Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Topic started by: lilacwoman on July 21, 2010, 04:08:19 AM

Title: Does testo make FtM teens go male?
Post by: lilacwoman on July 21, 2010, 04:08:19 AM
Hi everyone, sorry to butt in with what may be an unacceptable question, but:  most MtFs don't transition until well after puberty and its testo has given them the big hands and the bony hard faces which only expensive surgery can modify.
Do you guys notice the testo making any real changes in your faces or are your bones set by midteens?   
I'm under the impression that male faces keep on getting harder and bonier until perhaps 30 but what happens with FtMs?
Title: Re: Does testo make FtM teens go male?
Post by: Lachlann on July 21, 2010, 05:18:33 AM
It depends on your body and if growth plates have fused or not. I believe your head generally doesn't stop growing until you're 25. Some of it might be from muscle growth, but you gain bone density too.

I've heard of some guys having their hands and feet grow.
Title: Re: Does testo make FtM teens go male?
Post by: millsy on July 21, 2010, 05:43:57 AM
in the last couple of months my skull (actually prob just the muscles attached to my skull) have changed to the point that my head shape feels completely different. And i'm 35!
Title: Re: Does testo make FtM teens go male?
Post by: zombiesarepeaceful on July 21, 2010, 10:20:05 AM
My ex gf said my hands got bigger. My feet haven't grown but they haven't grown since I was 13 and I'm a size 10 in men's. I think I've gained a little height but not sure, need a tape measure.
Title: Re: Does testo make FtM teens go male?
Post by: Ryan on July 21, 2010, 10:35:40 AM
Bones are generally set when the plates fuse, but the bone density changes and cartilage thickens on T which can make quite major changes to the face. Fat redistribution also makes visible changes.
Title: Re: Does testo make FtM teens go male?
Post by: kyril on July 21, 2010, 01:59:13 PM
Long bones don't get longer, but all bones can thicken (it's not just density, it's thickness/size that changes) which can affect facial and head structure. Soft tissues like tendons/ligaments change a lot, so the curve of our backs reduces and hands/feet may get bigger.
Title: Re: Does testo make FtM teens go male?
Post by: zombiesarepeaceful on July 22, 2010, 02:41:22 PM
Ah. To confirm, I finally got a tape measure and I've grown about half an inch. 10 weeks on T. Guess my growth plates haven't fused yet :D
Title: Re: Does testo make FtM teens go male?
Post by: kyril on July 22, 2010, 11:30:13 PM
Well, we can gain some height from the spinal/pelvic realignment from tendon and ligament changes - if our backs arch less, we'll of course stand taller. But as young as you are you might be getting some actual growth too (although I've heard conflicting things in that department - in natal males, it's apparently T that stops them growing taller. Castrati were extremely tall and gangly.)
Title: Re: Does testo make FtM teens go male?
Post by: Vancha on July 23, 2010, 03:30:02 AM
I'm 18, and apparently have been growing the past few years.  I'm actually shorter than my mother AND father, so I'm really pissed about that.  I'm hoping my bones haven't fused yet.  I want to grow at least a little bit.  But, of course, we get what we get.
Title: Re: Does testo make FtM teens go male?
Post by: trnsboi on July 24, 2010, 01:13:12 AM
Quote from: V on July 23, 2010, 03:30:02 AM
I'm 18, and apparently have been growing the past few years.  I'm actually shorter than my mother AND father, so I'm really pissed about that.  I'm hoping my bones haven't fused yet.  I want to grow at least a little bit.  But, of course, we get what we get.

Don't give up hope, I grew about 3/4" in my early twenties. But alas, I am still 5" shorter than both of my parents. I recommend taking an l-arginine l-ornithine amino acid supplement.

Testosterone is responsible for the teen growth spurt, but it is also responsible for making the bones fuse. Estrogen, however, has a much more powerful impact on bone closure and this is partially why females tend to be shorter on average.

And as for facial bones, they can definitely keep changing through the lifespan. My facial bones got wider on T, and my ribcage and shoulders got wider too.
Title: Re: Does testo make FtM teens go male?
Post by: Silver on July 24, 2010, 11:25:47 AM
Quote from: kyril on July 22, 2010, 11:30:13 PM
Well, we can gain some height from the spinal/pelvic realignment from tendon and ligament changes - if our backs arch less, we'll of course stand taller. But as young as you are you might be getting some actual growth too (although I've heard conflicting things in that department - in natal males, it's apparently T that stops them growing taller. Castrati were extremely tall and gangly.)

That's because T converts to E to stop growth. Women always have more E though. T itself doesn't really stop growth.
Title: Re: Does testo make FtM teens go male?
Post by: lilacwoman on July 24, 2010, 01:34:03 PM
Quote from: SilverFang on July 24, 2010, 11:25:47 AM
That's because T converts to E to stop growth. Women always have more E though. T itself doesn't really stop growth.
this was so interesting that I looked cstrati up and sure enough the lack of T allowed the bones to continue growing so the men got tall but with big chests that helped with the singing.
there is a dj on a local classic radio station who plays a modern singer who sings like a castrati...it is an awful sound.  Give me Elvis anyday.
Title: Re: Does testo make FtM teens go male?
Post by: Vancha on July 24, 2010, 05:41:14 PM
Yeah, but men who are not producing any sex hormones won't have estrogen or testosterone.  Testosterone is responsible for creating estrogen, albeit in small amounts, in men, so it's hard to say whether the lack of T, or the lack of E due to the lack of T, resulted in the Castrati being so tall.

With that said, I'm going to start taking supplements to see if that'll help.  Everyone has been commenting on me growing the past two years, whereas I hardly grew prior to that.  Maybe there's a glimmer of hope.