I’m trans femme, considering hrt. By a long way, most reports of what it’s like say: within the first week I felt different emotionally /in my mind. Feelings seem to vary from calmer, to the author feeling more herself. This initial euphoric feeling is reported to fade over time, usually.
I just wondered how it would feel for a cis man if he were to take it for a week. I understand that if you stopped after a week there would not be any long term effects at all. So I’d be surprised if it hadn’t been tried!
Why do I wonder this? I suppose I’m wondering if it feels good for everyone. I’m scared of taking it. But I’m scared of living with the constant doubt. Most gender affirming actions I’ve taken have been very helpful, really made me feel more myself. But if hrt makes everyone feel better, at least at first, I wouldn’t be able to know whether it would be right for me by trialling it (and thereby judge whether it might be worth all the downsides that come along with the positives or not).
Any experience shared is v welcome!
Edit: Thanks everyone for interesting info! I wanted to add here at top that in no way am I saying a person’s reaction to hormones has any effect on their gender. I’m not looking to “test” my trans-ness by trying hrt. Just interested to learn more about the range of responses. Many thanks all 🙂
So there isn’t a lot of data on that, but there are many cases of cis women taking testosterone (bodybuilders). The symptoms described in those cases are very similar to untreated biochemical dysphoria in trans women.
My educated but ignorant assumption would be that cis men taking estrogen would be very close to untreated biochemical dysphoria in trans men.
But you have to understand that dysphoria doesn’t need to be biochemical. There are instances when trans women take estrogen and end up feeling terrible and stopping. I’m sure there are trans women who do not have any biochemical imbalance and they would experience the same symptoms.
Also I think I remember reading that estrogen was used to lessen the symptoms of covid in men, but that might have been a cheese dream or something.
Interesting, thanks!
Yes, I understand re biochemical vs gender, good to clarify though, thanks.