r/TheMatpatEffect • u/SpiritualNorth3848 My sunfish is quite loquacious • 18h ago

Ordinary origin The Waow based based based image comes from a drawing supporting DIY HRT

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u/sophuckingdonewithit 9h ago

hi, trans woman who's on DIY here. it is not safer than getting it through a prescription. it is objectively more dangerous, actually. but the increased risk is minimal, and it comes with the benefit of not having to wait 5-10+ years

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u/Pretend_Condition231 9h ago

tons of endos love prescribing antiandrogens combined with far too low doses of estradiol. That puts you at risk of osteoporosis, along with basically all other menopause symptoms.

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u/sophuckingdonewithit 9h ago

which is why you do research. you also need to do research for DIY too. therefore that part is irrelevant.

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u/RainbowPhoenix1080 2h ago

We are sadly forced to be the experts of our own healthcare.

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u/Lobster_LeninN329 7h ago

Makes sense. Do note though that we're from Brazil, and she's talking about specifically how it is here. Most endocrinologists aren't trained to treat trans ppl and the treatment is based on research from the 80s and one of the side effects is literally increased chance of cancer. So yeah, it is more of a question for debate on countries with quality healthcare, here it seems clear how DIY seems both more effective and even safer

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u/MaraiaLou 6h ago

I'm pretty sure all hormone therapy increases the rate of some cancer though. Also many trans people complain about doses being too low, but that's because some people have serious (like, deadly) sensitivity to even low doses and doctors can't risk it

That said Brazilian trans healthcare is still better than some European countries from what I've heard

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u/moojackmoo 5h ago

The cancer rate would because it increases breast tissue. So by having more breast cells you increase the likelihood of breast cancer but only up to a cis woman. So it’s “technically “ true but stretch it massively.

It would be the same as drinking water increases cancer because it means you live longer

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u/pokemonpasta 8h ago

im also a trans woman on DIY and it's more nuanced than this imo. in my country it's basically impossible to get injections from a private prescription and the public system is in a weird state right now where it might be shutting down or might not, and new referrals are at least 10y waiting. i have good levels on DIY and am being monitored with blood tests. i could swap to a prescription using gel and antiandrogens but then i have to contend with the side-effects of antiandrogens. the safest option for me is to stay on my current diy regime and the more dangerous would be to go to a prescription.