Actually Understand Hormone Replacement Therapy 

I'm not saying HRT will do this for everyone obviously, but just saying that after years of HRT, I went from "Several attempts on my own life" to no longer fitting the diagnostic criteria for depression

something I think should've been noted FAR MORE BOLDLY/EXPLICITLY/ISOLATED is that CIS folk are why HRT exists in the first place. There are FAR FAR FAR FAR more cis folk on HRT than trans folk. Feminizing HRT was originally made to combat menopause, iirc. Masculizing HRT was made for men who either didn't go through puberty at all or for who have Gynecomastia iirc. Puberty blockers, like they said in the video, was made to STOP KIDS from going into puberty as SMALL CHILDREN (like, 6yr olds starting puberty NEED those blockers. I've known people who had to go through puberty so early and they were MISERABLE despite being CIS). These medications are useful for trans AND cis folk just for two WILDLY different reasons; and legislation that's trying to ban it is trying to hurt such a tiny minority that they're shooting their cis citizens in the foot over it.

Just a note: testosterone suppression is not always required for trans female HRT. Often estrogen by itself can cause the production of testosterone to shut down.

can’t believe they forgot to mention the best change from estrogen: you gain the ability to double jump

10:33 "you do need to make sure it dries all the way so it doesn't spread to other members of your household who didn't concent to treatment" would put a whole new meaning to manspreading. I'll see myself out.

I would like to point out a minor correction. While feminising HRT for the menopause became widespread medical practice before use on trans women did (circa 1940). HRT was first used as a way to medically transition by the Hirschfield institute in Germany circa 1920. His research was pioneering, and the foundation of a lot of modern trans medicine but it didn't make it to prominence in the global medical community at the time, because the Nazis raided the institute and burned its research library. In fact, if you've seen an image of a Nazi book burning in a history book, it's probably from the Hirschfield one.

As a trans woman who started on estrogen monotherapy and more recently progesterone supplements, t-blockers are NOT always necessary for suppressing testosterone. Especially using injections and at higher dosages, estrogen will naturally suppress testosterone on its own. My personal testosterone levels have been below cis female range since I got my levels checked only 3 months into starting E2 monotherapy.

Re progesterone: I started progesterone and my tits doubled in size. YMMV. Also all the clot stuff is from studies with non-bioidentical progesterone. The increased risk is basically saying you have the same risk as cis-women. 🤷‍♀

I understand why you all choose to base this on the WPATH standards, but the latest research has moved faster than the WPATH standards, and it would have been nice to see some acknowledgment of that fact. Also, there is monotherapy for transfemale HRT using just estradiol, and is actively prescribed over use of anti-androgens in some countries.

Entered depression at 11. Tried to end it at 17. Suffered through life till 35, tried to end it again. Finally looked at myself what was wrong with me, got HRT and I don't feel like ending it anymore. I'm pretty happy now. I GOT FEELINGS AGAIN! So weird. So happy, and that alone is weird now.

You know, there was a time when the only people taking HRT were old women going through menopause. As an old woman going through menopause, I hafta say it’s nice to know I’m not the only one out here taking HRTs.

The problem with most of the studies on progesterone affecting breast growth is that the measurements taken in the studies do not align with the anecdotally reported changes in breast development. Trans women tend to report rounding of the breasts, whereas the studies are checking a band measurement (as in a bra fitting). It seems like more science needs to be done for us to say either way whether the anecdotal rounding is causally linked to the progesterone, or simply caused by being on HRT for a long time / gaining weight.

I’m a cisgender male, and honestly I’m just curious about the whole trans thing. I find it fascinating. I never really understood the controversy, i can see why it is confusing to some people, but being prejudice towards these people is no different to me than being racist or homophobic or a bully. Just small minded, needless hatred. If there’s something we don’t understand about other people, we should try to be curious and understand it! Especially if it doesn’t get in the way of our personal daily lives. If someone wanted sympathy for being a serial killer or a violent person then it would be understandable to look at it as a problem that needs to be gone asap. Why would anyone care if someone wants to make adjustments to their gender in order to feel more safe and comfortable? Like seriously it’s not even anyone else’s business. If you want to hate something, might I suggest hating the scumbags that cook fentanyl, or world leaders that start pointless wars that kill thousands of people. I mean really don’t we have more important things to criticize?

I’d like to add that Progesterone can do things beyond just breast growth. It improved my mental health significantly, whereas Estrogen alone did not help me in that department. I’ve heard similar stories from other people, but also stories where Progesterone made them feel worse. As always, YMMV so talk to your doctor

A friend of mine was intersex and didn’t find out until they were in their 30’s. They transitioned to female, not just because of gender incongruity but because she was getting horrible migraines. When I knew her as a man, she was a stoner and was probably trying to self medicate. When she got HRT the migraines went away and she accepted herself. And it took some time for me to accept her.

Whoever is moderating this comment section is a saint, and to everyone dropping positive comments, y'all are warming this trans girl's heart. It's nice to see that people into learning are also kind and accepting

small correction: 17β-estradiol is what's shown at 5:07, while what's shown at 5:21 is estradiol cypionate, a common prodrug of 17β-estradiol

for feminizing hormone therapy:(i am not a doctor but i am a trans woman whose been transitioning for 5 years) spiro is not a great option for androgen blocker, it works but it actually stunts potential for breast growth, don’t start with spiro if you can help it (learned this the hard way) progesterone definitely does work for breast growth, idk what this person is saying, but for best results don’t start this right away, mixed reports that administering progesterone rectally yields better results monotherapy is also an option( not using a androgen blocker) your body will develop based on your dominant hormone finasteride is a good option for regaining hair loss, but it does not function as a total androgen blocker, it only blocks the DHT in testosterone that causes balding, all other effects are still there FINALLY find a trans friendly, trans-educated doctor that actually knows what they are doing, just because an endocrinologist will treat you doesn’t mean they should treat you, talk to other trans people in your area, do research, not only will it be a better experience but your results will be better if your doctor has experience and knows how to treat trans people

As a cis woman I started hormonal birth control with 25 to stop my period as my PCOS causes it not to be periodic anyway. I had too many side effects on the regular BC pills but now I'm taking dienogest as a stand alone medication to treat a possible case of endometriosis and it works better. Trans and nb folks should not have to jump through hoops to get hormonal care similar to what cis people can get already. I'm lucky that my insurance covers my meds because of endometriosis so it's only 5€ for 3x28 pills, but what I really want is a hysterectomy. Too bad sexism makes it really difficult to get that done as doctors still believe all women want kids or should consider their future spouse might want kids. Our society needs to overcome its belief in the gender binary and gendered stereotypes in order to offer better health care for all.

Back in the mid-90s, long before terms like "genderfluid" existed, I was friends with a kid who didn't fit any gender. They'd go by one name on more "feminine" days, and ask us to go by another name on more "masculine" days. We didn't get it, but we're all a little weird, so we accepted that this was just THEIR version of weird. They'd tell us first thing in the morning, "It's a XYZ day," and we called them by that name. For years, my friend assumed they must be transgender, but that didn't really fit their experience. I still recall their joy at learning the term "genderfluid." Finally, there was a word for what they had lived through for over a decade! Today, they are happy, married, and raising a little girl, who has the coolest parents in town.

You know what? I learned stuff. And that's progress.

The "testosterone causes anger" thing is SO damaging. I grew up in an abusive home and being told this over and over made me so scared I would become a monster like my father. Doctors always asked me if I felt rage as I began HRT. But I never did. I am calmer and more balanced. Not hating myself goes a long way.

4:45 I mean… women can get HRT to help with menopause symptoms without an extensive forced wait-time or mental screening. And I doubt any questions they’d be asked would have to do with how much sex they have, what kind of sex they have, or whether or not they were ever sexually abused. So… I call transphobia on that one. Or, at the very least, insurance companies using transphobia to save/make more money.

As a Cismale, I've never understood why we would restrict anyone's bodily autonomy. I learned a lot about HRT thanks!

A thing that has nothing to do with anything but still important to know At least one hair loss medication is toxic to pets (minoxidil) If your care involves gels or anything that can be passed through contact, go read how it affects anyone in your house

Feel like the comment section might get spicy

I learned a lot in this video as a cis man (he/him), especially the idea that trans people don't get surgery or drugs that permanently affect one's appearance without a psychiatric diagnosis and informed consent. What the hormone therapy will do to your body will be explained by your doctor and you have the choice to accept or refuse the treatment based on your personal needs and beliefs. Nobody is forcing treatment on anyone without consent. Tell that to your representative or senator if they think informed consent isn't involved. As with any medical procedure, you will be informed of the benefits and risks, and the ultimate decision belongs to the patient, not the government. Doctors, not politicians, should be setting the standard of care for gender dysphoria based on the best available clinical evidence.

"You're perfect and I love you" As a cis man, I know they weren't directing that at me, but I loved it

if i never experimented with my gender, i never would’ve truly known that I am cisgender. Shout outs to all my non-cisgender colleges friends and family for finding yourself

I clicked on this to get more information on post-menopausal HRT, because that’s where I am. Stayed for the usual great information on a different topic altogether; well done!

The reason HRT likely increases blood lipid levels is because that's how fat distribution works! Levels should go back to normal once that's done, so don't panic. Also, while WPATH is well-meaning, a perverse consequence is that it creates gatekeepers between individuals and the treatments they want. WPATH should be pressured to not require psychologists to "approve" our identities to get any treatment. In the worst case, we may make mistakes we will regret, but they will be _our_ mistakes!

As an older person on HRT, thank you for covering this. The resurgence of hate because of the new generation of visibility has been scary, and getting people to understand our lives is a fantastic step.

It annoys me that trans research is seen as spicy, since the info we’d get from it would benefit literally everyone. I’m a cis woman and I would LOVE more concrete research into when/how and why to stop periods, and that’s research that would equally benefit trans men and nb folks. Science accompanying trans folks on their journeys could potentially yield solid scientific counters to all the cultural bullcrap we’ve all grown up with too. Trans folks are in such a uniquely powerful position to teach us all about how the human body really works in terms of sex and gender and it’s so frustrating that medical science isn’t seeing them as the blessing that they are!

3:05 "no catch-all really catches us all" Does a pokeball work?

In lgbt+ circles lately I've seen the (semi-) joking use of the term "cis+" (as in "New Game+") to describe cisgendered folks who have opened up and dived into and examined the whole gender thing and concluded "hmm yep, that's cool and interesting but I'm definitely cis", gaining a deeper understanding of themselves in the process. Seeing a lot of that in the comments today and it warms my heart tremendously

Anecdotally (from myself, everyone I know, and many who I have heard talk about it), Progesterone is also VERY useful for improving libido. As a trans woman with no gonads, I actually also take testosterone gel (at a low dose) in addition to estrogen. My body does not naturally produce almost any of either E or T anymore, so adding T back in has really helped me with libido, fatigue, and temperature regulation. The low dose means I'm only going up into normal female ranges; no hair or voice changes to worry about. Overall, trans healthcare is in desperate need of additional research. There is still very little in the way of qualified studies to rely on so we have to resort to anecdotal evidence for person specific care.

Just want to give whoever is having to sort through the filth in the comment section some thanks for doing what they're doing :) It's just tragic, as a trans person myself, to see the like to dislike ratio on this video, and was really scared for the comment section, but thankfully it appears the transphobes weren't allowed entry. It's just a really nice thing to do, and I really appreciate it :D

I started taking puberty blockers when i was 12 between tanner 2 and 3, and then started taking estradiol at 15. Im almost 20 and have no regrets and intend to keep being female the rest of my life. Receiving care is one of the best things that happened to me and let me experience a pivotal time of my life as who i actually am and its helped me be much more similar to other girls.

My experience starting HRT as a non binary minor: Getting the prescription was an absolutely laborious process. Even though we discussed my goals at the beginning and my doctor understood I specifically wanted to be on testosterone, they spent over a year putting me on different birth control "just to try this first and see how you feel", even though I didn't mind my period. They even misled me about the nature of depo-provera's gender-affirming effects and said that some people call it "testosterone lite" (nobody does that). Eventually the doctor simply told me that, as a non binary person, HRT wasn't the recommended treatment for me and would not prescribe it. I don't know what that claim was based on or why the practice essentially led me on for all that time but I left the place thinking about dying. Fortunately I was able to get an appointment at an LGBTQ-focused practice with a much simpler informed consent model and knowledgable, caring staff. They've been great ever since and 7 years on, I'm much better. This experience was not unique or extreme, and that's what makes the rhetoric around trans kids so wild. The myth that a child can walk into a doctor's office and be handed a prescription for hormones right there is pure fantasy. Not to mention that a parent needs to consent, often both, and they could simply refuse like my mom did at first. When you know who you are and what you need, going through the "wrong puberty" is agonizing and I still think about the pain I could have been saved by starting even sooner. Nobody deserves to lose their childhood or their life to dysphoria. Thank u SciShow

I adore that you guys acknowledged those of us who choose not to medically transition. We often get forgotten in these conversations so it was very nice to hear you guys include it. ❤

I clicked on this as a woman in perimenopause, hoping for information on treating hot flashes and insomnia. Staying so I can be a good friend and ally.

Wow the comments are actually nice. Great job whoever is keeping things clean! Since I'm seeing some others drop tips, here are a few I've picked up: - If a little bit of liquid comes out of the injection site, it's generally a negligible amount, so no worries! Next time try leaving the needle in for a few extra seconds after you're done injecting, to give it more time to spread out. - If you live at a high altitude, the pressurized vials for injectable medications might cause the liquid to leak out. You can pull some of the air inside the vial into the syringe before removing the needle to help prevent this happening. - If you really hate needles but injections are all that is available to you, look into auto injectors or shot blockers. These can mask the pain or even the whole needle, taking a lot of the stress out of things. If you've read all this, then thank you, and I wish you all the best wherever your life takes you. ❤ (Even if that means butt hair. 😂)

Im two months on testosterone today, and genuinely? For me at least, I went in that time from "one bad day away from yet another suicide attempt", to "actually i can see a world where im happy and the path to it". Ive started exercising, taking better care of myself, and enjoying what I look like in the mirror. I've been very lucky- my voice PLUMMETTED very quickly already, and that was something i was most dysphoric about. I actually want to be around to see what my future holds, and I have never, ever thought i would live very long. Now im talking about what i want to do when I turn 70. I feel ALIVE. Its early, but even this early i know without a doubt it saved my life, both literally and quality wise.

Yeah my cousin went through too early puberty so they used puberty blocking hormones to wait until it was actually time and she grew up just fine. I think it will have been used far more by cis gendered kids than thans kids. And it can save lives as the teenage years are hard on their own already.

HRT got rid of my anaemia, allowing me to finally exercise without exhaustion and make great strides in improving my health, including losing 50 lbs and no longer being obese. It's not only my mental stability that's been improved by HRT. 😊

Literally in tears. I'm married to a trans woman. There are trans kids in my social group. It is so so so scary out there right now and this is a positive light and information. Thank you.

Transphobia/sexism and misinformation about hrt is also really damaging to cis folk. Besides the use for hormone imbalances, there's also evidence that they can help in certain medical conditions. For example, testosterone potentially helping with joint pain or helping to treat breast cancer. There are lots of women who might benefit from testosterone who's Drs won't give their patients "mens" hormones. As a biologist I find HRT so fascinating for the things its teaching us abt genetics and the human body!

It's refreshing to see a channel like SciShow covering this topic. You see so many anti-trans people trying to use science to justify their transphobia, without realizing that science is not on their side.

I had an X that started taking insulin subcutaneously(in the fat) and was using lens wipes to wipe the area. Turns out lens wipes have soap in it and that was why she had irritated injection sites. Same thing will happen with any injection you take. Make sure you understand exactly what you are doing and ask your doctor if there is any confusion or if something unusual happens.

All my love and respect to the trans people browsing the comments today, especially those who want but can't have HRT for health or safety reasons. I want to make a world you can be at home in. 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

Great job on the video! Most of that was correct, but I really would recommend that you consult with some trans women and not just a trans man in the future. Trans men do not speak for trans women and visa versa. I would warn against using just an androgen blocker with no estrogen, as it can lead to osteoporosis. I also recommend consulting with experts on how to more appropriately discuss non western understandings of gender

Given the current tone of conversation around transgender and nonbinary people, thank you so much for choosing to tackle this anyway, and doing what you can to provide the unexposed with vocabulary, perspective and research. From the bottom of my transgender heart thank you!!

A spicy thank you from a mom on cis gender HRT and has a child on their journey. Hope everyone has safe travels on the hormone road.

Thank you so much for this video I am trans and I was stonewalled from transitioning for a decade due to the fearmongering on HRT that led to lack of proper support. This made me nudge my studies to analyze hormone function (albeit not in humans as my field doesn't deal with us) to allow me to understand the science behind it and make my case. Such a video is an extremely useful resource and I wish this information was readily available much sooner instead of having our lives wasted. Ah well, it's not like I'm not a fighter. All we need is regenerative medicine to take back the life that was wasted from the universe's cold, uncaring claws. Hence why I've focused on pushing for it in any way I can.

Endocrinology is such a fascinating area of biology.

Okay, sci show, i had a lot of respect for you before but now i have an immense appreciation for your work because youre helping to destroy the blatant lies in propaganda made to demonize us

HRT saved my life. I don’t know what else to say here, I didn’t realize how much I suffered having to live as I did until I was able to grow. For anyone out there who’s yet to get access to it, I can assure you, it gets better. It will get better.

Lord, give me the strength to not read the comments, the courage to not read the comments, and the wisdom to not read the comments

Pleasantly surprised by the comments section. SciShow has the best community.

I wanted to throw in an extra comment on androgen blockers: Spironolactone is the most common and is considered standard in the U.S., but it's effectiveness as a testosterone blocker is fairly suspect and it comes with some unhelpful side effects as it is also a diuretic. Cyproterone is used in some European countries if I recall correctly and iirc is more effective, but also has some rare but potentially serious side effects. Bicalutamide is emerging as a common alternate to both which is not consistently effective for everyone and is hard to measure since it blocks T-receptors rather than production, but it lacks the side effects and when it works is now considered best by many in the trans community. For those on injections, estrogen monotherapy is also an option for some who have naturally low testosterone levels or who find estrogen on its own (or with a kickstart from a temporary androgen blocker dose) does a fine job of keeping testosterone levels low. Also on progesterone: the lack of studies supporting progesterone as causing breast growth is for a few reasons. There's a lot of factors that go into it - genetics, eating enough, whether your estrogen/testosterone levels are where they should be, and others, so measuring whether progesterone is actually helpful for breast growth is very inconsistent. There's also just very little research into these kind of things in the first place. Many people I know who have taken it have seen at least some extra growth (though not all) and the large majority have had their breasts "fill out" from a more conical kind of shape common among trans women to more typical shapes. Also, the risk of blood clots going up on progesterone is from a very old study where medroxyprogesterone was the standard medication used as a progesterone, whereas the bioidentical form that is common now doesn't show evidence of that risk. It should also be noted that many people who take progesterone see an increase in libido, which often drops when starting androgen blockers and/or estrogen.

The pathologization for diagnosis also had a habit of requiring performing a stereotype of gender to get the diagnosis. I called it "Stepford Wife Transition" due to what I experienced in the 90s and 00s. I dressed how they required to get the referral letters and prescriptions and then lived as s butch motorcycle rider the rest of the time

I never got to a life threatening point but my dissociative state and dysmorphia was enough to start HRT and now I just feel so normal and unified with my own body which has been detached my whole life.

The accuracy on the butt hair. My friend described it as "pooping through a screen door."

Trans woman here, after 2 years in, i can confidently say transitioning and taking HRT hase been the single healthiest decision i have made in my entire life! The physical changes have been amazing, and i am finally starting to love my body, and to be able to look in the mirror without so much pain. I am not so oppressively warm all the time like i was on T. The most amazing bit has been the emotional neurological changes. Testosterone felt utterly disgusting to me, and it made me very anxious, angry and numb. Estrogen on the other hand has made it much easier to access my emotions, and it fills me with a sense of subtle yet powerful energy. I feel so much more connected to my body, and my body feels more interconnected with itself, with sensations having thebability to bounce around inside me in waves. The sensations of touch have gotten much better, and more distributed, and my sense of smell has gotten much stronger. My mental health has improved dramatically as well, i had no idea how much strain i had been under from the dysphoria until it started to go away. My only regret is not starting sooner. It feels like i am finally truly alive for the first time in 30 years.

People using the Cass report (via the NHS in England) as a rebuttal to this are apparently unaware of its glaring methodological issues and the waffling of its singular author. Generally speaking, HRT saves lives, it does not destroy them - as evidenced by its use from non-trans individuals since the 1980s.

Ignorance creates fear, and fear creates hate. It's never too late to learn and accept the differences. Everyone is fighting a battle you don't know about. Be kind, always.

Other people's healthcare choices are really none of my business. It should only be between a doc and the patient. Having said that I like to learn about this to explain to others if I'm ever asked.

It's worth pointing out that the primary study cited in the increased risk of blood clots for those prescribed progesterone was based on a study sample of postmenopausal women and the statistics do not appear to Bear out the same way for trans women

A friendly question just out of curiosity, where does the trans being 3% of the world population estimation comes from?

I've been on HRT for nearly 4 years now. Words cannot explain how much happier I am now than I was before.

HRT fixes lifelong anxiety and depression before any physical changes start. Having the correct regulator in the brain is amazingly helpful. Many trans people go from non productive anxious and depressed zombies, to productive members of society after only a few weeks.

So first off shout out to whoever is sorting through the muck, modding the comments 💜 And second, i've been on t for a little over 3 months now and the only thing i've been regretting is not doing it sooner.

My doctor gave me 2 types of HRT. Insurance no longer covers the Male component. Doctor said he doesn't know any other drug. Sent me to OBGYN. 3 months so far far, they asked me not to call, they would call me with appointment. 3 months nothing. If it's this hard for me, I cannot imagine for Trans folk......😢😮 I genuinely feel for you folks...hope you don't get my doctor!!!

As a cis dude, I find HRT extremely interesting because the coolness of how biology is slowly becoming pliable and less restrictive amazes me. I dislike the limitations set by the human body, and so HRT allowing people to at least bend the limitations in their favour is amazing to me. I hope humanity reaches an age where we can be exactly what we want to be without the limits that the flesh currently have, but until then imma celebrate the small victories we make along the way. Wooooo for trans people.

I figured out I was trans when I was 14, but never had the option of puberty blockers. Instead, I had to go through the Kafkaesque body horror of experiencing the wrong puberty for years. Instead of proactively treating my gender dysphoria, i had to suffer the most painful years of my life watching my body shift into the exact wrong form, then trying to do everything i could to reverse as much of that as possible. It's not as simple as "just wait until you're 18," because the more you go through the wrong puberty, the less effective it becomes. Puberty blockers under supervision of a medical team needs to be an option for trans kids; I sure as hell wish it was for me.

HRT completely changed my life. I went from feeling severely depressed, constant panic attacks and discomfort to unequivocal normalcy. I've been on it almost 5 years now, starting at 17, my body has reshaped, my voice is deep, my muscles are stronger and my appetite is back. My emotions are much flatter and barely noticeable so I rarely cry and the way pain and fear effects me has flipped, I used to freak out and now its like a "ow that hurt.. anyways" im talking stubbing my toe, burning myself, or seeing a spider. On the flip side, I have a GF on HRT as well, I have noticed her emotions flip as well, going from that neutral state to a heightened sensitive one. It has actually been very interesting watching ourselves change next to each other because you pick up on things most studies don't. It really is true that male and female emotions and pain tolerances are physically different.

I was ready to be disappointed (as a physician who has been treating trans people for almost 2 decades)... But this was actually a really good summary. That said one important thing for NB AFAB people to know about is that taking T with a medication like finasteride (Propecia used for hair loss) can also decrease some of the secondary hair growth and *theoretically* clitoromegaly. It's different person to person, but there is the option to start both meds simultaneously. I use it especially in AFAB NB people who want voice deepening but are really worried about the butt hair.

The last point you made saying that you may not need medical intervention made me feel so seen. I AM trans, but changing my body feels scary and sometimes wrong and kind of like I'm letting someone elses idea of gender define me anyway.

I've been on gender affirming HRT for about a year now (11 months and 9 days, but who's counting?). I can't say that every change has been 100% positive with no drawbacks or tradeoffs. But I feel alive in a way I never did before.

Want to chime in- I started HRT when I was 13, and it SAVED MY LIFE! Please remember how important these years are to teenagers, and treat their requests with the compassion and seriousness they deserve. Starting HRT so early meant I could live my life without needing to worry about transitioning in college, meaning I could focus on my studies and be successful. It changed my life for the better in more ways than I could ever quantify.

I just passed 3 years on HRT, good timing!

Thank you for putting this out there. As a trans girl, it's incredibly brave to use your platform to speak out about this, especially during the current political climate. "Trans people should be allowed to make decisions about their body" shouldn't be controversial, but I guess it is

One thing about HRT that seems to not be understood is that it doesn't force the human body to change. It's not "artificially making things that aren't there". Every single human body (save for certain medical conditions) knows how to follow both sets of instructions, they are encoded in all of us, it just so happens that during conception there was a coin flip and the reaction was kickstarted one way or the other. All HRT does is slow that predetermined set of instructions down and provide the materials for the other set of instructions, and the body happily obliges, completely naturally. Which is also why stopping HRT goes back to the original set of instructions. And hormone blockers are essentially the "slow down" part without giving the body different new materials. HRT doesn't change the body, it just shifts around a couple percentages of hormones and the body then changes itself in the exact same way any human body with that percentage of hormones would. That is to say, trans breasts grown from estrogen therapy are the same as cis female breasts, down to in some cases the ability to lactate. Trans body/facial hair grown from testosterone therapy is the same as cis male body/facial hair, down to... well, you said it, butt hair lol The human body is a fascinating machine.

55 year-old enby here! Didn’t realize who I was had a name. I always just thought I sucked at being a girl. 😁 I was considering microdosing testosterone, however I’m in menopause and my T levels are higher than my E levels. So, I’m waiting to see what happens naturally.

I just passed my '2 years on testosterone' milestone, and even with all that HRT and gender-affirming surgery has done for me, I'm glad they mentioned that nobody has to go through any medical process to transition. It can feel scary being presented with these decisions, so it's so important to take the time to understand what we really need.

Great video overall! I'm curious to know why you omitted mentioning SERMs though. You mentioned that nonbinary people may want some but not all of the changes of HRT, but stated "You can't use hormones to pick out masc or fem features", giving the example that "Estrogen inevitably comes with some breast growth". I'm a transfem nonbinary person, and I'm using estrogen HRT, but taking raloxifene (a SERM) to enhance the feminising effects of the estrogen whilst specifically BLOCKING breast growth. I think the option to use SERMs is something more people, especially nonbinary people, should be aware of. 🙂

I have always been a defender of Trans people and a PFLAG. But I didn't know enough about procedures and treatments regarding it. Now that I know, more than ever I support gender-affirming care and the opportunity to choose. For anyone and everyone.

The one thing I have doubts about here is the "progesterone helps breast growth" being a seeming myth. Most all transfems I know have had a noticeable uptick in breast growth and the signs that come with it (tenderness of the breasts, for example) after starting progesterone. Sure, it's not gonna do that for everyone, but as far as the dozens I know, it seems to be a clear majority, even if the impact is lesser in some.

Thank you for making this video, I was recently shocked by how little someone I knew understood about testosterone and estrogen in general. I am continually flabbergasted by people believing things like that women 'don't have any testosterone' naturally, or that testosterone 'only makes you grow a beard and serves no other purpose' as well as the idea that 'the only thing estrogen does is produce breast tissue' as well as other vast underestimates and misinformation. I would love a video on all the things these hormones do to a human body in any situation and generally better sex ed in schools because it seems people get their misinfo from sex ed or a lack of sex ed. "you'll start producing testosterone and grow body hair" seems to be all many men ever learn about it.

There's also people who can't transition medically because of various genetic conditions or injuries, some of us can't even really present as we desire because of those.

If this is gonna get bad in the comments, I want to say thankyou for making this. There are so many people who needed this, and the access this gives trans kids to information is incredible. I wish I had this when I was doing research originally for my HRT treatment. But especially, thankyou for supporting all types of trans experiences, including the ones where gender affirming medical care isn't a factor, and for having trans voices guide this episode. Lots of love guys! 🩵🩷🤍🩷🩵

Just want to leave a positive comment, as I know this comment section is going to be volatile. Thanks for giving a very scientific explanation on what transgender people often seek. Also going into what puberty blockers do and how potentially trans youth are treated is something that a lot of people need to learn more about. Keep up the good work!

Just here to help outweigh any potential “spicy” comments that slip through and say trans rights are human rights, trans people deserve to receive the love and care (including healthcare) already afforded to cis people like me, and all you trans viewers are valued members of our community!

10 years on HRT as of about Oct. Loving it still!

It would have been nice to have a mention of estrogen monotherapy but i understand there is likely not enough hard science on the matter yet. Anecdotally I know a lot of women find it equally as successful as using blockers in the long run. Considering the potential health impacts of taking a blocker I hope more research into this approach shows results in the next decade as having to use fewer substances for the same effects seems like it should be the preferred approach when possible.

I'm a 65 year old cisgender woman, and I've been put on Estradiol for postmenopausal hormone imbalances. I'm glad to see a drug that has helped me so much being used in gender-affirming care.

Some notes on things the video didn’t mention, from an MIT biology student who’s been on feminizing HRT for over half a decade: - Estradiol can be processed into a form called estrone by your liver, which is generally preferable to avoid for reasons I’m not getting into. To minimize this, if you’re taking oral estrogen pills, you should leave it under your tongue to let it dissolve in your mouth and absorb directly into your bloodstream through the thin skin there instead of swallowing it. Conversion to estrone is both worse on the outcome and mildly irritating to your liver. - After two or three years on estrogen, the body’s own testosterone production often shuts down to the point that blockers are no longer needed. Since many testosterone blockers have side effects involving the renal system, it’s generally good to stop the blockers once this happens, though blood tests are needed to see if it’s actually happening. - Feminizing HRT has some of the most harmless-but-baffling side effects, most notoriously an increased predilection for physical touch (read: cuddling). There is a reason that large plushies, especially a certain shark from a certain furniture company, are so popular among trans women and that reason is in large part having something to hold. - Testosterone actually frequently doesn’t stop periods. A lot of transmascs I know still get periods after multiple years on T, while others’ stop in under one year. - Be careful if blocking the sex hormones your body produces without replacing them medically. Notably, this can start affecting your bone density after several years. - “Eventually” on the timescale for puberty blockers is within a couple months, but they generally won’t suppress your body’s own hormones if you’re all the way through. They just put you on pause where you’re at.

Before HRT, I was miserable. Angry. Depressed. Never figured out how to ease it no matter the therapy session, exercise, meditation, none of it. First day of HRT, the fog in my head started dissipating. Years later, I’m much, much better off. I no longer have a depression diagnosis. I find myself so much more empathetic and caring and open. Scenarios that would normally send me over the edge into self harm or spirals resulting in hospital stays no longer get to me and I can handle it so much better. My physical health has improved, I have motivation to take care of myself, and I actually partake in my hobbies more. My panels all come back in range because of HRT and with my motivation to take care of myself. The only regret I have is not starting sooner knowing I could have.

Testosterone doesn't necessarily make someone angry? Its almost as if the studies on the subject showing the actual effects of testosterone are accurate and having high Testosterone isn't a bad thing for men or the people around them.

Sweden decided it was a good idea to gatekeep hrt behind a diagnosis, put that diagnosis after a 1-2 year long investigation an then put that investigation behind a 3-5 year long queue. Luckily there are options for private care from abroad and diy. That has more than likely saved my life.