How come transsexuals take estrogen injections?

What would happen if a woman took estrogen injections?

Transsexuals do not all take estrogen. Some take testosterone!
There both transmen and transwomen.

To answer why estrogen is used by transwomen is a relatively simple thing. We undergo a process known as transition. This is a lengthy process wherein we correct a known and medically accepted birth defect.
As such we need some medical intervention in this process. Not all of us are given injections. Some of us take estrogen in pill form. Along with this we take and anti-androgen to combat any residual testosterone in our systems.
The effects of this are simple also. Biochemical changes in our systems include breast growth, skin softening, fat migration, loss of chest hair and general well being for us. Additionally we become chemically castrated in a few months. For a transsexual woman that is a great relief. Our feeling of self esteem grows, our bodies begin to correct themselves, and begin to become normalized.
This is where the fundies lose it. They consider us a problem in restrooms when we physically cannot harm anyone. A Catholic priest is far more dangerous. Look at all the children they harmed. NOT ONE of us have ever harmed a child or any other person. This argument has no basis in reality. As a transwoman my testicles have atrophied to the point I cannot even find one of them. I only wish they were completely gone. Someday they will be.
We do get some interesting side effects of this. We cycle much as any other natal woman would. Mood swings, emotional issues, all the fun stuff. Yeah right! We do not do this for some sexual reason but for the sake of normalcy in our own bodies.
Sharon
True Transsexual

men take estrogen shots in their efforts to 'transform' into a woman. I am pretty sure a man needs to be on these shots for quite some time (like 6 mos- a year) before they are even elligible for 'the surgery' to complete the transformation

woman do take estrogen, most are post-menopause and some with hormone deficiencies. Estrogen does have serious side effects and increases risks of cancer (especially breast cancer)

i'll just ignore your first question since i think it's pretty obvious. estrogen injections are usually prescribed to women to combat menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, etc.) because of low estrogen levels.

when estrogen levels are already low and estrogen is injected, these symptoms can occur:
* breast pain or tenderness
* upset stomach
* vomiting
* weight gain or loss
* dizziness
* nervousness
* depression
* irritability
* changes in sexual desire
* hair loss
* unwanted hair growth
* spotty darkening of the skin on the face
* difficulty wearing contact lenses
* leg cramps
* swelling, redness, burning, itching, or irritation of the vagina
* vaginal discharge

if there is too much estrogen in a woman's system (or anyone's system, i suppose) these more serious symptoms can occur:
* bulging eyes
* pain, swelling, or tenderness in the stomach
* loss of appetite
* weakness
* yellowing of the skin or eyes
* joint pain
* movements that are difficult to control
* rash or blisters
* hives
* itching
* swelling of the eyes, face, tongue, throat, hands, arms, feet, ankles, or lower legs
* hoarseness
* difficulty breathing or swallowing
Estrogen may increase your risk of developing cancer of the ovaries or gallbladder disease that may need to be treated with surgery.

bottom line: don't mess around with estrogen. talk to your doctor before using it, even if you only want it for aesthetic reasons (as in transgendered individuals).

TSs take estrogen for the same reasons that women's bodies make estrogen. Estrogen causes breast growth, softer skin, changes to body odor, and more feminine mental functioning. After the corrective surgery which true-TS women (male to female) get, they need some sort of hormones in their system, since they are just like a woman who has had her ovaries removed or who is post-menopausal. All sex hormones help prevent bone loss and vasomotor symptoms (sweating, hot flashes, etc). So hormones are necessary for optimum health.

Well, if women without this birth defect were to take estrogen, the effects may very. They may notice nothing at all. Or they may stop her body from making its own estrogen and would interfere with periods. In post-menopausal women, it reduces hot flashes and brittle bones.

TS women are not men who "transform" into women. They are women born with the wrong parts and who get it corrected. They get surgery because they are women, not to become what they are not. It is very disrespectful to call them men. A nurse should know better.

The asker asked about TSs, not TGs. The terms are not interchangeable. TSs (unlike TGs who are not relevant here) don't take estrogen for aestetic reasons. If that is the case, then no woman should have puberty, since that would only be for aesthetic reasons. TS women take estrogen because it is medically necessary for them and their bodies do not make it.

There is no reason to bash members of my faith. Comments like that are one of the reasons people of faith seem to hate us. Really, they don't hate TSs, but TGs and other LGBTs and anyone who supports them. When they realize we have a valid medical condition and are not TGs nor LGBTs, they won't hate us. Don't forget that there are right-wing, mainstream, anti-LGBT TSs, and there is no reason to risk offending such TSs. True-TSs don't hate such people because they are not one of the groups which the Religious Right really hate. If a TS doesn't want to be hated by the religious right, they should never support TGs/LGBTs, never partake in those behaviors, and do whatever it takes to teach the Religious Right that they have a medical condition and therefore deserve what TGs/LGBTs don't.

She would probably gain weight, be moodier, and have a heavier period.

well its obvious why transexuals take them...

Because they think they're special and the doctors allow them. Which is funny, they don't allow regular women or men to take estrogen, or testosterone by the allow transexuals.