I began taking testosterone about eight months ago, in October of 2020.
Every day, I choose to schmear a half-packet of testosterone gel on myself.
Some days feel momentous and some feel like an unassuming part of my routine.
Sophie Kietzmann/Gallery Stock
The latter outnumber the former as time goes on.
See, I’ve got all these coping strategies instead.
Look at how well they’re working!"
Sophie Kietzmann/Gallery Stock
When I managed to break this mindset, spurts of inspiration always brought me tor/ftm.
To be the first mover of your gender’s future is daunting.
What is testosterone and why might you take it?
Sophie Kietzmann/Gallery Stock
Testosterone therapy is available for anyone who wants to achieve these body changes."
Some days feel momentous; some feel like an unassuming part of my routine.
In time, the latter outnumbers the former.
Jesse Schwartz (he/they), a 27-year-old from Philadelphia, started testosterone immediately after havingtop surgery.
He tellsAllurethat the extent of his deliberations about testosterone informed his attitude toward ultimately making the leap.
“I wish someone had told me not to worry about it and just do it.
“As Kasey LeBlanc’s guide “How Do I Know If I’m Transmasculine?”
assures, your transition does not need to look like anyone else’s.
I found myself thinking about how nice that would be, even without an audience.
Similarly, LeBlanc recommends asking yourself: Would taking a certain step make you happier?
Similarly,UCSF’s Transgender Care siteexplains that there isn’t a perfect recipe that will yield exact results.
“I mostly felt changes before I saw any.
Feeling happier, more at ease, less anxious,” explains Schwartz.
Though T does shape your emotions, you are still you.
“Some people talk about becoming a wholly different person in transition… but it’s never just testosterone.
Increased body hair is par for the course with testosterone.
Goldstein explains, “There’s no way to control where the hair grows when taking testosterone.”
On the flip side, these changes can also begender euphoric.
“I had a noticeable amount of facial hair about six months in.
Everything felt good,” Schwartz explained.
People on T typically experience some deepening of their voice, albeit at different stages and dependent on dosing.
As manyresourcesacknowledge, voice changes are irreversible.
Personally, I have felt the change come from within, though without much noticeable difference at present.
There are nearly endless videos online across TikTok, YouTube, and other social media.
Some changes in libido are to be expected.
Some people find that their sexual interests, attractions, or orientation may change when taking testosterone.
It is best to explore these new feelings rather than keep them bottled up.”
For Cody, bottom growth ended up being something special.
I had absolutely no idea what the blogger was referring to.
I was speechless.”
Testosterone also affects menstruation.
For those whose periods are uncomfortable or dysphoric, this can be a welcome change.
However, anticipating this change might inform any considerations you have about your reproductive future.
Goldstein notes that cystic acne is highly treatable through topical antibiotics.
If you choose to go off T, your skin may clear up.
In evaluating the pros and cons, Schwartz pointed out that for him the benefits outweighed the costs.
“No amount of acne will make taking T not worth it,” he explains.
Testosterone can increase the ability to gain and retain muscle mass.
In other words, if bulking up is your goal, hormones aren’t everything.
You will need to put in the work!
Going on T doesnt necessitate social transition or imply that your journey is linear.
Still, it can be a bit complex.
When people want minimal effects, or to have them happen slowly, we use lower doses of testosterone.
See how you feel.
It doesn’t have to be permanent and your transition doesn’t have to be linear.
