no noticable changes on hrt

[breee]

hi. I was wondering if anybody else has had this occur. I have been on hrt for 4 months now and my dr has upped my estro patch, and spiro and I have yet to notice any real changes. is this normal? I am 51yrs old so age might be a factor. the only small difference I have noticed is I don't sweat the same anymore and skin is a bit softer..is this normal? oh ya all blood work is being done monthly and is ok. thanks..

[VickySGV]

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) publishes the Standards Of Care now in version 7 (SOC7) which has a table that gives the Onset and Completion of HRT development.  It is pretty much down the line that the onset of development is 3 to 6 months, and the changes last from 3 to 6 years to completion.  Look at young adults and the time it takes them 11 - 13 is the onset for girls 12 - 15 for boys and it lasts until their 20's.  You are beginning puberty and time and patience is the rule if you are otherwise healthy.  From all of us I have known, you are in the pack that we are.  Your genetics -- or the genetics you see in your female family members -- are going to play a major part as well so look around and share memories with you sisters, mother and aunts if they are alive and talking to you.  For most of us, just knowing we are on HRT calms us down and makes us more focused on life in general and that is a good thing,

[Susan R]

Hello Breee. When I first started HRT, I can remember checking for changes daily. I soon found that changes were only noticeable month to month and even then, the changes were minimal on the grand scale of things. You should be seeing small changes by now but some of these are so minor, you might think it’s all in your mind. Four months in seems like forever but it’s really just the start of when more noticeable changes begin for many.

 

There are several indicators that should tell you the regimen is having some effect. You mentioned two that you’ve experienced thus far on the list below.

 

• Is there a tenderness in your nipple area? Is a small hard breast bud forming underneath your nipple?

• Is your skin softening especially the inside of your biceps close to your armpits?(That was the first area that I felt a noticeable difference and it looks like this has changed for you.

• Has your libido changed in any way since the first month of starting HRT?

• Are emotions changing in any way and more intense and random?

• Are your extremities (fingers & toes) prone to being too cold or too hot?

• Has the amount of sweating changed and it’s odor changed from its usual musky male smell? (This is another change you appear to be experiencing.)

 

After four to six months, I experienced all of these to some degree and some on the list are still changing right now after 21 months on HRT.  Many changes will continue far beyond even that. Everyones experience with changes is different.  You have experienced one or two of these mentioned above and soon you may possibly experience a few I did not mention.  If not, it’s time to speak with your doctor or endo and ask them if your estrogen and testosterone levels are where they should be? Many of us don’t reach a stable level til half a year or longer. It took me 9 months to reach my target numbers. Once there, the changes seem to come in unexpected waves.

 

My Best,

Susan R?

 

[Ellora]

6 hours ago, breee said:

I don't sweat the same anymore and skin is a bit softer..is this normal?

 

6 hours ago, breee said:

I have yet to notice any real changes. is this normal?

 

"Normal" What is "normal" for me, might not be normal for you. That said, yes, no, maybe. Since you have "only" been on HRT for 4 months, you are just starting, so your body is getting used to allllll the new changes. 

I used to sweat all the time, and i immediately noticed that slowing down, and then my body odor changed, and it made me laugh cause my pits stopped smelling, it was a very good laugh, a happy laugh. In the beginning, it's kinda like watching water boil, or grass grow. It might even make you feel frustrated. Let your body do its thing, trust your body. During this time, I changed my eating habits, and exercising habits. 

One of the things i wondered about was the tenderness in the breasts everyone else felt pretty quickly. I felt some, but nothing like other ladies have felt. Well, a year later, I now understand what everyone was talking about. lol ,  =)!! You will experience your normal when it happens. Have fun, and congratz!

[ValerieRun]

The best part about HRT is that it starts very gradually. On one hand, it helps you ease into the changes and accept and get used to them, on the other hand it is not happening fast enough ? However, changes are very individual and that is the only guaranteed fact.

You might start with some of the expected differences already existing in your life. For instance, my body odor was almost non-existent before HRT, and after nearly 9 months I am still wondering what it can possibly change to (if at all).

All that to say, do not worry about the every minute to feel the change, it is happening ?

Just go and enjoy yourself.

 

XOXO

Valerie

[Erikka]

I had been prepared on what to expect from HRT and  the slowness of changes by my Endro. Still, I would look in the mirror every morning half expecting miraculous results. You want miraculous and instant changes, go find a wizard or a magician, changes are subtle and really can only be judged by taking a photo of yourself at the beginning of each month.

Within a month I noticed sweating (much less) and body oder (not noticeable) had changed. In the second month my breasts began to hurt and a learning process had began...my awareness of where my body was in relation to space, objects and people began to shift and the new little bumpers on my chest seemed to run into everything...painfully. A lot of the changes happened without notice until they were very noticeable by other people. Like at my high school reunion when someone remarked that I had nipples showing. Outside of growing breasts, the change I have appreciated most is not having to shave my armpits, chest or my legs every other day.I can go a week for my chest, about a month maybe longer on my armpits and haven't had to shave my legs in the last 20 months and doesn't look like will ever again.

The important thing to remember is that every one's journey through HRT is very much your own. That is why when you read the charts on when certain  changes will occur it is a time frame, 3-6 months or 2-5 years. Best advice. Enjoy the uniqueness of your journey and welcome to the group.

Hilsen fra

Erikka  

[Jackie C.]

34 minutes ago, Erikka said:

Still, I would look in the mirror every morning half expecting miraculous results.

 

I think we all kind of hope for this. I saw a cartoon that summed it up perfectly, but now I can't find it to save my life. Basically it showed a MtF transperson taking an estrogen pill then jumped ahead five minutes to where they're thinking, "I should have been a woman five minutes ago!"

 

So yeah, what everyone else is saying. It takes time. I'm around two years in and around your age. I'm still seeing changes happen. They're not quick, but they're happening and they're wonderful. Be patient. The process can take up to TEN YEARS to complete. Enjoy the ride.

 

Hugs!

[ToniTone]

4 months is young hun. I didn't see any changes until about that far into hrt, and they were very subtle, nipple itchiness, breast buds starting to form (they weren't really breast yet at that point, but the sore little buds were just starting to form to about the size of peas)... 

 

And yes, my skin got softer and more sensitive, and my sweat/BO changed, I sweat less and smell nicer (I mean, it's still BO, but fem BO is relatively nicer imho)! Those were the first changes. 

 

I'm over a year in transition. It's been a long year. But patience pays off. You'll get there don't worry o.~

 

~Toni

[breee]

thanks everybody!!