Will HRT effect our genes?

[Guest chibi_usa]

I was wondering if HRT effected our genes. XD That's all. I think that (Not from experience or from what I see but what I imagine) is that if we were on HRT for a bit and stopped and all that. Would that change out genes? And so somehow if we have a girl then she's be SUPER SUPER hot for most boys prob because of all the 2 moms estrogen. Or if we have a son he'd be a femme son. I hope you know what I'm trying to say lol.

[Guest ~Brenda~]

Hi hon,

HRT affects hormone activity of the body. One's genetic structure does not change. Genes reside at a level far lower than hormones which are complex structures compared to genes.

Brenda

[Guest]

Yes HRT will effect your jeans. You will only want to wear skinny jeans, never again baggy boy jeans! Giggle. As for your child's genes, I think that is a question for your Doctor. I have never heard of anything like that, but I have never been a Doctor in real life or played one on TV, so what do I know??? Hug. JodyAnn

[Guest Jo-88]

haha Jody I like it... and to the OP no it wont affect your genes, your dna can only be changed/damaged by random mutation, cancer, exposure to high doses of radiation, certain viruses, or gene therapy (which is still in its infancy). Changes in hormones will not change or damage your genetics in any way other than increasing your risk of breast cancer (cancer cells have mutated, damaged DNA... but its just those cells not all your cells).

[Guest Melissa~]

I was gong exactly where Jodie went. Hormones only effect your jeans dear. I really don't think that hormones have any posible effect on progeny. If sperm are healthy enough to do their thing, then typically their genes aren't damaged. I'm not a doctor, perhaps there may be some extenuating circumstances surounding Finasteride and that class of drugs, but it's never been told to me that a male taking finasteride should not have children.

A snippet of Finasteride function.:

Finasteride is an anti-androgenic drug (a 4-azasteroid -- a testosterone analogue, codename "MK-906") which selectively inhibits Type II 5 alpha-reductase, the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in mice, rats, monkeys, and humans.

Basically it would be my interpretation that sperm damage from hormones finasteride and such is a feedback of other effects, not direct action of the hormones. Yet finasteride is known for causing birth defects in women, thus the ban on blood donation from people actively taking finasteride/propecia etc. Is that from hormone upsets in women or gene damage, I dunno.

[VickySGV]

If in doubt, bank sperm before beginning HRT. DES was a super estrogen that women took back in the 40's to 70's to prevent miscarriages (spontaneous abortions) and it has been strongly linked to a cancer prevalence in Female offspring that was many times higher than a random occurance. This was not crossgender hormone therapy, and was given to the mother during pregnancy (10th through 20th weeks). There have been no controlled studies on record yet to know what might happen, but yeah, the hormones will affect your jeans before they seriously impact your genes.

[Guest noelleis]

LOL Vicky, you all have some pretty amusing puns.

HRT will not directly affect your genes. It's possible that some genes may be turned on or off differently while you are on HRT than while you aren't. It's also possible that HDAC inhibitors can be influenced by biochemical changes that occur due to HRT, but not directly because of hormone presence.