Using hormones and freediving

[deepdive]

Hi,

Just a question about a strange combination: Freediving and hormones. First I have to say that I'm a transsexual girl and I use oestrogen with help of Meno Implant.

I stopped with freediving during my transition (had two times a BO out of the water, it was too tricky to practice freediving), and now, after all surgery's I started with fysical training and freediving again.

Does anybody know what are the risks of the freediving - hormone combination? Perhaps it is important to know I never dive deep (-15 meters max.), I use freediving techniques for my underwater performances.

Thank you in advance,

Best regards,

Kitty-Madison Snel

www.freemerfolk.nl :: Kitty Mermaid official website

[trux]

I am afraid that this problem is so specific, that only little research was done. There were some studies about the impact of estrogen (used in contraception) at scuba-diving, but the problems and the physiology at freediving differs quite a bit from the ones at scuba. In the 1970s, it was believed that estrogen caused clotting that would lead to DCS. This theory was later overturned and the only applicable advisory for women divers who take estrogen now is if they are over 35, smoke and have a family history of coronary disease.

However, the changes during a sex transition are certainly much more serious than taking estrogen in contraception, and the changes involve also other physiologic responses.

I think the best would be contacting some of the experts on freediving medicine and consulting it with them. Although most of them are members of DB too, they rarely post, and there is little chance they'll see this thread. You may try posting your question on the forum of the World Freediving Medical Association, but it is a very low-trafic forum, and most members probably do not come often to check it, so contacting some of the experts directly may be better.

In the meantime, you should definitely dive carefully, only with experienced buddies, and progressing slowly.