Started Injections, Big Difference So Far

[Guest Jo-I-Dunno]

I was on estradiol pills for the first 3.5 months of HRT, but my estrogen level only ever got to the 50-80 range, up from 20ish when I started. So I just had my first injection Tuesday. Nurse taught me and I did it myself. SCARY! But I did it. It's still sore and lumped at the injection site, but maybe that's because I'm inexperienced.

Anyway, already noitcing a difference. My chest got sore right away when I started 3.5 months ago, but leveled off and never did much after that, maybe just a little. But I'm feeling it again. Looking in the mirror, with my big puffy nipples, I kind of look like a flat-chested woman. And I think the shadows under my chest are getting bigger.

Nothing's big enough for me to be sure it's not just in my head, though. Still swim with my family bare-chested, but I'm starting to get a little embarrassed. Since I'm not really a "girl", I think I'll get one of those gynecomastia swimming vests instead of a woman's bathing suit. At this rate, the better part of my changes will be during the winter, when I have an excuse to cover it up! I'm playing it by ear. Next Summer, who knows?

Sexual arousal has been... different. I only get erections... 50% of the time? They're definitely weaker and harder to maintain. But the overall feeling is different. Less focused on the groin. My whole body is excited. It's pretty nice.

As an 18-year-old bio-male, I have 2-3 thick hairs on my back I pluck every so often. But I just got one, and it was way thinner/wimpier than ever before, so I guess the body hair department is changing slowly too. Still got a forest on my legs though. I'll probably wait to start shaving my legs next summer, when it's less of an uphill battle.

[Carolyn Marie]

Sounds like the 'mones are doing well by you, hon. Good for you!

Yes, I found less "activity" going on between my legs pretty early on, and its become rarer over time. Nothing wrong with that.

Why wait to start shaving your legs? It really is such a nice feeling having smooth and silky legs, and of course if your going to start wearing anything feminine you will need them bare. Don't wait for the hormones hon, once you've done it the first couple of times, its a snap.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest sarah f]

Congrats Jo on the injections. If you feel like it is helping than that is great.

I agree with Carolyn on why wait until next year to start shaving. It is better to start now and get used to it before next year. It really is a wonderful feeling having smooth legs.

[Guest Emily Ray]

Jo-I-dunno,

I know the feeling of ambarrassement. When I was home visiting my parents my mom walked in on me when I was shirtless and he arm flew up and I turned around faster than light. As i think about it now it is rather funny as I dont have much more than you do. But, I think and react like a woman and probably was all along as I never liked swimming without a T-shirt anyways. As fast as your coming along dear I think you will be full-time before you ever imagined. I know I am exactly a year and a half ahead of my original schedule and I love it.

Huggs,

Emily

[Guest Donna Jean]

Sexual arousal has been... different. I only get erections... 50% of the time? They're definitely weaker and harder to maintain. But the overall feeling is different. Less focused on the groin. My whole body is excited. It's pretty nice.

Well, Jo...being 18, you're at the height of sexual awareness where erections and such are at their most frequent...

So, with what you report above, you know the Estrogen is working!

Good on you, Hon!

Donna Jean

[Guest Jo-I-Dunno]

Why wait to start shaving your legs? It really is such a nice feeling having smooth and silky legs, and of course if your going to start wearing anything feminine you will need them bare. Don't wait for the hormones hon, once you've done it the first couple of times, its a snap.

I think you will be full-time before you ever imagined. I know I am exactly a year and a half ahead of my original schedule and I love it.

Actually, I'm not working on the same "schedule" as most of you. I'm not trying to be a woman or go "full time". If you look at my gender selection, you'll notice it's marked androgynous. I'm not going to change my wardrobe or identity any time soon. I'm not avoiding being a woman either. If hormones really really make me look like one, then I'll start "coming out" and asking for pronoun changes and such. But until then, I'm taking it easy, so what I do with my legs right now isn't very important. And unless my breasts get huge, I'll probably be hiding them for a long time too. I'm not changing my body to reflect to the world how I feel on the inside. I'm changing my body because... well... a feminine one sounds nicer to have.

Basically, instead if forcing anything, I'm letting it go organically. I don't know where I'm going to stop. But I'll know when I get there. Does that make sense? When I say it, it sounds reckless, but for lots of reasons I don't have time to list, i know it's the right path for me.

I did try and keep my legs smooth last Summer. It never got easy. It itched all the time, took up huge amounts of time, etc. And it was a small source of discontent in my family. Like I said, it was an uphill battle. Wasn't worth it at the time.

I don't know... maybe I'll shave some time this Summer.

[Guest sarah f]

I did try and keep my legs smooth last Summer. It never got easy. It itched all the time, took up huge amounts of time, etc. And it was a small source of discontent in my family. Like I said, it was an uphill battle. Wasn't worth it at the time.

I don't know... maybe I'll shave some time this Summer.

Before you start the next time, try moisturizing your legs for a couple of days before you shave. I use aloe lotion and that seems to help with the itching. Now I don't even use any shaving cream and I don't have a problem. Good Luck next time you start.

[Guest Emily Ray]

I can't say that I understand your position but agree totally that you have to be you what ever that is for you. I sat in on a seminar that was filled with people that I guess were androgynous, but they wanted to be called somedthing other then ma'm or sir but we don't have a word for that so I don't know how successful they will ultimatly be. they cosidered themselves outside the gender continuim and if the yfeel that way then be that but the rest of the world pretty much has just two genders and until recently you were either one or the other at least you have a name for what you are and that in itself can be a huge relief

Huggs,

Emily