I am almost a year on hormones and have been doing injections for about 2 months now. I started to have everyone call me by my new name and pronouns as the new year hit. I’ve had very little backlash from anyone, but I also still present fairly “masculine” as my job basically requires t-shirt and jeans… Otherwise I’d likely ruin some nice clothes.
3 Likes
There are a few studies that were published, but not peer reviewed about a possible treatment for for PCOS that stems from advances in transgender care… which actually started with prostate cancer treatment.
@Lovehoney_Brenna am I allowed to talk about medications? Not dosage or giving advice like “try 100mg of this!”, but saying “Oh look up research and ask your dr about XYZ product since it has done this this and this”
2 Likes
I can’t see why not 
3 Likes
@MsD Totally agree - Plenty of us born female spend our working lives in jeans and a t-shirt. Doesn’t make me or you any less of a woman inside and definitely better than wrecking nice clothes 
.
3 Likes
With Brenna’s blessing I’m going to get nerdy in here. Do note I am not a Dr, I’ve just done an abundance of research on the topic and some of what I type will be paraphrased. If interested, I highly suggest doing your own research on the matter.
There is a medication called Bicalutamide that is initially used for treating prostate cancer as it prevents the absorption of Testosterone(T) up to a certain amount (varies by dosage and human taking it). It does not prevent the production of T. What doctors discovered is that it also prevented the absorption of dihydrotestosterone(DHT), which is a much stronger version of T. Kind of like how Estradiol(E2) is stronger than Estrone(E1). DHT is directly linked to prostate cancer and is believed to be linked to pattern baldness. More directly a persons reaction to DHT in their system.
All that being said, Bicalutamide has become more favored with use for blocking T in transgender women as opposed to spironolactone. Studies suggest it is much safer, even though it does not block production of T. However, through aromatase, excess T not absorbed by the body is converted to E2. There’s a bit more to it all BUT, this has lead some researchers to question if Bicalutamide could be used to treat PCOS, as it would reduce the amount of T absorbed by the body and passively increase E2 levels. It should also help with balding as it prevents absorption of DHT as well.
So once more, I suggest doing some research on your own and present it to your Dr. There is also a study currently going on for a topical compound with Finasteride and Minoxidil in it. There is very little information out there on that one though. If you have any questions, I can try to answer, but again… not a Dr, just really read on the subject.
3 Likes
That’s great, congratulations. It’s quite a job informing all the organisations that you have to, it’s surprising just how many there are to notify.
I have been referred for my surgery following my second opinion consultation, but they are not accepting any new referrals at the moment, due to Covid. Also been referred for genital hair removal, but not yet heard anything from the clinic which does the treatment, I don’t know if they are back working yet.
@Goth_Girl Sorry I can’t help much with your problem, I think soy contains phytoestriodol, oestrogen and testosterone try to cancel each other out, so higher oestrogen levels could help with the testosterone. And I think there are hair loss products for menopausal women as it’s dropping oestrogen levels which allow testosterone to increase in women in the menopause, I believe they contain phyto estradiol. Not quite the same thing, but similar. I used to know a woman, who had trouble conceiving, I’m sure it was because of PCOS, because she said something about high testosterone levels, and she took Omega oils, 3 6 and 9 she now has 3 kids. not the same again but it may be of some interest.
I don’t know of any natural anti-androgens. The same estradiol ( don’t know why it’s called estradiol, not oestrogen, but that’s what it says on the bottle) used to treat the menopause is used for trans women, and is prescribed off licence, if you can find a GP who will do that, I had to move GP’s to get it prescribed, maybe you could find a GP who would prescribe a T blocker. A one month T blocker injection costs £80 so my GP told me, so cost may also come into the equation with a particular GP.
1 Like
So there are 2 types of Estrogen that people are concerned about: Estrone (E1) and Estradiol (E2). The pills transgender women are prescribed are E2 specifically and our bodes process it into E1 (and trace amounts of E3 but nobody minds that one). But that is why its referred to it as E2 as opposed to the generic Estrogen.
2 Likes
@Naomithea
Here’s a few random thoughts I’ve had which you may find helpful.
Another tip for speech; women tend to move their upper lip much more than men when speaking. A good example for you to watch for this, is LH Jess doing a U tube post, she does noticeably use her upper lip when speaking.
Be mindful of your inner voice, if you aren’t already; get used to speaking to yourself as a woman. Like, say to yourself, “hey girl get it together” etc. Use your new first name talking in your head to your self as well. I found it helps a bit with the dysphoria.
Watch out and be mindful, if you do something like bang your shins on a shopping trolley, you may find out at first you can end up sounding very masculine with an “ouch” or whatever expletive comes out of your mouth. Practice these in your female voice, a lot until they start to become second nature. It’s things which do you or say automatically without thinking about them, that will trip you up at first.
3 Likes
@Naomithea
Just to let you know that I have still heard nothing more about my surgery, it’s been 12 months now since I received my consent for surgery from the gender clinic.
If you or anyone else would like some help with their transition then please feel free to ask, and I will do my best.
I’m not around on the forum much, and won’t be, I just have a quick look in from time to time to check here, as I’m feeling pretty c**p about myself, and have zero interest in anything sexual.
I’m trying to find out what kind of questions are asked during the ‘interview’ phase before they consent to give you treatment. I know I have to have three meetings before any treatments are given and ultimately they make the decision but I want to know what it’s based on.
A friend of mine recently had surgery who was due to have it before the pandemic. If I were you I would chase them up and see if they can give you are time period.
@Naomithea
I don’t recall just how much I have said before but I will go through it again.
Once you have your first appointment at the clinic which in my case was with a psychologist, you will be given a different clinician with whom you will a number of appointments over your time at the clinic. Bear in mind this my take a slightly different track at your clinic, also it will be based you their assessment of you personally, you may be given appointments with clinicians from other disciplines within the clinic, in any areas which they feel you may benefit from, in order to help make your transition as easy as possible.
Don’t worry about these appointments, just be honest and open about your feelings regarding your decision to transition. There are no right or wrong answers ( unless you said something like “I have a fetish to have a vagina” ; that’s not what a transition is about, and I’m sure not your’s ). And there are no trick questions, just ones to help them assess your commitment to your transition; and see what you understand about the origins of of of your gender issues. What they don’t want to end up doing is to provide any kind of irreversible treatment, which you latter come to deeply regret. They are there to help and protect you through out your transition, but they need to understand you too.
It will come in stages, once they are happy with your progress, and if you feel you are ready you will be given consent to begin hormones, and testosterone blockers. latter they will give you a diagnosis, (such as gender dysphoria, and trans-sexuality, at which point if they feel that this is needed for you they will recommend surgery.
Some time after that you will have two appointments to confirm your consent for surgery. For me the first one consisted of being asked if I understood the methods that may be used to create my neo-vagina and all the risks involved in that surgery. they will give you all the information before hand to study. Part of it I was also told was to make sure I had the capacity to retain this information. The second one turned out to be simply the clinician going over the risks again with me, and telling me that they were happy after reading all the information which had been given to them about me, to give final consent. The second opinion has to be with a clinician with whom you have had no previous contact.
Has your friend not spoken to you about their experiences.
My referral to my surgery only went as far as the trans surgery referral hub, I was told my surgeon was not currently accepting new referrals due to the back log. I cannot make contact with my surgeon until he finally puts me onto his list. I am due to speak to my gender clinic shortly and intend to ask if they have any new info on possible time scales.
I have tried to give as much detail as I can, but it does only relate to my own experiences, but if you are still not sure about anything or you feel I have not covered everything you were asking about, please say so, and be as specific as possible.
I know the wait times for first appointments at my clinic are now almost 4 years, I hope yours are shorter. Just know that you will get there in the end, the surgery while it seems so important and urgent
won’t actually change much in your day to day life, few people will will know the difference, no one will know unless you tell them. Get out there and live life as a woman as soon as you can if your are not already. I seem to remember you saying you had changed your name.
For me the surgery will be about how I feel as complete a woman as I can be. It’s like having a birth defect, but instead of just a missing limb or similar, it’s my brain that’s been put in a perfectly normal body, but of the wrong sex. Surgery can only do so much to correct that, what is most important for me is for others to accept my birth as the accident of nature that was, and accept the woman who’s mind lives inside this body and always has, as a woman.
I will still have to tell any potential partner that I’m trans, for the right person it shouldn’t make any difference whether or not I have had surgery; it’s just for me that it’s important. Sure My mind says that sex feels all messed up and wrong being the one to be able to penetrate, and I don’t particularly want to; I want to be penetrated, but it’s mostly about being able to live my life the way my mind needs me to, and for the rest of the world to see me that same way; as much as people will, at this juncture in time. If My surgeon refuses me ( I have health issues which could make surgery more risky, so it’s a possibility I could be refused ), then I will have to live the rest of my life as I am now. There will not be much I can do about that, if it goes that way.
@Naomithea
Here’s a link to the surgery info, but it’s going to be a while before you will need it, I’m sorry to say.
By the way if you feel able to , could you let me know which one of the 2 hospitals doing the surgery for the NHS did your friend recently have their surgery, if it was on the NHS, because you can go private if you have the cash. It may help me have some idea if my surgeon has started working through their list again.
Thanks that’s super helpful. My friends is a very closed person and doesn’t like to talk about it much. Oh yes I’m already living as woman. Yes I changed my name and I’m dressing in a more feminine style. My hair is growing out and I’m practising make up. I’m unlikely to get a first appointment before December 2023 but I keep an eye on their website as to how they are progressing with admissions. At least the clinic may be able to give you some insight as to the back log. I feel the same about surgery and sex. Being the one to penetrate someone just feels wrong.
Thank you so much I feel a lot better knowing this now. My gender issues span as far back as I can remember.
@Naomithea
I have a couple more tips you may or may not want to try. I have mentioned this before but have added a bit more detail.
Laser treatment for body hair is not provide on the NHS so I started epilating ( I bought an electrical, epilator as it works out cheaper than going for a wax every few weeks. Or messing with home waxing, it’s more private too) It hurt rather a lot at first but soon it was not painful at all, shave first then let it grow out to 5 or 6 mm. Epilating longer hair is more painful. I also found out that if you epilate with the direction of growth first it hursts less but is slower going, and doesn’t get all the hairs. When you have thinned it out just go against the growth as you are supposed to do according to the instructions; same as waxing.
Over time ( years ) you should find that most of the hair stops growing, (mine did) I have done my whole body, only pubic and arm pit hair still grows, and that is much finer and more sparse.
I can’t remember if I have mentioned this next one before, so I will write it anyway.
Basically I hated masturbating ( the issue of it feeling wrong again ), so I though I would re-program my mind. What I did was to lay on my back and in my mind transferred the sensations I felt from my penis ( yuck ! I hate saying that word in reference to myself) while masturbating, down to where my vagina will be created, even to the point of making myself feel the sensations internally; as if I was being penetrated by a man.
I also learned to open up my pelvic floor muscles, it help to create the sensation of being penetrated, even though there isn’t an opening there in my body; yet. It takes a bit of learning but it can be done, it’s sort of like barring down to go to the loo, only you sort of use the muscles in the pelvic floor which are a bit higher up; the perineal area, but internally.
And at other times, ( as I’m bi, well pan but anyway ) I made myself feel the sensations I imagine would come from having a woman grinding against my vulva, by transferring in my mind, the locations of sensations to the place on my body where my vulva will be created. My idea being that once I have had my surgery, my mind will already have the correct neural pathways to correctly associate with my new anatomy.
But right now I have run out of steam, and lost any interest in anything sexual; I have only had sex a handful of times ( for my own pleasure, that being pegged ) in the last 38 years. I have given oral to a woman a fair few times, as I didn’t want to penetrate, and just let it go at that, as they mostly were not into pegging.
I think you are much younger than me, so I hope you will make it through with your libido intact, many trans women do. I will just have to see what happens post surgery, but it’s going to take a lover to get me fired up again, if at all. My own fault for taking such a very long time to start my transition.
You will get there in the end, and it will be worth all the effort and lost time; I’m surprised how quickly the time has passed, I will have been full time for 6 years in September. I went full time for 3 months before I asked my GP for a referral, and started growing my hair a full year before that.
Like I said anything I can help with I will, if you feel able to open up about it, I’ve decided I’m too old to start worrying about opening up.
I’ve got a home laser machine so I can laser every time I’ve shaved and it’s already thinning my body hair.
I’ll have to try the reprogramming, and pelvic muscle workings.
My sex drive is still there for the moment. I love giving oral and Im a lesbian so girls are my only interest but I’m alone atm. I wouldn’t mind somebody pegging me but I’ve just not got that right now.
I’m 34 and I don’t know your age. I’d be interested to know where you are and which clinic you attended. I’m in Nottinghamshire area so I’m going to the clinic in Nottingham. I wish made these changes younger but with such unsupportive people it would have been impossible and now I have much better people around me. I’ve done huge amounts of research but I’ll probably come up with questions and I’ll be keeping you updated with my progress and I’d be happy to hear about yours.
Yes I will post more on my transition, once I have had my surgery, so I can let you and others know what to expect. If you or anyone else on here who reads this, has anything helpful to say on lesbian dating, then I would love to hear. I have never really dated at all my entire life, just had hook ups, after having had one long term relationship which in she turned abusive on me, ( she started that relationship, and we never did the dating thing either, she just wanted to go straight to having sex). So on the how to meet someone for a long term relationship front I’m a bit clueless. At least I know what I’m doing in the bedroom, thank the light for small mercies.
1 Like
That’s ok. I’m naturally curious and it’s great to be able to discuss this with someone. I would say try a dating app there’s several that cater exclusively to the LGBTQ+ community.
I know this thread has been quiet for a while but I have some big news. Next month ( November) I have my first meeting with the gender specialists at my gender clinic.
6 Likes
So had the first meet-up. It was so good to talk to someone who understood my position, someone who had heard it all before. It was such a positive experience but now I have to wait up to 6 months till the next appointment because there as so many people going through transitioning.
2 Likes
Just another small update. Two weeks ago had my second appointment and got the green light for treatment. May still have to wait up to 6 months for my first dose of hormones but I’m guaranteed HRT, Voice feminisation lessons, facial hair removal and Bottom surgery. All on the NHS anything else I have to pay (e.g. other surgeries, hair removal from other body part) But basically it’s happening just a waiting game now.