first of all, i would like to note i am blessed in that the women in my family have BEAUTIFUL genetics when it comes to muscle and fat building/distribution, and that this likely won’t be your situation. nevertheless, i myself when starting HRT would have liked to have heard of a couple accounts similar to mine, because these would have eased my anxiousness with the sudden changes to my body.

i am currently at 6 months, at first two milligrams per week of estradiol cypionate, and then transdermal patches with spironolactone (total of four .2mg/day patches per week with 50mg spironolactone per day)

after about ten or so days, my breasts were considerably tender, and i think a little past two weeks you could notice some breast tissue if i shook my torso. i also began to get a LOT more susceptible to emotion.

about two months in i started not being able to hold onto objects as well just by clamping on stuff with my fingers (i wasn’t good at this prior), and at about three my cystic acne just… stopped being a problem, which was cool. :) honestly kind of expected it but i’m surprised just how effective it was.

at four months, my breasts were fairly noticeable, and the increased fat in my buttocks and thighs was becoming decently apparent. please do note i have little fat on my body in general (weigh 9.5 stone/60kg, a lot of it muscle, and am six feet/185cm tall). my body hair was also growing considerably less, and i noticed for the first time a little fat redistribution on my face too! facial hair still isn’t fun though

as of now:

• pretty much everything related to my reproductive system barely works (tucking is also easier)
• building muscle is a bit more challenging, but is doable, at least for me
• i can definitely be a bit more emotional/mood swingy, but i feel SO much better mentally
• my temperature regulation is a lot worse and i try to make sure to wear something warm that can also be shedded with ease
• i noticed a lot more body smell than before, and i must take care to not drench myself in sweat.
• measured my breasts to be B cup size (a bra is super necessary!)
• nipple soreness comes and go, but nevertheless they are always quite sensitive
• i bike a whole lot, and already had the “T-rex build”, but now my body is becoming very much an hourglass figure (like my family). i definitely am tall, but my legs are especially long compared to my torso, and due to more current clothing trends that means i am very lucky in that i somehow have more clothing choices with traditional womens clothing than mens, of course your mileage may vary
• my allergies seemed to improve?? i don’t know if this is related, but it happened
• also became a LOT more fond of physical affection

overall have liked HRT a whole lot!! my only regret (like many other people) was not having started it sooner, but apart from that having boobs and thighs RULES

please note that i started (and still am) fairly young and am very physically active, my body was also on the more feminine side to begin with (again, like much of my family).

i sincerely wish you the best with your future endeavors! :)

about 1 year in, estradiol valerate 0.2 mL im weekly, Spironalactone 2x daily, started progesterone about 9 months in.

it wasn’t long before i felt tenderness in my breasts, maybe 6 weeks. grew to B cups then progesterone has really made them fill out more and still gaining, on the light side of C currently. i decided to weight cycle using cheese (i love cheese) and that worked out pretty well, i gained about 30 lbs permanently (in all my favorite places).

i also decided to really try to eat healthy other than being a cheese monster, went mostly vegetarian and worked out about 2x or 3x weekly just legs and core.

I started a bit later in life, at 31 but I identify as NB so its fine. I do still get a lot of confusion though I like being able to tone it up or down with clothes as a determining factor.

People treat me differently now, in good ways and bad ways. I am about 1000% more emotional, for better and for worse. I personally love that i get upset enough that i can cry over dumb stuff like missing someone or being TOO HAPPY. The crying got much worse with progesterone, but it isn’t a lasting sadness, it’s acute. to the point that I’ll be crying and logically know that there’s nothing to feel that strongly about, but the physical reaction happens anyways. my wife thinks it’s been really therapeutic for me, probably euphoria related mostly.

uhhh what else, idk but it was a great choice. take your time, hang out with people that actually care about you and don’t waste time on anyone that brings you down.

Four weeks in. Estradiol pills, 2mg, twice a day sublingually. At around two weeks I noticed my nipples had gotten bigger and much more sensitive and my skin is much softer.

Now four weeks in, I have the beginning of breast development, my chest occasionally hurts, I’m much more confident and a good bit happier and weight redistribution has started, but not much. My face looks a bit different. I get carded every time I try to buy alcohol (I’m 28 btw) and multiple bartenders and convenience store clerks have expressed astonishment at how young I look. I’ve gained nearly 10 lbs, my hips and chest are a bit squishy now when they were pretty bony previously. I’ve also been hungrier and eating more. My muscles are softer and more squishy now too, not quite atrophied, but I’m a very active person. They’re less defined even when I flex now.

It’s apparently hitting me much faster than is common, but I have a friend who had a similar timeline and the doc seems to think it’s fine.

Edit: I forgot to mention that my dreams are different now and my libido has dropped considerably as well.

I’m 4 months in, using 0.1mg/day Dotti patches (twice weekly) and 50mg 2x a day Spiro pills

• i have noticeable breast growth already (holy fuck they hurt lol)

• my skin is softer and way more sensitive and I’m ticklish again (that was surprising, never heard anyone comment it before)

• body hair takes longer to grow and is a bit lighter in color, face hair is still dark and scratchy though

• hair feels more healthy and a small amount of lost hair has some fuzzies again

• beginnings of fat redistribution are popping up, hard to tell because I’m so skinny though. face is a bit more fem now

• muscles are definatey starting to atrophy. i need to get some weights lol

• hard to know how related it is but my sexuality is flopping around like a fish, mostly sapphic still but leaning more pan

• mentally I feel much more comfortable in my body, hard to explain. it just feels right

• I can cry again

all in all this stuff is legit a magical girl potion for me, its wild