FTM's and Transitioning

[Greyson]

Originally Posted by ButchEire

I guess i'm joining this group! I guess i'm also fortunate in that when girls in my high school were anticipating growing breasts, I was desperately wanting to grow facial hair. They got their wish and do did I,lol. I've been shaving since I was 16, with no supplemental hormones. In the 90's, in an attempt to "fit" into the butch mold better, I had three extensive electrolysis treatments, each months at a time, several times a week. The hair invariably came back and I much prefer having it than not.

Please do not take my post as a personal attack. It is not meant to correct or shame you. I do want to point out that the "Butch Mold" is varied. There are butches who prefer and have facial hair. Actually, I am aware of some "femmes" that are okay with having facial hair.

I know as a result of being part of the B-F online communities, I have evolved in my thinking of what is butch and what is femme. I do identify as a Transmasculine Butch. Meaning I was butch identified for most of my life then decided on transition. For me, besides the change in legal status as male, not much of my world view and how I experience it has changed. What has changed, sometimes, is how I am perceived and treated by others. AKA "Male Privledge." It can be both blantant and subtle.

[1ladyface]

Hi All,

So...I'm a femme ladyface and won't be transitioning but I have a hormone related question and I thought you guys might have some insights.

I went back on birth control a few months ago to prevent ovarian cysts (I've had 2 in my life) and I think the hormones are aggravating my obsessive behaviors. When I was in high school and was put on birth control I am CERTAIN that it made my eating disorder worse. And eating disorders are a kind of OCD. So, do you think that's possible? And has anyone experienced anything similar? (obsessive behaviors getting better or worse as a side effect of taking hormones)

I'm not on anything aside from the Nuvaring, so it isn't a weird drug interaction. Thanks in advance for any thoughts you may have on this issue.

[ScandalAndy]

It might just be the hormone release mechanism in the NuvaRing. I was on it for two months and the whole time I had MASSIVE mood swings, lots of crying and anger and early cramping and spotting. I got off it right away, since it clearly wasn't working well with my body chemistry and am back on the pill. So far my moods are much better, but it's still a bit early to tell.

Long story short, my ED and self-image have been HORRIBLE these last two months, on top of the emotional rollercoaster. I can't say if it's a result of the hormones trying to balance out, or something else, just figured I'd let you know that you aren't the only one who went through it on the ring. I'm not sure how much of this will apply to FTMs though, as individuals doing Testosterone HRT are masking/negating the effects of estrogen/progesterone, whereas contraceptive hormones mostly mess with the levels of those hormones in the body.



Guys: do you notice any of these things in yourselves?

Originally Posted by 1ladyface

Hi All,

So...I'm a femme ladyface and won't be transitioning but I have a hormone related question and I thought you guys might have some insights.

I went back on birth control a few months ago to prevent ovarian cysts (I've had 2 in my life) and I think the hormones are aggravating my obsessive behaviors. When I was in high school and was put on birth control I am CERTAIN that it made my eating disorder worse. And eating disorders are a kind of OCD. So, do you think that's possible? And has anyone experienced anything similar? (obsessive behaviors getting better or worse as a side effect of taking hormones)

I'm not on anything aside from the Nuvaring, so it isn't a weird drug interaction. Thanks in advance for any thoughts you may have on this issue.

[Corkey]

I don't know one of us on estrogen who are FTM. One may want to ask other Femmes or MTF.

[ButchEire]

Like Corkey said, FTM's don't typically take female hormones. From a standpoint of a mental health counselor however, any fluctuation in hormones does indeed affect mood, so it's entirely possible.

Originally Posted by ScandalAndy

It might just be the hormone release mechanism in the NuvaRing. I was on it for two months and the whole time I had MASSIVE mood swings, lots of crying and anger and early cramping and spotting. I got off it right away, since it clearly wasn't working well with my body chemistry and am back on the pill. So far my moods are much better, but it's still a bit early to tell.

Long story short, my ED and self-image have been HORRIBLE these last two months, on top of the emotional rollercoaster. I can't say if it's a result of the hormones trying to balance out, or something else, just figured I'd let you know that you aren't the only one who went through it on the ring. I'm not sure how much of this will apply to FTMs though, as individuals doing Testosterone HRT are masking/negating the effects of estrogen/progesterone, whereas contraceptive hormones mostly mess with the levels of those hormones in the body.



Guys: do you notice any of these things in yourselves?

[ScandalAndy]

I did some hunting, there is a "healthy, body, etc. " area of the forums that I think might have better information. The menopause thread is especially helpful and addresses some hormone therapy and associated side effects.

Click here to jump to that section of BFP

Originally Posted by 1ladyface

Hi All,

So...I'm a femme ladyface and won't be transitioning but I have a hormone related question and I thought you guys might have some insights.

I went back on birth control a few months ago to prevent ovarian cysts (I've had 2 in my life) and I think the hormones are aggravating my obsessive behaviors. When I was in high school and was put on birth control I am CERTAIN that it made my eating disorder worse. And eating disorders are a kind of OCD. So, do you think that's possible? And has anyone experienced anything similar? (obsessive behaviors getting better or worse as a side effect of taking hormones)

I'm not on anything aside from the Nuvaring, so it isn't a weird drug interaction. Thanks in advance for any thoughts you may have on this issue.