Testosterone health issues

[Scoot]

So I've been reading up more on T effects. The superficial ones like hair loss and body hair increase aren't important to me, but the ones listed below, taken from "<banned blog name>," do.

Testosterone can cause changes in liver functioning resulting in possible Jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and other tissues. Abnormal new tissue growths on the liver which may be benign or cancerous. Hepatic adenoma (HA) a rare benign tumor of the liver and malignant (cancerous) tumors of the liver. Testosterone may suppress the clotting factor in the blood, those with bleeding disorders should take extra precautions.Testosterone usage may cause Seborrhea, a skin condition characterized by loose, greasy or dry, white to yellowish scales on the skin which may be temporary or continue long term with testosterone use. Testosterone may cause periodic yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. Testosterone is believed to cause or worsen polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Which has been linked to an increased risk of endometrial cancer, as well as ovarian cancer.

Anyone know how prevalent these effects are, particularly the cancer? PCOS runs in my family and I'm worried about, you know, dying. Or even just having cancer. So, is all this stuff inevitable or just statistically more probable?

Basically, any old transguys here been on T for a long time that have/have not had these problems?

[Flan]

All drugs have liver risks so I would say most of that trash is just an attempt to scare off gender questioning people from asking their doctor about any personal risks. PCOS is generally regarded as a seperate issue from gender identity although a curious number of trans doods just happen to have PCOS or similar symptoms.
The current SOC has in its appendix, a nice short list of possible issues.

https://www.susans.org/wiki/Standards_of_Care_Appendix#Risks_of_Masculinizing_Hormone_Therapy_.28FtM.29

https://www.susans.org/wiki/Standards_of_Care_for_the_Health_of_Transsexual,_Transgender,_and_Gender_Nonconforming_People#Risks_of_Hormone_Therapy

[rexyrex]

That why we have to have blood test, to keep an eye on anything on/in the body/health.

[AdamMLP]

That blog's really not the best place to go looking for things on trans issues unless you're going take it with a shedload of salt.  I'm not saying those things can't happen when you're taking T, but that blog is extremely transphobic and isn't going to show things in the correct light.  No one goes around warning people of the potential risks of taking paracetamol (tylenol I think in the US), which are: Kidney failure, Liver failure, rashes, hypotension, and very rarely thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and leukopenia (low number of white blood cells, and almost everyone takes them without a thought about what other things they might be doing to their body.

Most potential side effects only come up when the drugs are abused, which is why self-medicating is strongly discouraged, and people on HRT have to get regular bloods taken to check the levels of everything are okay.

The effect T has on people with PCOS is going to be hard to find out without talking to your doctor, one of the least favourable parts most women would find with having PCOS (I would assume) is the masculinisation of their bodies from the excess T, so it's going to come up as a negative thing in almost any internet search you do.  There are a couple of guys on here with PCOS I think, so they might be able to help a little more with that.  Have you definitely got PCOS, or is it just a family trait, because I don't think T will make you develop it if you haven't already got it.

[Natkat]

risks of taking paracetamol (tylenol I think in the US)

what is this?? head ache pills??
---------------------
To answer the question.
yes I have heard of it before but im not really that worried.
My famely has a great history of cancer risk, I never belived I would be old I belive we all gonna die someday so we just have to keep our life now as we still have it. because of this im not that worried of dying I just hope I wont die too early like my moms sister who didnt even get 30 before cancer killed her.

[Scoot]

what is this?? head ache pills??
---------------------
To answer the question.
yes I have heard of it before but im not really that worried.
My famely has a great history of cancer risk, I never belived I would be old I belive we all gonna die someday so we just have to keep our life now as we still have it. because of this im not that worried of dying I just hope I wont die too early like my moms sister who didnt even get 30 before cancer killed her.

Family history isn't really too helpful here.

Anyway, as for PCOS I have no idea why you would have to say it's separate from GID. What the hell would cysts in your junk have to do with gender? And does anyone know how common this stuff is in transguys on T? Noone actually answered the question much at all.


---EDIT
Oh, just noticed the link. Thanks Flan.

[AdamMLP]

what is this?? head ache pills??

They're just a really common painkiller I was using as an example of everything having side effects.  It might be called Pamol where you are.

Anyway, as for PCOS I have no idea why you would have to say it's separate from GID. What the hell would cysts in your junk have to do with gender? And does anyone know how common this stuff is in transguys on T? Noone actually answered the question much at all.

It's hard to say because most people tend to disappear after a while when they've completed their transition and being trans is no longer a major part of their lives.  There just aren't many of us on here who have been on T for a long time, and there haven't been many studies on it because we're a pretty small minority.

It seems like you're pretty new to the whole thing, so it's understandable that you might be impatient, but remember that we're not doctors here, we only know what we've researched like you, so maybe try to be a little more tolerant and patient.  We're answering the best we can, but we don't have all the answers.

[Scoot]

It seems like you're pretty new to the whole thing, so it's understandable that you might be impatient, but remember that we're not doctors here, we only know what we've researched like you, so maybe try to be a little more tolerant and patient.  We're answering the best we can, but we don't have all the answers.

I'm not new, I've been living in role for two years and closeted for longer. I'm not tryin to be impatient, man, sorry. I must come off bad in text or something cause all day people have been calling me an butthole.

I just noticed; yall banned that angry lesbian blogger's name? I get that she's a pain, but she's centered around trans issues. Even if everyone on here disagrees with every letter of every post she's made, isn't she still a relevant enough topic that you would end up discussing her? Not trying to be a jerk, just asking.

[Natkat]

Family history isn't really too helpful here.

Anyway, as for PCOS I have no idea why you would have to say it's separate from GID. What the hell would cysts in your junk have to do with gender? And does anyone know how common this stuff is in transguys on T? Noone actually answered the question much at all.

why is it not helpfull?
-
I never said anything about PCOS cause I dont know much about it and I dont think I have it, so I let the "experts speak" cause I know theres people on this forum who got it. being honest the rate of transgenders having PCOS should be pretty high I heard.

[aleon515]

There are 3 guys in our ftm group with PCOS. I don't know if there is any correspondence. It isn't with the cysts. PCOS effects hormone levels and T is sometimes elevated higher than it is usually.

--Jay

[Jappa]

Hi everyone. My name is Jappa and I have a question I hope you guys can help me with. So I'm about a 1yr and 8 1/2 months on T and the night before yesterday day I woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible cramping sensation that was so bad that I couldn't go back to sleep, i went to the bathroom and I had bleeding. It was gone the next morning and that day, only to return yesterday night. This morning I have the same severe cramping almost leaving me in tears. I shouldn't be having this considering the amount of time I have been on T. Have any of you heard of or delt with this?

[John Smith]

I've had random cramps but none that painful, nor any spotting. My endo keeps reminding me that as long as I have the "bits", it can happen. Anywhoo, if you are able to, you should have a talk with your own doc, maybe you need to get your levels checked just to be on the safe side.

Now for the PCOS-debate, I had that long before I started T. I forgot to ask how T had affected that when I was in for a check up and had an ultrasound of the ovaries, but it has never been mentioned as a complication.

[Scoot]

Hi everyone. My name is Jappa and I have a question I hope you guys can help me with. So I'm about a 1yr and 8 1/2 months on T and the night before yesterday day I woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible cramping sensation that was so bad that I couldn't go back to sleep, i went to the bathroom and I had bleeding. It was gone the next morning and that day, only to return yesterday night. This morning I have the same severe cramping almost leaving me in tears. I shouldn't be having this considering the amount of time I have been on T. Have any of you heard of or delt with this?

If you can get to your doctor, he'll prolly know better than us. Sounds like a doctory thing to deal with.

[wheat thins are delicious]

I'm not new, I've been living in role for two years and closeted for longer. I'm not tryin to be impatient, man, sorry. I must come off bad in text or something cause all day people have been calling me an butthole.

I just noticed; yall banned that angry lesbian blogger's name? I get that she's a pain, but she's centered around trans issues. Even if everyone on here disagrees with every letter of every post she's made, isn't she still a relevant enough topic that you would end up discussing her? Not trying to be a jerk, just asking.

Assuming she is who I think she is, going to her for advice on anything related to transsexualism especially the medical part is not a good idea.  She's a trans-critical radfem.  All she is going to do is hype up all the negative effects T could have on your body to try to keep you from transitioning and not offer actual advice.

[aleon515]

I just noticed; yall banned that angry lesbian blogger's name? I get that she's a pain, but she's centered around trans issues. Even if everyone on here disagrees with every letter of every post she's made, isn't she still a relevant enough topic that you would end up discussing her? Not trying to be a jerk, just asking.

I think it's Susan's.org decision. She's been discussed but I'd never advertise her name. I think she causes harm.

There are health risks to T, but it's best to get them from informed sources and not someone who has an ax to grind. The Center for Excellence for Transgender Health:
http://transhealth.ucsf.edu/
is very reputable. This is the group our local trans organization quotes.



--Jay

[GentlemanRDP]

If you know that your family has a history of certain diseases and conditions,
Be sure to bring it up with your doctor.
I'm not sure if you've been seeing a medical professional,
But as long as you find a transgender friendly one, they should be more than able to answer your questions.
Come to think of it, asking a pharmacist may be a better idea, they may very well be more able to give more precise answers to your questions about the risk, whereas a doctor may only be able to tell your about what other patients have witness or experienced.

[SayonsTheMan]

Well I'm an FTM with PCOS and for me things are kinda different. Before I started T I had a full chin strap. I have an IUD because T can't stop my bleeding on its own. Even with the IUD, I still bleed a couple times a week. The only sure thing to stop my bleeding is a hysterectomy which I'm working with the Ob/gyn who prescribes my T to have soon. As for other health issues, T has helped decrease my physical that I get from EDS, but it hasn't caused any. Oh and I've been on T for only 5 months.

[DriftingCrow]

Anyone know how prevalent these effects are, particularly the cancer? PCOS runs in my family and I'm worried about, you know, dying. Or even just having cancer. So, is all this stuff inevitable or just statistically more probable?

Basically, any old transguys here been on T for a long time that have/have not had these problems?
[/quote]

I am not on T, so I can't really give anything but just stuff I've learned from basic research. First of all, I really wouldn't worry about PCOS killing you, I am pretty sure I have PCOS (I still need to make a doctor's apt to confirm my self-diagnosis) and most people with it only get irregular periods, fertility issues, excess body hair, and weight gain. Sometimes you can get sharp pains in those areas, other people can get issues that require some hospitalization, but usually it's not all that horrible to deal with. Approximately 1 in 15 women have PCOS, so if it was deadly, I think we'd be hearing a lot more about it.

I am also sure that taking T doesn't cause PCOS. PCOS can cause higher levels of T in women with it (hence the excess body hair women with it can get), no one is exactly sure what causes PCOS, it can be because of insulin and/or genetics, so it's just hard for me to exactly imagine how just merely taking T can cause cysts on your ovaries. (But, maybe that's why I am not in medical school). Also, it seems like a lot of guys who take T long term eventually get hysto (or at least really want one), so with the hysto you'd no longer have PCOS to worry about.

PCOS: http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/polycystic-ovary-syndrome.cfm

About cancer.... anything can cause cancer, so I think if you want to go on T, you just have to take any necessary precautions to protect yourself from any sort of cancer you think you're likely to get. Family history can be important in trying to determine what you're at risk for like Natkat was saying.

[Scoot]

Yeah, I just might alerady have cysts and not know it cause they haven't popped yet. My cousin Kim had PCOS with no symptoms besides the cysts themselves and didn't know till one popped and she said all she could do was fall on the ground, curl up and scream. (Coming from a woman who served in the army and has had 5 kids, she said it was the single most painful experience she's ever had.)

So I could have cysts down there and not know it for sh*t. But I digress; The point is, I'm getting on T unless the dotor tells me I flat out can't, so I guess there's no point in worrying about it.