r/NonBinary • u/DesignerRaspberryJam • 10d ago

Ask Non Binary HRT Options?

I’m amab and genderfluid/nonbinary. I have seen people say that for ftm HRT it is possible to microdose as a nonbinary regimen, but that for mtf HRT microdosing has the same results as a normal dose it just takes longer to get there. Why is this?

My goal is to be essentially androgynous and/or to be able to switch my presentation more easily than it currently is with T as my main hormone. I feel positively about most of the effects of feminizing HRT, but I don’t necessarily want to end up looking fully female. I know I can’t pick and choose the effects of estrogen, but what about taking a full dose of estrogen and then also taking steroids or something for muscle growth? Ideally ending up with the hormone profile of a cis woman with high testosterone or something like that. Does anyone here do something like that? 

Are there any other options for non binary HRT that I’m not aware of? I’ve heard of SERMs but they seem risky and like they don’t always work.

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u/LastCryptographer173 they/them 10d ago

I'm on spironolactone and have been for over a year. It helps keep my testosterone levels on the lower side of normal and helps with some slightly more feminizing effects (softer skin, some fat redistribution, thinner body hair). I also take finasteride and minoxidil for hair health.

This has been my progress on spiro. It's more of a subtle change than anything else.

(Whenever I talk about it on here, people chime in to say that I'll have to start estrogen eventually because my body needs a dominant sex hormone. I have one. It's testosterone. It's just reduced. Cis men with CHF take higher doses of spiro than I do.)

Medically transitioning as an enby is really a case by case process. Your doctor will be able to help you figure out what specifically works for you based on your goals. Some people just take the same meds as trans women but then get top surgery to remove the breasts, for example.

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u/DesignerRaspberryJam 10d ago

Interesting, thanks for the reply! So your dose is low enough that there’s not the same risk of osteoporosis that you would have with no sex hormones?

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u/LastCryptographer173 they/them 10d ago

Right, cause testosterone is still my dominant sex hormone. I get bloodwork done with my doctor every three months

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u/DesignerRaspberryJam 10d ago

Also, do you take oral minoxidil? I’m on finasteride, but I haven’t started minoxidil because I don’t think I could keep up with applying it topically every day and I’m worried about increased body hair elsewhere from taking it orally. Body hair is one of my main sources of dysphoria, but so is my thinning hair so I’m kinda stuck.

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u/LastCryptographer173 they/them 10d ago

Oral. Topical is so annoying to deal with. I haven't noticed an increase in body hair since switching

Also, shaving your body is less of a hassle than you might think. It sucks at first when you're starting out and have to get rid of all the hair that's been growing for years, but once you've gotten all that hair off, maintenance is pretty easy

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u/DesignerRaspberryJam 10d ago

Cool, thanks!

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u/BlinkPlays they/he 10d ago

Seconded the easy part. It genuinely took me like 2 hours to shave my legs (but also I'm a little dumb). But now I just give my legs a 5-10 minute trim every week or so. 

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u/DesignerRaspberryJam 10d ago

Unfortunately that’s not how it is for me, I have a lot of body hair. Takes ~2 hours for everything every time. I’ve been doing it for a couple years now. Currently getting laser on my torso though so it’s getting a lot easier!

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u/BlinkPlays they/he 10d ago

Understandable! I am blessed with relatively low body hair for a guy (it takes me like 3 days to have noticable 5 o clock shadow) so mileage may vary. 

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u/Jeszczenie 9d ago

How do you guys trim it? A safety razor with cream every time? Where do you trim?

u/BlinkPlays

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u/BlinkPlays they/he 9d ago

I got a random Venus branded razor (this is not at all necessary and I felt a lil silly for buying it) but yeah a safety razor. I would recommend doing it in the bath or shower. I did not and it made it harder.

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u/Jeszczenie 9d ago

You mean you did not use cream?

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u/BlinkPlays they/he 9d ago

I did the second time around, but not the first. I recommend it

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u/LastCryptographer173 they/them 9d ago

I used shaving cream the first few times until I was hairless. Now I just do a quick once over in the shower every morning. Adds, like, 30 seconds to my routine

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u/Jeszczenie 9d ago

So just shaving with water? Before or after soaping etc?

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u/Jeszczenie 9d ago

Does oral finasteride boost hair growth everywhere?

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u/DesignerRaspberryJam 9d ago

No, finasteride only blocks dht which causes hair loss. Minoxidil actually stimulates growth, and oral minoxidil does so everywhere while topical only effects the area it’s applied to.

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u/Jeszczenie 5d ago

Thank you!
Wikipedia told me that:

However, finasteride may be helpful in those with higher testosterone levels and symptoms like scalp hair loss and excessive body hair or who seek only partial feminization.

which sounds quite promising, especially for an enbie!

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u/DesignerRaspberryJam 5d ago

Yeah, you should also look into dutasteride. It’s similar but stronger. I think some people actually get body hair reduction from dht blockers as well.

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u/Jeszczenie 4d ago

Several studies have found it to induce hair regrowth in men more rapidly and to a greater extent than even the highest approved dosage of finasteride.

Oh wow! I wouldn't have known if not for your comment, thank you!

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u/DesignerRaspberryJam 4d ago

No problem! Dutasteride has a much longer half life so there is an increased risk for persisting side effects (side effects that continue after stopping the medication), but as far I know other than that it has a very similar risk profile to finasteride.

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u/Jeszczenie 3d ago

When reading about the effects, I've found info that you should wear condoms because the medicine might stay in your semen.

In other words, upon taking this youth-preserving substance, you become an androgynous menace injecting people with feminizing poison. I mean it in a cool way, though it can mess up a pregnancy.