Estrogen without blockers

[Ariana225]

This will be my 15th week on estrogen without T blockers. My doctor said that she has better results with her patients by doing weekly injections of estrogen without the blockers. Is anyone else on estrogen only? I’m 30 years old and here is my results so far.

I’ve had some boob growth with tenderness and budding. To the point where my nipples have started growing in size and it’s obvious even in loose fitting shirts. I’m still in the closest so I am using band aids to hide the constant RT. I have tried pasties and they don’t stay on. And every form of sports bra I have tried still looks like I am wearing a bra. The bandaids work well but cause skin irritation. Does anyone know of a sports bra that doesn’t show obvious lines or is that a pipe dream?

My emotions are flooded all over the place. I cry at everything and anything that is happy or sad. I can definitely feel a more relaxing calmness in my emotions that I have never experienced before. HT definitely helps mentally with my gender dysphoria. It is wonderful to feel like I have the right hormones flowing throughout my body.

Shaving my body hair is almost weekly instead of every day or every other day. My stomach and chest is hardly growing any hair which used to get a lot. I only have to use an epilator on randoms now. My leg and arm hair grows very slow now and seems to be thinning out.

I’ve lost 95% of sexual erges and crave more emotional bonding and cuddling more than ever before. I rather get in jammies and watch a good chick flick cuddled up to the SO.

I was skeptic about taking injections without blockers because I’ve heard you need both. Has anyone else started out only on estrogen and also have had positive results as well? Also on my other question, what is the best way to hide the obvious nipple RT?

[KymberlyOct]

I have no training whatsoever but I am curious regarding your doctor's reasoning for no T blockers. I would think the T is fighting with the E. I don't know maybe your doc is right but I would at least ask the question - what is your logic behind this approach?

[Rianna Humble]

This will be my 15th week on estrogen without T blockers. My doctor said that she has better results with her patients by doing weekly injections of estrogen without the blockers. Is anyone else on estrogen only? I’m 30 years old and here is my results so far.

...

I was skeptic about taking injections without blockers because I’ve heard you need both. Has anyone else started out only on estrogen and also have had positive results as well?
When I started my transition, the gender specialists said that they prefer to start people on Oestrogen only and that in several cases that can be sufficient.

Alas, in my case it was not, so now I have twelve-weekly injections of anti-androgen in the gluteus maximus

[Nigella]

I have always been on E without something blocking the T. Pre SRS my T levels were at a level that both the Endo and I agreed T blockers would not be needed, especially with the medication that I was on at the time.

Post SRS, obviously T blockers were no longer needed. Overall I was happy with the way my HRT pathway went

[Ceera]

I am 61, and in week 14 of E plus t-blocker, and have similar results to what you’re getting without the blocker, as far as boob growth and less need for shaving. Surprisingly, it hasn’t had much impact yet on my sexual urges. I also have not become as emotional. I suspect your E dosage may be higher than mine. My doctor is taking a rather conservative approach there. Nipples are simply going to be sensitive while the growth is going on. It is unavoidable, I believe.

Not sure what kind of ‘pasties’ you tried so far, but most stores that sell bras also sell ‘petals’, which are self-adhesive pasties, shaped like a daisy, and sold specifically to hide nipple bumps that would otherwise show through clothing. If you have not tried those, they may be worth a shot.

Wear looser shirts to hide a sports bra. Nothing will hide what is going on if you wear really tight, thin-material shirts. There are also ‘t-shirt bras’, designed for wearing with a t-shirt, with minimal showing. But they might not be available in smaller cup sizes and at your band size. Might be worth looking for.

Another angle to try. Some sports bras as well as some regular bras include thin foam circles or triangles in the bra cups, which can be removed from the pocket they are supposed to be in, when you wash the bra. These serve to smooth out and hide nipple bumps. They often have tapered edges to make them less noticeable. Perhaps you could use a pair of those, held on with breast form tape, to hide your nipples? At least there would be no lines from a bra’s band or straps.

[pamela7]

i had 5 months on E only before the T blockers. I found only slight effects, and the real growth kicked off with the blocker, and really, all my emotional benefits were after the blockers

[Katya@]

Hi Ariana,
I have my thread on this very topic in the Transexual Body Issues section (https://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?258036-Transition-with-Estrogen-only). I don't want to copy paste all the info from there to here but you are welcome to read it. Please take a look at the post from November 2. I put a link to a 2018 study that shows how using Testosterone blockers such as Spiro is not helping at all with raising E level. It is about time to re-examine the "common wisdom" approach of using it.
Katya

[Ariana225]

Kymberly, I believe the theory behind it is aromatase where androgens are converted into estrogen. And my doctor says the best method is weekly injections because it goes directly into the blood stream whereas taking it oralally it goes through the digestive system where it is metabolized. She claims that her patients most of the time will be fine with just that and it’s supposed to promote better breast development. This is the only trans doctor within 2 hours from me (I’ve asked the local community) so she sees every MTF and FTM in the surrounding areas. I’m going back next month after 20 weeks to get tested again so I will share my results then.

Rianna, that’s what mine said as well. She claims that most will reach desired levels without the Tblockers but after time it still isn’t then she will introduce a light blocker.

Nigella, that is great news. I was curious in hearing from someone with positive results with never taking blockers. I’ve had positive results so far early into it and hope that it continues.

Ceera, that is lovely to hear that you are getting good results so far! I have tried several different kinds of pasties and they stay on the first time really well. But after a couple days they want to keep falling off even after washing them as recommended for reuse. The search continues lol

Pamela, that’s interested to hear. Everyone’s body is so different and reacts in different ways to medication. My wife likes to joke with me how I’m more emotional and sensitive than her. She playfully teases me all the time “really you are crying during this movie?”

- - - Updated - - -

Katya, I’ve heard similar things as well. That it’s the same thing with a body builder taking too much testosterone and it converting it into estrogen and getting undesired “man boobs”. I’ll definately look into it. The medical world when it comes to transgender people is still so new that it’s going to take some time before it’s well known and perfected. I appreciate your feedback and I will read into it further.

[Katya@]

Ariana,
This is the sports bra I use for running that is not noticeable much under another shirt:
https://m.dickssportinggoods.com/p/adidas-womens-on-lock-3-stripe-sports-bra-17adiwnlck3strpbrapu/17adiwnlck3strpbrapu

This is another I tried for everyday but for my proportions, it wasn't as good of a fit but it won't be noticeable:
Calvin Klein Women's Modern... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GBCU18C?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

[LeaP]

You should be able to get by with either a (women’s) fitted or compression tank top instead of a bra. Try Under Armour’s Heat Gear line. Fitted first, and try both your size and a size smaller. They smooth the contours, provide some flattening, and don’t have bra lines.

[Ariana225]

Thanks for the tips leaP and Katya, I’ll have to try them. Bandaids are cheap and effective but they can leave quite the irriatation of the skin for exessive use.

[KymberlyOct]

Ariana - I am sure your doctor is right - she went to medical school - I didn't :D I am glad you asked the question- it's important to hear a doctor's reason for how they want to proceed with any treatment and see if it makes logical sense to you. Your explanation made sense - always ask questions and see if it sounds right to you.

[Ariana225]

I know I was blown away by that when I went in. I was like that’s so contrary to what I’ve heard over and over again. Let’s see how it plays out. So far so good. She’s a younger doctor so maybe there is something she heard in med school that ringed true. I always ask questions and I am very skeptical unless proven otherwise. The only downside of Utah is every time I try to refill my prescription I better give them a two weekly advance or I will be over waiting for my next injection. I’ve actually had crazy life get in the way twice and not got it in time. I would be 17 weeks in instead of 15 if it was in higher demand lol

[KymberlyOct]

Ariana - If you need any additional resources regarding meds or anything else in Utah let me know in a PM I know two post transition women that live there that are active in the community. I am sure they have various contacts so if you need additional help let me know.