Not a Reason

I read the announcement by Megan Wallant that she was transitioning back to being Michael by April 2013, see link below, because of the health issues associated with the forms of estrogen used with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to change the internal hormone balance from male to female.

There are risks associated with both drugs normally used with HRT, namely Spironlactone and Estradoil with a few lesser drugs for some people. With some people either or both the drugs can produce adverse effects or have pronounced side effects, the former blocking the action of testosterone and the latter producing female-like effects.

Spironlactone can also reduce the metabolism in some people requiring them to gain additional weight on top of the effects of the additional fat while helping to lose weight on others with the decrease in muscle mass without gaining much fat. This is more due to genetics than drugs.

Estradoil is the one which can have the more pronounced adverse effects in the brain by changing the person's emotions and mental makeup. This is the drug which most transitioning women write about with the changes they note over the months and years of their transition.

Estradoil, mostly oral form but other forms of the supplements, has recently (2012) been found to exacerbate symptoms and conditions of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, especially bleeding in their intestinal track.

It has also been noted with a few women who transition is that estradoil can exacerbate a predisposition for depression, especially for those with genetic Dysthymia or a depression-sensitive personality or character.

What Megan wrote about, on her blog is also true for those predisposed to the risk of blood clots. I would, however, argue that not being able to take HRT isn't a reason to not just discontinue one's transition but to transition back to being male.

This is especially true if one has completed their transition with facial cosmetic surgery and even breast augmentation, whether or not they've had Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS), usually called sex reassignment surgery in the US.

You can live as a woman without taking estradoil and take low to moderate dosage of Spironlactone until your GCS after which isn't unnecessary, but even then some take low dosages of testosterone to keep a minmum level for health reasons.

I won't argue against her decision, that's her personal one to make and we to respect. I would argue by itself it's not a reason if you are a woman and want to live the rest of your life as a woman. You don't need estrogen for it.

If you are happy being the woman you know you are, then drugs won't change that, they only help but they aren't or shouldn't be reasons to go back if you can't take them. There are genetic females who can't take more due to the same risks.

The inability to take estrogen only changes one's plans with their transition but not their goal. You adapt and adjust, and if necessary take a break to rethink the plan, but never rethink the goal. It's about being yourself whoever that is, drugs or not.