Around six years ago, at age 58, my physician found that my testosterone was low and my estrogen was high. I started taking injections of testosterone cypionate.
Although I felt I should have been a girl in my younger years, I accepted my maleness eventually. From around age 16 to 58, I functioned well as a heterosexual male. I certainly benefited from the testosterone in many ways, gaining strength, feeling more energy and improved general health.
There was, however, a peculiar side effect of the testosterone. Evidently the body has an enzyme, aromatase, that converts testosterone to estradiol. Six months after I started T, my nipples were erect all the time, and I started developing breasts. Then the dysphoria, which I had managed to hold at bay for decades came roaring back.
Memories that had been buried for decades came to the fore. Once I figured out what was happening, I sought out more estrogen. First Oestrogel and later Estradiol Valerate injections. That made me feel even better, but I had to deal with feminization.
Here the real paradox... when I'm on estrogen the dysphoria disappears nearly completely. If I cut back on the estrogen and increase the testosterone, I again become dysphoric.
In my case, and a few others, testosterone drastically increased gender dysphoria. Dr Anne Vitale has written her observations on this phenomena.
http://www.avitale.com/TNote15Testosterone.htmAdmittedly my hormones and makeup are atypical. My mother took DES, Diethylsilbestrol when pregnant with me. Although given to lessen the likelihood of miscarriage, it was a potent endocrine disruptor.
Before I began HRT my T was 150 on a scale of 300-1100 and my Estradiol was 80 on a 0-50 scale. I wouldn't say that taking T was a mistake, but it made me the woman I am today.
Randi
