Anti Androgens

[Sarah-RT]

Hey Everyone.

I had a visit to a psychiatrist yesterday at last for an assessment. During it he suggested that I could begin looking at taking anti androgens to reduce T effects until im ready to move on to E if that is to be the case. Here in Ireland we dont have informed consent clinics and the big endocrinologist hospital are a little archaic in their views when it comes to being trans* so there is a really long waiting list to even get to the stage of taking E and a lot of hoops to jump through.

Im just curious if there are any psychological effects from taking AA's rather than just physical, im asking this based on some of the things Ive seen some trans people posting on other forums that E provides some (though I believe it provides a mild form of anti depressant).

Sarah

[Shelby11]

Yes I take Spiro the biggest annoying side effect is when you have to pee sometimes it is sudden and like you cant hold it I have learned if I think I have to pee I do other could be embarassing

[Rianna Humble]

Here in Ireland we dont have informed consent

Are you saying that the doctors never tell you why they propose a specific course of treatment and that you have to comply against your will if you disagree?

If that is not what you are saying then you do have informed consent.

But perhaps what you meant was you don't commonly have clinics where people walk in, flash the cash and bypass any medical and/or psychological checks and balances. That is not true informed consent.

[LeaP]

Correct. It's better described as a Release of Physician Liability Certificate. Things are always documented these days. Pilate merely had to wash his hands.

[OCCarly]

I cannot speak for the psychological effects of Spiro alone, because I started Spiro and estrogen the same day, but I noticed two significant psychological effects from the two drugs: 1) I have had a quick temper ever since puberty, mostly over machinery not working right or things going wrong in general; 2) I've had anxiety issues my entire life, and those are pretty much gone. While I am pretty sure that the estrogen gets credit for curing my anxiety, I think that the Spiro (antiandrogen) fixed my anger issues and made me a much mellower person in general. YMMV.

[Eryn]

I was told by my endo (and you should verify with your doctor) that our bodies need either estrogen or testosterone and that there can be negative health effects to not having either.

That said, post menopausal women have neither and seem to do fine, easily outliving men.

[MissDanielle]

with spiro, stay hydrated and up your sodium intake.

[Sarah-RT]

Carly I've heard before from a trans youtuber about how mellow they became after beginning transition in comparison to how they were before, hostile and angry. I figure that's the testosterone. I'm similar, I get frustrated easily and become quick to anger.

Eryn I believe your right, I think osteoporosis is a potential risk from lack of hormones but the psychiatrist was saying you can spend several years on anti A's will low risk of anything, granted he's not an endocrinologist but he specialises in gender psychiatry so I assume he has an idea, or rather I hope he has an idea of what he's talking about.

In terms of the informed consent clinics I agree that jumping into the deep end and not going the safer healthier route can be an issue but the system here is tediously slow, it's about 8 months waiting for an appointment alone which features the outdated questions like 'what age as a child did you realise you were born in the wrong body' etc.
As I've learned the trans narrative is less and less simple like that but they are still fixed in it.
I'm eager to try the anti A's at least to see if that helps alleviate my doubting.
The psychiatrist was helpful in his approach by phrasing it as 'rather than saying "what if I'm wrong what if I've made a mistake?" Try looking at it like 'if you take them x y and z will happen but not permanently and if you feel it's not right for you what have you lost?'
To which the answer I have was nothing. It's less daunting that way rather than the negative train of thought i get stuck in.
Similarly he said when I said the same about laser hair removal 'it's not entirely permanent, only electrolysis is. So you remove your facial hair, decide it wasn't what you wanted and you stop having it done. The result would be you look a bit younger for a few years more than normal before it starts returning'
Which again is not as daunting as 'but if in 10-20 years I think I was wrong I've messed up and made a mistake and ruined my life' he was very helpful at rephrasing closed ended negatives into overcomable actions.

[I Am Paula]

I was told by my endo (and you should verify with your doctor) that our bodies need either estrogen or testosterone and that there can be negative health effects to not having either.
That said, post menopausal women have neither and seem to do fine, easily outliving men.

Post menopausal women have a huge bunch of problems all related to lack of hormones. For the last 30 years the standard therapy has been to replace dwindling estrogen. Post menopausal women have to deal with bone loss, loss of libido, hair growth on some parts, and loss on others, and a handfull of other issues. I've never heard a woman of a certain age saying she is 'Doing fine' without proper hormone therapy.
Women live longer cause they don't do the stupid stuff men do- Men's last words 'Hey, watch this!'

[Nigella]

Eryn and Paula have brought up an interesting point, which IMO, is pertinent to the TS community, regarding the lack of Estrogen, that I have asked the question (http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?241232-Natal-Women-and-Hormone-Replacement-Therapy) of GGs about their experiences regarding the menopause.

[Georgette_USA]

Can't speak to the effects of Anti-Androgens, NOT used in the 1970s.

As to HRT for the long term. I stopped after 10 years of Estrogen/Progesterone and post SRS of 7 years at 35. My Gynecologist that I would have exams/tests with couldn't see having to keep at it. Said I would be like a Post-Menopausal woman with NO ovaries/uterus. There were NO studies on long time usage of HRT in the 70-80s. Of what you state my physical libido has dwindled over the years. Have had some small chin hair growth just like my mother in her 50-60s, and my hair is not as long or as full as it used to be.

To double check my own health. In the last year have had Mammogram/Bone Density/Full Heart workup/PSA/Testosterone levels, plus all the usual blood tests. Working on getting an Endo to have full blood hormone levels checked.

The studies of Post-Menopausal women has been up/down about usage of HRT in the last 20-30 years. Do a Google search on HRT Post-menopausal.

The Adrenal glands will produce small amounts of Estrogen/Testosterone for both Post-SRS MtF and Post-Menopausal women.

I never take the full advice or explanations from any experts without my own questions and research.

AS ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK WITH YOUR OWN DOCTORS.