MTF HRT: The effects of Puberty 2.0 after one year

Breasts, thighs, legs, skin! No, it’s not which parts of a roast chicken you fancy with your Sunday dinner – it’s some of the bits of me which have changed since starting MTF HRT one year ago!

Well, that’s flown by! Just like a chicken having its wings clipped, the same can be said about my masculinity. See ya – wouldn’t wanna be ya! Been there, done that and life is sooooo much better now.

It’s hard to believe it’s now just over 12 months since I peeled back the shiny silver backing off my first little estrogen patch and slapped it on my thigh. As you do.

First ever patch – scuse the knicks!!!

Loads more has happened since then. I won Woman of the Year at Slimming World (and was nominated for Miss Slinky, don’tcha know!), I started a new job en femme and I had a hair transplant. Baby steps becoming giant strides.

But hormones. When I started this journey a year ago, I read loads of blogs and watched loads of videos about trans women and their HRT milestones. And a big one is the one-year mark.

I remember finding the chart below, and have referred to it a few times on here. So now I’m going to compare my experiences with the chart. Bear in mind that I’m 45 and that there were virtually zero changes before I began testosterone blockers six months ago. Estrogen alone did next to nothing.

MTF HRT Effect Timeline

So, here goes:

My results after one year

Fat Redistribution (chart – changes occurring): Yep, changes are occurring. I’m far from where I want to be figure-wise, and I’m a stone heavier than I was this year, so that’s not helping. But I have noticed that fat is starting to move around – mostly on my thighs and, to a lesser extent, my bum and hips. My thighs are loads more shapely and I now understand what “chub rub” is! No cellulite either – hoorah!

Reduced Muscle (changes occurring/completion time): This is really an effect of T-blockers rather than estrogen, so I’ve only had six months of changes. But, again, I’m getting good results. The muscles in my arms and shoulders are visibly loads less defined and are “softened”. The only issue is strength. Until November, I was doing long-distance cycling. I did 17 miles last weekend – my first ride since last autumn – and it was sooooo hard! My legs are slimmer and less muscular, though, so happy days – and the strength will return with more cycling. It will just take longer.

Softer skin

Softer Skin (changes occurring/completion time): I’ve always had fairly soft skin anyway, but people keep telling me that my skin (on my face) looks loads softer. I don’t really see it as I see my mug in the mirror every day. But quite a few people – those who might only see me every few months, including my gender therapist yesterday – have told me my skin is softer.

Lower Libido (changes occurring/completion time): Yeah, this went off the cliff pretty much a week after starting T-blockers (although it was sky high that first week). I’m nowhere near as “horny” as I used to be, but things still work. It just takes longer to get the fires burning – but that’s the same for cis women (apart from those with a testosterone imbalance). Testosterone causes horniness. That’s why men tend to be loads more horny than women. If you block it, your libido will fall. If that’s an issue for you, don’t take T-blockers. Simple.

Reduced Erections (completion time – six months ago): This really goes hand in hand with lower libido. I only ever used to “get wood” when turned on – all that “morning glory” nonsense disappeared in my teens or 20s, thank heavens. TMI moment coming, as it were: I can still get an erection, just the same as before. But some trans women can’t get one at all, or it takes ages to do so, or it’s only at half-mast. Your mileage may vary. I can still orgasm – but it’s virtually dry now. If you want to continue blowing a big load, don’t take MTF HRT. You’re not gonna be a “shemale” (hate that word) porn star – it’s all done with smoke and mirrors. Google it!

Goals! Small is beautiful

Breast growth (changes occurring): Again, I noticed changes soon after starting T-blockers – budding and huge sensitivity. They’re less sensitive now, but that comes in spurts. And they’re growing and looking fabulous. Teeny weeny but beautiful. I usually wear breast forms to create a B-cup appearance but took them out yesterday and it still looked like I had an AA or A cup once in a padded bra. A good guide for trans women is that you’ll end up a cup size smaller than your mum/sister. If they have HH-cup boobs, you’re gonna be a big girl, too. My mum and sister have A-cups, but I prefer smaller boobs anyway, so more than happy with that.

Testicle Shrinking (changes occurring): Yeah, I guess they’re a little bit smaller than they used to be, but no massive changes really. Nothing much to write home about down there. Not that I would do that. Dear Mother, hope you’re well, you wouldn’t believe the size of my balls. I’ve enclosed a photograph…

Body Hair Thinning (onset time/changes occurring): Loooooooads better! Again, this really kicked in when I began blockers because, surprise-surprise, testosterone causes body hair! The hair on my arms is thinner, blonder and more soft and downy. That on my legs has thinned a little. But the main result is on my chest and stomach – 99% of that dark hair on my chest and below my navel is history. Which is nice, because it was vile! I fully expect to lose 100% of my body hair as I was never that hairy anyway.

One little patch with so much life-changing power

I wrote a piece just over a year ago called The Top 10 Unexpected Effects of MTF HRT. It’s by far the most popular post on my blog, so you might want to check it out. I can’t say I’ve noticed any of those changes yet – but I’ve only been on full HRT for six months and, as with a regular puberty, this will take two or three years before I’m done.

What MTF HRT won’t do

Contrary to the claims of some people on the web, MTF HRT won’t reduce your facial hair. If you want silky smooth skin on your face, you’re gonna need laser and/or electrolysis.

Testosterone blockers may stop male pattern baldness from getting worse – and can even bring back hairs where the follicles are just dormant (caused by testosterone being converted to DHT). But if the follicles are dead, you’re gonna need a hair transplant.

Finally, I had my latest meeting with my gender therapist at Nottingham gender clinic yesterday, and she’s really happy with the progress I’m making – both in terms of MTF HRT and more generally.

We spoke about relationships, progress with my family, about whether I now consider myself a woman (no, still at that awkward in-between phase but getting closer) and my new job. So all really positive stuff.

My latest blood test has revealed that my estrogen levels are a tad low (estradiol down from 473 the previous time to 209, probably due to starting T-blockers), so she’s going to recommend upping the dose from 100 microgramme patches to 150 microgrammes. This will hopefully kick-start my waning breast growth, too.

And my testosterone level is down to 0.7. Not bad considering it was 24 pre-HRT. Estradiol was 93 pre-HRT. Prolactin levels, which had been high in a couple of previous blood tests are now fine.

She also mentioned that there’s going to be a new group at the clinic formed for trans people considering surgery “down there”. I still don’t know whether GRS is something I want yet –  or ever – but I’m definitely not ruling it out. It’s a definite maybe. Am I tempted? Yeah. Bit like I was with transitioning generally a few years ago. I never thought I’d do that either, yet here we are.

So I’ve put my name down for the group to see what’s what, as it’s something I’ve not really researched. And so has my mate Isla, so I’m looking forward to seeing her there, too, followed by a few cheeky shandies after, natch!

Andie xxx