As several people said, as you grow old the discs in your back loss ther density and water storage, the pressure makes them comporess, you lose height.

If you measure just as you wake up you'll be taller, if you measure after a full day, you'll be shorter, again, discs compression.

Astronauts actually get taller in space by few inches.

I'd doubt HRT would make you shorter at all, not sure what the hip tilt means, is it just a different pose of standing? if so it won't affect height as you will stand straight, if it's what I think it means, that women usually put more weight on one side of their hips as they stand, which is quite true in my opinion and I noticed I do that too for a lot of time (not sure if after hrt or before) then iot won't affect measuring, you stand straight during that.

Well, Alex, you are right.  When I read your post I remembered that in the service we had a really short officer.  He had very much wanted to go to the academy but was too short.  He convinced the recruiter to measure him when he first rolled out of bed in the morning and so just squeaked in.  He was a good officer.

I just measured myself again.  I've been up about an hour.  I gained 3/8" from when I measured in mid-day.  Rats.  I don't mind being long and lanky but was looking forward to being a little less so.

And Alex, if I could give you a few inches (and a few other things), I'd gladly do it.

- Kate

Oops.  Sorry, Myself.  Your post was on the next page and I didn't see it until after I posted the above.  You are right, too.  I'm going to try to remember to measure tonight before bed.  Maybe I'll be down to 5'8 1/2".

- Kate

One thing that HRT might affect is how well your bones absorb calcium.  Women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis, (which would affect your height) so if you aren't already you should start taking calcium supplements twice a day.  It would be no good for you to finally start living your life as yourself, only to end up being taken out by a broken hip. 

This goes for all you ladies, btw.  Bone loss usually starts by the time you are in your early 30's, and most women don't get enough calcium in their diets to prevent it.  *Ends lecture*

OK k8 I want a few inches, your peeter and your BMW thanks!

Somehow K8 I can't see you as male, you're just  a very cool lady.

One thing gals can do for bone mass preservation is weight-bearing exercise. By this I mean stuff like the squat, the bench, the deadlift. The estrogen regimen should give you only the muscle-mass capability of any other gal, which means you won't get big muscles, but you'll do your bones a big favor.

The other thing I'm thinking is, a good calcium suppliment. But those are expensive, so one thing I am thinking is, save eggshells. When you have a bunch, put 'em into a blender or coffee grinder, and powder 'em. You can even do this by hand. Then stick into empty gelatine capsules you can buy, hey presto you have an expensive calcium suppliment for cheap. Take one or two a day, they're eggshells, not gonna hurt you. Priced OsCal or CitriCal lately? Ouch.

Alex, you can have the other stuff, but I'll keep the Beemer for now.

Alex and Jamie: Good advice.  I started calcium supplements the day I started HRT.  I'll try the weight-bearing exercises; that makes sense to me.

Before I started HRT I looked down the list of probable effects.  I think that loss of bone density and the resultant increased risk for osteoporosis was one of only two that made me hesitate.  (The other was loss of upper body strength - never all that great for me anyway. )

And Alex, if you're ever in town you can ride my bike as long as I get to be your mama - you know, that decorative feature on the back that requires food and drink occasionally.

- Kate

I started calcium back when I started HRT too. Dr. McGinn also recommends it and even told me I should get a bone density check. I just get those little chewy chocolate calcium/Vitamin D supplements they sell at Target (along with my gummy bear vitamins lol) and they're not too expensive.

BTW, I did measure myself first thing in the morning. I've still lost an inch in the last year. Maybe my measuring tape is faulty.

K8 - OK that's fair, I'll get me a KZ1000P and watch the traffic part like the Red Sea in front of my big bad cop bike 

Actually as far as I know estrogen is better for bone restoration comparing to testosterone.
But at old age, women stop producing estrogen which make them more prone to have that problem than men.

Men lose testosterone, but apparently less.
That's why some women get estrogen replacement therapy. Others don't due to many reasons, like, calcium is easier and safer, estrogen means cancer risk, although it's a bit confused.

Possible explanations for height lose could be posture, rotation of the hips some people mentioned that happened, muscles lose might not pull the spine as before slightly?

Who knows what other effects estrogen and testosterone might do to the body that are not well researched, the bone is much more dynamic than usually started.

I was reading, mainly because of the hips subject, and found that for example, hips seems to constantly change through life.

So other bones might do too.
Cartilage does.

It's probably getting older that does it. Your body is less able to resist gravity, I think.

Quote from: Myself on October 07, 2009, 12:26:17 PM
Actually as far as I know estrogen is better for bone restoration comparing to testosterone.
But at old age, women stop producing estrogen which make them more prone to have that problem than men.

Nope pretty sure testosterone is better at bone maintenance. And spinal cartilage plays a big role in shrinking.

SilverFang