3, 4, 5, 6 Months on HRT and Zero Changes?

[@lindsaybelderson7735]

Unfortunately, as others have said, post puberty transition is a genetic lottery. I met two trans women last summer who despite being on hormones for years, I would not have known were on HRT had they not told me. They were both over 6 foot with very male shaped bodies, all HRT had given them was "man boobs" that were flat in shape and unfeminine, it was heartbreaking to see how their situation destroyed their confidence.

[@LlamaM2288]

​@@abcxyz2927it's not about body it's about gender

[@Rose1312afa]

a huge contributing factor to this is how hrt is prescribed and how doctors regument hrt. Ive met multiple girls on VALERATE that said their doc said to do their shot every two weeks. Anyone whos done any reasearch at all knows valerate has a short half life and should be injected once a week at the absolute LEAST frequency. Ideally every five days. I do every 3.5 days. But doctors really have no clue and prescribe tiny doses at innefectual frequencies. Thats part of why DIY hrt is making such a come back. I mean that and also like its prob a bad idea to have the state know ur trans in 2023. At least in america

[@alicialalandeburbridge2723]

Hi Dr. Z 😊 If i can provide a little advice for folks who are taking hormones via gel. Make absolutely sure that you don't put some gel at least 5 days on the region of the body where they are going to take the blood sample. 2 times, they took blood samples, and the results were incorrect. Because the test is so sensitive, the nidle picks up some estrogel on the skin, making the estrogen level way too high. I wasn't told about how long you should avoid putting some gel in one area of the body 😢. Hope that helps some people who are getting tested for estrogen level for the first time when they are using gel.

[@VladaDudak]

There are actually always some changes (mainly inside of body), but the question is how big are outside . For trans feminine persons it might take a really long time and one year is like nothing, especially when you start around 40. Even after 2,5 years the results might be very subtle and everyone can still read you as man easily. And sometimes HRT will just not work ever.

[@zoevioletlebeau2681]

The issue I’ve seen with folks I know is 1) doctors who straight up keep patients on starvation levels of estrogen, 2) doctors parroting information based on research done before bioidentical estradiol was a thing and denying their patients EV and progesterone. It IS a crapshoot, sure, but you don’t wanna be playing the game with lopsided dice. I also absolutely believe there are folks out there whose doctors are transphobic and sabotaging them

[@jwenting]

@@zoevioletlebeau2681yup, my clinic has decided to stop progresterone for all patients because "we have no indication it works and there are risks so we stop giving it". In reality, they've been told to cut cost by the ministry of health, and that means either prescribe less medication OR fire staff...

[@non_ideological_transexual7414]

At an international Endocrinologist symposium years ago there was a presentation that only a small percentage of medical transitioners AFTER the age of 25 would see much change on hormones regardless. Read it please if you can find it.

[@samanthajones7155]

Dr Z. I've been on hrs 7 years now. I've had Bottom surgery in 2021 Top surgery in 2022 Ffs 2023 Blood work is extremely important I went for blood work once a month in the Beginning for the first 4 years

[@LalaWatches]

Started at 26, 8 years ago. Still have A cups and look like a man. If you don't start young getting results is pure luck.

[@VladaDudak]

Yeah basically everything started after puberty is just luck. That’s why it’s important to start pre-puberty.

[@berf9445]

I'm at a month and a half and so far I have only noticed some acne and my sweat being more smelly...but I know I'm really early in the process. We are doing bloodwork at the 3 month mark.

[@Cinrea13]

Mine's been pretty lackluster. The CAD is just very overwhelmed. You get tested, meds and then sent on your way. In 2.5y I've been tested 3 times and if I need refills need to rerefer and wait 3 months. So you need to plan quite far ahead. I had 1 year where my levels were at baseline the entire time (mpb returned) and about 3 months another time where my e2 was 8k pmol/L which could cause serious long term health effects. I can say, that after not getting the results I wanted my focus has just shifted into trying to better myself. I've lost about 180lbs and I can say being in a healthy weight range helps a lot for stabilizing my levels

[@philiphanan1493]

I haven’t seen drastic changes but having Hyperestrogenism as an Intersex person gave me changes before taking Estrogen. It takes me approx two weeks at a time to experience small physical changes.

[@philycia1220]

How do I know what my estrogen level should be when I look at my bloodwork mtf. I know my testosterone is lower than normal, but I have not idea where my estrogen should be? 💕

[@DRZPHD]

Have your medical doctor check your blood levels.

[@philgday]

@DRZPHD I do every 90 days. I know my T was below 10, and estrogen was 90 in June. Thank you, Dr. Z.

[@matildautz2350]

I was thinking . That I will notice changes. After all the T is gone. I’m hovering. Around 140. When I hit negative numbers. Is when the process of female puberty. Will take. So I would look for results from that point on. This is what I’m thinking . Losing weight can help too. Keep yourself in shape. Also facial hair removal total. Hair removal also, do you really have to wait to have the surgery done till your body changes. My insurance . Covered bottom surgery if HRT is in effective. I forgot the period of time for their protocol. You could get top surgery.. there was a waiting time. I am on Medicare now. I am not sure of the protocol I have researched it it will cover it. I don’t say Medicare will be switched.

[@matildautz2350]

I mentioned that I was on Testone Therapy. It took a while almost 2 years. I also took personal training. For muscle development if you’re going FTM work out.

[@Cuvoastoh6321]

Do listen to Lucretia!