(marked NSFW just in case)
Hi girlies!
I'd like to share my experience with libido changes and HRT and I'd really like to hear if anyone else has experienced anything similar...
So, to start off, my HRT regimen in the beginning was 50mg of CPA daily (oof) and 4mg of oral E (I did sublingual, of course). It didn't take long at all, and after my second CPA pill, my libido disappeared completely. I had no motivation for sex, masturbation or anything like that. If my bf wanted sex, I obliged, but just to please him, really. I never really stopped using it (ew), because I need it for SRS, but it wasn't very enjoyable. This phase lasted a while...
I remember about 3 months in, I had switched to injections. My libido was weak, but it did exist. My orgasms were alright I suppose. Worse than pre-HRT, weak and less satisfying. Sex with my bf was barely enjoyable, it actually just kinda hurt. 3 months was when my endo gave me prog, 200mg daily. I decided to try rectal.
And prog was...weird. It pretty consistently gave me thoughts about pregnancy. Not much of a libido boost, but a little bit...maybe? Sex was a little more enjoyable. I started wishing my bf could put a baby in me...
My orgasms got stronger too. Just a bit, but they were kinda similar to pre-HRT. It was just a weird hormone overall.
Clearly, prog was doing something. A very subtle something, but not nothing. It wasn't really enough for me to justify taking it rectally (inconvenient), so I started taking it orally...which quickly ended with me eating my entire supply. It did help with my anxiety temporarily tho.
This happened once more.
Prog prescription -> take it rectally -> it's doing something? -> rectally sucks anyway -> eat it all
Months 4-5 tho...my orgasms changed again, even without the prog. They got stronger and shakier, which was a good thing. During this time, I also switched to 25mg CPA. I started enjoying sex a tiny bit more...but I never really looked forward to it. The prep was brutal and tiring and I just felt overall like it wasn't worth it. I much prefered masturbation with a magic wand during this time, instead of all the prep for sex.
Month 6. I got prescribed prog again. This time I decided to avoid oral altogether, whatever may happen. And I also got a dose increase with my endo, 200mg daily to 400mg daily. It's been 7 days since starting 400mg rectally every night. And this may be completely placebo...
But sex just feels...better than it did before prog, every time I have sex now?
The experience is fuller and richer, more sensational. Everything feels right. I feel a much stronger emotional connection to my boyfriend. Without prog, I swear, something was missing from the experience. But now...I feel like I can barely get enough. I actually look forward to it. I beg for it. I'm so mentally aroused all the time...all I can think about is my bf coming home and...you know 😆
The mental aspect is strange. My body does react, my nipples get hard and I think I get flushed, but it reacts much less than pre-HRT. Most of it is going on in my head and I feel like it's more emotional. Pre-HRT, it was much more physical. I actually prefer it this way.
This might be just E alone. I think that, because in my City girl post, I described an intense NSFW moment. And I did enjoy that, a lot. I think it was because I was in the right headspace, after a successful day. Other times, sex wasn't that great. But with prog? Every time is amazing...every round is its own little experience and I love it.
My most recent blood test showed:
- Estradiol: 1350pmol/L at trough (367 pg/ml)
- Progesterone: 556nmol/L (174 ng/ml)
- Testosterone: 0.37nmol/L (10ng/dl)
This is already way too long and I don't even know if I'm making any sense, but what I'm trying to say is that I really enjoy the sexual changes of HRT. Placebo or not...I believe in prog. This is working for me.
I'd be interested in hearing other girls' experiences. I can ramble about my love life all day, but I'm curious about other people's journeys. So please, if you feel comfortable, do share ❤️
50mg daily is dangerous. CPA is powerful, you do not need a lot of it. I started on 12.5mg every 48 hours, in 6 weeks my T was <1nmol/l. After 6 weeks i went down to 12.5mg every 72 hours.
The reason 50mg daily is dangerous is that your liver hasn't had time to clear all of it from your system before you take the next dose, and so it builds and builds and builds. Apart from your liver being stressed by all this work, CPA can cause prolactinomas and meningiomas (benign brain tumours) if it is allowed to build up like that for too long.
You will still get great T suppression from a quarter pill (12.5mg) every 2 or 3 days. The risk of prolactinoma and meningioma is negligible at that dose.
There's no reason to be taking cypro daily now your T levels have flatlined and your E levels are good. You really could probably just stop altogether now because your e-levels are so high it will suppress T all on its own.
Get your liver function and prolactin levels checked.
I'm aware. With even a tiny bit of E, cypro becomes an absurdly powerful AA. 10mg, 25mg and 50mg all work the same with E.
I also know. It's because it's an extremely powerful progestin and meningiomas have progesterone receptors. And cypro raises prolactin to dangerous levels. Not in my case tho, for some reason
Definitely probably could. With an almost 400pg/ml trough, mono would work. I just don't want to risk it, no matter how stupid it may see. If my T comes back, even slightly...it will be a huge issue for me.
CW: Hate for the T hormone (transmascs beware)
My body has been defiled and destroyed by it enough. If it came back for even a brief moment...I'd lose it.Smelling like a monster again, thick, coarse dark hair growing back, emotions being suppressed...I fucking hate T with a passion. If I can do anything to kill it (in my own body), I will.
My prolactin on 50mg was 690 mUI/L and after a couple of months and switching to a higher injection dose went down to 590mUI/L. That's before lowering cypro to 25mg daily. I'll ask about my liver tests.
OK I'm really glad you're on top of your blood testing and I'm glad you know the deal with cypro. Sorry if my comment was condescending, i just found the 50mg daily so alarming.
I also feel the same way about T. I'm not minimising that in any way. I just wouldn't actually survive if it came back, i think i'd be dead within days. I have exactly the same hesitation about stopping cypro, but just get your ass on the lowest effective dose asap. There's just no need to risk anything more than that.
Sorry sweetie, i don't mean to imply you don't know what you're doing, this is just a trans girl feeling quite intense sisterly concern from afar. Lots of love.
Thank you, sis 🩷. I totally get your concern and I'm glad you're concerned for me. Thank you Domi 😭