Starting feminizing hormone therapy is a beautiful step. It is a time when your body starts to match the person you have always been inside. You might feel very happy, but you might also feel a little nervous. That is totally normal!
You likely have many questions right now. What will happen to my body? How long will the changes take? Will I feel different? We know that waiting for answers can be hard.
At Health Support Services, we want to make this journey easy for you. We provide special care for transgender hormone management as well as non-binary hormone treatment.
Below, we’ll cover the changes you can expect.
What Is Feminizing Hormone Therapy?
Feminizing hormone therapy, or male-to-female (MTF) hormone therapy, is a medical treatment. It uses medication to change hormone levels in your body. Hormones tell your body how to grow and look.
When you start this therapy, you take prescribed medicines that contain estrogen, which can come in pills, patches, or an HRT spray. Estrogen creates female traits. You might also take a medicine to block testosterone. Testosterone creates male traits.
While many wonder about the best supplements for an MTF transition, a medically supervised prescription is the truest path to the best MTF transition.
By adding estrogen and lowering testosterone, your body will slowly change. It takes time, patience and good medical care. Over time, you will start to see the real you shining through.
Emotional Changes You Might Notice
Before your body changes on the outside, you might feel changes on the inside. Hormones have a significant effect on your feelings, which is often one of the most immediate effects of MTF HRT.
For the first few weeks, you may feel as if you are on an emotional roller coaster. Some days you might feel very happy. Other days, it may be a sad movie that makes you cry. This is due to the brain’s adjustment to fluctuating hormone levels.
Many also state that they are finding a lot of peace inside them. They feel calm because they are taking steps to be their true selves.
When you feel too sad, remember you are not alone. At Health Support Services, we offer mental health support to help you feel better.
Physical Changes in the First Few Months
When looking at a standard estrogen HRT timeline, you will see physical changes begin within a few weeks to a few months.
Here’s what to expect early on:
- Softer skin: Your skin becomes smoother, less oily and may have fewer breakouts
- Different body odor: Lower testosterone changes how your sweat smells
- Breast budding: Small, tender bumps under your nipples signal breast growth is starting
- Normal soreness: Tenderness in your chest is a sign the medicine is working
Physical Changes After a Year
As time goes on, changes become more visible. After six months to a year, you’ll notice:
- Body shape shifts: Fat redistributes to your hips, thighs and bottom
- Softer face: More fat in your cheeks creates a softer appearance
- Less muscle mass: You may lose strength in your arms and legs, looking less bulky
- Slower body hair growth: Arm and leg hair becomes thinner and lighter
- Continued breast growth: Full development takes a few years; give your body time
Things That Stay the Same
While many things change, some things remain the same:
- Your voice: Estrogen does not make your voice higher (voice training can help)
- Facial hair: It may grow more slowly, but you’ll likely still need to shave (laser hair removal is an option)
- Bone structure: You won’t get shorter, but smaller muscles will make your shape look softer