Hello Haley
As always, Wendy gives sound advice, as do the other girls. I will try to add to that with regards to the issue of hormones.
Whether you self-medicate or get a prescription, I’d recommend anyone to do their own research into the effects and implications of taking hormones, learn as much as you can. It’s not an “exact science”, results vary between individuals, so my comments may be a bit of a generalisation, but I shall try to answer your specific questions, and will try to keep it simple.
Anti-androgens: It’s perhaps not a good idea to take these alone; to reduce testosterone without replacing it with oestrogen could cause a hormonal imbalance, the body needs hormones to function properly.
“…I've read that most effects are reversible and it’s not as detrimental to your health as estrogen”.
If whether the effects are reversible or not is a concern of yours I’d advise you to search your soul a little deeper before embarking on a course of hormones. Whether they are or not is debatable and depends on a number of factors (not least - which particular anti-androgen you were to take). Perhaps the safest approach is to assume that their effects will be irreversible. Without going into it in depth, I would disagree with the second part of that statement about what you’ve read. 17B estradiol (a bio-identical oestrogen) is probably no more harmful than any anti-androgen, and in fact is probably safer than most.
As has been pointed out, it’s wise to have blood tests done for things like liver function and blood pressure, to ensure no harm is being done. The usefulness of testing oestrogen/testosterone levels is again debatable, the best indications of results are those that you see! However if you are getting prescriptions these tests should be done for you as a matter of course.
“…if I were to start an androgen blocker, and then an estrogen regiment later... at what point would the results become apparent physically and permanent?”
No straight answer, it varies, and there are many determining factors. I’ve been taking oestrogen for 15 months, I’m about a double-A cup (ie quite small) and could probably hide this by wearing baggy clothes if I wanted to (which I don’t, being full-time). Sadly, I’m sure I could still pass as a man if I needed to, but if I were in a changing room or sauna, it would certainly arouse suspicion. There aren’t many other obvious changes, softer skin certainly (but who’s going to notice that?) and a very slight reduction in body hair, hard to say whether or not that would be noticeable if I’d never shaved my legs.
“…would self medication hurt my chances of getting approved for SRS?”
Doubtful, it wouldn’t in this country.
One other thing I would add about androgen blockers, I’ve read, and been told by more than one doctor that if you take a sufficient quantity of oestrogen then this alone will cause testosterone to be reduced, meaning that androgen blockers are not necessary. Some will disagree with this view, maybe the blockers will help, maybe they won’t, maybe they will cause atrophy of donor tissue in time, adversely affecting the outcome of srs, maybe they won’t. I took spironolactone for a year, and noticed some slight effects relating to my sexual function, but not much else. 6 months after starting on the spiro I added estradiol, (having been wasting my time with phyto-oestrogens), then after another 6 months dropped the spiro. I noticed absolutely no difference anywhere from not taking spiro, perhaps proof that the oestrogen was indeed reducing testosterone.
Our national health service doesn’t prescribe androgen-blockers, their view is as above, that they serve no purpose when taking oestrogen, and simply put more strain on the liver etc.
In very simple terms, oestrogen is the key to feminisation.
You either transition or you don’t, I wouldn’t recommend the “suck it and see” approach, but I would say that after a few months on oestrogen, perhaps before any effects do become irreversible, you will know whether it is for you or not. If the changes in your mood/emotions and body don’t feel right then perhaps you’re doing the wrong thing, but of course this isn’t the only issue if you have any uncertainties about transitioning, hence the “Real Life Experience”. I don’t totally agree with our system’s approach to the RLE, but it sorts the men from the girls. If you can’t handle it, then maybe transition is not for you.
Sorry I’ve rambled on, feel free to ask us all more questions, and best of luck to you.
xx