Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So, with both fingers crossed, I will be starting T in a month, and I want to get as much information together as possible before speaking to my doctor about what I want to do.

I'm not sure if I'd rather start out on a lower dose of T, or just start out on a normal dose. I've read that some guys choose to start out with a low dose so that their vocal chords can develop more slowly and fully, like a cis male's during puberty. But what other differences are there between the results of low dose guy versus normal dose guy?

Anyone who's willing to share their experience, just mention if you started/are on a low dose of T or a normal dose (as always, don't list actual numerical doses). Did you start out on gel, shots or patches, and did you ever end up switching to another method? Explain in any amount of detail how slowly your changes may have happened, any problems your dose/method may have caused for you, and anything else you can think of. What kind of bottom results do you have, and how long did it take before you stopped growing down there? How long did facial hair take to come in? Any good or terrible acne stories? Did your dose provide any problems psychologically (mood, thought-process, mental clarity, etc.)

I'm really excited to see what you guys have to share. I know every person will be different and have different results, but I want to make sure I'm as informed as possible before signing off on what I really want. Thank you to anyone who's willing to share their experience.

Been on T 2 years. From B.C Canada.

The first thing to mention is for the most part you don't choose your dose. When you do initial testing with your doctor they will tell you what they think is best based on your blood work and go from there. Most people I know ( including me) started of on a lower dose ( or one that is different then where they are now) to see how the body will react because every one is different.
Also because of the potential complications ( high blood pressure, cholesterol ect) I didn't get on my "reg " dose until my 3rd blood work when we found a balance.
I started out on IM shots ( into the muscle) and I now have switched to sub Q which I find is way better for me. The time between the IM shots was too long and causing me to peak and dip which wasnt fun.
I grew down stairs pretty quick it was one of the first noticeable changes, then the voice started to REALLY crack...im a singer so I noticed right off the bat about 4 months in. Facial hair I had before T became darker and thicker/ faster about 6 months. Ive always had oily skin so that didnt change much.

Now this might sound weird but in the 2nd month when everything started really kicking in mentally...i kind of felt like I wasn't me...like in situations I felt as I was in the third person. Or like taking the back seat conscious of how I was interacting and making decisions?  I don't know how to explain it..not bad or good just there. But that went away almost as soon as it came.

The most important thing to remember is that everyone is different. Even though people can share similar results no two are the same! My best advice would be to let your doctor know how you are feeling every step. If you feel things are moving " too slow" let them know they are there to help you. And on the flip side don't be afraid to say things are moving too fast either.

Good luck.

I started on a half dose of gel for a month before switching to a full dose. My doctor makes everyone start on a half dose just in case it doesn't work well for you. I switched to injections at 3 months due to a price increase for gel. My T levels have stayed consistent (700-800) the entire time.

My voice started to drop the first time a week in. I had another drop around 6 months if I remember right. Body hair started to fill in better around three months in areas that it was already growing. I've had decent downstairs growth, but not enough to be happy with a meta. Can grow a goatee and sideburns fully, everything else is still patchy. Any new weight I gain goes straight to my stomach. No increase in appetite or energy levels. Decrease in sex drive. Exercising seems easier. Period stopped at 3 months on. Mentally, I just feel clearer? That's the only way I can describe it. I don't have any social dysphoria anymore. Mood-wise, I'm just less patient. I won't put up with BS anymore. But I'm still fairly mellow.

I didn't start getting acne until after top surgery. Not sure what the causation there is, but I haven't been able to get rid of it since. No real negatives for me aside from the acne, but I had pretty bad acne during my first puberty so I figured it would come at some point.

I wouldn't say my changes have stopped, but they are slower. My voice is continuing to drop and the range is expanding. Body hair is still filling in and expanding outward. Downstairs growth comes in spurts.

That's about all I can think of. I was keeping a blog in the beginning, and stopped after top surgery, as I hadn't had new changes in a while. I do not feel that there was any significant difference between low dose and regular dose for me personally.

It's not about your dosage, it's about the level of testosterone in your blood, which is why it's important for your doctor to monitor it closely, especially in the first year or so. I started on what's considered a half dose, and my T level was very high on that, so my doctor lowered the dose a bit. After a year or so, my blood level went down quite a bit, so I'm now back on the original ("half") dose.

It's not "one size fits all," by any means.

Quote from: ftmax on September 14, 2015, 03:11:34 PM
I started on a half dose of gel for a month before switching to a full dose. My doctor makes everyone start on a half dose just in case it doesn't work well for you. I switched to injections at 3 months due to a price increase for gel. My T levels have stayed consistent (700-800) the entire time.

My voice started to drop the first time a week in. I had another drop around 6 months if I remember right. Body hair started to fill in better around three months in areas that it was already growing. I've had decent downstairs growth, but not enough to be happy with a meta. Can grow a goatee and sideburns fully, everything else is still patchy. Any new weight I gain goes straight to my stomach. No increase in appetite or energy levels. Decrease in sex drive. Exercising seems easier. Period stopped at 3 months on. Mentally, I just feel clearer? That's the only way I can describe it. I don't have any social dysphoria anymore. Mood-wise, I'm just less patient. I won't put up with BS anymore. But I'm still fairly mellow.

minus a decrease in sex drive, my changes were literally on the same timeline. 

not sure how you feel, but i'm personally glad i started off on gel. it's a great trial run to see how your body will react. i don't regret it...even if it was really annoying.

Quote from: palexander on September 15, 2015, 12:51:32 PM
not sure how you feel, but i'm personally glad i started off on gel. it's a great trial run to see how your body will react. i don't regret it...even if it was really annoying.

I'm glad I got to have the experience of it at a point when it wasn't cost prohibitive for me. I can definitely understand why it appeals to a lot of guys. If you had asked me when I was on gel if I would consider switching to injections, I would've said no. But now that I'm doing shots, there's no way I'd switch back. It's just such a better fit for my lifestyle and it is hard to really assess that prior to starting.

When I started my dose was too high. My levels were reading above normal for an average male. I was always sweating very bad,  I always felt like I was having hot flashes. I was having issues with my mood. Once my doctor cut it down I started feeling much better. I take injections every other week, and my only thing is the anxiety I get before the shot. Other than that I'm happy and good to go.

When I started T, I didn't have a choice. The endocrinologist just started me out on what he thought I should have. Two months later, he took a blood level, and kept me on the same dose. I'm guessing the dose was kind of high because my libido went through the roof. I got used to it after a while though.  After that, I didn't have another level taken for about twenty years. When I moved here, I saw an endocrinologist who lowered my dose a little based on my age.

When my GP retired, (he had taken over my prescription and levels), my new GP starting dropping my T level. I didn't realize it at the time, but he didn't even know what a transgender was. At one point, he had my T so low it was over 200 points lower than low normal for a guy my age. I was fatigued and had trouble getting out of bed. I felt like my body was going back in time and my fat distribution started making me look female again. I freaked and got another Dr. He has raised my dose and my body has gone back to normal. I get my first level from my new doc within a month or so. Before he changed my dose, I'd lost almost all the hair on my thighs and didn't have to shave my face for two weeks at a time. All my muscle tone went. It was pretty traumatic.

sam1234

Quote from: ftmax on September 15, 2015, 02:00:16 PM
I'm glad I got to have the experience of it at a point when it wasn't cost prohibitive for me. I can definitely understand why it appeals to a lot of guys. If you had asked me when I was on gel if I would consider switching to injections, I would've said no. But now that I'm doing shots, there's no way I'd switch back. It's just such a better fit for my lifestyle and it is hard to really assess that prior to starting.

agreed. it's so much easier...and a lot more clean. i always felt gross after applying it.

Quote from: palexander on September 18, 2015, 11:05:13 AM
agreed. it's so much easier...and a lot more clean. i always felt gross after applying it.

I definitely do not look forward to how gross it's going to feel, but I think I'm going to at least start on gel. I'm obviously not a fan of injecting myself (although I don't actually have a problem with needles and have pierced myself before). But more than that, I'm incredibly worried what a drop off of hormones at the end of my dose will do to me. I've been suicidal all my life, with a lot of mood disorders, and I honestly don't know how many doses I would actually survive through. :/

A once a week injection, or two weeks as some are on, is a lot easier and more reliable than either the patch or the gel. When I started with my new doc, he sad that injections give the most reliable stabilization as far as blood levels than the other forms.

sam1234

Quote from: sam1234 on September 20, 2015, 11:14:34 AM
A once a week injection, or two weeks as some are on, is a lot easier and more reliable than either the patch or the gel. When I started with my new doc, he sad that injections give the most reliable stabilization as far as blood levels than the other forms.

sam1234

That response apparently varies by doctor.

I think if gel were more affordable, my doctor would have encouraged everyone to get on it for the same reasons your doctor listed for injections. I have a friend who was unable to get his levels to stabilize above 300 after two years on injections, and he's now in the 500 range on gel. Personal body chemistry plays a big part in how well these things work for different people, but I don't think there are any medical studies that have shown one method to be more effective than others.

Quote from: Muscle Matt on September 20, 2015, 09:55:33 AM
I definitely do not look forward to how gross it's going to feel, but I think I'm going to at least start on gel. I'm obviously not a fan of injecting myself (although I don't actually have a problem with needles and have pierced myself before). But more than that, I'm incredibly worried what a drop off of hormones at the end of my dose will do to me. I've been suicidal all my life, with a lot of mood disorders, and I honestly don't know how many doses I would actually survive through. :/

i would recommend leaving your shirt off for as long as possible and then using a fan to dry it completely. your endo may advise you to just apply it to one area, but i personally put it on both shoulders, my chest, and sometimes my face....but when i put too much on my face it caused headaches due to the strong scent.

as for mood fluctuations, it happens, but just remember you'll be okay. i have severe anxiety (multiple disorders) with a side of depression. there was a period of time where i felt extremely down about everything, but i ultimately made it through. i experienced this once the reality of the situation sunk in—the placebo effect wore off and i realized this is my 'forever' unless there's a medical advancement in the future...