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How long does it take to start feeling emotional changes vs experiencing irreversible physical changes on HRT? (slrpnk.net)
submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by compostgoblin@slrpnk.net to c/mtf
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Basically, how long would you have to be on estrogen before you could start getting some of the mental and emotional effects, but before you would start having any irreversible physical effects?

I am pretty interested in starting HRT, but I don’t necessarily want to go through the whole hassle of freezing sperm first if I end up not liking how HRT makes me feel. Nor do I want to wait a long time before starting HRT just to find out that it me feel like garbage. So I’m thinking about potentially taking it for like two or three months as a “trial run”?

Would that be enough time to get some clarity on whether or not I like how it works on me? And then I could stop it for long enough to freeze some sperm and then go back on, or just stop entirely, depending on if I like it or not.

Thanks friends 🙏💜

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[-] squirrel 19 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

The question is somewhat difficult to answer, because the reactions to HRT are very individual. They depend on things like your age, your genetic make-up and the kind of HRT you get (what kind of drugs, what dosage, etc.)

To put things as general as possible: If you start HRT you may first feel euphoria, which is (more often than not) a purely psychological reaction. The actual effects of HRT will usually begin to manifest after a few weeks (once again: highly depending on what you are taking and how your body reacts to it). Unlike the initial psychological effect this will usually be more gradual, as your body and mind "ease into" their new state of being.

The obvious physical effects usually take months to manifest (growth of breast tissue, etc), though infertility can come earlier, particularly if you take anti-androgens or progesterone.

Because you specifically asked about sperm, the effects of HRT are (mostly) reversible in that regard, particularly if you haven't taken HRT for long. Some people can become fertile after months, sometimes even years of HRT, once they stop taking it.

So: Yes, most people can stop HRT for a while, freeze some sperm and then go back on. There are no guarantees, but it works far more often than not.

[-] sylveon 3 points 2 days ago

Because you specifically asked about sperm, the effects of HRT are (mostly) reversible in that regard, particularly if you haven't taken HRT for long.

While this is true I want to reiterate that if you want children it’s best to assume that HRT makes you permanently infertile and take precautions accordingly. And if you don’t want children you should assume it doesn’t affect your fertility and still use contraception.

This way you’ll be safe either way.

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this post was submitted on 17 May 2025
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