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Expect to see most of the following results. I’ve listed these effects in order of
degree. The first ones will be the most noticeable, and the last, you may notice,
and may not.
- Your breasts will grow. Growth is typically to one to two cup sizes below your
mother or sisters. Sometimes the areoles and nipples swell, but generally not
significantly, unless you start less than a decade past puberty. The growth is usually
noticable within a couple of months, and starts to level off after a year or so.
Most people won’t change significantly after two years.
- Sperm count drops rapidly. Sometimes it returns to almost normal if hormone
treatment is discontinued within the first couple of months, but after six months or so,
you can expect to be permanently sterilised.
- Male sex drive decreases. Erections become infrequent and difficult to maintain.
After a couple of months, you’ll only have erections when you’re directly stimulated.
Semen secretion decreases, resulting in less intense or unobtainable ejaculatory orgasms.
The testes and prostrate atrophy. The penile skin also shrinks if erections are not regularly
encouraged. However, many people report that their ‘female’ sex drive and level of enjoyment
is increased.
- Fat is redistributed. Your face becomes more feminine in shape. Fat tends to move
away from the waist and toward the hips and buttocks. Some muscle tone is usually lost.
- Body hair growth slows, becomes less dense, and may lighten in colour. Although
oestrogen therapy causes a reduction in the density of the male beard, it does not eliminate
it. Further reductions in body hair can be achieved by taking an anti-androgen, such as Androcur
or Aldactone, in addition to the oestrogen.
- Outer skin layer becomes thinner, lending a finer translucent appearance and increased
susceptibility to scratching and bruising. Tactile sensation becomes more intense.
- Scalp hair becomes thicker, and male pattern baldness generally stops advancing.
In some cases, a fine fuzz may grow back along the line of where scalp hair was recently lost.
- Metabolism decreases. Given a caloric intake and exercise regimen consistent with pre-hormonal
treatment, one tends to gain weight, lose energy, need more sleep, and become cold more easily. Anti-androgens
have a further effect.
- Fingernails become thinner and more brittle.
- Internal emotions are amplified, becoming more apparent, distinguishable, and influential.
Some people report reduced anxiety and increased sense of well-being. This could be a placebo effect.
Changing the hormone therapy (adjusting dosages up or down in the regimen) sometimes causes a week or
two of depression and otherwise unexplainable emotional angst.
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