Vaginal Atrophy

[KarlMars]

I heard of someone getting vaginal atrophy after being on T, but I'm not sure how long they were on it. It's what happens to menopausal women- where the vagina gets too tight and dry for intercourse and makes it painful. I also heard it could cause incontinence. Does anyone know more about this or more about and other cons of taking T?

[FTMax]

It's fairly common. Testosterone causes some dryness, and shrinkage of all the female reproductive organs to include the vaginal canal (as a point of reference - I had my hysto at 14 months on T and my uterus came out almost 1/2 the size of a normal uterus). You would still be able to get wet and have sex, it would just take more foreplay to get to the same point for it to be comfortable. Lube is probably also a good idea just to be on the safe side.

Never heard of anyone experiencing incontinence.

[groudon18]

because of this my (cis) boyfriend and i have been very slow and patient as we work on being able to have sex. we've managed to finally be able to fit a couple inches inside. lots of foreplay is needed + i still need to buy good lube, but buying lube should help... I've never heard of the incontinence thing either and it's not something i've experienced

[xchrisx]

So (TMI sorry) I don't have PIV sex anymore (haven't in years) though other penetration is fine with me--I'm getting a bit older (46)--between having been on T a number of years and my being of / getting close to menopause age anyway, things are definitely, uh, tighter lol.

I still get wicked turned on & self lube is not an issue, but evidence of my being turned on is more evident in that I get hard as opposed to open. Wow this is a lot of very personal information HAHA

To avoid incontinence: kegels!

[Preston]

I'm going through this right now. Self lubrication during sex is not an issue (at all) but I am always really dry and the skin actually flakes causing extreme irritation (itching).

[KarlMars]

It's fairly common. Testosterone causes some dryness, and shrinkage of all the female reproductive organs to include the vaginal canal (as a point of reference - I had my hysto at 14 months on T and my uterus came out almost 1/2 the size of a normal uterus). You would still be able to get wet and have sex, it would just take more foreplay to get to the same point for it to be comfortable. Lube is probably also a good idea just to be on the safe side.

Never heard of anyone experiencing incontinence.

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to avoid the hystorectomy as long as I can because my insurance won't cover it unless it's medically necessary.

[KarlMars]

So (TMI sorry) I don't have PIV sex anymore (haven't in years) though other penetration is fine with me--I'm getting a bit older (46)--between having been on T a number of years and my being of / getting close to menopause age anyway, things are definitely, uh, tighter lol.

I still get wicked turned on & self lube is not an issue, but evidence of my being turned on is more evident in that I get hard as opposed to open. Wow this is a lot of very personal information HAHA

To avoid incontinence: kegels!

Thanks for this useful information.

[KarlMars]

I'm going through this right now. Self lubrication during sex is not an issue (at all) but I am always really dry and the skin actually flakes causing extreme irritation (itching).

Thanks for letting me know and I'm sure there's a cream for that.

[FTMax]

It's fairly common. Testosterone causes some dryness, and shrinkage of all the female reproductive organs to include the vaginal canal (as a point of reference - I had my hysto at 14 months on T and my uterus came out almost 1/2 the size of a normal uterus). You would still be able to get wet and have sex, it would just take more foreplay to get to the same point for it to be comfortable. Lube is probably also a good idea just to be on the safe side.

Never heard of anyone experiencing incontinence.

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to avoid the hystorectomy as long as I can because my insurance won't cover it unless it's medically necessary.

Insurance companies don't cover anything unless it's medically necessary. The key is making sure they don't exclude transgender healthcare procedures, and then having your doctor write a letter that says you're a transgender man and having female reproductive organs is having a negative impact on your mental health. That is what mine did, and my insurance paid up.

[KarlMars]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to avoid the hystorectomy as long as I can because my insurance won't cover it unless it's medically necessary.


Insurance companies don't cover anything unless it's medically necessary. The key is making sure they don't exclude transgender healthcare procedures, and then having your doctor write a letter that says you're a transgender man and having female reproductive organs is having a negative impact on your mental health. That is what mine did, and my insurance paid up.

Is there any kind of health risk if I just don't have the hystorectomy at all? I'm not sure if I'll get bottom surgery now.

[FTMax]

Is there any kind of health risk if I just don't have the hystorectomy at all? I'm not sure if I'll get bottom surgery now.

There is no conclusive data on it, but plenty of anecdotal experiences out there. Some guys have no issues, some guys have cramps, some guys get cysts on their ovaries, etc. There's no universal experience so it's hard to say what yours would be like.

[jentay1367]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to avoid the hystorectomy as long as I can because my insurance won't cover it unless it's medically necessary.

Yeah................how could your long term mental health and sanity have anything to do with medical necessity? 

stooooopid Insurance.....I'd like to not give them their monthly premium until I have a medical necessity.  

quid pro quo m'fers!

[groudon18]

Is there any kind of health risk if I just don't have the hystorectomy at all? I'm not sure if I'll get bottom surgery now.

you don't need bottom surgery to have a hysto, lots just get the stuff taken out to take it out. and like ftmax said everyone is different. there's also surgeries to get just parts of the reproductive system taken out instead of everything, such as an oompherectomy. that's what my current future plan is just because i wanna do as little as possible to be comfortable

[KarlMars]

There is no conclusive data on it, but plenty of anecdotal experiences out there. Some guys have no issues, some guys have cramps, some guys get cysts on their ovaries, etc. There's no universal experience so it's hard to say what yours would be like.

So if I got those problems it would be medically necessary to have the hysterectomy then, right?

[KarlMars]

you don't need bottom surgery to have a hysto, lots just get the stuff taken out to take it out. and like ftmax said everyone is different. there's also surgeries to get just parts of the reproductive system taken out instead of everything, such as an oompherectomy. that's what my current future plan is just because i wanna do as little as possible to be comfortable

Same here-as little as possible to stay comfortable. I think I want to keep my vagina functioning for sexual purposes, but not for reproduction.

[FTMax]

There is no conclusive data on it, but plenty of anecdotal experiences out there. Some guys have no issues, some guys have cramps, some guys get cysts on their ovaries, etc. There's no universal experience so it's hard to say what yours would be like.

So if I got those problems it would be medically necessary to have the hysterectomy then, right?

Yes.

But if your health insurance covers transgender procedures, a hysterectomy is considered medically necessary just by merit of you being transgender. So if you want one, you can have one.

[KarlMars]

So if I got those problems it would be medically necessary to have the hysterectomy then, right?


Yes.

But if your health insurance covers transgender procedures, a hysterectomy is considered medically necessary just by merit of you being transgender. So if you want one, you can have one.

My health insurance doesn't cover anything transgender.

[xchrisx]

you don't need bottom surgery to have a hysto, lots just get the stuff taken out to take it out. 

You do need a hysto for phallo (not meta).

I'm 7 years on T and don't plan on having any lower surgeries or a hysto (unless of course there's an issue). My paps have all been normal so, so far no worries.

Also: I'm uninsured so there's no running out for a hysto for me.
I did have insurance when I started medically transitioning but even that didn't cover my chest surgery. Some do, some don't. This was before the Affordable Healthcare Act so I don't know what is or is not covered anymore.

[groudon18]

^ I said you don't need bottom surgery to have a hystorectomy, not that you don't need a hysto to have bottom surgery.

[FreakOfNature]

There is no conclusive data on it, but plenty of anecdotal experiences out there. Some guys have no issues, some guys have cramps, some guys get cysts on their ovaries, etc. There's no universal experience so it's hard to say what yours would be like.

I was told by my surgeon that taking T would help for the cysts. It also causes them?