Do we have higher T than girls?

[TrojanMan]

I'm pre T, but I have more muscle and I'm built like a guy for the most part. I also have several long hairs on my chin now  too, and I'm wondering if ftms have higher testosterone than females do.

[DragonBeer]

Some have PCOS but that's not always the case.

[Mackan]

Before you start T you will prob do some blood work and then you can find out if that's the case for you. My doctor said the normal T level for a female is 0.2 nmol to 3.0 nmol , I had 3.5nmol testosterone in my body before T so that was above normal.My doctor said I would prob have PCOS and that it would have progressed over the years if I wouldn't have transitioned.

[darkblade]

I remember reading somewhere that there's a higher incidence of PCOS (resulting in higher than normal T) in FtMs than in the cis female population... Not sure how accurate that is or whether that has something to do with why we're FtM, but there's that.

I have PCOS: elevated T levels, irregular period, a bit too hairy compared to other females, with facial hair that even years of laser hasn't gotten rid of, always had a decent amount of muscle even when I never worked out.. But then again, my dad has a lot of muscle even though he was never into weight lifting, he sometimes talks about how his friends think he lifts.

[genderirrelevant]

I had some testing done about 15 years ago when I became amenorrhearic due to high exercise levels. I don't recall the numbers but I think I was near the high end of normal. I don't have PCOS. I have muscles even when I don't train.

[kast]

Like someone just said, I've also read somewhere that there is a higher incidence of PCOS among ftms. I've seen discussions on pre-T hormone levels in various places and the consensus seemed to be that there's usually not a difference between our pre-T levels and that of a cis woman. Personally, I had average T but low estrogen. I don't know if that means anything, but I did have some male pattern body hair pre-T.

[Natkat]

its really depends as people got diffrent homones levels in general. for me I think its rather opposite I got the feeling but I also feel my homones is abit of a mystery, I am pretty tall got big hands and feet for many of my Ftm friends yet I am also the one with almost no Hair.

[DragonBeer]

Before you start T you will prob do some blood work and then you can find out if that's the case for you. My doctor said the normal T level for a female is 0.2 nmol to 3.0 nmol , I had 3.5nmol testosterone in my body before T so that was above normal.My doctor said I would prob have PCOS and that it would have progressed over the years if I wouldn't have transitioned.

I see. Well my doctor didn't check my T levels before starting T so I'll never know if I had PCOS or not. I reckon I never had it or else I would have known about it if I had bloodwork done every year.

[sam1234]

Both men and women make both hormone, which you must have learned judging by your question. Many things can cause what you are seeing. Genetics that give you a body less than femine is one.

There are many theories as to why People wind up as transgenders. It used to be that scientists believed that they somehow received more testosterone at birth, and it effected the way they seem them selves. Later studies suggest a possible mutation on one of the chromosomes, while another camp believes that its due to something the mother was taking during pregnancy. Many people do believe that it is a neurologic problem. Male brain, female body or vice versa.

Before I ever even started T, my body was shaped more like a guy than a girl. I lifted wieghts and it was easy to put on extra muscle. I don't know if that was genetic as I was dopted. My menstral cycle was always irratic. Regardless of the reason, the gender you identify with is the one you are, even if your body disagrees.

sam1234

[ChloëAri]

It makes sense. It know that me and other MTFs experience gynecomastia pre-hormones and I had very limited T, so it makes sense that it works the other way as well.

[Sir Real]

From what I was told I had a normal T range.

[FTMax]

:: raises hand for PCOS diagnosis ::

[Bimmer Guy]

I remember reading a study that did not find FTMs to have higher than normal testosterone levels than cisgender women, but, they found higher than normal testosterone levels in cisgender lesbians.  I don't remember the number of participants in the study, however, so perhaps it was a small group.  This was a couple years ago.  I found it really interesting.

[Amadeus]

I don't have PCOS, but back in 2011 my hormone levels were checked and my testosterone was high.  The female range is supposed to be 20-80ng/dL.  My level was 88.  It explained why I had to shave my face, but not why my heart was pounding.

I didn't know this about PCOS, and I'll keep it in mind when I discuss further surgeries with my physicians.

[Ayden]

I think I was in perfectly normal ranges. I wasn't very masculine then at all physically (I'm also fabulously gay in my personality) and I have the darn hourglass figure. Even with hormones I have those stupid dips at my waist. But I was also on birth control for years because of insane periods, which may have affected a lot of my development. I am much more barrel chested around my ribs than a lot of female bodies people though, and I always has dark body hair.

[LordKAT]

I had something happen when I was pregnant once and asked why it happened. Their answer was high T levels. I don't know if they  meant all the time or just due to the pregnancy or what.

[DarkWolf_7]

That is a possibility but it could also be linked with low estrogen levels.
I'm pre-T and my figure is more about at the boyish end of feminine figures except for chest area and even though I'm blonde I have a few random dark hairs.
Though I wish I could say that I build muscle easy but that's definitely not the case.

[YBtheOutlaw]

Not sure about that but i do have very hairy legs. Yeah that's it. Only legs. And periods have always been irregular and the doctor said the ovaries were not producing ova with regular timing- don't know if he meant pcos. I didn't want to ask anymore about it anyway, i was dying to escape the gyno's room. And I've had a male-looking face since i grew up but that's more related to genes. they say i'm identical to dad except for the moustache. But nothing positive about muscles. Voice is somewhat satisfactory but there are plenty of girls with perfect girlish features and much deeper voices than mine. So do i have more T? Wish i do, but can't conclude that with my details.

[aleon515]

I haven't heard that the in utero explanation is not true. There are also certain medications (DES is one I have heard of, but at least mostly MTFs). There are also intersex conditions. I know of several people who didn't find out they were actually intersex til way way later.

One thing is that I don't necessarily thing there is some "mistake" as  has been implied. Our culture is particularly brutal about trans people, but all cultures throughout history are not, in some cases trans conditions were considered privileged or honored in some way. Our culture is exceptionally binary and brutal in the way it enforces the binary.

As for T levels, PCOS seems to be common (though it is a very common condition, afaik). I have heard not all PCOS is diagnosed and there are various levels of it. So it is possible some people here have it and don't know. My T levels were not particularly high and I was never read as male (perhaps as a youth) as male before taking T.


--Jay

Both men and women make both hormone, which you must have learned judging by your question. Many things can cause what you are seeing. Genetics that give you a body less than femine is one.

There are many theories as to why People wind up as transgenders. It used to be that scientists believed that they somehow received more testosterone at birth, and it effected the way they seem them selves. Later studies suggest a possible mutation on one of the chromosomes, while another camp believes that its due to something the mother was taking during pregnancy. Many people do believe that it is a neurologic problem. Male brain, female body or vice versa.

Before I ever even started T, my body was shaped more like a guy than a girl. I lifted wieghts and it was easy to put on extra muscle. I don't know if that was genetic as I was dopted. My menstral cycle was always irratic. Regardless of the reason, the gender you identify with is the one you are, even if your body disagrees.

sam1234

[Vil]

YBtheOutlaw: Hand up for hairy legs

Just wanted to say, many of things you listed applies to me to, although I was never examined for PCOS. I always found it very satisfying, especially the wide shoulders.

It can be hardly just an accident.