Of Hormones and Medicine

Funny things, hormones. Everybody needs them, but they sure can cause a lot of problems.

Traditionally, the first step of the anatomical transition from male to female is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). A combination of testosterone blocker (anti-androgen), progesterone, and estrogen results in the following:

Medically:
• Breast development (full development takes several years) [Whoo! No more stuffing!]
• Decrease in sexual drive, sterility [Oh well. It’ll be worth it.]
• Decrease in acne [Why didn’t I start on this years ago?]
• Decrease in muscle mass and strength [As if I’m not weak enough already.]
• Skin becomes softer and smoother [Yummy.]
• Slowing of balding pattern [Good thing, too, males usually go early in my family.]
• Redistribution of fat from abdominal area to hips and buttocks [Loving it.]
Anecdotally, I’ve heard the things screw with emotions like you wouldn’t believe, and there’s also increased risk for certain health issues.

According to the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care, the governing medical code dealing with transsexuals, a potential HRT candidate needs to see a psychiatrist for AT LEAST three months before they can get hormones of any kind, much less estrogen (the most important one).

I’ve got my very first psychiatrist appointment on the 17th of November. That’s really exciting. In the most hypothetical realms, if the psychiatrist and I decide that I’m ready for it, I could be on hormones within four months.

Hormones are a very big step. Not all of the changes are reversible, and that’s why most psychiatrists make patients wait longer than three months before they start.

I don’t know for sure that if the psychiatrist offers it to me that quickly that I’ll jump on it. I’m 99% sure that this who I am supposed to be, but I’m going to give that 1% the benefit of the doubt. You don’t start HRT if you’re not sure. The psychiatrist helps determine that, one way or the other.

Life is good!