GenderLife Forum: The Information Exchange

I know that results from hormone therapy can vary, but I was interested in what I'll notice first, and how soon any of you noticed the physical changes. I'm looking forward to an improved mental state to begin with, but I'm interested in the kinds of experiences that many of you have already been through, in terms of body shape, hair growth etc. Is it true that you can compare breast growth with siblings, although on a reduced scale? To be honest, two of my sisters, and my mother have had breast reduction surgery, so I'm hoping that there is some correlation. I also once took medication which had an androgen blocking effect, and experienced almost immediate breast growth, and complete erectile dysfunction, both of which I enjoyed, by the way!

I stated Hormone therapy and Spironlactone The day of my 18th Birthday. So I slightly increased my fat intake. Drank whole milk.

One mistake I had notice that some of my fellow Transsexual who were doing was still limiting their food intake in order to stay thin. Thus ended up rail thin with not much breast development. So just slightly increasing fat intake is good.

As for family correlation yes that is a good indicator of what to expect. With some limitations.

Another thing that I noticed that my emotional state was out of balance until I adjusted to the effects of HRT.

As a final disclaimer Your results will vary....

I'd suggest that this belongs in the hormones forum, not only because of the subject but also because some are afraid to post personal information in the public forums.

At any rate, for me, the first thing I noticed was a sense of well being that only increased over the first few weeks. At first it was just a placebo effect - as it happened five minutes after I took the first pill, but several days later it became very strong, and I don't think it was all psychological.

My experience with emotions - outside of my general sense of well being - has been somewhat gradual. I'd say that I noticed changes only a few days after starting; It's my understanding that your body and mind get confused when you change its chemistry, and that was likely the cause for some of it. Once my body had started getting used to the new chemistry, after only a couple weeks, I noticed that I cry more easily, but I've always been somewhat emotional and had to hold back tears when I was sad before I was taking hormones. The unexpected thing though is that I now cry when I'm happy, which although I did a few times before (outside of strong scenes in movies which always provoked tears,) I didn't cry often from happiness. While some of that is because I wasn't often happy before I began transition and am generally a much happier person now, I now cry all the bloody time when something good happens to me.

Despite warnings about hormones I've read before I started, that I won't really be the same person, as mentally strong, etc., my mind hasn't really changed. It makes me wonder why some people have felt it necessary to suggest that ones strength of will would diminish when on hormones. Perhaps I haven't been on long enough, and to be perfectly honest I'm not taking a progesterone yet, only E, sprio and avodart. I'm heeding the warnings but am hopeful that a change in body chemistry won't affect my mind too much.

The physical changes, for me, started about two and a half weeks after starting, but I wasn't quite sure if it was my imagination's wishful thinking, but about a month after starting I became sure it wasn't. That's also about when I grazed my left breast with a water bottle and fell to the floor in pain.

About the same time I started hormones, I had laser on my arms to thin things out, but after letting the hair grow back (I just wanted to thin it, not get rid of it altogether, it was never extraordinarily male or anything) the hair on my arms continued to fall out two months after laser - I'm not sure if that's residual from the laser or from hormones or a combination of the two. I'm not unhappy about it though.

Other changes I'm still waiting and hopeful for, but I haven't been on 'mones for too long. I'm trying to be patient, it's hard.

Good luck Kaitlyn!

Cassandra

Well I noticed first very little change after 6 month (more sensitive and soft skin, breast growing a little with much pain).

After 2 year of hormones I noticed that my muscle were less (although I'd never had much) and a fat migration from waist to buttock and legs. My breast were full A cup.

But my real change was emotional.

Now after 8 years of hormones most of the change are stabilized..my face has change a lot and my body it's typical feminine

I'd simply advise to eat 'normally'.
i.e. eat until you're not hungry anymore.
My appetite has grown monstrous since starting on 'mones and I'm simply feeding it what it wants.
This is a second puberty. Your body needs fuel. Give it that fuel or you won't get the results you desire.
As far as I'm concerned, being thin isn't particularly 'womanly'.

Eat slowly though. Your body will have time to tell you when you've had enough.

Oh and hello? I'm not thin. I'm in shape. I have 21% bodyfat. It was measured yesterday.

Hmm...I've always been thin and was worried how effective hormones would be. I learned through a girlfriend to increase my fat intake ans it really worked. I've has good breast development and til recently, I'd developed curvy hips. And I'd lost the muscle definition in my arms. Well that has all changed.

I couldn't figure out before, but I began slimming down and gained muscle definition in my arms. I realized it's because of the summer.

Because it's so hot outside I eat less and therefore have less fat intake. I also have become somewhat physical again. I stopped doing yoga and any other type of fitness cause I really wanted my body to soften. Well after being inactive for so long, my overall energy level became really sluggish. And as a result I've been really lazy. So I decided to do a little yoga and a little stretching. Well just from those few changes I lost some of my curve. The worst part is my arms are so muscular again. I wouldn't mind if my shoulders weren't so broad or if my hands weren't so big, etc...you get the point.

Has anyone else experienced this. Do I have to look forward to gaining muscle mass every summer? I have a fast metabolism and can't seem to eat enough. It's so easier in the winter.

well, a week on spiro, and while I will readily admit to my belief in the placebo effect, I sure do feel good about things. I had a pretty tough day today at work, but I handled everything with such calm that I amazed myself. I just feel as though I've been brought down a notch. I'm on 100 mg a day for the first four weeks, and I'm looking forward to my next dr.'s visit next week, where hopefully my potassium levels will be fine. I'll be asking him about the timeline for beginning estrogen, and after 49 years of waiting, I'll be ready.