What can be expected with HRT (hormonal therapy)

I know there are a lot of girls out there who feel the urge to begin hormone therapy as quickly as possible and I'm sure there are some who through misinformation think that they can just jump into them and have instant results. I've spent numerous hours throughout the past 10 years researching hrt and found that so much of the things I read were false. The information I have on hand now comes directly from the gynecologist who is handling my hrt. I had always known there were risks involved with any type of hormonal therapy but wasn't sure just what I might be facing until I started them and was discussing them with both my therapist and gynecologist. Some of the side effects can be scary so keep in mind that hrt isn't something you want to just start taking without being under a doctors supervision. Buying them from places on the internet girls without a prescription is a recipe for disaster.

Some doctors, like mine, require 2 letters from my psychiatric counselors before they can be started. I know this sounds like a pain in the ass but they do it so there is no question about you being ready for the hormone therapy. They will also require you to have a primary physician who will be able to exchange medical information to keep the correct dosages. At your first visit, the physician will discuss the risks, benefits, and side effects as well as alternatives of hormonal therapy with you. If you have other medical problems, you may be asked to optimize your health before you begin hrt.

These are the side effects that you may experience when undergoing hormonal therapy. The positive effects for a M2F are breast tissue growth, enlarged areola and nipple, softened skin, smaller testes volume, decreased ability for erection, decreased sex drive, decreased hair growth, decreased testosterone, and redistribution of fat stores. These are all things that we all look forward to during transition but as with most things there are some posible negative effects too. They range from breast cancer, deep vein clot formation, gall stone formation, risk of testicular cancer, depression, Prolactinoma ( tumor of the brain), liver function changes, hyperprolactinemia, decreased hemoglobin, to insulin resistance.

For the F2M, the positive effects range from deepened voice, menstrual cycles stops, hair growth on the face, clitoral growth of an average of 4 to 5 cm, increased libido, breast size decreases, redistribution of fat, laryngeal prominence, testosterone increases, and increased muscle mass. The negative effects one must watch for are acne, endometrial precancer changes, weight increases, ovarian cancer, changes in liver function, poor lipid profile, aggression and hypersexuality, sleep apnea, insulin resistance, and decreased bone density.

I didn't post these effects to scare anyone that wants to go through hrt away, just keep them informed. There is also numerous tests that will have to be given throughout treatment and continually throughout your life.

For the M2F,

first visit: PSA, lipid profile, liver function, kidney function, and electrolytes and blood counts.

Every 3 - 6 months: testosterone level, estradiol level, liver function, lipid profile

Every 6 months to a year: visual field testing, serum prolactin, liver function, breast exam.

After surgery and every 1 - 3 years: DEXA bone scan.

For the F2M:

first visit: lipid profile, liver function, kidney function, electrolytes and blood counts, pelvic exam with pap smears if due.

Every 3 - 6 months: lipid profile, liver function, blood count, testosterone level

Every 6 months to a year: annual pap test, endometrial ultrasound/biopsy, breast exam

After Surgery and each 1 - 3 years: DEXA bone scan

These are the things we have to look forward to with hrt so if you are contemplating hrt, please be absolutely positive this is the route you wish to take since most of these side effects are not reversible after about 6 months.