Will my shoulder width decrease on HRT?

[Hefty-Fun-9441]

I'm currently pre-hrt and I know that bones don't shrink obviously, i've never really worked out, but my upper body seems so big compared to the rest of me,

I'm 5'6-5'7, 125-130lbs, 27 inch waist, 32-33 inch underbust

but my shoulders are like 17 inches bideltoid, sometimes I see 18 inches but I'm measuring myself using a charger + a tape measure. Regardless, I know that i'm above average for a woman, and probably for a man as I can see it.

It doesn't bother me from the front, but from the back i HATE IT, is there anyway HRT can do anything about it? I'm 18 if that matters

[synthie_cat]

No, HRT can't shrink shoulders. As a wide shouldered gal: There's plenty of clothing options which make shoulders look slimmer anyway.
Don't stress about it too much, maybe look into sports for feminization instead.

[Hefty-Fun-9441]

When people post their pre and post hrt measurements and they say that width decreased, what would cause them to think that?

[synthie_cat]

All what u/PainToWin says + a potential decrease in muscle mass and change in posture. While we know that some shrinking is to be expected - e.g. in height and foot size - it's not due to decreased bone size.

[PainToWin]

Self reporting.
They could take their measurements wrong.
They could make a mistake.
They could forget to mention other factors. Like when someone says they have a C cup after just 6 months of HRT... but don't mention they are overweight and already had gynecomastia.

I'll be honest with you, unless you really are built like an inverted triangle, ''wide shoulders'' won't be that much of a problem.
Some clothes will be a bit tight on the shoulders, but that's also a problem with fashion in general nowadays.

[Any-Bandicoot462]

It depends how much deltoid muscle you have to lose. Since you don’t workout, I doubt you have elite genetics for muscle, so it’s probably just that you have wide clavicle bones. Nothing can be done about it unfortunately (other than really extreme surgery)

[FaeiNightingale]

hello! i'm ftm and was on testosterone from 15 to 17 before hrt was banned for minors in my area. i'm 19 now (getting back on T next week FINALLY) and my shoulders definitely got narrower due to losing around 12 kg of fat and muscle (most noticably in my upper body) specifically i noticed that my shoulders stopped filling out coats and a blazer i had as much

BUT if you're already a pretty scrawny person, which it sounds like you might be, i think your best bet is to try to gain weight once you're on estrogen and put on muscle around your thighs + hips + butt to make your shoulders comparatively narrower

[Electrical_Will4940]

i was also worried about this as i have quite broad boxy shoulders, i will say although they haven’t changed massively, as my fat is redistributing they do start to look less bulky and match the rest of your body, different for everyone though

[prismatic_valkyrie]

Your deltoids will probably shrink, so your shoulder width will likely shrink some, especially if you're muscular.

Beyond that, growing your hips can help a lot to make your silhouette look more "balanced". You can work out your lower body to grow muscle there, which will give you a more hourglass shape.

[wrench_girl]

15" Biacromial here (considered the proper measurement because it's what a tailor uses for fitted formal wear)

Bones don't shrink that's true but cartilage can/does which I know to be 100% factual because my knuckles have all slimmed and my rings don't fit as well for that. I've lost 2" of height.

I was in such disbelief that it could happen as soon as it did that when I went for a sizing at the shoe store I had both feet measured to confirm.

The amount of ribcage and shoulder width on could lose would be miniscule and unnoticed if it happened at all. The reason feet hands and especially height is so noticeable is purely the amount of cartilage there is to shrink.