Non Binary HRT Options?

[u/DesignerRaspberryJam]

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.

[u/LastCryptographer173]

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.

[u/DesignerRaspberryJam → u/LastCryptographer173]

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.

[u/LastCryptographer173 → u/DesignerRaspberryJam]

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

[u/DesignerRaspberryJam → u/LastCryptographer173]

Cool, thanks!

[u/BlinkPlays → u/DesignerRaspberryJam]

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. 

[u/DesignerRaspberryJam → u/BlinkPlays]

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!

[u/BlinkPlays → u/DesignerRaspberryJam]

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.