#transition changes

[syntheticsylvie]

Overview of My First Year of HRT (2021-2022)

Hi, my name is Sylvie, and I'm transfemme! I started hormone replacement therapy on September 25th, 2021 and I've been through quite a lot on my journey to a year of HRT so I'm making two separate posts: this one focusing on the medical side and physical changes, and another that will focus on the social side of transitioning. So, here we go!

I realized I was trans the last week of August 2021, then September 9th I came out publicly, September 15th I had my first appointment with Plume, and I received my first Estradiol script September 24th, but consider my official "first day" of HRT the 25th.

I started HRT on sublingual Estradiol pills, 2mg twice a day (morning and night). Psychologically, taking the first pill hit me like a psychosomatic lightning bolt, and the first meaningful change estrogen granted me was an opening of my feelings- I could suddenly experience a "true range" of emotion, I experienced ambivalence for the first time. Physically, within the first week, I was experiencing tingling in my chest/nipples and by three weeks they actively ached, and after about two months my nipples looked different (darker, larger), and my chest started to stick out (36" to 37")

At 2 months my Estradiol was increased to three times a day and Progesterone 100mg (at night) added. By two months, my body's sensitivity had reached astronomical levels, particularly in areas that weren't sensitive before: for me, this was my nipples, armpits, and butt. My skin overall became more sensitive, slight touches made me quiver and my pain tolerance dropped sharply. During my second month my body's smell changed too and my sweat production cut back.

At 3 months, Spironolactone 50mg once a day (morning) was added and during this month my nipples had noticeably expanded and become dark enough to see through shirts, and my chest had grown enough to be noticeable small mounds in a tight shirt (38"). Also by 3 months, random erections completely stopped happening, whether asleep or awake.

Between months 3 and 5 a lot of things happened in my life; the stress and inactivity caused me to lose 50 lbs. As a result, I lost a ton of muscle mass. My thighs, upper arms, and butt became soft and jiggly, I could not lift things I could before, even with great effort.

3 month bloodwork results: E @ 133 and T @ 320

At 4 months, I asked my doctor for Finasteride, which is a DHT blocker- DHT is an androgen created by testosterone and an excess of DHT is related to hair loss, as well as some research I read back then relating to DHT and thicker/darker body hair. Since starting Finasteride, I have only shaved and used Nair on my body itself and I have experienced 75%-80% body hair loss, and much of what hair remains is now vellus hair (light, short, soft).

Between months 4 and 5, I started experiencing sexual dysfunction. Even if aroused, it was a 50/50 shot of whether I could get hard or not. Likewise, I began producing much less semen. This was when I started experimenting with different forms of masturbating too (i.e. using a vibrator).

Between months 5 and 6 I started gaining weight again, and this was when my breast growth was the greatest, going from 38" to almost 41". However, in the growth it seems I lost the sensitivity I had in the early months- my nipples and armpits are still erogenous zones, but not as potent. Additionally, I noticed fat redistribution caused my hips and waist to take a more stereotypically feminine, almost hourglass appearance (and increased from 32" and 34" respectively to 35" and 38" by 10 months).

6 month bloodwork results: E @ 258 and T @ 22

Months 7, 8, and 9 saw only slight breast growth (41 1/2") due to losing weight again from stress, but at this point I have very little body hair left, and even areas which were full before (armpits, groin) thinned out significantly over time- the most astounding of all being my butt, which the cheek hair just disappeared without me doing anything, like the hair just fell off.

Somewhere during months 8 and 9, I completely lost the ability to become erect without medication (doctor prescribed me Sildenafil, aka viagra) and no more ejaculating. Reaching orgasm became a concentrated effort instead of something that came easily, and very little clear liquid would come out during.

9 month bloodwork results: E @ 57 and T @ 28

For some reason my levels dropped between 6 and 9 months, and during that time I became very mentally and emotionally unwell due to the hormone imbalances. My doctor suggested a few things: me not waiting/letting the pill dissolve long enough in my mouth or the pill just not having the same potency on me anymore. So...

At month 10 I started injections and almost immediately started feeling much better. There is a hormonal low day for me every week, the day before I do my injection again, but it's not hard to deal with. I feel like myself!

Now months 11 and 12, nothing really noteworthy to update except I'm desperately trying to eat more so I can gain weight to grow my boobs. Just stopped taking Spiro though, but I use Tgel to maintain my girldick because I'm a Switch.

Lastly, I'd like to say I'm open to any questions anyone might have, and I'll do my best to answer them. You can DM me, email me secretly from a fake account (bellatrixnovus@gmail.com is my email), whatever! I just hope this information is of some value to someone out there!

[beans-tour-diary]

Day 490

I just saw a post about crying on testosterone and thought I'd share my experience so far.

I don't think it's exactly harder to cry, just different. I have bawled my eyes out just a few months ago, pretty similar to how I did before hrt. Sometimes I feel like crying, but my previous standard light crying with wet sobbs has been replaced with dry sobbing and yowling.

I personally don't feel like I lost a way to express emotions, it's just very different and sometimes confusing to figure out how it works now.

[cyliph]

I have a theory about @madamadamiu's cat magnus

[cosmicraelum]

I rewatched perfect blue recently

[politijohn]

Source

Source

Make public transit free

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

For moment, you are home.

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[hope-for-the-planet]

From the article:

Fossil fuels’ share of global primary energy fell below 80% for the first time in modern history, a tipping point masked by growing energy demand. Oil’s share of primary energy fell below 30% for the first time in modern history, down a third from its peak. The demand for gasoline and diesel was negative – 2024 may be the year road transport fuel demand peaked– no more growth in this sector anymore. Three milestones that show whilst the energy evolution is not perfect, it is happening nevertheless, and at pace. Even as absolute energy demand still grew, it is telling that many oil majors such as BP, Exxon and Shell, who have recently noted their exit from renewables, are also withdrawing from core oil and gas production investments too. Over 50% of their operating cashflow is now going to shareholders, not explorers or construction crews.

The article goes into each of these points in greater detail, but one of the biggest takeaways here is that oil companies are tactically withdrawing from the energy battlefield--they are redirecting their money to paying off shareholders rather than developing new sources of fossil fuels.

As renewables become cheaper, more popular, and show overall greater potential for future innovation and growth the writing is on the wall that the energy transition is leaving fossil fuels behind.

[charl0ttan]

goddddddd i loveeeee hrttrtttttttt >-< the fact that you can just take a Cute Pill that makes you Adorable. is amazing. is wonderful. is quite literally entirely life changing. enchanting. delirious. genuinely i feel like im living in a dream ive said this many times. its. a. dream

[hexalt]

Hack the System! how to change your name and gender

(available on itch.io for download)

Have you or someone you know been wanting to legally change your name and/or gender within the USA? Are you unsure how to get started? Are you stuck on a step?

I use my legal and bureaucratic expertise to guide you through the process as someone who's volunteered at a legal clinic during law school and helped a couple of friends in different states change their names and/or genders over the years.

Whether you're trans or not, the process is the same, so even if you're solely wanting to change your name, this will still be helpful to you.

✬✬✬✬✬

This is my very first zine ever! I'm so excited to have finally fulfilled this lifelong dream of making a zine. It was hard figuring out what the first topic of my zine should be, and I finally realized that I have information not everyone has access to thanks to my education, personal experiences, and personality. I always wish I could help everyone get their legal documents changed to reflect their identity, so maybe with this, I can somewhat do that.

I got the DIY zine booklet paper from strangeandunusual.design/punchkisspress. Going to my local zine fest was extra inspiring for finally actually making a zine, and shout out to brattyxbre for all of her resources!

Thank you so much for reading, I appreciate it more than you can imagine! Share this resource with anyone know who needs it, please. :) We all deserve to have our identities reflected in reality.

Published March 2025

10 pages

Each page is about 4.5" wide and 5.6" tall

[desultory-suggestions]

Even if your body isn’t what you wish it were, you can still treat it with the respect it deserves. While it’s completely fine to dream of certain goals and changes for yourself, it’s equally important to learn to appreciate your body for what it is right now. Don’t try to fuel yourself on self hatred.

[beans-tour-diary]

Day 154

5 Months! 🎉

Today 5 months ago I got my first bit of t. I was so nervous and then the gel disappeared so fast. Now it's part of my morning routine, right after brushing my teeth.

Not even half a year and especially my hair changed. More and darker on my legs, thicker on my head and the tiniest dark moustache hairs in my face.

My voice noticeably changed. I try to keep track of it every now and then. It's kinda crazy to see how it slowly dropped.

I'm still incredibly uncomfortable with correcting people about my pronouns (but that's what friends are for!). Mostly because I'm scared they will make fun of me, but maybe also because completely binary pronouns aren't what I really want. It's still amazing to hear and see a male name and pronouns.

I haven't decided on one name yet. So far I've been using my nickname. I could also use it as a full name but there are so many beautiful names out there! Maybe I'll make a post on a trans subreddit and let strangers decide. Or I'll just stay in name limbo forever, because it all feels weird. Either too unique or too different from my old name. Just think of the poor people who'll have to remember a new name...

Please someone pull the emergency breaks in my brain before I loose it completely 🥲 No think!! Only manly man!!! Manly man need no name, only dick!!!!

[ataraxixx]

how is all that fitting under the hat though

(She/her pronouns for jay)

[xinyuehui]

⸺ You don't recognise me?

[scramratz]

How did y’all choose your names? Was it just trial and error?

[charl0ttan]

i hope the magic of being trans never dies. i dont think it will

[atwhughesversion]

still so many days before canucks hockey resumes and there wasn’t even 4 nations today…i’m fading…so here is one of my most cherished canucks moments in recent memory. idk if anybody else has the same attachment to this clip as i do but i literally watch it at least once a week 😭 it is just so special to me in ways i can’t entirely explain:

(warning: j*sse p*llock)