Transition Without HRT

As anyone who transitions knows under the Standards of Care (SOC), Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is both prescribed and a necessity to change the body, adding a form of an anti-androgen and an estrogen catagory drugs which counters the testosterone production and increases estrogen production in the body.

In effect, depending on which drugs and the dosage along with your genetics, age, body, and other factors, the drugs will change the male characteristics to more female ones such as breasts, fat distribution, body hair, etc., and it will cause either weight gain, most often result, or weight loss, less often result, along with changes in their thoughts and emotions.

There are no consistent results with HRT, which means it's the old adage, "your mileage may vary." And for a few people in transition, their body simply can't tolerate more than low dosages of either, if at all, meaning there are some who can't take HRT, especially the estrogen side which creates the female changes.

This forces those with this problem to transition without HRT, meaning few and little, if any, changes in the body and mind, and relying on their given physical and mental characteristics to get through their transition to surgery.

And then they don't know what happens after surgery since their body isn't producing the minimum male hormones their body needs to function physically and mentally. If they're young, then they have a lifetime of potential problems, and if they're older, especially old, they it's the old adage, "Good luck."

So, to all those in transition and taking HRT, especially high dosages, be thankful your body and mind not only tolerates it but works with it. And give grace to those who can't. They'd love to be like you but can't, so remember how lucky you are.