I was 46 when I started testosterone. I knew that I might lose a lot of hair, but I kept telling myself that I was more likely to wind up with a hairline like my father and older brother both have.
My hairline did recede. However, my hair started to thin generally, too, and I wasn't ready for that. Not yet. So I started buying generic Finasteride. It's essentially Proscar, 5 mg tablets, which I cut into quarters with a pill-splitter. I'm still losing some hair, so I can't quite tell what's happening. Maybe my hairline hasn't stopped receding yet. Maybe the Finasteride isn't working as well for me as it does for other guys. Whatever; I decided to stay on Finasteride for now.
Here's some food for thought. I started my physical transition only two years ago, and my life was turned upside down. After more than 45 years of living as a female, I am not fully confident living as a man. Steep acclimation curve. Lots of challenges in my life. Add hair loss--something that even cisgender men dread--and my confidence goes down even further. I'd like to become more comfortable as a man before I have to deal with baldness or significant hair loss. Most cisgender men don't have to worry about their hair for two or three (or more) decades of adult life. I've been living as a man for less than two years. Why shouldn't I take advantage of the opportunity to slow or stop the balding process?
Maybe at some point I'll stop taking the Finasteride, or maybe I'll discover that it's not doing anything for me after all. But I don't have any noticeable side effects (my transition might have slowed down a bit, but I'm not sure), so why not continue taking it? Let's face it, baldness is a disadvantage in this society, especially if you're young.
My best friend is pushing forty. I've known him since he was 23, and he was rapidly balding at that time. Now he's almost completely bald. He's smart, well-educated, cute, fit, and still young. He has a good skull shape. But he's sensitive about his hair loss--still, after having about fifteen years to get used to the idea. Me? I'm not cute, I'm not particularly fit, and I'm more than a decade older than he is. I've only had about a year to get used to the fact that I'm definitely losing some hair. When I get to a certain comfort level in my maleness, I'll revisit the issue. Until then, I'm popping pills. After all, it's not like I have to worry about erectile dysfunction or testicular pain or anything like that.
I advise you to do your research and talk to your doctor.
