Q&A
Q. What can you tell me about use of the drug stilbestrol for feminization? I would be particularly interested in any information you could give on: appropriate dosage, side effects (particularly on fertiltity), and amount of time before changes occur and become irreversible. I am interested in transitioning, but would like to get as much information as possible on specific drugs before approaching a doctor. posted Apr. 16, 1999
Response by Krystle Glass
A. I personally know very little about any particular hormonal regimen. So I asked those I knew for help with this question. I hope that you are not considering self-dosing, and from your letter I don't think you are. I applaud you for wanting to educate yourself before seeking professional help, as the better informed you are the better you can be an active participant in any health care issue. The following are the responses I have recieved to date:
From Jamie K.-
This is a two-page 'results' listing of a search on 'stilbestrol', using 'MetaCrawler' - see if there's anything in these sites to help you!
especially, http://www.deslaw.com/des2.htm , and http://biol1.bio.nagoya-u.ac.jp:8000/control.html
I admit, I haven't gone into these sites, myself......
Good luck!
From Robin Leigh -
Dear Krys, This person should be pursuaded to purchase Dr. Sheila Kirk's excellent book, "Feminizing Hormonal Therapy for the Transgendered" Anyone considering transition without the care of a professional is placing their health and in some cases their very life in jeopardy. Dr. Kirk's book is a concise and authoratative reference for anyone considering hormonal feminization. The big question is,..."is your health worth $14.95"?
Note from Krystle: This book is available from IFGE. The IFGE website is http://www.ifge.org
From Rosie, the driving force behind TGGuide -
I got this reply from a Docter Anderson, regarding your question on that drug. The other folks I sent the request to have not answered via e-mail, but most have told me they know nothing of the drug, and based on what Dr Anderson says, I can understand why. I mean being an old drug and such. I am hoping to go through my bookmarks here in the next few days and try to get them all loaded into the link books. I do know I have some drug bookmarks, and I am getting some more from some other folks, so hopefully here very soon; questions such as this, we will at least be able to direct them to a site where they can get the answers. I have included Dr. Anderson's site in case you want to persue this futher. http://www.drbecky.com/
Rosie
Subject: Re: (no subject)
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 23:08:24 -0700
From: "Becky Allison" < becky@drbecky.com >
To: rosmar
Dear Rosie, You aren't intruding at all. I'm happy to respond. Stilbestrol is a very old product, an injectable estrogen. It was replaced by diethylstilbestrol, or DES, which was very popular in the U.S. in the 1940s and 1950s. (Interestingly, there's some evidence that the use of DES back in those days, given to pregnant women to try and prevent miscarriage, may have had some effects on their offspring, whether abnormalities of the vagina in genetic females or even a form of gender dysphoria in genetic males.) I would discourage the use of DES for feminization; there are better estrogens. Estradiol valerate is widely available and less likely to cause liver abnormalities. A dose of 40 mg every 2-3 weeks is an average pre op dose. Breast tenderness, accompanied by swelling, develops in most patients after a month or so. The swelling may be irreversible even after the first couple of months. I hope this is helpful.Becky Allison
I hope this gives you the information you are looking for. Best of luck.
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