I Am Transgender Forum & Chat Board | Talk to me about hormones

So I'm trans, and I've accepted it. I'm trying to decide about hormones. But I'm leery about some of the side affects. You see I'm one of those health nuts who try to avoid taking any pills. I don't even eat meat because it's loaded with hormones and antibiotics. And I don't have health insurance, so going on T is going to cost a fortune over the years.

What are your positive and negative experiences with hormones? How have they changed your life? What have they done for your body image?

 

Being MtF taking hormones for me personally was as if the poison that had been circulating in my body for do long stopped. I never felt better in my life. Many of my friends said they were making me far too emotional but I really don't think so. I believed that as it was finally living as who I truly was and knew since a very young child openly for all to see i no longer needed to pretend. It something upset me or was sad I could openly get emotional about it. I could freely cry. Another thing I often hear is, "I started taking estrogen and I am starting to find I like, and sexually, men". This really baffles me as i think our sexual attractions are inside us not caused by our bodies hormones. If so there would be no problem with same sex couples. I have always been mainly attracted to women my whole life. I consider myself Bi but mostly identify strongly a lesbian.



I would like to add , there should be a strong warning though. Hormones should and are best taken under medical supervision.  

 

As far as T goes (I'm also considering going on T, as I identify myself as male), you most likely would be taking it via injections to the leg (not exactly pills :P, T pills are usually way more negative on the side effects and don't have many of the desired results that injections have). I dunno where you are, but there are a lot of organizations out there that offer free hormone therapy to trans people who don't have insurance/meet their requirments. Also, depending on where you are, you may have to go through a series of therapy sessions/other evaluations to get hormones legally. As for your questions, I can't speak to them because I'm not currently going through hrt (although I wish I were), haha.

 

I understand where you are comming from. I to am a health nut, so to speak. I started on herbal hormones about a year and a half ago. I

did quite abit of study and research before deciding which way to go.

But then I only wanted to enlarge my breast and do not plan on srs.

The growth has been slow but for me that is good as it gave my family and friends time to adjust. I couple this with daily breast message and

good diet and exercise. Exacting a feminine figure for a mtoF is exstremly

hard work. I know estrogen would be quicker but also much more side effects to consider and with herbal hormones there are almost none.

My advice would be to do your homework before you make a final decision.

 

I've been on T (testosterone) for almost 2 years now and if you a FTM the only way to get the hormone is through a shot. Its not as bad as it sounds. I take my shot myself ever week. Now yes it can get expensive but the vial can last up to 3 months so it isn't that bad. The changed on the good side are:
*More body hair/facial
*less curves
*more muscle mass
*deeper voice
*no more period
Some of the bad things but it happeneds with most Bio men is:
*increase cholesterol
*damage to liver
*acne
*mood swings
It sounds like you take care of your body so I wouldn't worry to much about the bad things the doctors keep a close eye on you levels to make sure nothing gets to out of hand... have anymore questions let me know

 

I've been on T (testosterone) for almost 2 years now and if you a FTM the only way to get the hormone is through a shot. Its not as bad as it sounds. I take my shot myself ever week. Now yes it can get expensive but the vial can last up to 3 months so it isn't that bad. The changed on the good side are:
*More body hair/facial
*less curves
*more muscle mass
*deeper voice
*no more period
Some of the bad things but it happeneds with most Bio men is:
*increase cholesterol
*damage to liver
*acne
*mood swings
It sounds like you take care of your body so I wouldn't worry to much about the bad things the doctors keep a close eye on you levels to make sure nothing gets to out of hand... have anymore questions let me know

 

I've been on T (testosterone) for almost 2 years now and if you a FTM the only way to get the hormone is through a shot. Its not as bad as it sounds. I take my shot myself ever week. Now yes it can get expensive but the vial can last up to 3 months so it isn't that bad. The changed on the good side are:
*More body hair/facial
*less curves
*more muscle mass
*deeper voice
*no more period
Some of the bad things but it happeneds with most Bio men is:
*increase cholesterol
*damage to liver
*acne
*mood swings
It sounds like you take care of your body so I wouldn't worry to much about the bad things the doctors keep a close eye on you levels to make sure nothing gets to out of hand... have anymore questions let me know

 

I am of the same thought as you. I don't even take aspirin. I would love to talk with you to get going once and for all. Thanks
M

 

will answer what i can and you ask
while i never have taken the femal type my wife did take them from 12 years on we lived with each other from just beofre she started to take them

so i have seen and lived them from the other side for those who do not know me my wife was a very rare person she had been born a boy with issues and her mother told her to make her a boy but at home and in provate she was a girl but her mind was female

i was told the secruect after her mother caught us kissing one sundaymorning when she opened the door to get us up for breakfast and church

and yes i knew what girls look like and she was not female but she also did not appear male but we were best friends i did not care

 

I again will stress, Hormones should no matter how much research anyone does without medical supervision. One can do research on what to take and how much but each one's body reacts differently to doses, so a dose for one may be either too little for one and too much for another. Only lab test which reports the levels of estrogen and testosterone and other hormone can safely monitor these. One must also remember that to much estrogen in ones body causes the excess to be converted into...... Testosterone. That is NOT what most are shooting for. Also HRT is serious business and not something to be taken lightly. The breasts that result will not disappear when you decide "its not for me any longer" that is unless you don't mind having a mastectomy. Also I know many report that herbals work but I can tell you from personal interaction with transsexual women who are transitioning with the intention of living full time as women all report that herbals are what they are, a waste of time and money. Hormone therapy using prescribed medications under medical supervision is the safest and best method of getting the results one desires. Medical supervision monitors the effect and dangers of side effects which, using the correct doses and available medications, are extremely small.    

 

i'm m2f, had a bilateral orchiectomy in 2010 and started self-dosing on premarin (estrogen) and medroxyprogesterone two weeks later -- and all i want to say is, these things are POTENT.  i lost 20 lbs, had much higher energy for first 6 months, mood swings like crazy at first, lost about 30% of my strength (i'd expected about a 10% drop), some loss of appetite, my taste buds changed dramatically, i felt way better.  had to play with dosages for a while as i wanted to be on the minimum needed to affect the changes i wanted.  also my breasts filled out rather nicely....
as for negatives:  too emotional at times, too much energy (interferes with sleep some days), leg pains from too much estorgen is about it.  watch the transgender health sites and moniter your reactions would be my advice - don't afall into the trap of thinking your doctor knows all about this stuff.

 

4 years on female hormones and testosterone blockers have done this for me with zero side effects :) 

 

what kind of herbal hormones ?