this post was submitted on 09 Mar 2026
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Update on situation (see comment) (lemmy.blahaj.zone)
submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zone to c/mtf@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/39097158

Concerns about arm hair growth

See title. I'm on HRT for over 11 months now, thoroughly enjoying it. I've a hunch the dose is a bit low, though. I get androgen blockers every 2-3 months, my last one was one month ago.

Normally my arm hairs aren't very visible, so I didn't have much dysphoria from that. However, recently my arm hair seems to be growing a lot and thicker, and I'm concerned. Is this normal?

My mum doesn't really have a lot of arm hair, nor do other gals in my family.

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[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

The timing of the test with respect to when your most recent dose of E was administered is pretty significant. I'm on tablets and have strict instructions from my endocrinologist to get my blood tested 4 hours after taking my tablets.

My friend has the same situ, and she forgot to do the 4 hours thing, and her levels showed horrendously low since it had been 14+hrs since her last dose. She redid the test as she should have, and her levels were very normal.

Just in case you want to get more accuracy on your results because it can be quite a big deal

Edit, to be clear: the 4 hours instructions are for me and my doctor. What I am saying is you should be taking your test at a consistent time from/to your next dose

[–] WillStealYourUsername@piefed.blahaj.zone 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

Your endos instructions aren't good unless you're also taking pills every four hours. You should be taking the blood tests when your levels are at their lowest, right before your next test. Maybe less important on blockers, but still

Edit: To elaborate it might be perfectly fine if your endo is good and they take it into account that it's not at trough, so definitively do as they say

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

why is it beneficial to test when levels are lowest / at trough? I think Will Powers gave some kind of reasoning that didn't fully make sense to me, but it seemed like he was saying at trough you can see how much is actually retained by the cells vs just free-floating in the blood from the initial injection, basically earlier in the cycle you're more likely to have unreliably high levels because the depot release of estrogen can be unreliable or inconsistent?

I ask because my newest provider wants me to get blood tested "mid cycle" (on a 7 day cycle, that means at 3 - 4 days after injection ... which is when I theoretically should be peaking?). I'm not sure what the rationale is either way, tbh.

[–] birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 days ago

I thought it was for the uncertainty margin, but your reasoning makes sense too.

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I updated my post to clarify I wasn't advising them to follow my endo's instructions

However you do have me curious.

I'm on blockers so my T is below what the test will measure, sufficiently nuked.

My E most recently was at 484 pmol/L, and not at trough as you mention. What are ladies usually aiming for at trough?

[–] WillStealYourUsername@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

360ish to 740ish+. 360+ with blockers and then often you need 740+ to block testosterone without a blocker

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 1 points 3 days ago

Thanks, I am actually due a review with my endo so I've raised it just to be sure