T! What do you consider the pros and cons?

[Dominick_81]

@emil: Thanks. I'll do that.

that's a good idea, I am going to read up on rogaine. I haven't started T just yet, just being overcautious and reading this thread  to make sure I know what I am getting into before I go all the way.  the plan is for top surgery in the spring, so I need to decide eventually if I want to be on T before surgery or not.

I hope you find something that works for you with any hair loss. I waffle back and forth between wanting to do everything I can to prevent it and just sucking it up and seeing what happens.

That's a good idea to read up before taking T. I knew this stuff would probably happen but I told myself no matter what, I'm not going bald, I'm not gonna let my acne get bad and I'm not gunna gain a lot of weight. So far I'm just dealing and thinking of the positive of T.... looking more male.

You have the money for top surgery? Your so lucky! Are you planning on getting a hysto too? I was just talking to the nurse today and she told me when I have the money for top surgery( which will probably be in, not in this lifetime) to get a hysto at the same time b/c it's the anastasia (however you spell it) that cost the most money, not the doctors charge. That might be another thing to look into or anyone who wants to save money.  It sounds like a good idea to save money.

[emil]

it's not a good idea to get a hysto if you're ever considering going off T at any point in your life.

[Nygeel]

it's not a good idea to get a hysto if you're ever considering going off T at any point in your life.

Negative. You can leave the ovaries and remove the uterus which is a hysto and is completely fine. You can also remove the ovaries and suppliment your hormone loss similar to post menopausal women.

[Dominick_81]

@emil: I'm not sure if I'll be on T for the rest of my life. I'm not sure how much longer I can afford T.  I may stop for certain reasons, I may not. I'm not sure at this point. All I know is I can't see myself getting shots when I'm an old man. I'd have to switch to gel or something, that's if I'll be able to afford it. But I think T might kill me before I'm an old man as I probably won't get a hytso. As much as I would like all these female parts out of me, I will not have anyone check me out down there. But if I was to get a hytso, I'd want everything removed.

@Nygeel: That's good to know.

[emil]

sorry Nygeel, but removing the uterus and leaving the ovaries? that's not what people do when they decide not to get everything removed because the ovaries, if anything, are what can cause troubles. Okay, then again, maybe some people DO decide to just get the uterus removed, and it just doesn't happen where I live. Given that FTMs harbor all kinds of fears regarding their inner organs (mostly based on "the cancer rumor").


Dominick: there's not a single study out there that concludes there's a higher risk of cervical cancer in FTMs on T. Sure, as long as you still have those organs, then there's still a chance of cancer, but it's nowhere near proven to be higher than in cis women.
Ovary cysts are really the only risk that goes up on T (and there are no studies on that either, as far as I'm aware, it's just based on the experience of endocrinologists who treat FTMs...who at the same time didn't find a higher cancer rate) - so yes, you should get an endovaginal ultrasound once in a while, and I know it doesn't exactly feel right and it's embarrassing but it's 5 minutes every couple of months....

[Nygeel]

Emil, its not what people usually do but by definition a hysto is removal of the uterus.

[emil]

i know the definition, it's just not what people mean by it in an FTM context. Instead of "hysterectomy and oophorectomy" everyone just says "hysto" without meaning to imply that the ovaries remain.
thus, hormones need to be replaced (whether with T or E) , and i thought his fear was that he might not be able to afford the hormones later in life.

[Dominick_81]

Thanks emil.

[mm]

I want top surgery first  which will give me the biggest change.  When it is time for lower surgery, I want a total hsyter all the internal parts gone.

[Nathan90]

@Spacerace, most guys start T before surgery yes. It probably has a lot to do with the costs I guess, though it would differ per country as well.

Here, insurance covers most (or even all I think) of the costs, but you're not allowed to have the surgery untill the genderteam says you're ready, which will mean you will be on T for at least a year.

[bojangles]

I was just talking to the nurse today and she told me when I have the money for top surgery( which will probably be in, not in this lifetime) to get a hysto at the same time b/c it's the anastasia (however you spell it) that cost the most money, not the doctors charge.

Sure, you can save some money by having 2 surgeries done at once. Whether anesthesia is most of the cost of surgery may depend on where you're having surgery. In my case, anesthesia was $500, the operating room was $700, and the surgery was $4500.

There is no way I would have chest surgery and a hysto at the same time.

[Dominick_81]

Yeah, luckily money and financing is not a problem with top surgery (I'm in my mid 20s and been working awhile to save up, I wanted to get top surgery before I even knew I wanted to transition all the way) - getting to the weight I want to be prior to surgery is my main focus at the moment. At least I know no matter what I want the the surgery, independent of starting T.  I wouldn't want to get a hysto at the same time  even if I knew what I wanted to do with T for sure, though, as I have never had surgery before and I am kinda squeamish about it.

It seems to be my impression that most people start T prior to getting top surgery? Feels like I will be in the minority, though I could be mistaken. I assume it's the cost combined with access to surgeons that makes starting T the first part of the process for most people. I figure at least this way I can see what it's like to be chest-lump free prior to facing some of the permanent T changes that make changing my mind difficult.

That's a good idea to get top surgery before starting T. I think if I had the money I would have done Top surgery first and worked on the other stuff to look more masculine. Sometimes I think T isn't worth it since I can't see the positive yet in T after 9 months. Had I seen some changes then maybe T would be worth it, be as of now, no.

Yeah, I know what you mean with the surgeries. I don't think I could have both done at the same time, but I dunno... you wouldn't have to think about getting a 2nd surgery done b/c you already did it. Unless you plan to get bottom surgery.

Sure, you can save some money by having 2 surgeries done at once. Whether anesthesia is most of the cost of surgery may depend on where you're having surgery. In my case, anesthesia was $500, the operating room was $700, and the surgery was $4500.

There is no way I would have chest surgery and a hysto at the same time.

Wow. I guess I have to look into  that. How come not top surgery and a hysto at the same time? The pain of the chest and a hysto at the same time? I was thinking about that, having 2 surgeries and having 2 different pains at the same time. I dunno what I would do. Who knows if I'll ever have the money for top surgery. Maybe if I had the money for top surgery I never would have taken T and tried another way to be more masculine. Sometimes money makes you do things you shouldn't, like messing with your health when you could have gone a different route, ya know what I mean? I miss my thick hair and my smooth skin. Sometimes T isn't worth it if you have money to fix other things.

[bojangles]

How come not top surgery and a hysto at the same time? The pain of the chest and a hysto at the same time?

Yeah, pain and difficulty moving (am thinking of belly incision hysto). Amazing how much a simple sneeze or cough can hurt when you're healing. Can also pull stitches out.

I understand about the money stuff. Sometimes things have a way of working out. Hope it goes like that for you. Hang in there.

[mm]

I could see doing top surgery and a lap procedure for the total hyster as being very possible.  For the total time would be reasonable and there wouldn't be an abdomen incision.

[Felix]

Whether you could handle both procedures at once probably depends a lot on how much help you would have during recovery, and how much time you could take off work or school or whatever.

If you hurt too much or heal slowly or get infections, having had both surgeries at the same time could be pretty detrimental, so you'd have to plan it all pretty carefully.

[Dominick_81]

Yeah, pain and difficulty moving (am thinking of belly incision hysto). Amazing how much a simple sneeze or cough can hurt when you're healing. Can also pull stitches out.

I understand about the money stuff. Sometimes things have a way of working out. Hope it goes like that for you. Hang in there.

I totally get that. Thanks.

[supremecatoverlord]

My increased libido is the only thing that really bothers me significantly thus far.  Seriously, it's insatiable.
I haven't noticed anything else too negative. I had problems with acne prior to transitioning, because I'm genetically predisposed to oily skin and had a lot of dysphoria induced anxiety. :3

[Morgan.]

It's only been just under a week on T, no cons so far, but I've already started to get more body hair (particularly on my hands and my upper thighs) and my sex drive is.. well.. yeah

[Guantanamera]

My increased libido is the only thing that really bothers me significantly thus far.  Seriously, it's insatiable.
I haven't noticed anything else too negative. I had problems with acne prior to transitioning, because I'm genetically predisposed to oily skin and had a lot of dysphoria induced anxiety. :3

Does it surprise you how most natal teenagers get through their day without assaulting either their fists/each other/other similarly shaped holes?

[supremecatoverlord]

Does it surprise you how most natal teenagers get through their day without assaulting either their fists/each other/other similarly shaped holes?

The word "natal" paired with the word "teenagers" doesn't make much sense as it relates to what a person is at birth. Being a teenager at birth is obviously not what you mean here, so what do you mean? I'm not entirely sure I could speak for other teenagers or young adults either. Please explain further.