Hey Ladies,

I can bet that this question has been asked before, but I am wondering what kinds of muscle loss I can expect to experience as a result of androgen blockers? As you can see, I really don't need estrogen to grow boobs, but I want to cut my androgens to lose muscle and get softer. I also expect that cutting the andros will allow my boobs to grow within a cup size of my mom and sister who are well over EEE cup. I plan to take estrogen too, within the supervision of my endo of course.

I am sick of being androgenous and want "out".

I am concerned about losing my strenth while I still need to do physical work. Regardless of my unique shape, I am as strong as a horse right now. I want to be physically softer by the time I get through nursing school so I can just start work as fem.

For those who may not know my story, I have never touched a hormone in my life and am seeing an intersex specialist to determine the cause of my non-induced feminization. We discussed how difficult it would be to make me male again, including major breast removal and a lifetime of estrogen blockers and high doses of T. I feel like it's just better to agree with mother nature and go with what's happened in my body.

I am going through with this no matter what. I am geting called mam already and can't live as a man this way anymore. The way I figure, I already need to have breasts removed anyway, what's wrong with seeing what I will look like without any T in my system? I am sure my brain will love it as I feel female between the ears anyway.

How much strenth did others taking this route lose and how long before you noticed being physically weaker?

Please.

Thank You

Chelle

Quote
I am going through with this no matter what. I am geting called mam already and can't live as a man this way anymore. The way I figure, I already need to have breasts removed anyway, what's wrong with seeing what I will look like without any T in my system? I am sure my brain will love it as I feel female between the ears anyway.

Is this something you want to do though?  Just curious from the way it was worded.

In your case, high sensitivity to E coupled with low T, could induce feminisation. Even in older males, lower T counts, slightly feminizes them (less mucles and slight breasts in older male).

If your T levels are low enough, or sensitivity to T is low enough
to permit even a low E to feminize you ,
your muscle mass will already be
a near female level so I don't know what blocking T will serve.

Well, let's just put it this way:  my arms are like noodles, so yeah...

tink

I've got a concrete example,
Just before HRT I could lift and pump a 30 pound free weight
15 times with each arms over my head (try it... Not easy hey).
Now, I barely can do one with lots of effort,
and I'm afraid I'll break my arm
in the process of lifting it from the ground to the
pumping position!!

Wow, lots of answers AND Questions

In response to

"If your T levels are low enough, or sensitivity to T is low enough
to permit even a low E to feminize you ,
your muscle mass will already be
a near female level so I don't know what blocking T will serve."

Why would I want any but the bare minimum of T in m system if I am trying to fully feminize, as opposed to being an androgyne?

And to the other question "do I really want to do this" Yah, I'm ready. A little scarred, but sick of being an "it".

I'll let the endo diagnose and prescribe. I was more wondering about how long it took to lose the muscle. I need this job for about 12 more months and it is really physical work. "No matter what" meant if I have to find another job or not.

Thanks

M

I'm already post-op, so I hardly have any T levels. My pituitary glands still produce some though, but it is in the same levels as in any genetic female. However, pre-operatively, my T levels were never higher than 25 ng/dl.  Pretty low!

tink

Hi, Michelle,

I have been on HRT for five years.  I have not retained my upper body muscles, however, I worked with a woman who was a body builder.  She looked quite feminine with some sculpted curves where you wouldn't expect.

My guess is that if you continue to work out to the best of your ability you should retain some of your strength.  Nutrition is also important so you might consider a protein supplement.

I hope that this helps.

Wing Walker

When I was younger I was more wiry then strong like in lifting heavy stuff. And if it's something that you need to swing up and over it was all in the momentum then any brute strength was not required.
Back then I only weighed 120 lbs 5' 3" tall I didn't really have much muscle mass to begin with, the runt they called me.

But anyway I have been on the hormones and spiro for 7 years and yes I have noticed that I don't have the upper body strength I use to have. But then I had two bouts with eating disorders (anorexia) and just only came off the last one three years ago. That's what I get for eating Wing Walkers cooking.

Cindy

Hi Chelle,

It depends on many factors, (A) How hirsuite a girl is on outset, (B) How your body responds to HRT, and (C) What regime you are placed on.

I have lost what I estimate to be 33% of my muscle mass and 66% of the physical strength I associated with my previous gender, this I know from tests of my physica strength which can be marked against past performance.

This pleases me as I now feel like a weak and feeble woman, its fab.

The trick on ths part of transition is to not let it bother you, as the months and years go by on HRT you will look better and better.


xx Stephanie

Quote from: Stephanie_2006 on December 16, 2007, 08:47:20 AM
This pleases me as I now feel like a weak and feeble woman, its fab.

"I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king"
--Queen Elizabeth I

Re: what kind of muscle loss can I expect?

It depends on the individial. Some may get a lot of muscle loss, some might not get any. I didn't get much and I've been on anti - androgens for quite a few years now..

Berliegh, it depends how much you had initially.
I had quite a lot. I was a track and field star in my youth and
even just before HRT
I could reach 40 mph on my bike on flat ground (not for long, but I could bike
at 30mph+ for 2-3 miles easily).
Takes quite a bit of muscles to do that.
I could also average over 20mph for 5 hours, but that's more resistance than muscle mass.

Lets put it this way. I have trouble carrying milk now.

But I never had much muscle mass.  My body seemed to want to avoid that since I was young.  Yeah 6 months on E and spiro and nearly every girl I know is stronger then me.  Most were stronger then me BEFORE hrt.  Now I have no physical strength.

Muscle mass goes away.  But for some its worse then others.  For me...well my roommate is worried about me because I was weak during my male life and now I am having major issues lifting things.

Amy, I'd be worried too, having too little muscle mass is not good,
its a major sign of getting old.

So, I'd try at least to pump on muscles in the lower body and
maybe slack off slightly on the spiro to let the T from the adrenals
at least reach T receptors.

With too little muscles you also run the risk long term of gaining
weight in an uncontrolable manner.

Quote from: Tink on December 10, 2007, 08:37:43 PM
Well, let's just put it this way:  my arms are like noodles, so yeah...

tink

Hey Tink....bet my arms are noodlier than yours...nahnah...nahnah....

lol

Bev

Like many of you, I never had much muscle mass to begin with. I had an orchiectomy almost 5 years ago and for the first 6 or 7 months after, I felt like a child. Around that time, I made a decision to change my physical routine and began an exercise regimen for toning and conditioning. The results have been near perfect. While I'll never be a power lifter, I exercise freely--jog, cardio., bike, etc. 

A couple of months ago, I moved. It was my first move in almost two years. While I hired movers to do the actual "moving", I still had to manuver furniture and boxes in my new place. Boxes I could have easily moved in high school or early college were nearly impossible for me to move.

In the end, I'm happy with the results. My body is definitely softer and while I'm not able to engage in heavy physical labor, I am able to get the exercise I need. Besides, it gives me an added incentive for finding Mr. Right. 

Quote from: Keira on December 17, 2007, 03:14:34 AM

Amy, I'd be worried too, having too little muscle mass is not good,
its a major sign of getting old.

So, I'd try at least to pump on muscles in the lower body and
maybe slack off slightly on the spiro to let the T from the adrenals
at least reach T receptors.

With too little muscles you also run the risk long term of gaining
weight in an uncontrolable manner.

The thing is my body has some type of insensitivity towards regular testosterone.  It never wanted to really react to it the only reason there was any muscle mass before was because there was enough testosterone in the blood (and there was not that much to begin with).  Now there a low end of female testosterone in the body.  The problem was that my body was sensitive to DHT.  Its kind of perplexing, but it has been a lifelong problem. 
And its not a weight gain issue. I have never been outside the ideal range for male or female.  I am well within the ideal of several categories there.  It is kind of perplexing and it has been for years. 

I am not that concerned with it.  I just have to deal with it.
By the way I was on a low spiro dose.  It did get increased to a standard dose very recently, but for him to lower spiro would be a bad idea. 

I walk on average 3-5 miles a day too.  I don't own a car anymore.  So its not for lack of exercise either.