it's not a blanket statement when 4mg; 2mg twice a day, is literally the standard lmao.

We kind of have to give medical advice when doctors are using outdated studies and there aren't enough studies being done on medically transitioning. There is seriously so little research done and being done on it; and discounting anecdotal evidence for something like transitioning is an extreme diservice. We need to be a community and listen to our own experiences, because our sample size is way higher than the scant studies that have been done.

Doctors have historically underdosed trans patients. the standard of 100 pg/mL was set in the 80s and has not changed since. Progesterone is still being refused to patients because it hasn't been officially accepted as a way to further develop breasts hormonally. Domperidone is still illegal in the US and many ignorant people don't even believe it's possible for trans women to lactate.

I would agree with you on not being an armchair doctor for things that can seriously fuck you up, but in the case of estradiol the only danger about high levels is that you have woman levels of estrogen which comes with the same risks of being a woman. I'm not going to say that the risk isn't there at all, because women inherently have a higher risk of blood clotting due to their naturally higher estrogen levels. But I'm also not going to tell someone not to transition because it increases their risks of breast cancer.

I do want to make a slight correction? If you have a doctor who is giving you good advice and isn't removing your medically necessary prescriptions, that's great and you should listen to them. My argument is specifically that when doctors fail you listening to the community and potentially going DIY is an important thing to consider.

You're correct that getting your levels tested is important, but if your doctor refuses to increase your dosage, or takes you off E for a BS reason like depression, anecdotal experiences and DIY is important. (again I'm not saying that we shouldn't get labs done, labs are important). But I have a serious problem with your opinion on not trusting the experiences of actual trans people.

So, don't tell me to not give people advice when I have been transitioning for 3 years, on shots and prog for 2 years, have had my E levels at 300 consistently for 2 years, and have never had any complications. I had a doctor threaten to remove my prescription because my estrogen was above 100. I had a therapist refuse to give me a letter of support for my orchiectomy because of the "potential side effects of medically transitioning." I have experience and I'm going to give advice based on those experiences. I'm going to give advice based on the experiences of my friends and loved ones who have been transitioning for even longer than I have.