Thank you for this breakdown. Even if the conclusion is frustrating, I think it is a really useful explanation for those of us still in the first few years of transition and for us to share with loved ones who have genuine concerns.
Hair growth on e is funny. I'm 65 and have been on e for a little over 4 years. About a year after starting HRT my hair stylist says, "I've never seen this before for someone your age. You are growing NEW hair."
The amount I've gotten out of HRT compared to what I was initially led to expect has been nothing short of astonishing. It's easy to get ideas in your head through osmosis from transphobes, like that hormones basically do nothing, but the reality is damn near magical.
Thanks for this! Reminding myself that hormones are a marathon and not a sprint has been a big growing point for me the last few months. I mean, I've only been on HRT for 1.5 years, which in hindsight is nothing. While this is anecdotal, everything I've heard from other trans women is that hormones have the greatest effects anywhere between the 3-5 year marks. Even then, it's nice to know that changes can still happen as many as 14 or so years after starting, albeit at perhaps a gradually slower rate.
Also, I'm glad the hair growth isn't just me imagining things. I thought I was imagining it at first, but I've had some minor regrowth at the peaks of my "M" hairline.
There's also the added complication that a significant minority of the trans women I interact with have atypical androgen responses, often partial androgen insensitivity. Finally getting a hormone their body can process normally can generate all sorts of interesting responses. One friend who was basically stunted as a testosterone-dominant teenager grew four inches after transitioning in her twenties.
Then again, if we're being open minded, just being trans might be considered its own kind of atypical androgen response.
The thing about puberty lasting a lot longer than a couple of years is really obvious if you just look at people in their late teens and early 20s. I was an older graduate student, and since then I have done some teaching at the college level, and the difference in appearance between college freshmen and college seniors is obvious. It’s not just puberty, but continuing puberty is a big part of it
I got the standard two-year warning from my primary care doctor, though she did make a point to say that we just don't know much of anything for certain. And I did look at the two year mark with some trepidation, but I couldn't bring myself to worry too much. My body is going to do what it's going to do whether I stress about it or not.
I've been on HRT for a bit over three years, and the changes definitely aren't over. Some changes happened VERY quickly - my skin was noticeably softer within days, and breast development started in about a week. I was honestly kind of shocked at how fast that happened, especially because I started on half of the regular dose. Other changes took longer - I finally developed a waist around the three year mark, and fat redistribution has been gradual and slow, but it's still happening. Some of the possible changes haven't happened at all - I haven't lost any muscle mass as far as I can tell, and I've had very little hair regrowth, even with minoxidil to help out. I'm happy to have kept my muscle mass; less so about my hair not coming back.
This is all anecdotal, based on the experience of one person (me), but without solid research, collections of individual experiences are all we've got.
This is a great article. I'm a few months past the 3 year mark and things are still changing (MTF). I'd say the last year is when the woman firmly filled out my face and body without a doubt!
One of the great resources I came across was a reddit transition story series that was exceptionally detailed and well written. It was very enlightening and really helped me set my expectations. You can find it here:
That's a great resource for sure! Just, as a note, many of the datapoints she shares (for instance, about what percentage of people want bottom surgery) aren't accurate anymore. She quotes, for instance, 86% in favor when more recent data says 63ish%.
The lessons are fabulous. The numbers? Mmmmm maybe double check them. All knowledge has a half life!
Not going to lie, this breakdown is making me excited for my future. Recently hit the 9 month mark and I already have boobs big enough that I couldn't boymode if I wanted or needed to without binding. But fortunately, I don't and can embrace the feminine wholeheartedly.
It's already getting better for me inside. Even on 'down' days, I tell myself that I still feel better than I would had I not transitioned.
Thank you for this! I am within a couple weeks of the two-year mark and have been worried that maybe I would not see much change since I had spent most of that time on the patch (former smoker). I was able to switch to oral and then injections once I quit smoking and I do feel like it has made a big difference. But I'm glad to know that being on the minimal dose of estradiol for most of the first two years hasn't limited what I might achieve in terms of physical changes.
Thanks for this article. I have been prepared for a slow process, largely from listening to other trans women's stories on reddit, but seeing it laid out like this helps with the "don't give up hope!" part.
IMO? Even 10-15 years is an underestimate for cis puberty. My experience of androgenic puberty (I was 53 when I started feminizing HRT) was that it just _never ended_. It slows down, as you say, but it never actually _stops_. Most of this has to do with hair and fat patterns: hair conducts a slow-motion war on you, slowly receding from the places where you want it and encroaching on the places where you don't. Slowly, no matter how careful you are with your diet, you get a male-shaped belly paunch. These things just happen. They are androgenic. How does it make sense to _not_ call it part of puberty too?
I'm kind of late to the party, but I want to thank you for this article. I've been on HRT for just over nine months, and as of my last lab results, my E levels are down *again.* I'll be talking to my doctor about a dose increase tomorrow. Luckily, my T level is on the low side of the cisfeminine average range.
On the plus side, I've outgrown a couple of bras, my face has changed considerably, I have no beard shadow at all, and more than one (apparently nearsighted) person has thought I was I cis woman--and considerably younger than my calendar age! (That's the nearsighted part.)
Still, I've worried about when my physical changes might reach the point where I can't expect any more, and whether I'll still be clocked by most people. It's good to see reinforcement that this process doesn't have a definable end point. There's a scene in the Barbie movie that always makes me cry. Barbie is on the bench, taking in the real world. She looks at an old woman beside her and tells her she's so beautiful. The woman replies, "I know it" with a smile that shows her serene self-confidence. Every time I watch that movie, I put myself in her place, knowing that some day, that will be me.
No such thing as late to the party, Violet! And yeah, the idea that "this is it" is scary as hell, but if there's anything I know from being an artist, it's that you've gotta trust the process.
Thank you for this breakdown. Even if the conclusion is frustrating, I think it is a really useful explanation for those of us still in the first few years of transition and for us to share with loved ones who have genuine concerns.
Hair growth on e is funny. I'm 65 and have been on e for a little over 4 years. About a year after starting HRT my hair stylist says, "I've never seen this before for someone your age. You are growing NEW hair."
Same here. My stylist looked at the length and pretty much nailed the point in time when I upped my dose.
The amount I've gotten out of HRT compared to what I was initially led to expect has been nothing short of astonishing. It's easy to get ideas in your head through osmosis from transphobes, like that hormones basically do nothing, but the reality is damn near magical.
Thanks for this! Reminding myself that hormones are a marathon and not a sprint has been a big growing point for me the last few months. I mean, I've only been on HRT for 1.5 years, which in hindsight is nothing. While this is anecdotal, everything I've heard from other trans women is that hormones have the greatest effects anywhere between the 3-5 year marks. Even then, it's nice to know that changes can still happen as many as 14 or so years after starting, albeit at perhaps a gradually slower rate.
Also, I'm glad the hair growth isn't just me imagining things. I thought I was imagining it at first, but I've had some minor regrowth at the peaks of my "M" hairline.
There's also the added complication that a significant minority of the trans women I interact with have atypical androgen responses, often partial androgen insensitivity. Finally getting a hormone their body can process normally can generate all sorts of interesting responses. One friend who was basically stunted as a testosterone-dominant teenager grew four inches after transitioning in her twenties.
Then again, if we're being open minded, just being trans might be considered its own kind of atypical androgen response.
The thing about puberty lasting a lot longer than a couple of years is really obvious if you just look at people in their late teens and early 20s. I was an older graduate student, and since then I have done some teaching at the college level, and the difference in appearance between college freshmen and college seniors is obvious. It’s not just puberty, but continuing puberty is a big part of it
I got the standard two-year warning from my primary care doctor, though she did make a point to say that we just don't know much of anything for certain. And I did look at the two year mark with some trepidation, but I couldn't bring myself to worry too much. My body is going to do what it's going to do whether I stress about it or not.
I've been on HRT for a bit over three years, and the changes definitely aren't over. Some changes happened VERY quickly - my skin was noticeably softer within days, and breast development started in about a week. I was honestly kind of shocked at how fast that happened, especially because I started on half of the regular dose. Other changes took longer - I finally developed a waist around the three year mark, and fat redistribution has been gradual and slow, but it's still happening. Some of the possible changes haven't happened at all - I haven't lost any muscle mass as far as I can tell, and I've had very little hair regrowth, even with minoxidil to help out. I'm happy to have kept my muscle mass; less so about my hair not coming back.
This is all anecdotal, based on the experience of one person (me), but without solid research, collections of individual experiences are all we've got.
Haha no hair regrowth. I didn't think I had hair loss but apparently I did because I had regrowth. Widow's peak almost disappeared.
I gotta be more alert for trans broken arm crap, I've been lucky so far but I fear I might not notice poor care when I get it.
I was shocked at how much hair I got back in tranaition--and sooooo relieved.
I want to thank you. I am just about to hit 16 months on HRT and your articles are very informative for our community.
This is a great article. I'm a few months past the 3 year mark and things are still changing (MTF). I'd say the last year is when the woman firmly filled out my face and body without a doubt!
One of the great resources I came across was a reddit transition story series that was exceptionally detailed and well written. It was very enlightening and really helped me set my expectations. You can find it here:
https://www.reddit.com/user/2d4d_data/comments/axeax8/my_mtf_transition_story_series/
That's a great resource for sure! Just, as a note, many of the datapoints she shares (for instance, about what percentage of people want bottom surgery) aren't accurate anymore. She quotes, for instance, 86% in favor when more recent data says 63ish%.
The lessons are fabulous. The numbers? Mmmmm maybe double check them. All knowledge has a half life!
Really glad you're emphasizing the importance of time and patience.
On year seven of feminizing HRT - no question in my mind that the second puberty is still ongoing.
Not going to lie, this breakdown is making me excited for my future. Recently hit the 9 month mark and I already have boobs big enough that I couldn't boymode if I wanted or needed to without binding. But fortunately, I don't and can embrace the feminine wholeheartedly.
It's already getting better for me inside. Even on 'down' days, I tell myself that I still feel better than I would had I not transitioned.
Thank you for this! I am within a couple weeks of the two-year mark and have been worried that maybe I would not see much change since I had spent most of that time on the patch (former smoker). I was able to switch to oral and then injections once I quit smoking and I do feel like it has made a big difference. But I'm glad to know that being on the minimal dose of estradiol for most of the first two years hasn't limited what I might achieve in terms of physical changes.
I don't really believe it's possible to permanently mess up a hormonal transition from dosing missteps--but of course, there's no firm data.
Thanks for this article. I have been prepared for a slow process, largely from listening to other trans women's stories on reddit, but seeing it laid out like this helps with the "don't give up hope!" part.
IMO? Even 10-15 years is an underestimate for cis puberty. My experience of androgenic puberty (I was 53 when I started feminizing HRT) was that it just _never ended_. It slows down, as you say, but it never actually _stops_. Most of this has to do with hair and fat patterns: hair conducts a slow-motion war on you, slowly receding from the places where you want it and encroaching on the places where you don't. Slowly, no matter how careful you are with your diet, you get a male-shaped belly paunch. These things just happen. They are androgenic. How does it make sense to _not_ call it part of puberty too?
I'm kind of late to the party, but I want to thank you for this article. I've been on HRT for just over nine months, and as of my last lab results, my E levels are down *again.* I'll be talking to my doctor about a dose increase tomorrow. Luckily, my T level is on the low side of the cisfeminine average range.
On the plus side, I've outgrown a couple of bras, my face has changed considerably, I have no beard shadow at all, and more than one (apparently nearsighted) person has thought I was I cis woman--and considerably younger than my calendar age! (That's the nearsighted part.)
Still, I've worried about when my physical changes might reach the point where I can't expect any more, and whether I'll still be clocked by most people. It's good to see reinforcement that this process doesn't have a definable end point. There's a scene in the Barbie movie that always makes me cry. Barbie is on the bench, taking in the real world. She looks at an old woman beside her and tells her she's so beautiful. The woman replies, "I know it" with a smile that shows her serene self-confidence. Every time I watch that movie, I put myself in her place, knowing that some day, that will be me.
No such thing as late to the party, Violet! And yeah, the idea that "this is it" is scary as hell, but if there's anything I know from being an artist, it's that you've gotta trust the process.
You'll get there. =)