I'm the same Josephine. Music, films or someone else who's really sad or upset...that's me done for. Blubbing like a baby and I don't have to be hormonal for that.

xx

I took hormones for nearly a year but in the end could not cope with the mood swings,so I stopped and also put all thoughts of transistioning out of my mind. I have a nice pair of boobs from them and a very very small penis, so I am happy with the results. I stopped in 1980.

I took hormones for nearly a year but in the end could not cope with the mood swings,so I stopped and also put all thoughts of transistioning out of my mind. I have a nice pair of boobs from them and a very very small penis, so I am happy with the results. I stopped in 1980.

What are the possible physical and psychological changes that taking hormones can produce? Anne or anyone?

Well if I miss anything Im sure someone will fill in the gaps. I think the most obvious and desirable change is with the development of the breasts. It can take around 3 years maybe longer for them to develop as much as they are going to. They can become proper functioning breasts capable of lactating so all the various glands develop and grow. There can be a wasting of the muscles in the upper body especially. The skin tends to become softer and usually it can be a bit clearer and healthier. There may be some reduction in body hair and sometimes facial hair may become a little finer and less course. After at least 3 years you may start to get a redistribution of fat around the body. That which was held around the back and tummy hopfully migrates to the hips and thighs. The facial features may soften as a result of the changes to the skin and fat redistibition.
As for psychological changes well these can be quite personal to the individual. Generally one becomes more sensitive and prone to emotional mood swings. Weepiness ect. Personally I found that unless something had upset me I was pretty happy most of the time. Whether all the mood swings are due to chemical changes or the effect of a possitive action towards changing onesself I couldnt be sure.
This post was edited by Gini Mitchell at December 4, 2012 8:24 PM GMT

Its fascinating for me. I guess you all know this stuff. Does it change who you want to be intimate with? Going from wanting to be with TV's or women to wanting to be with guys? Just as an example.

I dont think your sexual preferences actually change but the general mix up in your mind can make you feel more like experimenting

Yeah, I can really see that. Does it make you feel more or less sexual. Sorry for all the questions. I just know that when a woman is ovulating she tends to feel far more sexual than when she's not. I wondered if it felt a little like that.

Over all I think most trans girls get a lowering of the libido when on hormones. But it can vary between people

Hmmm. Thank you Gini xx

I think it takes a while for the mental side of the person to adjust to the new hormone balance. Originally the trans person would be driven by the cycles of the male hormones but when that changes it leaves you feeling a bit lost.

I'm not sure it sounds worth it. What's the main reason for going on the hormones? To grow breasts? Lose body hair? Attain body fat in the right places or does something else motivate it?

I know there's a relatively new way of having breast enlargements. They can now use the fat deposits from elsewhere and pump it into the breast area. Not all of the fat will take, but you will have breasts.

Maybe you all know this already. I only found out about it a year ago.
This post was edited by Deleted Member at December 4, 2012 8:59 PM GMT

well usually hormones is the first stage before SRS The doctors want to see how much you change due to the hormones and then they consider what extra they may need to do to achieve as best a result as they can. ie. breast implants or lipo. When they finally remove the testies there is a huge change in the hormone balance cos of the missing testosterone so then they recalculate what medication you need to maintain from then on.

Some doctors - not usually NHS even consider that some people dont want to undergo surgery and they doo use different combinations of meds so that the individual can still function as a male to some extent

What's the main reason girls stop using the hormones?

hmm I cant speak for others. But things that may motivate you are as Anne Nicholls mentioned above the mood swings may be hard for some. The messing with the libido is another. I told you my reason already - the cost.
If you go through NHS - The best and safest route. Then they make you jump though hoops. They send you for various psychological tests. They make you live as a woman for at least a year. Without the benifit of hair reduction and other procedures this can be very demanding on a person. They dont like to tell the truth over this but the funding is not as good as it once was due to all the cuts so they do what they can to dissuade a person from going down this road if they can. Also the end result is non-reversable so they need to know a person has the commitment to see it through.

This post was edited by Gini Mitchell at December 4, 2012 9:11 PM GMT

Understandable. The cost, mood swings and loss of libido would be enough for me to give in for sure.

Thanks for everything Gini xx

Adele, Gini Mitchell has answered your questions very well, my congratulations to her. In my case can answer to the long term effect, there is a loss of male libido which never came back. I have been unable to have an erection since taking hormones and do not wish to have one. My penis shrunk to virtually nothing and I can invert it and form a vagina which can be used for sex, should I feel the need. My breast, due to massage etc: have increased and I now take a c cup and no longer need "falsies." Look at my pics on Flickr and you will see what I mean. In between my mood swings, while taking medication, I felt really well and happy. That's all I can add to Gini's answers which were, as I have said, excellent.

Adele, Gini Mitchell has answered your questions very well, my congratulations to her. In my case can answer to the long term effect, there is a loss of male libido which never came back. I have been unable to have an erection since taking hormones and do not wish to have one. My penis shrunk to virtually nothing and I can invert it and form a vagina which can be used for sex, should I feel the need. My breast, due to massage etc: have increased and I now take a c cup and no longer need "falsies." Look at my pics on Flickr and you will see what I mean. In between my mood swings, while taking medication, I felt really well and happy. That's all I can add to Gini's answers which were, as I have said, excellent.

You've all been great at helping me understand hormones and their effects. Thank you xx

I could do with a key for all the abbreviations that are used on this site. Is there one?