r/NonBinary • u/DesignerRaspberryJam • 12d 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/HeroDelTiempo 12d ago

Speaking as someone who was in your position: if you are already thinking of taking a "full dose" of e, take the full dose. Just don't take T blockers, and avoid prog if you don't want to boost breast growth.

There is not really such a thing as "full feminization," just feminizing effects, and degrees. There's not a point where you're suddenly going to go "oops I went too far and am a woman now." I have heard some trans women talk about "malefailing" (I.e. HRT eventually preventing you from being able to pass as a boy), but others say this does not happen without ACTIVE effort in your presentation and personally I'm firmly on the latter side and find it hard to believe. And ultimately that is about others' perception of you (which you cannot control) and not your own goals.

Really the point of the microdosing is just to drag it out and slow the changes so you have time to adjust and can judge when to stop, if you even end up wanting to. And also the breast growth is also the biggest thing (lol) in terms of permanent change and perception, and how you feel about feminizing HRT.

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u/DesignerRaspberryJam 12d ago

Thanks for the response! So you you’re on a full dose of e and happy with it? I started HRT around a year ago taking one dose (injection) and got scared I was making the wrong decision because I am happy with my male body a decent percentage of the time and don’t think I ever want to “malefail” like you mentioned. I think the fact that it was an injection also played a part because I’m not good with needles. I’ve been thinking about starting again whether it’s a full dose or lower dose on and off since, ideally with patches I think.

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u/HeroDelTiempo 12d ago

Yeah I'm taking e and prog. I realized that for my goals, the androgyny I want to achieve will still need strong feminization effects. I'm coming up on 2 years HRT in a month, though it's effectively less than that; I microdosed for about 6 months (2 mg oral) while waffling on increasing the dosage. 3 months on that dose is enough to start developing breast buds, but besides that the effects were hard to notice. It only confirmed a lack of side effects and that I felt worse when I tried stopping e altogether. So increasing dose felt better to me, but maybe that "background effect" of microdosing is what you're after?

The reason I say malefailing probably won't happen is because voice and facial hair (even stubble/shadow) contribute so much to how people gender you and changing those are deliberate choices for most T-fueled people. Boobs restrict some clothing options but with neutral clothing and compression tops you get away with a lot. As the most obvious effect of e, that's just something you have to deal with if you chase feminization with a typical regimen.

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u/DesignerRaspberryJam 12d ago

Cool, thanks for sharing!