The new @SciShow video about HRT is really fucking bad, please do not use it as advice. Here’s a thread demolishing every point they made because it’s very transmisogynistic, i was shocked 🧵 
While this video is well intentioned it is unfortunately very misinformed, especially concerning treatment for trans feminine care.
This is because the writing team afaik did not consist of trans women, just trans men. Diversity is important!
I’ll include timestamps below
This is because the writing team afaik did not consist of trans women, just trans men. Diversity is important!
I’ll include timestamps below
At 3:48 the speaker begins by explaining that to get hrt you must use informed consent. If that is unavailable, you must go through a long series of medicalizing yourself and your condition of gender dysphoria to recieve a diagnosis, and then get a on a waiting list. They even call out the UK specifically.
While informed consent is great and the easiest way, if that is unachievable (especially in the UK) presenting a long period of diagnoses and waiting as the *only alternative* is not only undesirable but also dangerous to trans people. DIY is absolutely an available option, too, and is not mentioned at all. There are many safe websites that you can order through and still receive blood tests and work with doctors directly, while also utilizing informed consent. Shoutout @folxhealth . This stigmatizing is negative for the community and reinforces the idea that you have to go through the UKs awful system.
While informed consent is great and the easiest way, if that is unachievable (especially in the UK) presenting a long period of diagnoses and waiting as the *only alternative* is not only undesirable but also dangerous to trans people. DIY is absolutely an available option, too, and is not mentioned at all. There are many safe websites that you can order through and still receive blood tests and work with doctors directly, while also utilizing informed consent. Shoutout @folxhealth . This stigmatizing is negative for the community and reinforces the idea that you have to go through the UKs awful system.
At 4:40 they claim that having to go through this system in the UK is not transphobia, just a failure of the system. This is wrong, that is inherently and definitionally systemic transphobia, and why the UK is in such an awful spot as far as trans care right now
At 5:04 & 6:07 they explain that when trans women get on hrt they get on both estrogen and a t-blocker. They also claim that not using any t-blocker will not get your levels where they need to be.
While this is the most common method, using exclusively estrogen for feminizing without a blocker is absolutely valid and even a good option for many after they begin their transition. Monotherapy is a case by case basis depending on the individual’s t levels.
While this is the most common method, using exclusively estrogen for feminizing without a blocker is absolutely valid and even a good option for many after they begin their transition. Monotherapy is a case by case basis depending on the individual’s t levels.
At 6:18 they claim that options for t-blockers include spironolactone, dutasteride, and finasteride.
LMAO. Dutasteride and Finasteride are *not* valid alternatives for T-blocking compared to spiro at all. They are straight up not t-blockers. It’s a science show how did they get this wrong???? Later in this video, they even advocate for finasteride for trans mascs worried about hair loss?? lol what the fuck
LMAO. Dutasteride and Finasteride are *not* valid alternatives for T-blocking compared to spiro at all. They are straight up not t-blockers. It’s a science show how did they get this wrong???? Later in this video, they even advocate for finasteride for trans mascs worried about hair loss?? lol what the fuck
At 6:25 they claim that it is an online myth that progesterone boosts breast growth, and just anecdotal.
First of all, just because something is anecdotal does not inherently mean it’s wrong, especially when said by SO many trans fems. Unfortunately, trans care does not have a lot of research.
Secondly, “Combinations of oestrogen and progestogen increase breast density more than oestrogen alone.” - PubMed Central.
Finally, the “myth” isn’t that they get *bigger* it’s that it’s good for *later* development. Trans women typically do not start progesterone until years into their transition to fill out their breasts into a more desirable shape.
First of all, just because something is anecdotal does not inherently mean it’s wrong, especially when said by SO many trans fems. Unfortunately, trans care does not have a lot of research.
Secondly, “Combinations of oestrogen and progestogen increase breast density more than oestrogen alone.” - PubMed Central.
Finally, the “myth” isn’t that they get *bigger* it’s that it’s good for *later* development. Trans women typically do not start progesterone until years into their transition to fill out their breasts into a more desirable shape.
At 6:39 they claim that progesterone leads to blood clots. Again, WHAT? That’s only true for the synthetic medroxyprogesterone, not the bioidentical progesterone. This is an absolutely harmful myth.
At 6:50 They claim it is “better” for breast growth to start on a lower does of hrt and increase it. This is often done for safety purposes in case a body reacts poorly, not because there’s evidence it will be better for breast growth ?
At 7:06 they claim that breast growth will be finished by max 3 years. Breast growth does not end after 2-3 years. This evidence is only because the study they’re likely pulling from ended after 3 years. It’s puberty ffs!
At 7:06 they claim that breast growth will be finished by max 3 years. Breast growth does not end after 2-3 years. This evidence is only because the study they’re likely pulling from ended after 3 years. It’s puberty ffs!
At 7:19 they claim that bones will not change unless you start “VERY YOUNG”.
Wrong again!!!! Your hips do not fuse until around 25, and i personally can attest to a shrinking shoe size.
Wrong again!!!! Your hips do not fuse until around 25, and i personally can attest to a shrinking shoe size.
At 7:48 they accuse trans women explaining their new emotional access as sexist.
Full stop. Shut the fuck up.
You sound sexist yourself. HRT side effects for even cis women literally do include mood swings. Additionally, being on estrogen has given us so many more emotions and ability to feel! This is why so many trans men report having a harder time crying. We are more emotional now!!! It’s just true, and it’s a beautiful thing not to be ashamed of. For many of us, feeling “emotional” is better, and painting that as sexism is evil and very TERFy.
Full stop. Shut the fuck up.
You sound sexist yourself. HRT side effects for even cis women literally do include mood swings. Additionally, being on estrogen has given us so many more emotions and ability to feel! This is why so many trans men report having a harder time crying. We are more emotional now!!! It’s just true, and it’s a beautiful thing not to be ashamed of. For many of us, feeling “emotional” is better, and painting that as sexism is evil and very TERFy.
At 9:22 they basically go: some people say hrt makes you infertile. I DUNNO THO! We don’t have enough evidence 🤷
huh? Hrt very possibly will straight up make you infertile. Period. If you’re worried about that as a trans woman, get sperm frozen. Cannot believe this was passed off as not enough evidence with NO advice included, despite being so important to so many.
huh? Hrt very possibly will straight up make you infertile. Period. If you’re worried about that as a trans woman, get sperm frozen. Cannot believe this was passed off as not enough evidence with NO advice included, despite being so important to so many.
At 9:35 it is revealed that someone on the writing team was able to contribute to the trans masc section. Interesting that there was no on like that for the trans fem section.
That’s why the trans fem bit is so uninformed. 😒
That’s why the trans fem bit is so uninformed. 😒
At 13:25 they suggest that trans fem nonbinary people go on a t-blocker… and nothing else.
DO NOT DO THIS???? Why would you want to be running on no sex hormone at all?? They are vital to the human body. Sex hormones do not exclusively exist to give masculine/feminine traits, there’s a reason it affects our mental, but i guess they seem to want to deny that too as seen in one of my above points.
DO NOT DO THIS???? Why would you want to be running on no sex hormone at all?? They are vital to the human body. Sex hormones do not exclusively exist to give masculine/feminine traits, there’s a reason it affects our mental, but i guess they seem to want to deny that too as seen in one of my above points.
I guess im done taking this apart, maybe I’ll do a full takedown and explanation on my channel but wow there’s SOO much misinformation here.
No hate to the team or anything i love trans acceptance videos and im sure this was well intentioned but this is very dangerous to present as advice @SciShow
No hate to the team or anything i love trans acceptance videos and im sure this was well intentioned but this is very dangerous to present as advice @SciShow
If you like me ranting about trans stuff go watch this video. I’ll probably do a video talking about all of this SciShow bs soon if they don’t respond to what we’re all saying too
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