To worry about brother taking oestrogen

[ChamomileHoneyTea]

My brother has just announced he is trans and is taking oestrogen he has purchased online. I’m worried that what he’s taking may not be legit and he is not being reviewed by a doctor. He insists he has done research on appropriate dosage. He says the NHS wait times for transitioning are too long.

Hyperfemme 😂 wtf.

The wankery in todays world blows my mind.

Offer to go to see the doctor with them.

Do not take drugs off the Internet.

This thread is shocking.

The world has gone mad.

This woman has expressed concerns about her brother taking unlicensed meds that might harm his body and will likely damage his mental health and she is being scolded.

For shame.

The side effects are really significant op. I would be worried. Depression and fertility problems, blood clots, heart problems. It’s quite scary stuff and he might damage his body, most people detransition at some point. I don’t know about oestrogen in men but I know testosterone in women is irreversible.

hyperfemme
🤣

OP, I'm not surprised you're worried about his health. I have a male family member who started taking oestrogen about 4 years ago and it's wreaked havoc on his body. A once healthy, athletic young man, he's now quite obese as oestrogen causes weight gain in men. He has major depressive symptoms (a side effect for men w/ low testosterone) and has cognitive issues where he can't hold many thoughts in his head, can't keep a job and got kicked out of university for academic failures. He's moody and quite emotionally abusive to family, where he was always kind and sweet before. It's a train wreck. Out of fear, the family 'supports' his new name and pronouns (it'd be confusing for me to use them here), but clearly that isn't helping him either. I don't have good advice, OP, but I have empathy and you're not crazy to be concerned and worried for him. I believe this is medical abuse.

I know someone who developed a brain tumour and it was linked to the growth hormone medicines he bought over the internet.
You are right to be worried. But it’s tricky to handle without upsetting your brother

This is really important! I cannot believe this is a thing. Antipsychotics are awful drugs and should only ever be an absolute last resort.

Surely you would just start with a low dose and gradually increase, rather than give antipsychotics 🤦‍♀️

If I knew that anyone I cared about was taking prescription medicine they bought over the internet for whatever reason then I could be concerned.

Trouble is there's not really a lot you can do. If they are not a child and they have mental capacity, then they have the right to make eccentric and /or unwise decisions.

OP - you've good reason to be concerned both from the 'bought online' drugs & the fact that if your brother is indeed dysphoric he needs help & support. It's not uncommon for dysphoria to present alongside other mental illnesses & all those avenues need to explored, not an immediate jump to 'I read a blog & can do it myself - I'm definitely a woman'. He may 'simply' be suffering from GD or it could be a symptom of something else entirely. Eitherway he needs help if he's gone as far as ordering online.

Would he talk with you further & would you be prepared to offer your time to get him PROPER support?

My god, though, it's terrifying what a mess this has become & so quickly!

Well you might hope that but I'd hope that our young people weren't being convinced that this was the right path in the first place.

How awful to think that your body is wrong and the right response is unlicensed, harmful, drugs.

This ideology is batshit. There is no wrong way to be male or female and your body is yours is surely a better response for our young people?

That'll be because he's a man, therefore he's her brother.

Well yes, there is that!

It really demonstrates the level and care and attention that goes in to this "treatment".

She's talking about her brother, who is not, never has been , and never will be either a woman or OP's sister.
Reality is not shitty. Your attitude is.

OP, your brother is an idiot.

@Vintagecreamandcottagepie even the alleged root of all evil, Kathlene Stock, is happy to use someone preferred pronouns. If she can be relaxed about it, why should anyone else be stressed? No two people are the same, if it helps, there's no harm. Getting on in life with people we care about is all about figuring how to cope with differences, because no two people think exactly alike.

The real issue here is unlicensed, potentially fake, drugs and a lack of expert oversight. I'm disappointed in that anyone who, regardless of their views on gender, isn't concerned about that more than anything else. I'd hate to be in the OP shoes!

Rubbish, if it's just a recent announcement it will take OP a little while to change in her mind the concept of her brother may now want to become her sister. If the sibling does not go through legitimate and recognised channels they won't get a gender recognition certificate anyway. I would imagine if you have spent your whole life having a brother it would take some getting used to them wanting to change gender.

If she can be relaxed about it, why should anyone else be stressed?

Thats really not how things work

posted too soon

absolutely with you regarding the unlicensed drugs part

in your shoes, OP, I'd find some resources pointing out how Oestrogen affects the male body and give them to my brother.
And then say: you're an adult, you can do what you like. And see what happens.

Just delurking to say that I've never heard such a reasonable and balanced way to put across this exact point before. Will be using this in the future! Thanks @maddening

'Hyperfemme cis woman'. Jesus christ there isn't an eye roll big enough for this bollocks.

I agree. You’re a kind and loving sister, OP, and I’m hoping he’ll let you help him get the treatment he needs. Not to damage his body but to put him on the path to healing his mind.