Losing My Testosterone - And Loving It

[Dana_W]

I saw my doctor today to go over my latest bloodwork. Blah, blah... healthy this... blah, blah... a bit high that, but just something to keep an eye on.... blah, blah... and now we come to your testosterone results.

Okay I admit, I kind of blanked out the stuff before this, because this was the number I wanted to hear. I'm not sure if we're allowed to report actual testosterone levels here. So let me just say... I was very, very happy with the numbers. Effectively I have so little testosterone left, I'd be on the very low end for an adult female. That awful hair-growing, libido-crazy stuff has been safely beaten into submission as far as my body is concerned.

In other news, we're working out the Spiro thing. My potassium was very slightly high. My doctor is just spooked because she's had a Trans patient in the past go into renal failure on Spiro, so she's being cautious. Should be back into the normal swing of things shortly, after we try a couple things.

I also spoke to her about getting an orchi, and she's totally fine with that. She doesn't know of any urologists who will perform one (or even talk about one without cringing). But she's looking into it for me. If anyone knows any urologists in the Minneapolis metro area who will do this, please give me a shout! And anyone who knows how to get an insurance company to cover an orchi, please give me a LOUD shout out! 

[Diane Elizabeth]

I'm also interested in getting an orchi.  How would you get the HMO to cover it is a good question.  I hope to get my letter next week.  Then I need to find a dr that can get my meds under my iinsurance plan.

[MyKa]

I don't know why we couldn't tell our testosterone number, it's a number not a dosage. My level is very low. I hope everything works out for you!!!!!!

[Janet_Girl]

Yes you can because it is not a dosage.

[Flan]

If anyone knows any urologists in the Minneapolis metro area who will do this, please give me a shout! And anyone who knows how to get an insurance company to cover an orchi, please give me a LOUD shout out! 

I was referred here by a doctor I see (the edina location)
http://www.ualtd.net/

and here by another (he wanted a letter of recommendation on top of my medical need)
http://www.urology.umn.edu/

as far as insurance, I guess if it's "medically necessary" and coded as such they might cover.

[MyKa]

Yes you can because it is not a dosage.

Thank-you janet
I am at 126

[SusanKG]

I am now in my third day and three doses into HRT, and I'm certainly awaiting that test result. I know one thing, it may be the T running from my body in mortal fear, or the estrogen in a "what kept you from embracing us" rush, or both, but I feel so right and so good and so elated for the first time in my life. Good luck on finding a urologist for the orchi.

SusanKG

[Dana_W]

Well if the common consensus is that it's okay to share results...

My free testosterone was at 0.3. And my total testosterone was at 10.

Compare that to my result prior to HRT: my free testosterone at that time was at 24, and my total was at 769. (The "expected values" for an adult male are 9-30 for Free T, and 240-950 for total T).

(p.s. You rock, Flan!)

[Renate]

While you are still on anti-androgens it is probably premature to worry about not getting enough testosterone.
Doctors who treat natal women for low testosterone generally like to see 40-60 ng/dL total testosterone.
The general range of total testosterone for natal women is 20-80 ng/dL.

(Apparently, free testosterone is approximately 3% of total, but I've not seen a discussion of varying factors.)