Which post castration treatment is the best?

[WheelyCurious]

Basically there are about 4 main approaches, each has plus and minus sides...

1. Hormone replacement w/ Testosterone - good for bone health, downside is still being on T, which is a problem for some folks, for a variety of reasons... Some health risks depending on dose, method of taking, exact type, etc.

2. Hormone replacement w/ Estrogen - again good for bones, more effective for getting 'eunuch calm' avoids problems w/ testosterone, some health risks including liver damage and blood clots, can be reduced by method of use - avoid oral, go for patches or injection. (FWIW, I'm at high risk of blood clots due to wheelchair use, my doc has me on E patches) SOME level of feminization possible, depends on a number of factors, such as age (older will get less) dosage, family (how 'endowed' are your female relatives?) and so on.

3. Use of SERMS which act like estrogen for bone health, but are less likely to cause feminizing. Downside is much higher risk of blood clots.

4. Hormone free - highest risk for bone health, depression and other 'downside risks' of castration, but many live that way.

I do strongly recommend doing at least some 'basic research' as that will make you much better able to discuss options w/ your medical team....

WheelyCurious

[4everLimp (imported)]

Why can't anyone on this site answer the question I have posted several times and in several different threads? What is is low dose orally taken estrogen that will protect bone health with minimal feminization? I've asked on several threads, posts, replies, and different forums. Is .5mg enough? 1mg? Everyone seems to tip toe around it. Someone has to have experienced this. Please! I am struggling to find an answer.

[kristoff]

Why can't anyone on this site answer the question I have posted several times and in several different threads? What is is low dose orally taken estrogen that will protect bone health with minimal feminization? I've asked on several threads, posts, replies, and different forums. Is .5mg enough? 1mg? Everyone seems to tip toe around it. Someone has to have experienced this. Please! I am struggling to find an answer.

I rarely use testosterone, maybe one dose in a week. 4 days a week I use 2 mg estrofem tablets. I am doing fine; no feminization. My experience is not a guarantee. I am due for labs in another month or so, I will know more then. I regularly see an endo for my hormones.

[WheelyCurious]

Why can't anyone on this site answer the question I have posted several times and in several different threads? What is is low dose orally taken estrogen that will protect bone health with minimal feminization? I've asked on several threads, posts, replies, and different forums. Is .5mg enough? 1mg? Everyone seems to tip toe around it. Someone has to have experienced this. Please! I am struggling to find an answer.

Have you looked at http://forums.eunuch.org/showthread.php ... feminizing ? It may give you some hints...

I think one reason you may not be getting an answer is things like this quote from the above

To Feminize:

2-8mg of Estrofem sublingualy as tolerated by your liver

Oral estrogens can cause significantly more hepatic and cardiac impairment than injected, and is only recommended if shots can not be tolerated weekly.

(bold added....)

Unfortunately the linked thread is more focused on feminizing, so it isn't clear on how much is enough for bone health w/o feminizing, but the 1mg seems like it might be OK, as it is about half what the folks looking for boobs were taking...

FWIW, as I've mentioned my TG-doc, who is mostly an endocrinologist has me on a 0.1mg / day patch... This may get adjusted after my next round of bloodwork at the end of the month, but she expects it will be about right. I am not sure about the dose w/ shots, but I believe it's on a similar order of magnitude.

Oral is much less effective as it has to pass through your digestive system and liver before it gets to your system (which is why it's bad for your liver) while the patches and shots go directly to work.... This means you need more Oral, etc...

WheelyCurious

[Losethem (imported)]

Why can't anyone on this site answer the question I have posted several times and in several different threads? What is is low dose orally taken estrogen that will protect bone health with minimal feminization? I've asked on several threads, posts, replies, and different forums. Is .5mg enough? 1mg? Everyone seems to tip toe around it. Someone has to have experienced this. Please! I am struggling to find an answer.

I'd take it for what it is. I'm not sure if it's folks are uncomfortable answering your question or simply do not have experience relevant to the question asked. If it's the latter, I think it would be much better to receive no answer, than a wrong answer.

Regardless, I do hope you're able to find an answer be it here or elsewhere.

[JessicaH (imported)]

Low dose depends on how it’s taken. If taking pills, 1-2mg would be low dose

[JustMe (imported)]

Why can't anyone on this site answer the question I have posted several times and in several different threads? What is is low dose orally taken estrogen that will protect bone health with minimal feminization? I've asked on several threads, posts, replies, and different forums. Is .5mg enough? 1mg? Everyone seems to tip toe around it. Someone has to have experienced this. Please! I am struggling to find an answer.

I guess the best place to ask such a question, would be to an endocrinologist. After all they are supposed to have great knowledge about this. Basically taking artificial estrogen is something a lot of women does after menopause. Just my take on this.

[Valery_V (imported)]

In my opinion, the ultimate goal of any treatment should be to achieve normal health and good mood without further introduction of any drugs into your body.

Therefore, the help of one endocrinologist may not be enough ...

For each person, treatment is always individual and often depends on his own position in life ...

[JessicaH (imported)]

Don’t rely on any one endo. The best HRT for a eunuch or trans has expired patents and is cheap and generic. There are no sales reps pushing it to your doctor and it’s not being discussed at any conferences paid for by Pharma. You are your own best medical advocate!

[Nathan74 (imported)]

I rarely use testosterone, maybe one dose in a week. 4 days a week I use 2 mg estrofem tablets. I am doing fine; no feminization. My experience is not a guarantee. I am due for labs in another month or so, I will know more then. I regularly see an endo for my hormones.

I'm getting my orchie in 8 days and I'm starting on a low dose of estradiol valerate. My starting dose is 1mg, how much testosterone are you adding in? There's not much info available that I could find on an estrogen dominant slow or no feminization mix. I have to wait 2-3 more months before I see an endocrinologist who specializes in trans and non binary care. I'm medicating myself with E as I go off of T while I'm waiting. I was considering staying on a tiny injectable dose of T for a while along with the E to avoid a crash.