Will Hormones Help Him Be Girlish?

Q. I’m a 20-year-old male who has been cross-dressing off and on since junior high school. With old age, I’m losing some of my femininity.
I’d like to try taking female hormones. Would this be safe? What results could I expect?
I am 5 feet 9 and weigh 110 pounds. I am in perfect health but I want to be a girl.
A. Taking estrogen can feminize appearance by increasing breast size, shrinking testicles, rounding the hips and reducing facial and body hair. There are some potential side effects, including erectile dysfunction, depression, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, gallbladder disease and blood clots.
We encourage you to seek counseling that may help you clarify your gender identity. Cross-dressing does not require hormonal treatment, but changing one’s sex calls for a great deal of psychological and medical preparation.
Q. My cholesterol climbed to over 240 and my doctor wanted to put me on medication. Instead I cut back on starchy food, eliminated red meat, started eating lots of vegetables and began exercising an hour a day. My cholesterol is now around 200 and my doctor is happy.
The only trouble with this program is that I now suffer from excess gas and indigestion. All the fiber I am consuming seems to cause bloating and frequent spontaneous releases of gas. This is terribly embarrassing. What can I do?
A. Fiber can be helpful in lowering cholesterol, but flatulence may be a consequence. Some people also experience heartburn from certain vegetables.
The best way to overcome this problem is to keep a diary of what you eat and your digestive symptoms. That way you will learn which foods to avoid.
Beano contains an enzyme that helps break down indigestible sugars and can help control gas for some. Others find activated charcoal pills beneficial.
We are sending you our Guide to Digestive Disorders, which lists foods that may cause flatulence and discusses remedies for excess gas and heartburn. It tells how to prepare beans to reduce gas. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. G-3, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
Some people find it useful to add spices such as caraway, fennel or ginger to foods that may be problematic.
Q. My doctor tells me that my heart palpitations are caused by too much caffeine. I drink about three or four cups of coffee daily and also a couple of Cokes.
I tried to give up caffeine but I felt awful. It was hard to concentrate and my head felt as if it would explode. I lasted about three days and had to start drinking coffee again. Is there any way to get off caffeine without going through such misery?
A. Too much caffeine can indeed cause heart palpitations or rhythm irregularities. Other side effects of excess caffeine can include digestive upset, tremor, anxiety, irritability, muscle twitching and insomnia.
Stopping caffeine suddenly, however, can cause sluggishness, fatigue, headache and grumpiness. We suggest gradual withdrawal by substituting decaf for some of your coffee and a caffeine-free beverage for your soft drinks. Plan on several weeks for this process.