Q: I hear that HRT (At least MtF) increases emotional sensitivity...

Q: I hear that HRT (At least MtF) increases emotional sensitivity for a while. If I'm undecided on if I want HRT, is this effect something substantial to consider or is it not a problem at all? I'm already pretty emotionally sensitive, so I would just want to know what other people's experiences are with this aspect of medically transitioning so I can make an educated decision.

A: Your emotions may feel heightened or more sensitive when starting HRT, especially for folks who take estrogen. You may feel more empathetic towards others and feel more intense emotions during this time. You may also have increased positive emotions, and your emotions might be expressed differently (such as with tears!) However, none of this is a guarantee — for some people they won't feel any significant changes in how they experience emotions. These experiences will also tend to level out after your body starts to get used to the changes (remember, going on HRT is like going through puberty - thankfully we don't all feel like we did when we were 10-14 forever!)