short-term testosterone?

[Luc]

My wife are hoping to have kids naturally, since we can and I'm god forbid willing, so I can't go on T for a long time. However, I'm having trouble passing lately for some reason, and I get all bleary-eyed at the thought of a low voice. I'm wondering if a period as short as 6 months on testosterone would be sufficient to produce any changes, or whether I'd simply be wasting my time and money. Please let me know if you have any info on this subject. Thanks folks.

Dean

[Christo]

my voice change 4 months after T.  I been on T 4 13 months & just gettin facial hair. dunno if the same 4 everybody.

[scurvydog]

My voice dropped slightly after 3 months I think but it's still dropping after almost a year. I don't know if by interrupting your dosage, you'd be halting the effects or whether when you went back on T, it'd just continue to drop as normal. I can only assume it would, but couldn't be sure.

Maybe it'd be advisable just to wait it out, because you'll have just under a year of not being on T considering having a child. 

[mallard500]

3 to 5 months seems to be fairly typical to observe significant changes voice, (in my experience with other FTMs... your milage may differ!).  My own started dropping to the bass range at about 3 months, and I went through a couple of weeks playing puberty with my voice range occasionally breaking like a 13 yr old.

However, according to all the material I've read, and my Drs advise, voice range, once lowered, is considered pretty much irreversible.  T makes the vocal cords grow longer, and once lengthened, they just don't tend to shrink up.  That's one reason why MTFs don't tend to get higher voices from taking female hormones.  So once your voice dropped, it would probably stay that way.

If thinking about giving birth however, I'd be more concerned with whatever effects short term T use might have on your ability to start menstruating again and become fertile; or upon carrying a child full term.  I don't have the foggiest idea about that myself, but it would be well worth checking carefully with your Dr about such issues.  I'm sure they could give you some more accurate info.

Best of luck either way!

Scott
Mallard 500

My wife are hoping to have kids naturally, since we can and I'm god forbid willing, so I can't go on T for a long time. However, I'm having trouble passing lately for some reason, and I get all bleary-eyed at the thought of a low voice. I'm wondering if a period as short as 6 months on testosterone would be sufficient to produce any changes, or whether I'd simply be wasting my time and money. Please let me know if you have any info on this subject. Thanks folks.

Dean

[Dennis]

I second that. You get some changes within 6 months, but it could also mess with your fertility and who knows what effect it could have on a fetus. I'd wait, rather than risk it.

Dennis

[mallard500]

Ya' know Dean...  the more I think of what you said, the more it vaguely disturbs me.  Not with the idea of an FTM having children, after all, that's not entirely infrequent.

Yet, hearing you say "god forbid willing" in terms of bearing a child yourself, triggers every button I own as adoptee.  I've studied for years the various ramifications of birth mothers/adoption/surrogate parents, etc, and have come to realize there's so many alternatives to "natural" parenthood, that no one should ever have to have a biological child because they feel there are no other choices.

Considering that you wish to be FTM, and seem to have at least a few understandable reservations (I keep hearing that term "god forbid") in carrying a child yourself, I'd so strongly suggest the two of you considering other parenting options!  In these days of progressive adoptions, it's easy to consider either open or closed adoptions, and there are so many children in need of a good home.

I know there may be factors in your own lives that might be a problem with adoption, and it's great that the two of you wish to provide a good home to a child.  But that child doesn't have to be of a biological origin -  if at all possible, I'd urge you to at least consider adoption.

Your statement of "God forbid" suggests, if nothing else at least on a sub-conscious level, that you really don't want to bear a child - and that's nothing for anyone to be ashamed of, let alone for a person who identifies as a man!  Just because one can bear children doesn't mean it's the most healthy option for them to do so - either physically or mentally.

I know many Transmen have had children during various points in their lives, but just because you can, and perhaps your wife can't, doesn't mean you have to accept that burden if you're not truly willing to.  Able doesn't mean willing, nor does able mean should... you should commit to such a significant step only if you really want to, and I have to wonder about that frankly.

I may be way out of line in saying this, and if I've offended, please accept my apologies in advance... but this is such an important consideration in so many ways, that I can not raise the question.

Best of luck regardless of the ways you and your wife choose!


Scott
Mallard500

My wife are hoping to have kids naturally, since we can and I'm god forbid willing, so I can't go on T for a long time. However, I'm having trouble passing lately for some reason, and I get all bleary-eyed at the thought of a low voice. I'm wondering if a period as short as 6 months on testosterone would be sufficient to produce any changes, or whether I'd simply be wasting my time and money. Please let me know if you have any info on this subject. Thanks folks.

Dean

[Nero]

Hey Dean,
I concur with what others have said. If you really wish to bear a child, you should wait on T until after the birth. You don't want to risk T destroying your chances of conceiving and bearing a healthy child.

[Doc]

In Jamison Green's book Becoming a Visible Man he mentions a transman who went off T for a year and a half or so, so he could bear a child. You might want to write to FTM International and ask him about that.

[scurvydog]

I think alongside researching majorly into transmen who have had children naturally, you should also take heed of what Mallard has said above. I didn't pick up on it myself, but now that he pointed it out, I really would think hard about it.

Consider the effects it would have on your body first of all. Look into the stages of pregnancy, the 'symptoms' and be aware of any complications that might happen. Just prepare.

The psychological affects are something else you need to keep in mind. Think of how it will effect your identity. I'm by no means saying it will, but pregnancy can set off a whole string of hormones you haven't anticipated and they have a tendency to cloud your judgement a little, as well as bring on a lot of emotion.  I guess it's your body's way of preparing you to look after a child.

I, like Mallard, am not trying to warn you against it, but just want to make sure you've thought about it and are happy with the idea. If you don't feel you could bear a child, discuss alternatives with your wife and I'm sure she'd understand. Adoption is a great gift.   

[Keira]

A pregnancy makes you a "super-women", I mean estrogen and progesterone levels go through the roof, creating a cascade of effects.  For someone dysphoric, I'm guessing that this could cause some alarm.

Also, even in GG's pregnancy's can be a real physical ordeal; my cousin's wife was nauseous continously for 9 months. She had to eat for the child, but could barely keep it down with medication. She only gained no weight during the pregnancy so you can imagine how thin she was in the rest of her body.

But, if its your only option to have a "genetic child" and you really want it, then I expect you would be able to handle that intense body "experience" to get the results you want.

[LynnER]

th on off on off hrt thing is also bad for your wife, reduces the effectiveness of hrt so far as physical changes go... realize ittle take pretty close to 6 months for her to regain fertility... if she can at this point at all...    best of luck and I hope it works for the both of you  *Hugs*