Estrogen should only be taken under the supervision of a health care professional.

Not to put too fine a point on it but first of all there’s not just the health complications but mental health issues as well.

Taking high doses of estrogen can have a range of physical and mental side effects for someone who is genetically male. This coupled with testosterone blockers can have an effect on both your body and mind.

Here’s a breakdown of why you shouldn’t be taking high doses of estrogen unless supervised.

First off, let’s start with the physical side effects

Changes to Sexual and Reproductive organs

Erectile dysfunction (ED)

High estrogen can make it difficult to achieve and maintain an erection. The urge to have sex is dramatically reduced and even morning erections are significantly reduced.

A decrease in libido

High dosages of estrogen can lead to a reduced interest in sex. This can be a major problem if you are a highly sexual person then maybe you need to question why you would want to take HRT

Infertility

Testosterone plays a major role in sperm production, and low levels of testosterone from testosterone blockers and high levels of estrogen (hrt) which can lower sperm count and affect sperm health/mobility

The recipient will experience smaller testicles (atrophy) and over time this will be coupled with fewer and weaker erections, and a decrease in the volume of ejaculation.

Discharge will also be more fluid and less seminal fluid due to the decreased amount in each discharge.

Over time any one taking testosterone blockers and high volumes of estrogen may become infertile. The longer HRT continues the more likely the recipient will become infertile, permanently.

Your body will also change and the following will happen.

Your body and physical appearance

Fat redistribution

Body fat and weight gain may increase, especially gynaecomastia or enlargement of breast tissues, this is sometimes called “man boobs”. Beasts may become tender and swollen.

Body fat may shift to areas to that are more typical of female fat distribution, such as the hips and chest.

You may also experience muscle loss with muscle tone and muscle tone may decrease leading to a less firm physique.

Weight gain

Weight gain is also a side effect especially around the abdomen and derriere. You may also experience water retention which can lead to facial swelling.

Hair growth

Body hair growth on the body and face may decrease or thin over time. However if you have very dark coarse hair this will not demolish without external factors such as laser treatment.

Skin

Skin will become softer and less oily. Skin will also become much smoother and dryer.

More serious effects are possible increased risk of blood clots, risk of stroke or cardiovascular issues and studies have shown high estrogen levels may increase blood pressure and other cardio vascular issues.

Hot flushes, sweating, tiredness and fatigue, along with feelings of low energy and motivation.

More serious issues

There is also potential for an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and reduced bone density or osteoporosis. Estrogen imbalances can affect bone density over time.

All of these effects are physical and are things are that people talk about but what they don’t tell you about is…..

The mental side effects

Mood Changes, this can get worse as high estrogen levels can contribute to mood swings and increased emotional sensitivity and stability.

Anxiety and irritability can affect some individuals. I know from personal experience this has massively increased for me, the anxiety sometimes is unbearable and this then leads on to the next thing.

Depression

Elevated estrogen levels increase the risk of feeling depressed and gloomy.

Next up is the fatigue, low energy and. motivation. The persistent tiredness can significantly impact on mental well-being and motivation.

There are days where even lying in bed is too much effort and as someone who was highly motivated this is a big thing for me.

Memory and cognitive difficulty is related to fatigue in that memory, particularly short term memory, is an issue. Also difficulty concentrating can be a major problem especially with difficult tasks.

Conclusion

The severity and manifestation of these side effects will vary between individuals, sometimes significantly, depending on the dosage of estrogen, individual personal physiology, and individuals health factors.

If you are considering a transgender, male to female, journey therefore genetically male, consider if undergoing estrogen therapy is for you.

You will require close medical supervision to monitor your bloods, liver function, serum sex hormne bonding globin (shbg), estrogen levels, testosterone levels, prolactin, potassium, sodium, lipids and many more levels or these potential side effects may increase.

They then need to be understood by a health care professional

who will adjust your levels of estrogen to manage them appropriately.

Hope this helps?

The post Effects of high dose of estrogen on the genetically male body appeared first on Official website of Mikki Tiamo.

I’ve been on female hormones now for 6 years, and my own regime and over the past six years have been various drugs and the last year has been different.

Now my medication is beginning to kick in fully and I’m on Estrogen patches 150mg patches every three days and also Prostrap.

So be aware of what to expect.

Don’t think this is going to be a walk in the park!

The mood swings that I am experiencing over the past 12 months have been nothing short of mind-blowing and I don’t mean mind blowing in a good way either.

I’ve got really bad brain fog and I also my brain is flip flopping between moments of elation to really bad anxiety and really bad panic attacks.

These as i get towards the end of the Prostrap, which is a testosterone reduction drug injected once every 3 months, become very severe and cause me such mental anguish that it affects my very ability to think clearly. So much so its making me not care whether I’m alive or not, this is not suicidal thoughts but just that I couldn’t care less.

My mood suffers, my health suffers, my relationship suffers, my work suffers and I just don’t care about anything, including myself.

This has gotten worse in the last 12 months and this month is the worst yet!

I’m due my injection in 2 weeks and my mood is low.

I had a massive panic attack this morning and things I’m really good at, I couldn’t do, I couldn’t cope with the pressure of my mixing music as I practised DJing and I ended up crying on the decks.

My partner and I argued over something really trivial but it was a big deal to me.

I’ve removed myself from everyone today and I’m sat with only my brain and thoughts, which to be honest are so muddled and foggy I’m struggling to think about things, process things and order my life.

I’ve written this, as I need to get it out of my head, and for the rest of the day I will be sitting in a dark room being vacant!

The hormonal changes to my body are fantastic but the mental changes are next level shit and something I wasn’t aware of when I started in this journey.

My partner says that she can relate to how feel as it’s like being around someone with bad PMD, she’s understanding to a point but I’m not my usual happy self at the end of month, three weeks before my next prostrap injection.

It’s not all frilly dresses and nice frocks, there is a down side!

The post Hormones beware appeared first on Official website of Mikki Tiamo.

First off, I’ve been on my transition journey now for over 6 years and have been on HRT for 5.

Secondly, I look at photos of myself pre-transition and don’t recognise that person anymore but all this can be immaterial in the eyes of the world.

Thirdly, you have no control over how others see you or how they address you!

Why, what’s made me feel like this?

In the past two days I’ve been misgendered 4 times in less than 24 hours and it’s smashed my confidence back down to zero.

Admittedly last night, one of the times I was called “sir”, was when I was in my scruffs when I popped out to get stuff from the local convenience store but the other three times I was in full makeup and a fucking dress!

One of the joys, nay! downsides, of being transgender I suppose is that you have to accept how the world sees you, not how you see yourself!

My girlfriend, as ever, is hyper supportive but today I feel like shit and have had a cry for the first time in quite a while!

C’est la vie!

We move on. Tomorrow is another day!

The post How far I’ve come Vs how the world can bitch slap you down in 30 seconds appeared first on Official website of Mikki Tiamo.

As you may have read I’ve been prescribed Prostrap as a testosterone blocker to help with my transition and I’ve been on it now for over 6 months. This is administered as a quarterly injection.

But….

I’m so emotional at the moment that I’m crying at the very slightest things and several times this week I just spontaneously burst in to tears for no reason. Take this morning, I had a bad dream and woke up fine, next thing I know I’m sat on the edge of the bed sobbing uncontrollably and it took my partner nearly half an hour to calm me down.

Completely irrational and for no reason whatsoever!

My anxiety is also next level at the moment and on one or two occasions I’ve been so wracked with anxiety that I cannot function until I’ve calmed down.

The other night was so bad I laid in bed and curled up and shook for nearly an hour.

Then this evening I witnessed the aftermath of two accidents. One on the M6 and another on the M62 and the graphic images of the vehicles, especially from the accident on the M62, set me off again with anxiety and uncontrolled crying when I got home and I sobbed in the car and then sat on the floor in the house.

I have to speak to my prescribing agent as this only seems to occur on month three after the injection of Prostrap.

I’ve no history of having such bad anxiety attacks but have suffered from depression in the past.

I know that anxiety and emotional outbursts on Prostrap as known side effects but these are bad this quarter.

The post Anxiety on Prostrap appeared first on Official website of Mikki Tiamo.

For those that don’t know Leuprorelin is a testosterone blocker which inhibits the male hormone from being created in your body. This drug is also used to slow down the advance of prostate cancer in medical patients. Testosterone is one of the contributing factors in prostate cancer.

I’ve blogged about this before when there was a shortage of Synarel a few years ago. Again this is a testosterone inhibiting drug and the effects of these drugs on my brain have been to calm it down.

It also removes certain desires and generally make me a calmer person.

The lack of testosterone to me as a trans woman has changed me from someone who actively chased the next sexual encounter or self gratification.

The thoughts in my head are also changed because I am more focused on work, my life and relationship.

With these desires removed my brain calms down but the last 4 weeks I have noticed that these thoughts have crept back in and my ability to focus has began to wain!

I’ve also had a few instances recently where I have lost my temper and this is very unlikely me as it takes a hell of a lot for me to lose my temper.

I am now 2 weeks overdue for my injection.

This is because of a fuck up, yes let’s call it what it is, between my care provider and my GP. Who don’t seem to communicate despite both being NHS departments and then need a massive amount of hand holding, from me, to sort shit out.

On speaking to my main care provider, they explained that as the Leuprorelin wears off then the likelihood for the testosterone to increase in my body is increased and certain male traits may increase and because my injection is now weeks overdue this is likely to be even more increased!

I now have the injection kit and tommorow, I will be having my next injection and let’s see what this brings.

Normal services has been resumed and the calmness has returned. I’ve been more calmer and clear of thought.

The post Brain noise on Leuprorelin appeared first on Official website of Mikki Tiamo.

This is a little bit confusing because I filled in the original for on the 28th March, again on 11th April and then for a third time on 16th April.

Is this prescription from the first time I filled in the form or the last time?

Whatever, I need my prescription so I’ve paid the pharmacy and if I receive further prescriptions from filling in the form the second and third time I will be grabbing these as well so I have a stockpile.

I still haven’t received my pharmaceuticals yet and id anticipate this being another week which will means its been over a month since the original request and I will have run out of my previous prescription medications by then.

Sort yourselves out Gender GP!

In the meantime, If you are thinking about using their services, think hard as what was once a great service has been sadly lacking in professionalism recently.

The post Gender GP, I have my prescription appeared first on Official website of Mikki Tiamo.

This is because your recent service is absolutely appalling.

Let me just explain that I have been using Gender GP for all my gender service up until 12 months ago when my local GP agreed to do shared care and provide blood tests for me.

For the first 6 months this was fine, but the last 6 months have been bloody awful with my prescriptions taking an absolute age to arrive.

Problem is I don’t know what the issue is! If this is my GP or Gender GP, but they just don’t seem to want to work together.

My GP issues a blood test and I go fulfill this and then the results are sent back to my local GP by the hospital.

I then have to go pick these up and photograph them and send them to Gender GP who then take nearly 2-3 weeks to view them and issue my prescription. This is sometimes longer because of the pharmacy Gender GP use.

Roll back to 3 months ago, when after nearly a full month, I had to ask several times for my prescription. This has prompted me to ask my GP time and time again to prescribe but it’s fallen on deaf ears. But this is the subject of another blog!

But its got worse!

Come March 2024, and its time for another prescription. Back I go to Gender GP.

I click on the link I’ve used for 3 years and get a 404 error, page not found. Shit!

I then spend 10 minutes searching for the form again to be presented with a new form for prescriptions.

A very bewildering form which asks many questions I’ve not been asked before and some of them a bit beyond my pay grade as a mere mortal!

I eventually fill the form in and received the completed form response back via email on Thursday 28th March.

Usually I would get a response back in a few days but this time 2 weeks go by before I say “hold on, what happening here”

I email Gender GP, time and time again and get zero response. Not even an automated response!

So I ask on a trans support group on Facebook about the situation and am horrified with the replies I get.

Over 100 replies so far and climbing from people having similar issues, or from those telling me they are having issues and I need to contact Gender GP via their paid contact service.

On 11th April, I find the form on the Gender GP website and full it in, along with my payment of £7.99! Fair enough!

Appointment booked at 10:00 on 15th April.

Four days later I have my chance to speak to my gender care provider and ask “Where’s my prescription? What’s going on?”

I am told the change to their systems has caused a few issues but my prescription will be with me before the end of the day and all the instructions are on the original email.

I’m still waiting for my prescription, and there’s no links in the email response as I was told there is!

I’m also told that they notified customers of the upcoming changes. I’ve had nothing and I’ve really looked in my mailbox.

The level of service at Gender GP has definitely taken a turn for the worse and it’s their patients who are suffering.

My anxiety is currently through the roof as I’m fast running out of my meds and the problem looks unlikely to be resolved in a timely manner!

I used to recommend Gender GP but because of recent service issues I just can’t anymore!

It’s now the 16th and I still haven’t heard from Gender GP about my prescription!

Looks like I will be booking another online chat for £7.99!

Update 16th April

I received the email below today and have yet again filled in my prescription request form. This is 3 times now!

I await a response from Gender GP

Email from Gender GP

Dear Members,

We hope this message finds you well.

First and foremost, we want to extend our heartfelt apologies for any inconvenience caused by the recent delays and errors in our services as we are navigating this period of change. We understand how frustrating it can be, and we’re committed to making things right for you.

If any of the following apply to you:

• You have recently submitted a form and are waiting to hear back
• You are waiting to receive a Treatment Recommendation or a notification that your Paper/Electronic prescription has been created
• You have received a recommendation / prescription but want to make some alterations
• You are waiting to begin your journey with GenderGP and receive your first recommendation
• You are not sure about any of the above, but you do need a Treatment Recommendation or a prescription

PLEASE RESUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION HERE: https://app.myhealthyhormones.com/241061111826949

Please Note: If you have already made payment, then there is no need to make payment again as this system will pick up all previous transactions.

This will bring your request into our latest and most updated system developments, helping us to resolve any outstanding issues and streamline the process for you. We are unable to action any previously submitted forms and appreciate your cooperation and patience in completing this for processing.

Please note – any existing applications that have not been processed will no longer be actioned, if you are not sure then please resubmit.

When preparing to submit this form, please make sure you have the following:

• Exact details of your current gender medication (if any), to allow us to ensure that we are aligned on your existing treatment and preferences.
• Understanding of whether your blood tests are due.
• Date of your most recent Information Gathering Session or Follow Up Session (if applicable)
• The email address that you use for communication and the email address you use for your subscription – if your subscription is not active then please activate it here.

We’re currently in a phase of exciting change as we fine-tune our systems to better manage demand and provide a smoother, more efficient experience for you. We’re striving to meet and exceed our service level goals, all with you in mind. We know the last few months have been tricky and we just want to help you better.

Each and every member is incredibly important to us, and your patience during this time is truly appreciated. We’re working hard behind the scenes to fix any issues and improve our services even further.

For more details on recent changes and accessing the care you need, please visit our Help Centre. Don’t forget! Our ever-growing Knowledge Base is your go-to for information on all aspects of your journey and our services, expert advice available 24/7 right at your fingertips. If you’d like to chat to someone, our friendly team are available for Quick Chat sessions and look forward to connecting with you.

We can’t thank you enough for sticking with us through this period of change. Your support means the world to us, and we’re excited about the positive improvements we’re making together.

Once again, we apologise for any inconvenience caused and look forward to processing your newly submitted request promptly.

Warmest Wishes,

GenderGP

The post Gender GP, what is going on? Poor service appeared first on Official website of Mikki Tiamo.

They ultimately will never know as they are not transgender people and they know not what hormones and blockers do to bodies because they have no experience of them.

For me personally, after many years of taking female hormones, they have turned my orgasms into what can only be described as mine blowing.

This is compared to before testosterone blockers and female hormones. My orgasms are massively more intense and last so much longer than prior to HRT.

I regularly experience orgasms of high intensity and duration and on numerous occasions have actually struggled to regain my composure for several minutes after orgasm.

Whereas prior to HRT I would be attentive within a minute or so.

The severity of these orgasms leads to massive volumes of ejaculate material and a sensation which leaves me on a different plain both physically and mentally.

The sensation throughout my pelvic floor can only be described as vibrations through the entire area leading to mental elation which I have only experienced from certain drugs in the past.

I have even felt like my whole body has been flooded with dopamine and even the very ends of my fingers and toes tingle.

I never had this prior to HRT. Never!

I have honestly been left like a puddle on the bed recently and I don’t mean in a puddle. A literal puddle!

Having spoken to several other trans women online I can report that this is not a unique experience and others have said the same as myself.

Yet the media are still trying and say that we can’t experience proper orgasms because of the drugs and operations we undergo as a community.

The post Trans orgasms appeared first on Official website of Mikki Tiamo.

On the 23rd November my primary care provider, which is now Cheshire and Merseyside Gender Identity Clinic requested that the gender marker be changed on my medical records to Ms.

Grea, I hear most of you cry.

Yes, great but it has caused me a massive issue in December and January when I went to get bloody tests done.

My prescribing clinic, Gender GP, sent a request to my doctor’s on 23rd December, who then put a request into the NHS. This was rejected because I did not have an active NHS number.

My NHS number was in limbo land.

My doctors tell me because I haven’t had a new NHS number they cannot check my bloods until a new NHS number has been assigned.

I don’t know where the numbers are assigned from or if my doctors are telling the truth anymore as I really don’t believe a word they say these days.

They also told me they can’t use my old NHS number and that I need to wait for the new number to be generated by the NHS system.

I am being told this while I am stood in the reception area of my doctors surgery and the receptionist is getting really agitated because I am questioning this time and time again and she is definitely trying to get rid of me.

I need a blood test so I can get my prescription drugs but no blood test equals no drugs and I only have 7 days of these left!

Eventually the receptionist gets to the point where she asks me to leave and I refuse and ask to speak to the practise manager. She calls the practise manager.

When she arrives, she knows exactly who I am, because I had a full blown meltdown in September last year when they hadn’t actioned my deed poll name change, despite having had several emails and copies of my deed poll hand delivered to reception.

I explain the situation and she agrees with the receptionist that there is nothing they can do.

I explain that yet again I am sat in the surgery dealing with either piss poor management, petty bureaucracy or a failure of their systems.

Again she states I must wait for my new NHS number to come through before I can get a blood test form.

She says she will go speak to the head doctor and see what she can do.

To my surprise she comes back with blood test form with my old NHS number on it.

So if you can do this why am I sitting in reception almost close to tears????

I am honestly shocked at how pathetic the service is. How can they suddenly do something they said just minutes ago could not be done.

I can now go get my bloods done and get my prescription.

To my surprise she texted me not more than a few hours later with my new NHS number!!!

Where did this suddenly come from?

What was I waiting for if they can generate one within a few hours?

If I had not gone into the surgery and made a scene would I still be waiting? Would I now have run out of prescription drugs? Drugs which, by the way, I cannot suddenly stop taking?

So, I have a new NHS number but need to wait for it to become active and all the details from my old NHS record to be carried over, and that’s my doctors job to do.

The post NHS medical number issues appeared first on Official website of Mikki Tiamo.

There has been a shortage of Synarel, the testosterone blocker, hence the change to Spironolactone .

This switch did cause me a massive headache, due to dealing with my Doctor’s and Gender GP, but now have this new drug this is what has it done to me in the past 2 weeks.

The effects of Spironolactone so far

It’s give me slight stomach ache some days, probably because I took it without a decent meal inside me. Spironolactone is to be taken before or with a meal.

Also when I do eat I am so lethargic after eating that I’ve fallen asleep when I’ve got home, three nights this week.

But I don’t feel tired, which is a common side effect, and the lethargy is always within a few hours of eating. I’m discussing this with my care provider.

The only other thing it’s done for me, so far is given me a massive desire for sweet things.

I’ve written this after a night out when I’d normally be craving a chippy or kebab, not tonight.

All evening I’ve had a huge craving for anything sweet.

What I think started this tonight was, being handed a cup of tea about 2am and it had honey in it, rather a lot of honey, if I’m honest.

A few mouthfulls of this made my little wings flap, litterly like a honey bee!

Then is was handed a Chubba Chupps lolly, and my desire for that sweet taste made me suck that lolly pop for over an hour, until there was nothing left on the stick. No, that’s not a euphemism!!!!.

I had to have another lollipop!!!! I had quite a few tbh!

Don’t normally like sweet stuff, I’m more of a savory girl, but this week I’ve been eating a lot of sweets and cakes!..

Cé la vie

Medically I’d like to say it’s doing X and Y but after just 2 weeks I haven’t noticed any physical or mental changes, other than maybe decreased libido again. This had started to return after 2 months without my testosterone blocker, Synarel.

Not that I had much these days anyway!

I’ve also been keeping an eye on my blood pressure as well, another common side effect of Spironolactone use is that it can decrease blood pressure.

I’ve had to take blood pressure readings twice a day for the past two weeks and will continue to do so for another two.

To be honest this is something I’m not that worried about as my blood pressure is slightly elevated according to my GP surgery.

More about the side effects of Spironolactone

Other side effects of Spironolactone are listed listed in the Mayo clinic website:

Mayo clinic, side effects of Spirolactone.

The post The effects of Spironolactone after two weeks appeared first on Official website of Mikki Tiamo.