T Side Effects I Did Not Expect (But Are Awesome)

[kyril]

I really really hope for the cold tolerance changes. Haven't had any of that yet, still want to keep the house at 74 degrees, still shiver uncontrollably outside.

Junk scent changes would be nice too, my junk still smells bad. On the other hand, I now ejaculate, and have a retractible foreskin.

But my skin is dramatically improved. Still sort of fragile, but healthier, less sensitive, responsive to acne treatments, less prone to redness/flushing. Still have the cellulite but it seems to be improving.

And digestive system improvements...those are just...wow. I didn't know what life was like without IBS.

[Radar]

I hear a lot of guys say they grew and inch or two or that their hands/feet grew.

I can attest to that. My feet have grown a size and a half. Shoe sizes don't lie. I also still have to wear wide shoes- even in men's sizes. Some things never change.

My hands have grown too. I know this because I've measured my fingers (lame, I know). As for height gain I don't know. Some theorize we just might be standing taller and not slouching as much. I will tell you though, the feet and hands growth can be painful. Growing pains all over again. It's worth it though. FYI I'm in my mid-30's.

As for intestinal issues my constipation improved for awhile but have got back to "normal" habits. I do have gastrointestinal problems though so I guess it couldn't last forever.

[xAndrewx]

Man measuring ain't lame. At least I hope not because I'll be starting T real soon and I took all of my measurements the other night. Not only do I find it fascinating but I want to make sure I notice and appreciate any type of hand/foot/anything else growth I get.

[kyril]

Just out of interest, how do you guys feel about the youthful appearance I hear is common with T?

Well, I'm a boy going through puberty, so it's no surprise I'll look like one for a while

It's not like we don't look young pre-T; most of us, if we pass at all, pass for teenagers at best. T doesn't make us look younger - in the long term it'll make us look our true age, and in the short term it makes us look like teenagers who are actually going through puberty (rather than super-late bloomers).

[Lee]

I've noticed that people tend to think I'm in my late 20's when I present as female and in my teens when I'm out as a guy.  It can be a bit obnoxious when going to bars, etc, but I don't really mind.  It'll be interesting to see how T changes this.  I won't complain if I get read as 30 when I'm 40. 

[Nathan.]

I'm glad I started T before it got really cold because now I don't feel the cold like I used to, right now i'm at home my mum is wearing loads of layers and i'm wearing a short sleaved t shirt. 

[Sean]

Hmm, a 32 year old FtM friend of mine looks about 22 at oldest, he said it was from the testosterone, and showed me photos of his other friends who also look incongruously young. I was wondering how that'd make an FtM feel. I know I'd love to look 22 when I'm 32, but I have no clue how men think. 

I am lucky to pass as older than 21 without T. Mostly get clocked at 17 or 18.

How does it feel? Kinda weird in ordinary course of life. You have to get used to people "tsk tsk"ing you when they are the same age as you or barely older, and know that they expect you to "yes, ma'am" them to be polite. Very bizarre. It is also strange having people judge your relationship when you are encountered as a couple or pair that looks May-December, even though you are mostly the same age.  There is a reason people always hand the check to my SO and not to me. Depending on the context, it can wreck your ability to pass altogether.

For career purposes, it's absolutely impractical to be seen as far too young for the level of experience and position you have. I come from young-looking stock and was always read as younger than I am even as female. Even my brother has problems professionally with being viewed as too young. My *hope* is that T will catch me back up to the same discrepancy that my brother faces within a fairly short amount of time (e.g., 1-2 years). There is no reason it would make me seem younger, though.

[Radar]

Just out of interest, how do you guys feel about the youthful appearance I hear is common with T?

I wish I looked a bit older. It's annoying when people think you're in your twenties. It doesn't help that before T I looked younger than my age anyway.

[M.Grimm]

I was already being pegged for being much younger when presenting female. Now it's assumed I'm even younger because I look like a late-teens guy finishing puberty. I was already being carded consistently for alcohol prior to my transition, now I avoid buying it because my DL still has a photo of me in fem-mode with the F marker.

I think if I could actually look older than 20 I'd be fine with that.

[Sharky]

Some people think I look younger, some think I look older. Even as a girl. Looking younger doesn't bother me, but looking older has caused some unneeded stress. When my mom was in the hospital they would always hassle me with visiting her because they didn't believe I was her kid. I looked too old and she looked too young. We have different last names. She does look really young though. How she dresses and carries herself makes her look younger too. She is about 5'2 and 100lbs. I've had people tell me "Hey I saw you at the mall with your sister!" The age gap between me and my actual sister is bigger then the one between me and my mom. It can be funny though, like when I got beer for her. I wonder if T will make me look even older.

[matt]

I can attest to that. My feet have grown a size and a half. Shoe sizes don't lie. I also still have to wear wide shoes- even in men's sizes. Some things never change.

man, now I'm a believer. I started T beginning of Dec, but I swear my feet have already grown. I had to wear some black shoes last week. (Bought them last year) they used to be so comfortable, the perfect size. I walked for about 20 minutes, and my feet felt so squashed up inside, and then after another 5 minutes my feet started bleeding.   

So at first I thought it was just water retention or perhaps those shoes had shrunk for some odd reason. So today after a week, I tried my other shoes, guess what!? same thing, I could hardly squeeze my feet into them. they are ALL too small now!! I only have my sneakers left. It's insane!!

In a way I'm really happy coz I want bigger feet, but i never thought i'll be out growing my favourite shoes so quickly...