HORMONE THERAPY: HRT MEDICATIONS SUMMARY
<< RETURN TO Table of Contents
Hormone dosages are determined mainly from verbal advice of medical doctors, second-hand anecdotes, and personal experience. Post-op hormone dosages are also influenced by the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) according to the recommendation of hormone replacement of normal gonadal hormone production. Of the injectable hormones and anti-hormones available, only those that are sustained-release (requiring injection less frequently than once per week) are listed.
The following androgens are popular for treatment of female-to-male transsexuals, and are presented in descending order of preference in the humble opinion of the author:
Name
Safety
Testosterone Cypionate
Good
Testosterone Enanthate
Testosterone
Methyl Testosterone
Fair
Fluoxymesterone has also been suggested, but since it is available only in an oral preparation, it would probably be toxic to the liver at the dosage that would be required for virilization. Other prescription androgenic hormones are available, but because they have dangerous adverse effects and their primary indication is not for male hormone replacement, they are not listed here. Specifically, anabolic steroids should be eschewed in favor of the androgens listed above. The following natural sources of phytoandrogens (androgen-like compounds) have been identified, but the author is not aware of an effective course of treatment using them. Since phytoandrogens are not nearly as efficacious as true androgens, huge and potentially toxic amounts of these items would have to be consumed. They are presented in alphabetical order: Diosterol, Gamma Oryzanol, Mesobolin, Sarsparilla (Smilax Officinalis).
Fluoxymesterone has also been suggested, but since it is available only in an oral preparation, it would probably be toxic to the liver at the dosage that would be required for virilization.
Other prescription androgenic hormones are available, but because they have dangerous adverse effects and their primary indication is not for male hormone replacement, they are not listed here. Specifically, anabolic steroids should be eschewed in favor of the androgens listed above.
The following natural sources of phytoandrogens (androgen-like compounds) have been identified, but the author is not aware of an effective course of treatment using them. Since phytoandrogens are not nearly as efficacious as true androgens, huge and potentially toxic amounts of these items would have to be consumed. They are presented in alphabetical order: Diosterol, Gamma Oryzanol, Mesobolin, Sarsparilla (Smilax Officinalis).
The following anti-estrogens have been suggested for treatment of treatment of pre-operative female-to-male transsexuals, and are presented in descending order of preference in the humble opinion of the author:
Safety and Efficacy
Danazol
Tamoxifen Citrate
Prescription adrenal estrogen production inhibitors are available but not listed because adrenal estrogen production is insignificant (i.e., about the same as in males) in comparison to gonadal estrogen production. Adrenal estrogens are best ignored, or if absolutely necessary, countered with a mild estrogen receptor antagonist.
These pharmaceuticals can be used to dramatically reduce gonadal hormone production in both males and females. They are used mainly by pediatricians to reduce precocious puberty, so it might be difficult to persuade a doctor to prescribe them for an adult. Also, they are very expensive. None the less, this type of chemical castration is worth investigating for those cases when the pre-operative male-to-female cannot take the hormones of choice because of other health problems (e.g., hormone dependent tumors or blood clotting disorders), and cannot yet have the surgery performed (note that such a problem is quite rare). Name Safety and Efficacy Goserelin Acetate Excellent Nafarelin Acetate Excellent Leuprolide Acetate Fair Table 3: Anti-Hormones
These pharmaceuticals can be used to dramatically reduce gonadal hormone production in both males and females. They are used mainly by pediatricians to reduce precocious puberty, so it might be difficult to persuade a doctor to prescribe them for an adult. Also, they are very expensive. None the less, this type of chemical castration is worth investigating for those cases when the pre-operative male-to-female cannot take the hormones of choice because of other health problems (e.g., hormone dependent tumors or blood clotting disorders), and cannot yet have the surgery performed (note that such a problem is quite rare).
Goserelin Acetate
Excellent
Nafarelin Acetate
Leuprolide Acetate