So, for awhile I've been curious about my gender and presentation, and while I get no dysphoria in my current state (to my knowledge, being male has been default for me for quite a bit so idk, I just know I don't feel one way or another strongly, except...) I do feel what I imagine to be gender euphoria when I had used a Snapchat filter for lipstick and makeup, that and when I put my hair up to cut it. Due to my complexion I'm kinda medium ugly, like my bone structure in my face is nice just not the acne scaring, and because of that and my giant ass Adams apple idk if I'd be 'passable' (whatever that means). But idk I think for me personally I'd like to be in between and confuse people about what gender I actually am (that and I'd like some bewbs without just getting really chonky).
So that brings me to the crux of what I'd like to accomplish and how. I want to do HRT but through diet to see results and stop where necessary after I feel like I'm good where I'm at. I figured this could also help other confused or interested comrades as well if we could compile info we've all found.
I know that grapefruit juice is synergistic with estradiol (be careful), flaxseeds help interfere with androgens I believe (it's been awhile since I've gone and looked it up), soy has phytoestrogens, yams help increase estrogen production in some way. So things like that. Feel free to add or correct me. If comrades would like to post links for SAFE over the counter hrt for those not wanting to deal with the whole process to get gender affirming care that would also be more than welcome.
Edit:
29
Live in US
Always waffling between whether or not I'm some flavor of trans
Android user
When I said otc, kinda meant something like diyhrt cafe. I ain't got the money for a therapist rn and I'm not sure I'd be able to because idk if I am actually trans or it's a fetish or whatev. Like I'm sure I'd feel sexier and cute but idk how I'd feel since 'male' has been my default. Idk I'd like to just try it out slowly and see if I like the results and continue if I do. Also not worried about infertility.
There really is no safe OTC way to do DIY HRT, unless you stick with stuff that will do fucking nothing. In fact, doing actual DIY HRT is significantly safer than fucking around with a weak monoamine oxydase inhibitor like grapefruit juice, especially if you do not want to go full hog to begin with (by full hog, i mean the really effective treatment regimens like either taking high dose estradiole or combining estradiole with an anti-androgen). Estradiol gels in particular are a really low risk way to do HRT.
in the global south, where there arent many endos or docs to help trans people, people usually take menstrual medication (re: hormonal birth control) for HRT. this is obviously not ideal and you should try other methods, the types of estrogen and progesterone here are different than what is normally prescribed and to know if your levels are correct you really need blood testing. i do believe there are some guides online for this, if the OP is serious and desperate enough about it i can look it up for them.
the plus side to this is that its literally everywhere OTC, only a couple of countries have a formal ban on hormonal birth control. some countries even sell estrogen OTC.
That's OTC, but it's notably less safe than transdermal estradiol. Taking estrogens in pill form always comes with some risk of blood clots, and this is usually increased a lot with synthetic estrogens like premarin or many of the drugs used for hormonal contraception. It's good when people who do not have access to the safest ways of HRT have options regardless, everybody should be able to transition and i would absolutely take a lot of risks if i was in a less privileged position and would have to improvise. But OP has said that gender affirming care is available where they live, and there's the option to buy estradiol preparations online.
What kind of anti androgen would work well with estradiol like what name? Could I find it in the diy café? (In case I do wanna go full hog). Also I feel like I should be taking advantage of my testosterone to build strength and some muscle in key areas since I've neglected hitting the gym, so I guess my concern is the hormonal changes and what it'll entail performance wise. Like should I only do estrogen and do anti androgens later or does estrogen effect testosterone on it's own meaning I should wait till I like my frame I want to develop (I wanna be a bit pudgy but strong and thick in the trunk, butt, hips, legs. Idk gender ambiguous thicc frame I guess). I've only done cursory research and spent plenty lurking here and there and hexbear so forgive me for writing a paragraph and not knowing these answers myself. I lazy. I'm like a cat, unless I'm at work tho.
spironolactone is the most common anti-androgen in america, generally taken between 25mg-200mg (100mg being most common for trans people). generally its suggested to do anti-androgens at the beginning of hrt, you can quit them for monotherapy (high doses of only estrogen and progesterone) later.
when it comes to muscle mass, estrogen does make it harder to get gains, but youre probably gonna lose gains eventually even if you got it right now unless you are genetically lucky or something. i know someone that is a weightlifting buff and is trans and she tried her hardest to keep her old muscle mass but couldnt keep up. plus side is the estrogen makes fat complement the muscles in a feminine way, so yeah you can definitely achieve pudgy and strong.
Hell yeah, and mainly want strength not muscle volume anyways, but I'm assuming it'll reduce a bit of strength too