Recently I suffered from astma. Something I never had before in my life. Anyhow, the doctore gave me some hormone treatment. Male hormone treatment.  I have the impression of thinking "better" when I used this medication. I had less problems with nlogical problems.

I just wandered whether taking female hormones makes a different mind. 

Hi Mia,
Yes I believe that they do, Atleast to a certain extent. I have found that I'm more sensitive and I seem to like colors alot more. Before I always liked blue, blacks, greys, and dark greens. Now I seem to like colors like yellows, purples, pinks, reds and  orange. Strange! My taste in clothing has changed and I have lost some interest in some of the " typical male interests and hobbys" that I did. There's many more little changes that I've noticed too. I also don't get as worked up about things anymore.

Karla B

I've read a range of answers on this topic and I think it varies depending on
the person.

For me it opened up the door wider to my emotions. I think the same but I react
to external events differently because of an expanded emotional range. I'm also
a lot more talkative, I seek out conversations with strangers, I smile a lot
more, I share very personal thoughts, it seems I can't stop posting here. I'm
sure people are ready for me to give that a rest Oh well

So for me... thinking is the same.

Amanda

I have noticed that since I started HRT my senses seem to be more intense. Things smell different, appear to be more vivid, even food tastes better. I am much more open with my emotions and I spend more time around other people (or try to anyway) instead of being a hermit like I used to be.

Since I have been on hormones more than 25 years, I can tell you that you do have a lot of changes.  I don't know if this is scientific or not, but I think that the connective tissue of the two hemispheres of the brain start to increase with the estrogen---so you become more dual-brained--and therefore sense your entire environment more like a female, than a male.

I think most great changes in life are double-edged swords---they give you new great experiences, but also reduce, or eliminate, others.
Just my thoughts,
Julie

Quote from: Julie A. on April 09, 2008, 04:52:30 PM
Since I have been on hormones more than 25 years, I can tell you that you do have a lot of changes.  I don't know if this is scientific or not, but I think that the connective tissue of the two hemispheres of the brain start to increase with the estrogen---so you become more dual-brained--and therefore sense your entire environment more like a female, than a male.

I think most great changes in life are double-edged swords---they give you new great experiences, but also reduce, or eliminate, others.
Just my thoughts,
Julie

I've been on HRT for 10 years and haven't noticed any major differences. I was always multi - tasking before HRT......

I eat a lot more cheese. I have a cheese post on here somewhere.

Also chocolate with nuts...omg....its not wonder I am having such a hard time losing weight.

I've certainly calmed down while driving, I'm way less aggressive and things smell better..mostly.

When I first started HRT, it was pickles... I went through three or four
jars. The last 30 days has been chocolate, never craved either before.

Amanda

Quote from: Lori on April 10, 2008, 07:08:34 AM
I eat a lot more cheese. I have a cheese post on here somewhere.

Ohhh yes... cheese is a staple food now. And dark chocolate. And red wine, which is odd since I never drank alcohol before. And even things like sausage and meatballs, which I never, ever ate before HRT.

One weird thing was I always ate TONS of ice cream. I mean I literally had it every day since I was a child. I CRAVED it. But after HRT... I could care less. It was like someone threw a switch.

In the early weeks of HRT, I was really annoyed at the men in the office for being so stinky. It was like they all suddenly stopped showering in the morning. After awhile it finally dawned on me, THEY hadn't changed, *I* did. I could suddenly smell men from 100' away. It wasn't exactly pleasant, lol. I stopped noticing it in a few months however. I suspect the "ability" is still there, only now it's a subconscious thing.

Like Lori said, my driving is MUCH calmer. Maybe I was just taking my frustrations out on the road before, but once I started HRT I realized I wasn't "attacking" the road anymore, OR taking the "fun routes" home from work. Before, I'd always pick the backroads away from people where I could push things a bit. Nowadays, I look for excuses to slowly cruise through smaller towns and places I know I'll be amoungst people and traffic just to BE there, to be SEEN, with others just doing their thing.

Emotions... I dunno, I always cried over things. Not so much sad things, but JUST being emotional. One thing that's new though is this insane "contagious crying" thing, where if I see anyone else crying, I end up balling too. I don't need to know WHY they're crying, that doesn't matter at all. It's just SEEING them crying... and I'm sobbing.

~Kate~

Quote from: Kate on April 10, 2008, 01:05:34 PM

One weird thing was I always ate TONS of ice cream. I mean I literally had it every day since I was a child. I CRAVED it. But after HRT... I could care less. It was like someone threw a switch.

~Kate~

Yeah, like you could eat tons of ice cream AND NOT GAIN AN OUNCE!!!!!  I am still jealous!!

I gained about five pounds courtesy of the wonderful food in the hospital and the wonderful places you and your wife took me to!

How can I turn off the switch that causes me to gain weight when I just look at chocolate?

BTW: You and your wife took great care of me when I was there.  Thank you both again!  I miss you terribly!

-Sandy

Quote from: Kassandra on April 10, 2008, 02:01:21 PM
Yeah, like you could eat tons of ice cream AND NOT GAIN AN OUNCE!!!!!  I am still jealous!!

LOL, notice that was *before* HRT

These days, every ounce I eat instantly gets stored in this nice little pooch bulge below my navel, lol. If only I could move that to my breasts, I'd be so happy!

QuoteBTW: You and your wife took great care of me when I was there.  Thank you both again!  I miss you terribly!

The pleasure was ours! I meant it when I said meeting you changed my life. You have such a GLOW, such a presence and joy... you've shown me what REALLY matters in life. It was so sad though when you left, sorta like (I'd imagine) when the kids all leave for college, and suddenly everything is so... quiet and empty

~Kate~

Did my thinking change from HRT or did my reality change because of it.  Reduction in T levels should have reduced my libido.  In fact it's increased.  As a male I could be quite aggressive with other males and would rarely back down from a conflict.  I didn't get in fights but I would push things to that point and usually my opponent would backdown first.

I had a situation not long ago where a man of comparable size became very aggressive towards me.  He called me "a stupid ->-bleeped-<-ing ->-bleeped-<-".  Twice.  He even grabbed my wrist.  This was because of a minor traffic incedent.  I had the opportunity to cold-cock him but I didn't.  The reason was I no longer felt sure of my physical abilities.  Since starting HRT I had lost a great deal of upper body strength.  I no longer was confident that I could take the guy down with a single blow or prevail in combat.  I decided to use tears instead.  Hey, that acting training comes in handy once in a while!  Seriously though, all I wanted was for this guy to go away quickly and peacefully.  I felt no shame in crying because it worked.

It's kind of a chicken or egg question.  Did HRT make me less aggressive or was it the recognition of the physical changes and my new reality that drove that and subsequent behavior.

Hmm, not that much has changed, im still very the same, with the exception of being alot more happier and no longer so closed. Mood swings i do get more now, i have more panic attacks too... well, i have them now opposed to never.

Quote from: Lori on April 10, 2008, 07:08:34 AM
I eat a lot more cheese. I have a cheese post on here somewhere.

Also chocolate with nuts...omg....its not wonder I am having such a hard time losing weight.

I've certainly calmed down while driving, I'm way less aggressive and things smell better..mostly.

HMMM, Rocky Road Ice Cream yummmmmmy!!!! My mental state has changed and i like it.