be a transition dose for me. I just want to slowly increase until I find my optimal dose. I'm hoping to get an orchie over the summer, so my dosages will always be low.

5. Other thoughts.

I think I covered it all.

I just find this all so encouraging and helpful! Thanks for sharing your experiences! Seems like so many ways to get there.

Like the others have said Low dose E has really helped calm it down to a point it is only a slight distraction now after 15 months with no T blockers.
One thing I really love is the mental changes that have occurred. Physically it is the skin and reduction of body hair. It seems I am very responsive to E as I have C cups and they continue to grow rampantly.
It's getting very hard to hide the changes but those in the know, it is obvious.
His days are numbered even on low dose but I love her and wont hold her back.

Jen

Quote from: Stochastic on January 04, 2015, 08:30:42 AM
1. How long have you been on low dose and reasons for choosing low dose.

A couple of months, started as an experiment. Became partially dr supervised (he ordered the tests, checked made sure I wasn't killing myself)

2. Describe to what extent low dose has helped with dysphoria.
It helped immensely.

3. Changes with low dose.
Low dose was like full dose, softer skin, scent change, breast buds, decreased libido.

4. If changed to transitioning dose, explain reasons for change as well as length on low dose before change in dose.
Two months. I changed because I was self medding and decided to make it official and go all the way. I also came out and decided to be me instead of stuffing me back in the box.

5. Other thoughts.
Have a good doctor or nurse practitioner. Don't self med, the hormones are CHEAPER officially from US pharmacies anyway and you won't kill yourself or make any underlying health issues worse.

1. How long have you been on low dose and reasons for choosing low dose.
I have now been on a low dose for nearly 2 years. The reason for choosing it was work pressures (I travel and do a lot of customer meetings)

2. Describe to what extent low dose has helped with dysphoria.
At first it was great, but once my body got used to the low dosage (it was very low), basically my dysphoria  broke out again. Over the period of nearly 24 times, my Doctor has increased the low dosage - 8 times. I am now on a mid low to transition dose, although I have only been on Oestrogen (No Spiro) tablets which I take twice a day. My T Level is now just 0.9 and my Endo reckons I am hormonally now female.

3. Changes with low dose.
Over the period  physical changes have been rounding out of my cheeks, skin has become super soft and  very female type., but I need to moisturise a lot, I bruise very easily now. Some medical problems are less e.g. my arthritis in my knees has improved. My breasts are now 42B heading towards 42C. My nipples are permanently erect and very noticeable under a T Shirt and my aureola about 3 times their original size. I have added 2.5" to my bottom and hips and my bottom cheeks are quite plump now. Male trousers don't fit anymore, so I now wear women's jeans and shorts and women's pants. They all fit much better. I am also losing weight, but fatty tissue increasing in female locations. I now look great in a skirt or dress with my new figure. Body hair is decreasing and much slower in growth. Even facial hair is growing much slower, but I have also had Electrolysis and Laser. I can go 3 days without shaving. Libido has dropped dramatically. No morning wood for 18 months.. When I get orgasm its a whole body experience. Lots of mental and thought changes. I am noticing men more. Body odour changed - now a more musky feel. Energy levels are down. I also get PMS symptoms about once a month, and get depressed. Luckily only lasts a couple of days. Male drive dramatically reduced, but this has affected my work output (so not so good).  Tend to daydream a bit more. I love shopping for clothes and make yup and am very interested in shopping and looking at the latest fashions in magazines (this used to bore me).  I find I have become more of a tactile person. These days I am happy to listen to a conversation  with guys talking and occasionally asking questions, unlike before where I felt a need to dominate the discussions. I have become very girly and definitely submissive in my female self.

4. If changed to transitioning dose, explain reasons for change as well as length on low dose before change in dose.
Increased dosage, because breakout of dysphoria as body got used to Oestrogen and T levels  fluctuated.

5. Other thoughts.
For me the low dosage had to be the way to go, but  I have dropped back a couple of times, when my  energy & drive affected my work ability. I need my income.

Thank you for all the information!  Everyone. Does a low dose shrink your prostrate?

I think anything that reduces androgen will shrink your prostate.

I am, again, atypical in my responsiveness. But I had a prostate that was apparently barely visible to the surgeon, and cannot be located by any doctor doing a digital exam (vaginally or otherwise).

Thank you That's great.

hello ladies,

somehow missed this thread but if not too late i'd like to pitch in too...

1. i have been on a low dose E regimen for about 3 months now. like brenda said, the intention was to start off slow and see if it calms down my GD and, per therapy, use it as a diagnostic tool to see whether i want to take transition further.

2. i sleep somewhat better, i have less apprehension and i feel calmer if this makes any sense.

3. only 2 changes so far: a surprising decrease in libido and slight breast (but no nipple) growth. nothing else really noticeable as of yet except maybe paying more attention to boys.

4. not sure about that yet but this stuff is addictive. i love how it makes me feel more feminine inside. i have started to wear a bra (A cup as i had a bit of a head-start) and i am now considering "doubling the low dose"

5. i think this approach is right for me. i don't mind living for a while in a "middle" zone. my concern as i contemplate the road to womanhood, is that ramping up the dosage might result in obvious physical changes (which i would welcome) too fast and force me to make a decision sooner than i might want.
again as brenda says, it is a great way to gradually become more female without outing oneself too soon.

i'd love to get more real life input from other girls in the same situation.

Over one year on low dose. Although the dose is considered a lower dose, effectiveness is more than expected but not unwelcome. I have said before that one should look at low dose as the start of a transition as opposed to a short-term means to address dysphoria. The urge to transition is difficult to handle at times, but I must go slow for family reasons which I feel is the best approach for my situation.

Now for the numbers. T on my last measure was 66 ng/dl and Free T 11 pg/ml (1.7%). This was somewhat surprising to me as I was on a very low dose of spiro, but looking back, it should not because of the feminizing effects. Waist down to 30 inches (from 35 inches pre-HRT), but it is difficult to tell how much was due to HRT or weight loss. Breast circumference has also reduced since its "peak" . There is a small reduction in neck, arms, thighs, calves, and hip measurements since starting HRT. Breast was the only measure to increase, but as stated earlier, shrunk a little from its prime. BTW, moderate dose of E with no additional meds other than spiro.

When comparing my experience to others here, I have not found it difficult to lose weight since going on HRT. I eat healthy and try to stay active, but I do not severely limit what I eat. Surprised by the big drop in cholesterol and LDL at my latest doctor visit, so I must be doing something right.

Ladies,

I too will be starting hopefully very soon a low dose HRT, as I have my first endo appointment in a week.

Since I am 61 Y.O. a have been told that my body measurements will probably change very little.  Would it be possible for you to post your age or PM if you feel more comfortable?  My waist is also 35 inches and I would love it if it would go down to 30 as yours went, but I do want increases on the breast, hips thighs and of course booty measurements.

Emily

Quote from: Stochastic on April 17, 2015, 10:28:18 AM
T on my last measure was 66 ng/dl and Free T 11 pg/ml (1.7%). This was somewhat surprising to me as I was on a very low dose of spiro, but looking back, it should not because of the feminizing effects. Waist down to 30 inches (from 35 inches pre-HRT), but it is difficult to tell how much was due to HRT or weight loss.

Spiro decreases water retention. Also, studies do seem to indicate that enough E keeps one from gaining too much weight and that is why, after menopause, ciswomen gain weight.

1. How long have you been on low dose and reasons for choosing low dose.

Doctor's orders. Started on half doses of what she considered full transition doses of spiro and estradiol. I have been on this half dose for a month and a half, and just jumped up to full transition doses. My doctor and therapist both said that the first month is used as a diagnostics tool, and how a person reacts to the hormones is a good indication of whether continuing transition is the correct choice.

2. Describe to what extent low dose has helped with dysphoria.

The dysphoria is still there, but not as bad as it was prior to HRT. I have been feeling really good since starting, and this consistent good feeling seems to overpower the intense feelings of dysphoria.

3. Changes with low dose.

The first thing I noticed was libido. My libido was outrageously high prior to starting HRT, and I immediately noticed a drop. All the hardware still works fine, just not as many spontaneous erections and a much clearer mind throughout the day because of it. I also noticed a very consistent good feeling, I can't remember such a long period of time where I have been happy. About 2 weeks I noticed my breasts becoming soft, and at 3 weeks my nipples became sore and erect. Slow breast growth since, starting to be noticeable under tight shirts. Most recent, probably about 5 weeks, started becoming more emotional. I start crying quite often because something upsets me or makes me happy. No noticeable changes in fat distribution or loss of strength. I am very active and eat pretty well, and my weight has stayed the same. I am 27 by the way.

4. If changed to transitioning dose, explain reasons for change as well as length on low dose before change in dose.

Saw the doctor at 6 weeks to switch to full doses of spiro and estradiol, essentially taking twice a day rather than once a day. I feel really good and am now fully confident in transitioning, so switching to full dose was a logical choice for me. Doc says the main thing to watch for with full dose is to eliminate morning erections.

5. Other thoughts.

The diagnostic purposes of the low doses really built up my confidence that the path I am taking is the correct one. I think it is a great way to get started if you are still unsure of yourself.