I know your RBC count increases, but it's only to the amount a cis man has, right? Besides any health risk a cis man would have from testosterone, there isn't anything that can shorten my lifespan, right?

My mom thinks that T will make me live a lot shorter and that I'll have a lot more health risks to deal with, but I'm pretty sure that isn't the case. Also, can you guys add links proving it doesn't so I can show her? There might me a 1% chance of me getting something, but I wouldn't not take testosterone because of that.

I'm not a doctor but taking any synthetic substance or drug always has the potential to cause side effects and unforeseen problems. I doubt any of them have a high risk of early mortality otherwise it wouldn't be on the market. But yes, there is always the risk of health issues, especially when conflated with other lifestyle choices. Your mother is probably thinking of the fact that men, on average, have shorter life expectancies, but that is probably more genetic and lifestyle related rather than hormonal.

From what I've heard and read, T makes us just as much at risk as cis-guys, which actually does mean that we are more at risk of health issues than if we don't transition. To an extent your mother is actually right. Men do have a shorter life expectancy than women, and they are at more risk for things, so chances are that T affects us the same way.

My mother was very interested in knowing all of the risks of hormones when I told her I wanted to transition. She was for a long time worried about it, but what really convinced her that if I need to transition, I should, is statistics and articles about how improved transgender people's lives are when they transition and things like that. When my mother finally accepted that I am a happier person and am much less likely to commit suicide if I transition, she was much more open and willing to help.

Your doctor goes over all the health risks when going on t. It might be wise to have you and your mom take a consult to get all the answers as far as health risks go.

There was a large survey done by Goren's group last year looking at the risks for men and women on HRT. Women had increased risk of thrombosis but the guys had no significant risk from taking T.

I can dig out the reference if you like.

You don't have to Cindy, here it is:
Proves that HRT is safe and effective.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/827713

--Jay

Being safe and effective is entirely different than saying there are not increased health risks.

Bottom line, yes, it does increase your health risks in some areas. The only answer to this question is yes.

More than just taking you to the levels of risk of male vs female. Physical parts of your anatomy expect estrogen and not high levels of testosterone. There is a reason they want us to get a hysterectomy after being on T for awhile - those parts can straight up rebel after awhile.

Obviously, the benefits far outweigh the risk for me and others, as when managed they are not a big deal. But the risks are definitely real and should be taken into serious consideration - even though taking it is absolutely safe.

True spacerace, but as a woman who faces thrombotic risks of E and being BRACA positive with my Mum and sister having had breast cancer, I also know that my greater risk is self harm if I am not on cross sex hormones.

I think we all have to make informed decisions about our health and the risks we all take.

I made mine.

Cindy

I was talking specifically about what it does to female parts. You have to get them removed because they atrophy and cause problems. Eventually after awhile, many trans guys get really, really bad cramps.  The solution is a hysterectomy, but there are risks from that as well - especially if for some reason you can't get hormones and you get your ovaries taken out. You can of course not get your ovaries removed, but those are the parts that often have problems the most.

Sorry, I was not trivialising the issues guys have. Just pointing  out the way I have dealt with my risks.

Quote from: Cindy on February 03, 2015, 05:30:00 AM
Sorry, I was not trivialising the issues guys have. Just pointing  out the way I have dealt with my risks.

You did not come across that way at all - I did not mean to sound like you did. So sorry about that.

His question wasn't, "are the risks worth it?" it was "are there any risks?" And the answer isn't no.  When you start T, you just need to be aware you could have to pay for a hysto sooner rather than later cause it can get painful.

Quote from: spacerace on February 03, 2015, 05:23:44 AM
I was talking specifically about what it does to female parts. You have to get them removed because they atrophy and cause problems. Eventually after awhile, many trans guys get really, really bad cramps.  The solution is a hysterectomy, but there are risks from that as well - especially if for some reason you can't get hormones and you get your ovaries taken out. You can of course not get your ovaries removed, but those are the parts that often have problems the most.

Hi Spacerace, I am curious about above:  The risks are if you can't get which hormone;T or E? What are the problems ovaries may cause if you don't have them taken out. Other problems than cysts? 

Quote from: makipu on February 03, 2015, 07:53:07 AM
Hi Spacerace, I am curious about above:  The risks are if you can't get which hormone;T or E? What are the problems ovaries may cause if you don't have them taken out. Other problems than cysts?

Varies by everyone but while there's no conclusive research done, T has said to increase the risk of cancer in your girl parts unless you have a hysterectomy.

Many cis women have problems with there female parts; there is the whole specialized field of GYN just to take care of them.  I want to have my extra removed after I have been on t for awhile.  I have dysphoria for them now and expect to be more so once I am on t.  I think that t will be great for me and don't mind that I will have to take it for the rest of my life.

Quote from: makipu on February 03, 2015, 07:53:07 AM
Hi Spacerace, I am curious about above:  The risks are if you can't get which hormone;T or E? What are the problems ovaries may cause if you don't have them taken out. Other problems than cysts?

The benefit of having ovaries out with a hysterectomy is that girl parts can get scary cancer that is hard to catch sometimes (independent of T), and ovarian cancer is one of those - so you if have them out you save the risk. With top surgery and ovary removal/hysto, you are removing a good chunk of what gets cancer in women.

I don't mean the T will necessarily make someone more prone to cysts and eventual cancer (maybe there is a risk, I know this is not really something anyone knows), more that a lot of women get cysts anyways, so if they are down there removing stuff, some people opt just to get them out with everything else.

But then, if you have them out, and something happens that means you can't get testosterone medication, you won't have any hormones in your body at all. This is not great health wise and mood wise. Women who get their ovaries out take estrogen supplements to avoid this problem, and testosterone does it for us. 

Synthetic forms of testosterone, basically any forms that you get from outside, can cause problems.
Long term use can cause liver enzymes to rise, and there is a small percentage of F to Ms who will develop cancer secondary to taking the drug.

Here, F to M's are required to have their blood checked every 3 months, (so my Dr. says, but I'm not sure I believe him). Not only testosterone levels are checked, but a chemistry panel as well.

Sam1234

Thanks

I know that men have a shorter life expectancy because of testosterone, and I'd be fine with that. It seems like other problems are rare, and I rather be happy in my own body and risk cancer or something than not being happy at all. I believe that a shorter happy life is better than a longer sad one.

Quote from: maiLMan on February 03, 2015, 03:42:55 PM
Thanks

I know that men have a shorter life expectancy because of testosterone, and I'd be fine with that. It seems like other problems are rare, and I rather be happy in my own body and risk cancer or something than not being happy at all. I believe that a shorter happy life is better than a longer sad one.

I would agree with that 100%. Its quality of life that counts, not quantity. You never know, it might not cause any problems at all. There are smokers who live long lives and never develop smoking related problems. We go into HRT with open eyes, and we should be the ones who decide how much risk we want to take. Not a physician who is more concerned about being sued if something goes wrong than patient well being.

Sam1234