Which hormones actually induce breast growth?

[Guest Vex]

Hello. I'm just curious as to what causes breast growth when on HRT. Is it a combination of everything, or a specific type of hormone? I ask because I'm looking into starting HRT. I would like to begin looking more feminine but I'm not sure, due to job and marriage, if I would want to start inducing breast growth right away. Is there a regimine I could get on that would allow this? Thanks.

[Carolyn Marie]

In general, most people need a combination of estrogen (estradiol or equivalent) and a testosterone blocker, to get the maximum effect. Without the T blocker, the testosterone would tend to overwhelm the estrogen, and reduce its effects. The exact combination and strength of the drugs would be determined by your doctor.

You cannot choose which effects you will get, in what order, when starting HRT. You will get the whole enchilada, and not just the tortilla. In addition to breast growth, that includes changes to skin, body hair growth, some minor changes to fat deposits on the face and body, and perhaps most important, a significant decline in sexual function. That decline could become permanent after six months, but YMMV.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest LizMarie]

My endocrinologist told me that estrogen will promote basic breast structure just as an adolescent girl experiences. In his practice, he then adds progesterone sometime after 12-18 month to further enhance breast development and then removes progesterone a few years later once breast development is complete. This is just what my endocrinologist does and yours may have a different approach. Don't take this as gospel. Mine doesn't do anti-androgens to start either but most do. Instead he sees how much estrogen depresses testosterone production before adding an anti-androgen.

Each doctor is different! You need to work with your doctor, ask questions of your doctor, and understand what Carolyn said - you don't get to pick and choose here. You get whatever HRT gives you. In my case, I want it all anyway.

[Guest DanD]

each persons body is different so its pointless to compare doses and reactions for example. alot of things affect everything like your liver and your diet and oh all sort of things. i read litature on all that but it gives me a headache sometimes..

you cant pick and choose what affects you'll get or when or how much of them you'd get..

or would have never lost any of my hair, for example. its not fair i have it everywhere else on my body now, but lose it on my head, but thats the way the cookie crumbles you know. and if i stop taking testo, no it wont grow back.

once you grow breasts youre stuck with them unless you get them cut off. there's no Undo button.