#transgender hormones

[transitjournal]

MtF HRT Hierarchy

This one covers MtF HRT only, FtM HRT deserves it's own blog. Here's a quick information handwritten by me. From now, I'll use those abbrevations;

CPA = Cyproterone Acetate

E2 = Estradiol

P4 = Progesterone

T = Testosterone

AA = Antiandrogen

E2

Common brand names; Estrofem, Progynova, Cyclo-Progynova, Delestrogen, Estradot

First things' first, Estrogen is very important thing, and without it feminization is almost impossible. There are four types of estrogens, Estrone, Estradiol, Estriol, Estetrol. Estradiol is the most potent one and found in higher levels in women of reproductive age. We have to take estradiol. Estrone usually is found higher levels in post-menopausal women, and it only provides very very little (almost nonexistent) feminization. When you take estradiol orally, some of it is converted to estrone by your liver. So it's important to check your estradiol-to-estrone ratio with your endo to get sufficient feminization. If you are taking E2 injections or sublingually, it's probably E2 Valerate, which is less potent than E2 Hemihydrate (but it's good, since you're probably taking higher doses of it and it skips liver in those administrations). E2 Hemihydrate is recommended for oral administration since it's more potent, and bioavailability is reduced since it's being processed by liver. So it's important to get more potent form of E2 if you take it orally. E2 Cypionate is very similar to E2 Valerate, and it's usually found in intramuscular/subcutaneous injections. If E2 Valerate injections in your local pharmacy are out of stock, you can get E2 Cypionate they basically do the same thing.

AA

Common brand names; Aldactone, Androcur, Proscar, Propecia, Casodex

An antiandrogen may seem like eye candy, but it's important for us girls to suppress our gonadal function. So that way, we can use less dose of E2 to get sufficient feminization. An antiandrogen, depending on what type of AA it is, usually suppresses your gonadal production of Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone and prevents your androgen receptors from absorbing them. Every kind of it does it different though. CPA is known for both reducing T production and nuking androgen receptor function, can also be used in very low doses to have effect. Due to stupid regulations of FDA, this drug is not available in the United States, leaving trans folks there with only three other options; Spironolactone, Bicalutamide and Finasteride. Finasteride, as much as I know, only blocks the potent form of T called DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) which is only acts on skin, hair follicles, prostate gland and testicles. It does not stop or block the effects of testosterone, so it's not really what we actually want. Bica and Spiro, unfortunately does not reduce T levels, but they block androgen receptors so the T and DHT in your body is moving freely, without binding to receptors and I think it's better than nothing. Those ones is the most with side effects, so it's important to read what others experiencing, share with others and talk to your endo about it. Also, most AAs are known to cause vitamin B12 deficiency, and B12 deficiency is a serious thing. I suggest you to get your vitamin B12 levels checked if you are using AAs for longer period of time. I am not including GnRH antagonists, since technically they're not antiandrogens and I don't know much about them yet. You can get more information on r/asktransgender about GnRH antagonists if you'd like.

P4

Common brand names; DepoProvera, Depo-SubQ Provera 104, MPA, and Provera

This is the most controversial one, even in our community. Some say P4 does wonders for their breast growth, mental mood and even their sleep patterns. Some say it fixed their "cone" shaped breasts. Some say it didn't do nothing for their transition. The thing is, Progesterone is almost not present in adolescent cis girls, and it's function in trans women is very understudied. Progesterone is at peak levels at cis women aged 20-24. Personally, I think taking progesterone before your first 2-4 years of HRT is unnecessary, give your body time to adjust then you can add P4 to the mix (If you want). Since it's our second puberty, following the natural pattern of cis female puberty is more ideal for me. I think more funding is required for trans studies to see P4 effects on us girls. Feel free to share your thought about this!

T

This one is very rarely used in with us trans women. It is usually prescribed by request of patient, and 99.99% of time it's prescribed after surgical removal of gonads (Genital reconstruction surgery/vaginoplasty or orchiectomy). The target is to reach cis female range of testosterone and retrieve some of libido, and mood changes like self-confidence. The effects of T in females is similar to effects in males, but some doctors don't agree with the fact T has to do with libido in females. If you're one of gals using it, feel free to share with me about your experience.

[yuribeam]

for whoever needs to hear this:

starting HRT doesn't have to be a huge momentous all-or-nothing decision. you can just try it like you would an antidepressant you've been informed of the risks of.

there won't be any immediate irreversible changes overnight. you can always stop, change your dose, change your delivery system, decide it's not the right time. you can even microdose if you want to.

you don't have to tell anyone. you don't have to announce it if you don't want to.

stop waiting for a perfect time in your life because it won't come.

stop waiting to reach a mythical level of certainty that never comes to anyone, for anything.

you've been thinking about it long enough. if you have the opportunity, just give it a shot. you're worth the courage it takes to make a change in your life.

[hoejangles20]

[kalamity-jayne]

Hey, remember how just a few weeks ago trans folks were sounding the alarm about how The Gaurdian was seeking interviews for a story about DIY HRT?

And remember how there were a few folks on here who were saying that was misinformation cause some folks at the Gaurdian said it was false on twitter?

Lo and behold, turns out you should trust your own community more than the fucking journalists with a heavy anti-trans reputation! Use common sense next time and don't be so naive!

[zerosuitsammie]

Timeline photo because it's apparently a bannable offense to show the pipeline of saddest man in the world to happy comfortable content woman

[socialistexan]

I'm so tired of cis people asking stuff like, "Why would Texas want a list of trans people who legally changed their names?" or "Why would Florida want a list of college students who have seeking gender affirming care? We can't figure it out."

It's eliminationist.

Ken Paxton wants a list of trans people who have changed their name in Texas so he can reverse all of those decisions (and that's the most charitable interpretation). Ron DeSantis wants a list of college students who have sought affirming care so he can force them to detransition.

Oklahoma introduced a bill to forcibly detransition people under the age of 21 (ironically doing what they accuse us of doing, forcing someone to live as the wrong gender). Texas has a new bill that will ban gender affirming care for every Texan of any age and makes it a felony for doctors to provide it. Multiple states either have passed or will pass bills that will ban legal name changes. Some states have slipped in language to anti-drag bills (which are horrific enough on their own) that ban anyone from displaying, presenting, or dressing outside their "biological" gender (one state has language about "DNA gender") in public.

It's about legally and morally mandating trans people out of existence.

Plain and simple. It's about making sure that trans people can not exist. Period. It's not about restrictions, or "think of the children!" It's about eliminating us from public life and then eliminating us from private life so that we have a choice of either die or conform.

When will y'all realize this isn't some wedge issue or a political football that they'll just give up on if they lose an election or two. These are ideologues who are singularly focused. They don't care about the marketplace of ideas. They don't give a shit if they get mocked on lefty Twitter and the late night shows. They only care about one thing: gaining and then wielding power to achieve their goal of eliminating trans people (and then gay people, and then women who don't conform to their gender standards, ect).

If you give them that power they will use it.

[thund3randrain]

"I respect you and won't stop you from being who you are" and "I'm not ready to call you by a new name and pronouns because it hurts me" can not co-exist when the speaker is your parent who has a huge amount of control over your life.

[genderqueerdykes]

i love you so much if you are a person, trans, intersex or something else who takes testosterone hrt and loves what it's done for you. people often treat testosterone like it's a tragedy, but most people who want to take it end up loving its effects. even if people don't, that's okay, they're unique experiences that don't diminish the other. it just always makes my heart sing when someone else finds out that they love what testosterone HRT does for their mental and physical health. it's a blessing

[queercodedangel]

Read "Testosterone: An Unauthorized Biography" by Dr. Katrina Karkazis and Dr. Rebecca Jordan-Young for more on this

[animentality]

[chrissy-kaos]

You need to get yourself a girlfriend that can do both.. 😜

[transitjournal]

50 Days HRT Update 🔥

No, HRT will not make you turn to a cute anime girl instantly but it will surely do you these things.

Estradiol Hemihydrate 2mg/ Cyproterone Acetate 50mg

First of all, thank you all for your support and interest on my blog. It's what keeps me going.  💕

I used to take DIY HRT with different medications 2 years ago, with spiro and E2 valerate from January 26 2020 to late July 2020. Those doses were pretty low, at least considering from my point. And after I had to stop those meds, all my changes are rolled back, except some very very little breast growth. Now that I'm seeing doctors since October 2021, since HRT is gatekeeped in my country. Thankfully, I finally got them in July 25, officially got a prescription and had my legit cocktail! Now, of course I'm done with talking, let's move to the changes :)

Physical Changes

My skin is much more thinner and more translucent, and I'm more prone to bruises or tear even by slight contact with something. I feel that I have less tolerance for cold, that I now have to run my air conditioning in higher degrees. IDK what will happen in wintertime though! I've noticed my penis is also getting slightly smaller, as well as my testicles, since there's no T supplying those tissues anymore. No longer have to deal with morning wood or random erections, and this makes me so happy! I've noticed tucking is slightly easier because I can't get erections easily, and probably because of my testicular atrophy. I have small breast buds developing much faster compared to my old cocktail in 2020, (check my old posts if you'd like to get to know more about) the sad thing is since I'm taking single estradiol pill a day, fluctiations of estrogen affects my breast tissue. Sometimes it's like it's not there at all, and sometimes it's noticeably there (like a preteen girl's breasts, to compare).

My facial hair is slightly thinner, but it's still there and I have to shave everyday. The thing I didn't expected is, the growth pace of my facial hair is slowed considerably. Considering laser hair removal in future months, I'd do now but I'm short on cash nowadays. I always hated my facial hair, and it was (and still) my biggest cause of dysphoria. I've heard HRT makes laser hair removal on facial hair much more effective, so that's why I've been waiting around. I am also happy that, my scalp is less oily as well as my skin. I've had like soo much oily skin that I had to use lots of products to get rid of. My acne on my forehad is 90% gone, and I'm so happy for it.

Because of T reduced on my system, the sebum production is decreasing, making my skin dryer. And I tried to masturbate twice in a month, but it was so hard to reach climax. I guess I need to find different ways to please me. But my orgasms were more like a full-body experience, and it was... mind blowing.

Mental Changes

Okay don't be afraid of those negative things I say first cause they're not always here, haha. PMS symptoms, usually once a week (sadly). Cramps on my intestines to the point I can't move. Sometimes I find myself that everything in the world irritates me.

And my love life started to bloom again... at least from my side. I find myself I'm falling for handsome guys much more easily... I can't stop myself. It's more of emotional than sexual this time. I started to be able to cry again after months, I cried for my breakup with my boyfriend for first time after 3 months, why it happened is another story to tell about.

And I cry on emotional scenes in TV series. But being able to cry makes me feel free! 💕 I don't have specific craves to foods, but sometimes I feel hungry out of nothing... it's harder for me to say "no" to some foods. My emotions now feels like a rainbow.

[malialadycolor]

Got that girl juice in me ✨💫

[aubryjoi]

The more you know ✨🏳️‍⚧️

[zerosuitsammie]

For those interested, I now have most Saturdays off, weird right. How I'm spending today thus far you might ask? Well I'm in bed fully naked drinking red wine straight from the bottle 😅😅😅

[transmonstera]

TRY AND TAKE THEM - transmonstera

[IMAGE ID:

LEFT IMAGE: "taking hormones doesn't make me angry or aggressive but taking them away sure will!" in bold pink font. the background is white and decorated with pink stars, syringes, and the chemical make up symbols for both testerone and estrogen.

RIGHT IMAGE: "taking hormones doesn't make me angry or aggressive but taking them away sure will!" in bold blue font. the background is white and decorated with blue stars, syringes, and the chemical make up symbols for both testerone and estrogen. END]