Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has various physical and emotional effects. Unfortunately, the information online doesn’t always give a clear picture of what to expect, for two reasons: 

• The research on medical transition is still limited.
• Everyone’s experience is different!

Even though every trans person has a somewhat different HRT journey, there are some common effects. This is my experience.

Watch my latest YouTube video for an overview, and read below for more detail.

Nights aren’t so hard anymore

As your testosterone levels plummet, one of the first things that stop is spontaneous nighttime erections. For me, this started happening (well, stopped happening) within the first couple of weeks. 

If you experience bottom dysphoria, and are planning to get rid of that part, this isn’t so bad. But if you’re planning to keep it, this means you have to exercise that part regularly. The suggested schedule is at least three times a week for at least ten minutes each time. If you don’t raise the flag regularly, scar tissue will develop. When too much scar tissue builds up, Mr. Happy is gone for good. 

I went through a difficult time in this regard in my first six months due to the emotional changes I talk about below, but eventually I reached a point where it became easy again. 

Soft as a trans girl’s bottom

The most significant early effect was that my skin started to feel softer. I expected this to happen because it’s a well-documented effect. But I had pretty good skin for my age before I started HRT, so I wasn’t ready for how dramatic this effect would be. I couldn’t stop touching the side of my neck!

After starting in certain areas, the effect spreads across all of your skin. You have to be a little more careful if you tend to bump into things, but this change is very easy to get used to. 

The roller coaster

The emotional changes I felt within the first couple of months were a little more challenging. My emotional highs were higher, and the lows were lower. But I was significantly depressed before starting HRT, so the lows weren’t much different from my old baseline. 

And I could deal with the emotions much more easily, despite their greater range. In my old life, when I got upset, my emotions would get the better of me. I would shout and hit things. But now, even though I feel stronger highs and lows, I can maintain my composure and let everything out when it’s safe to do so. 

The itty bitty committee

Ater a couple of months, I noticed the first hints of breast development. I didn’t notice a change in size right away, but they started hurting—and they basically haven’t stopped. It’s a good thing my ability to deal with pain has increased considerably. Even so, I usually wear a lined bra in case I bump into something. 

After a year, I was approaching a reasonable 36 B. Now I comfortably fill that size. In a push-up bra, I have real cleavage! And I’ll probably keep growing for a while. Officially, breast development is supposed to peak in 2-3 years, but according to unofficial surveys, they keep growing long after that. 

Hair today…more tomorrow!

When you start feminizing HRT, your doctor will tell you that you can expect hair loss to stop, but don’t expect any re-growth. However, almost every trans woman I’ve talked to confirms that their hair does grow back. If you started out thin with a bald spot (like I did), you’re not going to look like Selena Gomez, but old, dormant follicles may reactivate. My thin patch is filling in, although the progress is painfully slow. 

Fo over a year, I would not get my hair cut because I spent far too many years with very short hair. But last month, I got my first feminine haircut, and it feels a lot fuller than it did before. Keep your split ends trimmed and use a sulfate-free shampoo. 

Hard curves ahead

I’ve bucked one trend so far. For the most part, reducing your testosterone level makes it more difficult to maintain muscle mass. I’ve always been lucky. In my old life, I maintained pretty decent strength with very little exercise. After a year and a half on hormones, I haven’t really lost anything. And I’ve just started a job that’s somewhat physically demanding, so I expect my hard curves to stick around. 

Facing my true self

I forgot to include this section in the video! My face has changed considerably over the last year and a half. My features are softer. My eyes look more open. My cheekbones stand out more. And my lips are starting to get a bit fuller. This started early on, and it’s been continuing pretty steadily. In a couple more years, I don’t think there will be anything masculine left in my face. 

What has your experience been like?

If you’re trans, or you’ve been on hormone therapy for another reason, please share your experience in the comments, either here or on YouTube.