Hi everyone,

I am a 30-year old male.

My main issue is this: I have an hourglass body shape (waist about 29 inches; hips about 33 inches) which is typical for women but highly undesirable for men. I am deeply unhappy about this, and would like to have a more masculine-like body shape (that is, a higher waist-hip ratio with no curves).

I am quite thin, so the comparatively large hip size is not as a result of fat accumulation on the hips, but, as a suspect, bone structure.

I also have a high-pitched voice for a male.

I was wondering if taking Testosterone at this time may help reduce or even eliminate my hourglass body shape, and give me a more masculine body shape? Or am I too old for any such change to happen?

The reason I am posting this question here is that I think F-to-M gentlemen might have had to confront the same issue in their transitioning process.

So any input would be highly appreciated! Thank you!

(Of course, I realize that I would eventually need to consult a doctor about this. But I would also like to hear from people who have had personal experience in this area).

Testosterone should help, if it doesn't then maybe your genetics predispose you to have a more feminine shape. I think it sounds like you may have low T, check with your doctor and they'll probably prescribe androgel or something.

If you want a more masculine phsyique, you HAVE to work out though, I mean you can't be aslob and get a six pack.

My tiny hourglass waist only appeared after losing lots of abdominal fat. Having a small torso was my personal bane and I had to work out in the gym hoping it would "expand", but...

Ok, let's not lie: My parents where the ones worried about me not having a manly figure, Now it is like a blessing.

I do not get it, 29÷33 = 0.88, which is very far from hourglass and in the healthy and normal range for males. My WHR is far below yours and yet no hourglass.
Have a look at :
http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/WHR.htm

Mine is about 0.8 and I want to get it down to about 0.78 or so. That would give me a 32" waist with a 41" hip. My chest is 40.5" with a 36.5 underbust. My figure is nicely feminine.

Thanks. Now, regarding your last sentence, I am actually not interested in a six pack or anything, just a bigger waist to hips ratio, to reduce the curves. But I can see the benefits of workout.

Quote from: Ave on September 17, 2012, 09:17:13 AM
Testosterone should help, if it doesn't then maybe your genetics predispose you to have a more feminine shape. I think it sounds like you may have low T, check with your doctor and they'll probably prescribe androgel or something.

If you want a more masculine phsyique, you HAVE to work out though, I mean you can't be aslob and get a six pack.

Hi, I do have curves caused by waist being narrow whereas hips being wide (comparatively speaking).

The reason my statistics does not SEEM too bad is, (I think) this: The measurements for waist and hips are circumferences. That means they include both the "left-right"  and "front-back" measurements (I am sure there are better/more accurate descriptions; but I hope I am getting myself understood).

If someone has a (comparatively speaking) large measurement for hips, it can be for two reasons: a. either the hips are big in a "left-right" way (wide but thin buttocks), or b. they are big in a "front-back" way (not wide, but fat buttocks).

If a, it will contribute to a look of wide hips. If b, it may not contribute to such a look, but the hips might look fuller in silhouette.

I think my situation is a and yours could be b.

Of course, another factor could be that people might have different perceptions of what an hourglass figure should be like. Some people might think that only a very pronounced curve (as a result of waist-hips difference in width) could be classified as this shape. For others, a less pronounced curve would warrant the body shape being classified as such, especially when one is talking about male/female differences in body shape.

At any rate, my figure is definitely not typically male-like, that is for sure.

Quote from: switchy on September 18, 2012, 06:44:30 AM
I do not get it, 29÷33 = 0.88, which is very far from hourglass and in the healthy and normal range for males. My WHR is far below yours and yet no hourglass.
Have a look at :
http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/WHR.htm

I have a similar problem to you. As far as T goes it has straightened my sides somewhat but I still have a much smaller waist. I've been trying to find out info on what could help myself, a lot of people just seem to suggest working out your whole upper body. I think I have heard somewhere that side bends help so that's what I'm trying.

Not to be obnoxious, but 29X33 does not strike me as an hourglass shape. Are you sure you did the measurements right?

When I went on T, I picked up a lot of muscle in the abdominal region. The fat migrated also, of course, and the result is that I'm pretty much straight up and down but with a slight muffin top and no "hippy" look at all. I can still hardly believe it, but my shape doesn't out me in the least, and several gay men have made complimentary remarks about my ass. Good job they can't see me with my pants off.

If I manage to lose "the last ten pounds," then I might have a real waist as compared to my hips. But the difference won't be dramatic, and the extra muscle will mitigate some of that. I think you'll be fine, even enviable, but YMMV.

T will tend to redistribute fat to the abdomen, as well as muscle build up elsewhere. It will come. The undesirable effect of abdominal adipose tissue is a contributor to MIs in males. See your doctor, when this starts to happen. Try to remember as you transition, you will still retain the medical problems of your original gender, and develop the new ones of your desired gender. Your doctor should be aware of this.

Quote from: Nathine on September 23, 2012, 12:09:46 PM
T will tend to redistribute fat to the abdomen, as well as muscle build up elsewhere. It will come. The undesirable effect of abdominal adipose tissue is a contributor to MIs in males. See your doctor, when this starts to happen. Try to remember as you transition, you will still retain the medical problems of your original gender, and develop the new ones of your desired gender. Your doctor should be aware of this.

Interesting, but the OP is already male, XY.

By the way, have you been diagnosed with low T? You might also have some kind of intersex condition or androgen insensitivity...I don't know anything about all of this, really, so I'm just tossing ideas out there.

If you have low T or an intersex condition, it might be possible--again, I don't know--for you to pick up more muscle in the abdomen if you begin taking hormones. I would talk to a doctor about your concerns, maybe get your T levels tested.

I've seen some very attractive guys whose butts are a bit prominent...I guess it all depends on the shape.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Since you are the 2nd one questioning the statistics, I decided to measure my waist and hips again. You are right. The original measurements were incorrect. The correct ones should be: 29 X 35.

The first time I measured myself, I didn't do it in front of a mirror. This time, I was able to do it in front of a mirror and therefore was able to measure the widest part of my hips.

Quote from: Arch on September 18, 2012, 03:45:20 PM
Not to be obnoxious, but 29X33 does not strike me as an hourglass shape. Are you sure you did the measurements right?

When I went on T, I picked up a lot of muscle in the abdominal region. The fat migrated also, of course, and the result is that I'm pretty much straight up and down but with a slight muffin top and no "hippy" look at all. I can still hardly believe it, but my shape doesn't out me in the least, and several gay men have made complimentary remarks about my ass. Good job they can't see me with my pants off.

If I manage to lose "the last ten pounds," then I might have a real waist as compared to my hips. But the difference won't be dramatic, and the extra muscle will mitigate some of that. I think you'll be fine, even enviable, but YMMV.

I haven't seen a doctor to have a test on hormone level done yet. I hope this can be done soon and I agree that this is the most important step.

For now, let's suppose it is a condition (Low T, intersex... whatever) amenable to Testosterone treatment, would this then mean that one has to be on T for the rest of his life?

Quote from: Arch on September 23, 2012, 06:04:57 PM
By the way, have you been diagnosed with low T? You might also have some kind of intersex condition or androgen insensitivity...I don't know anything about all of this, really, so I'm just tossing ideas out there.

If you have low T or an intersex condition, it might be possible--again, I don't know--for you to pick up more muscle in the abdomen if you begin taking hormones. I would talk to a doctor about your concerns, maybe get your T levels tested.

I've seen some very attractive guys whose butts are a bit prominent...I guess it all depends on the shape.

Whew! Okay, that sounds a lot more hourglass. I didn't think the original numbers sounded right.

Well, we aren't doctors here, so YMMV. But if you do have low T and need T therapy, you might very well need it for life...I would get tested/examined. You might start poking around the intersex forums and intersex websites, but there might be nothing unusual about your hormones or sexual characteristics or DNA. There can be a lot of variation from guy to guy.

T will help with muscle development and slow hard reps on  just your obliques  should help. The  machines are good as you can isolate the specific muscle groups you want to develop.

Quote from: dearwatson on September 18, 2012, 10:03:01 AM
Hi, I do have curves caused by waist being narrow whereas hips being wide (comparatively speaking).
If someone has a (comparatively speaking) large measurement for hips, it can be for two reasons: a. the hips are big in a "left-right" way (wide but thin buttocks), I think my situation is a

Ok, I do see what you mean. I'm quite sure it's not as obvious as you might think but I see.
Your waist may be too small, because of your rib cage (volume and height at some extent). You can work out and build muscle on the sides to have a straighter shape. T would help a little, I guess.

If he has T levels in the normal range, more T might be a problem. At a certain point, it starts turning into estrogen. But if he gets tested and finds that he has low T, he might see quite a change on HRT.

It did for me...
back to my pre-teen/pre-puberty problem of finding jeans of appropriate length that don't fall down on me  haha... granted I was also on antipsychotic meds pretty much concurrent with that whole time... that actually left me with stretch marks on my hips (and elsewhere...) from all the weight gain... Which are mostly gone outta sight by now, but I also just as coincidentally stopped taking those right around the same time I started T, and dropped 20-25lbs. in probably about 2 months (didn't weigh for about 5 though, so it's hard to say for sure.)
But there was a point where I felt my waist and it didn't feel like it went "in" nearly as much.. it felt more straight up-and-down, which was kind of unusual.. sometimes still is.

Allow me to post an update to this thread.

I finally had the blood test done. The report has this field: Name of Profile: Amenorrhoea PF (Male) (HMP4). Can't find out what this is supposed to mean despite googling it.

My T level is 13.47 and the provided reference range is: 5.76 - 28.14 nmol/L. My E2 (Estrogen, I assume) level is 81 and the provided reference range is 40-161 pmol/L.

There were some other items such as FSH, ICSH, Prolactin, DHEA-SO4 and Cortisol and the results were all within the provided reference range.

I guess I am a little upset because it seems that it means there is not much I can do about this problem now, given the test results.