I Tried HRT For 3 Months, And It Changed My Life

Using a temporary transition to decide if it’s right for you.

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

At the beginning of 2017, when I was starting to really consider transitioning, I became trapped in a thought loop that lasted several months.

I was torn between the need to transition genders, and the logical arguments against it.

My mind was occupied by the same circle of thought for months.

“I feel this deep need to transition, but I don’t want to be hated by society”

“I’m so depressed now, maybe things will get better if I transition”

“But I’m so well liked as a man, I will ruin my chances at a normal successful life”

There seemed to be legitimate concerns for both sides, so I became trapped in inaction.

After several months of feeling stuck, I decided I needed to try something different from what I was already doing, because it was yielding no answers.

I decided to try hormone replacement therapy temporarily.*

I made a promise to myself to do 3 months of HRT and then make a decision on whether I should continue or not.

*I must stress that I used legitimate medical care to have HRT prescribed, and have my blood chemistry carefully monitored. The endocrine system is incredibly complex, and regulates all processes of the body. HRT needs to be monitored by a doctor. I must recommend against non medical HRT or “diy” HRT.

I had my HRT initially prescribed by an informed consent clinic.

It was simple, and relatively quick, but I did have to travel some distance to access a clinic that provided this care.

There are many resources online that can help you find an informed consent clinic, depending on your state or country.

If you have insurance and have access to a health system that provides transgender care, I recommend going through an endocrinologist to ensure the best care possible.

The changes that occur from short term HRT can be irreversible.

In general, the changes from short term MtF HRT are minimal, but there absolutely can be irreversible changes like infertility and noticeable breast growth in MTF HRT, and FtM HRT can cause voice and fertility changes within just the first few weeks.

This is the key to informed consent. The patient must be wholly informed about the risks and potential outcomes of HRT prior to starting it.

Educate yourself on the risks of HRT, and what to expect physiologically.

Don’t by shy with your physician; ask all of the questions you feel you need to ask during your consultation.

Be open to a change of mind.

The point of trying HRT temporarily is to find a better understanding of yourself and your emotions. You may find that it is exactly what you need, or you may have a change of heart and decide it isn’t right for you.

That’s completely fine; transition isn’t necessary for everyone.

There is no commitment necessary, if something doesn’t feel right, you can always stop.

Listen carefully to your body and mind.

Transitioning is an incredibly significant life decision.

When you begin HRT, it is important that you listen carefully to your own needs. Understand how you feel, try to recognize subtle changes in your mood, in your relationship with yourself and the world around you.

Keep a journal during the course of your HRT trial to help recognize trends in moods or thoughts.

Decide if it feels right to continue.

The ultimate goal of temporarily trying HRT is to find the answer to what is right for you. For some, hormones are not the answer, for others it is life changing and essential.

When I reached the end of my first three months, I knew the better path for me was to continue with HRT.

That’s not to say there weren’t hundreds of moments afterward where I questioned everything, and wanted to undo it all. But there was always a subtle unexplainable push to keep going.

Now, over 2 years later, I know I chose the right path, and it has changed my life.