MEDICAL PEOPLE: How does T affect height growth?

[petzjazz]

All right, I want a definite answer on this one. How does testosterone affect the growth process (height-wise)? I've heard everything from T stunting growth to T accelerating growth (if the patient's bone plates hadn't closed before starting T), so I want a definite answer from people who have some medical knowledge and actually know. So since there's very little study on transitioning FTMs, how does T affect the growth process in biomen and biomale puberty?   

[Elwood]

(if the patient's bone plates hadn't closed before starting T)

I can't answer your question but I'd like to put emphasis on this part.

[Andrew]

My doctor, who has worked with hundreds of transpeople, says that she's recorded height growth with FTMs -- even older ones. That last part kind of baffled me, but whatever.

I grew about an inch, but I started when I was eighteen.

[Jay]

I haven't grown on T as yet that I know of course. I am 21 though... and I have been on T for 10 months now.

Jay

[sd]

E makes you shrink, T makes you grow.

It is likely not bone growth, but probably muscle, cartilage and fluid in your joints changing.
The amount of change differs between people, usually it only changes about an inch but some have seen 3 inches.

[Christo]

Been on T 4 3yrs & I'm still 5'6''  no change here.    Dunno anybody thats grown on T but all the dudes I know started it in there 20's. maybe thats why. 

[Silver]

Bit late, but oh well.

T and E both stimulate growth, but E closes the epiphyses.

If anyone said T stunts growth, it may be because young steroid users (maybe high school athletes) have their growth stunted. T is aromatized into E when it is in excess.

Once the epiphyseal plates are closed, there is no more potential for growth. Maybe that was due to better posture.

Hope that helped.

[Mister]

If your growth plates have not closed, there is a chance that you may grow.  As far as how much, I don't think anyone can give you a definitive answer. 

[jaded]

i deff grew i was i lil over 5'6 pre  a lil over 5'8 now was checked at same doc so...
yeh it depends if the bones fused i started at 20 ans my brother (biomale) grew till 23...soooo anyhoooo
jaded

[sd]

I think there may be a bit gained through muscles and a little to do with fluid in the joints as well, but I have nothing to back that up.

I'm not sure on ftm, but on mtf's there is often a decrease in height, regardless of age. Some due to muscles in the feet decreasing, but also somewhere else, and fluid in the joints seems the most logical as bones are not changing.

[pebbles]

Testosterone and Estrogen actually both inhibit height growth by the same amount.

Eunuchs tend to be taller because of this. The primary reason women tend to be slightly smaller than men is because they tend to start puberty sooner so don't get as much out of the pre-puberty growth spurt loosing a couple of inches overall.