Long term effects of T

[Trying to be me]

I've been trying to find information about the long term effects of FTMs that use testosterone but can't find much. Does anyone know what some of the effects are for people who use T for 10, 20, 30 or more years? I'm talking any effects on natural hormones, body parts where injections where given, muscles, bone, mind, etc.

[Wolfy]

There really are no "long term" studies. Some things are still in the dark. My mom tried to ask "future" questions to my dr but he had no input with it.
I do know, that scar tissue can build up where injections go. I'm not sure how long it takes for that. Bone's I believe can get I think osteoporosis? or vitamin deficiency. I don't remember what the exact word was for it. I'll upload my informed consent sheet.

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I'd like to strongly point out under the consent portion where it says it is not studied long term. I'm not sure if you're on t or not but this is pretty much everything.

[Trying to be me]

Thanks. I'll check those out.
I'm not on T right now but looking into it.

[NathanielM]

What they've told me (and again they know little about long term) is that a lot of the long term possible negative effects are the same for all men. They meant that things like : high red blood cell count, higher risk for heartdisease and things like that are actually also higher risk in cismen and because we now take testosterone we develop the same risks.

Risks specific to our taking of testosteron was something they couldn't give me an answer for, but they did warn against drinking and smoking. I think in Belgium they are working on a long-term study but that will take some more time I think.

[FTMax]

What they've told me (and again they know little about long term) is that a lot of the long term possible negative effects are the same for all men. They meant that things like : high red blood cell count, higher risk for heartdisease and things like that are actually also higher risk in cismen and because we now take testosterone we develop the same risks.

This is the way my doctor explained it to me.

Your best options might be to look into testosterone for cisgender men. I know at least for me (being on gel instead of injections) when I google anything related to my brand of testosterone, I get forums for men who had low testosterone and are using the same product to get theirs back in a healthy range. I would imagine that those resources may have more historic data available, but still probably not too much more than data specific to the trans community.

[Cindy]

Goren's study from Holland found few long term effects of men on T. It was far safer than E for TG woman.

Yes you have the same problems as natal males but remember lots of natal male health issues are due to reluctance to see their health professionals as they age.

In transmen the biggest health risk is obesity and the side effects of that.

[KayXo]

Goren's study from Holland found few long term effects of men on T. It was far safer than E for TG woman.

One must also note that for the most part of those years, the E used was ethinyl estradiol and the dose was quite high. Cyproterone acetate is also used in pre-ops. There were also many factors, besides the E, that increased risks in transwomen.

[Gothic Dandy]

If you don't get your ovaries removed, taking T for a prolonged time can increase your risk of cancer. Maybe. The studies are inconclusive, to echo what everyone else is saying.

http://www.ftmguide.org/hysto.html

Why have a hysterectomy/oophorectomy?
Some physicians recommend hysterectomy and oophorectomy within the first 5 years of starting testosterone therapy. There are two reasons for this. First, there is some concern that long-term testosterone treatment may cause the ovaries to develop similar symptoms as those seen in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS has been linked to increased risk of endometrial hyperplasia (a condition that occurs when the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows too much) and thus endometrial cancer, as well as ovarian cancer.

It should be noted that it is difficult to prove whether the risk for such cancers is increased by testosterone therapy in trans men. Female-to-male transsexuals are a small population to begin with, and many undergo hysterectomy/oophorectomy early on in their hormonal treatment, thus making the study of long-term effects of testosterone on the uterus and ovaries difficult. Also, some trans men may have suffered from PCOS before beginning testosterone treatment.

Because the relationship between long-term androgen use and gynecological health is not yet fully understood, and because many trans men experience embarrassment and/or access issues over obtaining ongoing gynecological care, some may feel it is appropriate to pursue such surgeries as a preventative measure. For more information on PCOS, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer see the resources section at the end of this page.

The second reason why it may be considered beneficial to undergo a hysto/oopho is that after the removal of the ovaries, testosterone doses can often be decreased because the ovaries are no longer producing estrogen.

If a trans man chooses not to have a hysto/oopho procedure, he should continue to have regular Pap smears (to screen for cervical cancer) and should seek out the care of a doctor if he experiences any irregular vaginal bleeding (including spotting), cramping, or pain. It is not uncommon for trans men who are pre-hysterectomy to experience a buildup of endometrial tissue, especially during the first few years of testosterone therapy. Endometrial tissue is normally shed during menstruation, but since this process is usually stopped a few months into testosterone therapy, additional tissue may continue to build up and may eventually begin to shed in the form of spotting. Because irregular bleeding can be a sign of cancer (though this is often not the case), trans men who experience any bleeding/spotting should see a doctor who will perform tests to determine the cause of the spotting. These tests may include an endometrial biopsy and/or an ultrasound. The doctor may advise a short course of progesterone to cause the uterus to shed the excess endometrial tissue-- this is much like inducing a period. While this may be unpleasant, it should be understood as a preventative measure, since the unusual buildup of endometrial tissue has been linked to endometrial cancer.

[Trying to be me]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

If anyone here knows someone who's been on T for a long time, send them on over so we can get first hand experiences.

[Randi]

I took T for years in a futile attempt to remain male.  My only problem was too many red blood cells, (sometimes called "thick blood").  Hemoglobin count over 18 can be dangerous.

The solution there is phlebotomy, or donating blood.  Eventually I became a pheresis donor at the local blood bank.  They hook you up to a special machine that separates out the red blood cells and returns the rest.  It's sometimes called "double red".  They measure your hemoglobin before you donate so that's a free way to keep track.

Eventually I decided I'd rather be female, but I don't think that is very common.

Randi

[Bimmer Guy]

If you don't get your ovaries removed, taking T for a prolonged time can increase your risk of cancer. Maybe. The studies are inconclusive, to echo what everyone else is saying.

http://www.ftmguide.org/hysto.html

Although I don't have a link to share, evidently the latest study completed in June 2014(?) showed that there is no increase in cancer risk for transmen who don't have hysterectomy.  This study is not the only one to show this, but it is the latest.  It seems as though in the UK, hysterectomy is one of the "standard" steps in transition, however.

[JHeron]

I'm terrified of T because of this...  read before it can lead to liver failure? Basically my outlook on T at the moment feels like I'd be trading in years off my lifespan for the changes. Am I crazy to think of it this way?

[NathanielM]

I'm terrified of T because of this...  read before it can lead to liver failure? Basically my outlook on T at the moment feels like I'd be trading in years off my lifespan for the changes. Am I crazy to think of it this way?

Don't know about the liver failure, I do know that liverfunction is something they do monitor now I'm on T.
The thing with lifespan is, men have a shorter life-expectancy then women. So when we go on T, we will probably get a shorter lifespan but that is simply part of being a man. If I was born as a man I would also have a shorter life-expectancy. (I'm not a doctor, so it might not be completely correct but it's what I understood from what my endo told me).

[KayXo]

Do genetic men suffer in high numbers from liver failure? If not, then why would this be the case for you if you take bio-identical T non-orally?