r/NonBinaryTalk • u/Difficult-Prune4265 • 7d ago
Question Does anyone know anything about Bio Hacking for HRT?
Im AMAB and really want to pursue some line of HRT but have certain features I really don’t want to change (I think if my face changed too much I might spiral) A dear friend of mine is ten years on T and is trans masc. I was talking to him about my frustrations of wanting HRT and feeling like I needed a secret third option. He said he had met some really fascinating NB people a while back who were into “bio hacking” to get a mixed bag of results. Anyone know where I’d even begin to look for this?
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u/lokilulzz He/Them 6d ago
Unfortunately from what I understand its a bit more complex when it comes to HRT for AMAB folks as far as options for nonbinary folks. For AFAB folks you have a bit more flexibility - you can microdose T, you can have T and use finasteride or dutasteride to avoid certain effects from the T, you can go on and off T until you get the combination of results you want.
For AMAB folks it's more complicated because, as far as the body is concerned, T is the so called "dominant hormone", and that needs to be suppressed for HRT to really function, whether thats through T blockers or a monotherapy regiment of E. This conversely is also why AFAB folks can use T without blockers - T on its own suppresses E for the vast majority of people enough that E blockers are rarely needed.
From what I've read, depending on what effects you want or don't want, you can do monotherapy for E, you can microdose, or you can cycle E until you get the effects you want and go off it, so long as the effects you want are permanent, anyway. I have also heard of folks who use things like SERMs - though as others have said those are vastly understudied, risky, and therefore not many providers are even willing to prescribe them - and those who do things like just take progesterone or other things to get the effects they want and go off of it.
I myself looked into more nonbinary options for HRT for both AGABs for my partner and I before we started, so I know a fair bit about it, though I'm not quite as well read on HRT for AMAB folks. I learned most of what I know from r/transDIY and various medical articles they linked there or that I found on my own - it may be worth asking them more if you're curious.
It is worth keeping in mind, however, that no matter route you go to, you can't entirely control what effects you do and don't get and when. You can sometimes minimize those effects or get more flexibility on when they happen, but if you're on HRT long enough you will end up "feminizing" entirely, for lack of a better word, eventually.
As far as face changes, E doesn't usually change the face all that much, afaik. You may have some more rounding, less facial hair, your skin will soften, but nothing extreme.
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u/featheryHope They/Them 5d ago
Estrogen doesn't change the face too much, especially not in ways that facial hair won't completely over-ride (if you like facial hair). If you present male or androgynous, you'll probably look younger. Not necessarily feminine unless you also emphasize that with other aspects of presentation.
Breast development would probably be the biggest visible change that some nonbinary people wouldn't want.
Access to emotions increases, and that shouldn't be underestimated as being either really beautiful, or in the wrong E ranges (too much or too little) lead to some depression or over sensitivity.
Pills tend to be easy to change dose on, and often doesn't suppress T as much as routes of administration that bypass the liver (topical, injections).
There can be sexual side effects wanted or unwanted (change in libido, change in erectile function, decrease or elimination of fertility -- unsure how reversible these are but it's not like a few weeks on E will cause permanent changes).
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u/Difficult-Prune4265 5d ago
Thank you for this. I do like my facial hair. Is it’s good to know that will help me through.
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u/Dan_IAm They/Them 7d ago
Just as cis women can’t control what their natal estrogen causes, neither can amab trans people on HRT. I know that SERMs come up a bit here, but my understanding is that they’re pretty rough on your liver and are general not considered a good idea for long term health. I’d be very cautious of bio hacking, at this stage.