Hormone replacement therapy and side effects

[Candy Jane]

Hi, I'm an 18 year old transgender girl and I've yet to start HRT due to a couple of concerns I have.

1. Me and my partner want to have children someday and I'm worried I won't be able to produce the sperm needed for fertilization.

2. My partner enjoys our intercourse and I'm worried "shrinkage" will occur reducing the pleasure she receives.

I know number 2 seems ridiculous but I always take her feelings and opinion into consideration.

[Ms Grace]

Hey Candy Jane!

Welcome to Susan's    Great to have you here - looking forward to seeing you around the forum.

Being on HRT will change the sexual function of your body to one degree or another, but as to the ultimate effect you won't know until you know. You could try banking sperm before you start, this will allow you to have children with your partner. Some shrinkage and the loss of erectile function is definitely possible, probably not immediately but over a period of many months something is likely to happen. Talk to your prescribing endocrinologists about the outcomes you are seeking - while it is not possible to totally tailor an outcome they may be able to adjust your dosages if things go too much one way or the other. Bearing in mind that the lower your estrogen and anti-androgen dosage the less likely you are to have feminisation from HRT.

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Cheers

Grace

[ChasingAlice]

You have to use a sperm bank to have children later.  As far as shrinkage is concerned there are options. 

[Rachel]

Welcome to Susan's.

Bank sperm now.

YMMV, if your goal is a very low T then function and size will most likely be effected. 

[KayXo]

Bicalutamide (Casodex), taken alone, is less likely to affect spermatogenesis and shrink testicles/penis because it actually increases testicular production of androgens (due to blocking negative feedback at pituitary gland and hypothalamus) while strongly blocking effects of androgens at receptors with the net result of less androgen affecting your body and increased estradiol feminizing you. But, it is unlikely full feminization will be achieved on just this anti-androgen.