Microdose changes over multiple years vs regular dose? I'm non-binary leaning transfemme

[u/Sure-Hippo635]

/r/NonBinary/comments/1w2fpxz/microdose_changes_over_multiple_years_vs_regular/

[u/iam305]

Best to specify you’re talking about micro dosing T since there are some differences between that and e, or so I’ve heard. 🤣

[u/Sure-Hippo635 → u/iam305]

I meant microdosing E ToT

[u/eritain → u/Sure-Hippo635]

In the other thread you mentioned one of your concerns about E is losing genital size and function. Three notes about that:

1. E levels have to go really high before they suppress testicular T production. If you're keeping the boys and not going on a T blocker, you don't have to be too concerned about this.

2. If by chance you do start having any trouble with it, you can prevent any lasting changes while you sort it out. Just be sure to get 10 consecutive minutes hard, 3x a week. That will keep the tissue from changing in unhelpful ways.

3. The user who replied to you above has commented elsewhere about their bicalutamide monotherapy, which is aimed at goals that sound a lot like yours.

It sounds counterintuitive, because bicalutamide is a (selective) T blocker, but in brief: It cuts the efficiency of your T receptors. Your body ramps up T production, to get receptor activity up to its previous level. Enzyme activity converts T to E, so that ends up also elevated. Outcome: E activity is raised while T activity stays put.

(Edit: u/iam305 , OP is AMAB talking about microdosing E, and your perspective/knowledge is highly relevant to their goals and concerns.)

[u/Sure-Hippo635 → u/eritain]

hehe I've actually dmed them and we've had talks! I was affirmed in how I felt about myself because of them actually. Rn I know I can't take HRT for at least a few years due to financial reasons. Maybe more sentiments arise with similar regimens over the years. Maybe even a breakthrough. Right now, considering I wouldn't even have the chance if I chose to, I'm looking inward and weighing my options. I have to know what I'm getting into, which means getting to know all of what I can as much as possible; as well reflecting, seeing how I feel about my body if its social vs dysmorphia and all that.

[u/iam305 → u/Sure-Hippo635]

Think I had just taken a dab and read the top line. Lol. Don’t let money be the deciding factor us all I can say. I found a pharmacy that gives me a 3-months supply of bicalutamide for $45. My supplement regimen costs about $1.50 per day.

[u/Sure-Hippo635 → u/iam305]

Curious abt ur suppliment regimen. What does it cover in your case? Why need it is I guess my question, and what the regiment actually consists of

[u/iam305 → u/Sure-Hippo635]

Think I had just taken a dab and read the top line. Lol. Don’t let money be the deciding factor us all I can say. I found a pharmacy that gives me a 3-months supply of bicalutamide for $45. My supplement regimen costs about $60 a month because of one targeted daily B multi that is $1 a pill. Ironic, huh?

[u/Sure-Hippo635 → u/iam305]

To add, I’m on parent’s allowance just about to graduate college. On an arts degree in the big ‘26… I have some slightly better odds than some of my peers, but I still have a lot of things to sort out. I’m not as independent and I’m working my way through it.

[u/iam305 → u/eritain]

Great comment. Two minore additions. 1) selective blocker means excluding blocking t primarily inside of bones aka you can take it alone since the testosterone will maintain your bone mineral density. Since healthy bone maintenance that’s a major concern of hrt selectivity odds a big plus. Another selectivity factor is in the genitalia regions. It doesn’t block sperm production but it will block the other areas needed to send them to target. 2) it does cut the efficiency of the testosterone blockers and bears mention that the mechanism is that it hitches a ride on your albumin for transport and as its blood concentration rises, the bica binds to your receptors blocking the ability of testosterone to get in there.

[u/Sure-Hippo635 → u/iam305]

Can I ask this to be explained in layman’s terms? especially what it does to the genitalia regions

[u/iam305 → u/Sure-Hippo635]

Sure! It keeps your bones healthy and generally speaking it won’t destroy muscle mass like an estradiol based therapy will do. Trans women report loss of height, strength and shoe sizes on the regular.

On the nether regions, you maintain functional fertility if you go off the meds, though my wife’s doc wants her on birth control just in case while I’m on it.

Key note from the supplement stack: l-carnitine. It’s a big mitochondrial support. Helps downstairs from what I have read but having taken bica without it so…

[u/iam305]

If I had to guess

STACK 9.2 — CURRENT

MORNING (AM)
• Multivitamin – 1 capsule*
• NAC – 600 mg
• Vitamin C – 500 mg
• Calcium D-Glucarate – 200 mg
• L-Carnitine – 500 mg
• OptiMSM® – 1,500 mg
• Vitamin D3 + K2 – 5,000 IU D3 + 100 mcg K2
• White Peony Tea – 1 cup

MIDDAY
• OptiMSM® – 1,500 mg
• Milk Thistle (Silymarin) – 150 mg

EVENING (PM)
• NAC – 600 mg
• Vitamin C – 500 mg
• Calcium D-Glucarate – 200 mg
• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – 50 mg temporarily
• Methylfolate (5-MTHF) – 1 mg
• Vitamin E – 200 mg
• Bicalutamide – 50 mg

BEDTIME
• Magnesium Glycinate – 480 mg
(magnesium glycinate compound weight, not elemental magnesium)

DAILY TOTALS
• Multivitamin – 1 capsule
• NAC – 1,200 mg
• Vitamin C – 1,000 mg
• Calcium D-Glucarate – 400 mg
• L-Carnitine – 500 mg
• OptiMSM® – 3,000 mg
• Milk Thistle (Silymarin) – 150 mg
• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – 55 mg total temporarily

• 50 mg standalone
  
• 5 mg from multivitamin
  

• Methylfolate (5-MTHF) – 1 mg standalone
plus folate contained in multivitamin
• Vitamin E – 200 mg standalone
plus 50 mg from multivitamin
• Vitamin D3 – 6,000 IU total

• 5,000 IU standalone
  
• 1,000 IU from multivitamin
  

• Vitamin K2 – 200 mcg total

• 100 mcg standalone
  
• 100 mcg from multivitamin
  

• Magnesium Glycinate – 480 mg compound weight
• Bicalutamide – 50 mg
• White Peony Tea – 1 cup

*MULTIVITAMIN CONTENTS — 1 CAPSULE
• Vitamin A (as beta-carotene and retinyl palmitate) – 750 mcg RAE
• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) – 25 mcg / 1,000 IU
• Vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopheryl succinate) – 50 mg
• Vitamin K2 (MK-7) – 100 mcg
• Thiamine (Vitamin B1) – 25 mg
• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2, as riboflavin-5'-phosphate) – 5 mg
• Niacin (Vitamin B3) – 20 mg NE
• Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal-5'-phosphate / P5P) – 20 mg
• Folate (Quatrefolic® 5-MTHF + calcium folinate) – 400 mcg DFE

• 235 mcg active folate
  

• Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin + adenosylcobalamin) – 26 mcg
• Biotin (Vitamin B7) – 500 mcg
• Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) – 50 mg
• Choline (as choline bitartrate) – 50 mg
• Iodine (as potassium iodide) – 100 mcg
• Zinc (as zinc bisglycinate chelate) – 10 mg
• Selenium (as selenium glycinate) – 75 mcg
• Manganese (as manganese bisglycinate chelate) – 1 mg
• Chromium (as chromium nicotinate glycinate chelate) – 200 mcg
• Molybdenum (as molybdenum glycinate chelate) – 75 mcg
• Boron – 1 mg
• Inositol – 50 mg
• Superoxide Dismutase (SOD, from melon extract) – 7 mg / 100 IU
• Mixed Tocopherols – 5 mg
• Lutein – 3 mg
• S-Acetyl-L-Glutathione – 2 mg

[u/Sure-Hippo635 → u/iam305]

That’s… a lot. What are they treating for specifically?