September 4, 2010 1:35 AM BST
http://www.romantasy.com/[...]er.html
Rib-cage controlling corsets. My sense is that these people are quite informed on the topic of corsetry.
September 14, 2010 12:13 AM BST
Hi Melody, I’m agreeing with Marsha. Hormones or herbs won’t cause significant changes to the skeleton.
During puberty boys and girls experience different changes in skeletal structure, and girls gain fat where boys don’t, plus they start growing breast tissue of course. Skeletonly speaking, as well as it growing upwards and generally bigger, the hips widen in girls, and shoulders broaden in boys. HGH – human growth hormone works in syncopation with testosterone and oestrogen. Some years beyond puberty, the bones stop growing and become fused in place. Any further growth later in life from HRT is not going to happen. Hips won’t get wider, though you may get a little more fat there, if you’re lucky. Any shrinkage of bones is unlikely and at most would be extremely minimal. Cartilage and soft tissue might be affected, muscle mass very probably will be, and quite noticeably. This may account for changes in height, shoe size, even dress size. My shoulders do seem less broad than they used to be (and I am a size 12 now, previously 14), although I was never muscley, never worked out would be an understatement, the hormones have made a difference to my size and shape.
I don’t believe the angle of the pelvis would ever change via anything other than improved posture or relentless torture.
Changes from hormones are on the whole quite subtle, but a little less here, a little more there, and it eventually all starts to make a difference.
Osteoporosis is neither introduced nor made more serious if one is taking feminising substances, and quite the contrary if you are post-op. With only trace amounts of either hormone, to not take oestrogen would put you at high risk of developing osteoporosis.
xx
September 14, 2010 1:16 AM BST
Hi Marsha and Lucy,
Thank you for the info you've provided. You've both confirmed what I suspected about HRT/hormones/herbals and changes to the skeleton, but I had nothing to confirm it. You girls provide a very useful service in this forum and I, for one, really appreciate it.
Now the question is, do I disabuse my friends of their illusions? I think I'll just quietly let them be, unless they ask. If they do, I'll gently refer them to your responses.
Thanks again,
Melody
September 14, 2010 1:31 AM BST
In the UK Zoladex (Goserelin), which is an implant, is used as an anti-androgen. Its main use is for prostate cancer. One of the main side effects is bone pain, which I experience, especially lower back. So this could be concidered a drug that affects the skeleton but by all accounts if the drug is ceased the pain goes away.
September 14, 2010 6:48 AM BST
Melody,
Hormones can have some influence on the rate of "bone maintenance" in older persons. The closer a person is to puberty ....the more probability that changes can occur. The pituitary and thyroid glands also have to be supportive to the process. This can be done, but can also create unforeseen problems ... as the many systems in the body are all interrelated.
As you are aware, many "ovarians" can be "butt-ugly" and very un-feminine as well - especially as they get older.
We should all be grateful that we been given the opportunity to "distance ourselves" from the male gender in what ever way , and amount, we are able to.
The "Woman within" is what counts.
---------------------------------------------
a little quote from a Bob Dylan Song (It's all over now, Baby Blue) has always had meaning for me
"Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you.
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you.
The vagabond who's rapping at your door ... Is standing in the clothes that you once wore."