I'm transgender (ftm), and I'm planning on getting top surgery next summer.  I'm pretty small-chested, so I don't think that anyone that knew me as a girl will even notice.  However, I'm not so sure about taking testosterone.  The main is that a it changes your voice permanently.  Believe me, I really hate the way my voice is now, and I definitely want it to be lower (it's the main thing that gives me away).  The problem is that most people that I know very well and love, know me as a girl.  And I'm afraid that this permanent change would make them not want to associate with me anymore.  In particular, it would be most disappointing for my family.  They're a lot more politically liberal than me, but judging by what my dad said about transgender people, I don't think he'll take it well.  He said this about Caitlyn Jenner:

"It doesn't matter what he wants to be. It's an insult to real women. It makes as much sense as Kim Jung Un saying " I'm am no longer of Korean blood , orogen or nationality... I feel like I'm Mexican. My blood and DNA is pure Aztec, Mayan and oh hell German too. Because that's how I feel inside" Lolololololol

I know that even if I transition, most people that knew me in my childhood would still see me as a girl.  Personally, I don't care if people call me "he" or "she".  On a strictly technical level, I'm a girl that was probably exposed to high levels of androgens in utero.  What bothers me the most is my body.  I just want these useless lumps to be off my chest ASAP.  If there was no one in the world to judge me, then I definitely would be taking testosterone now.

If you are comfortable without T, that's fine. You shouldn't have to do something to your body that you are uncomfortable with.

As for the voice, there may be a partial solution. In singing there is something called a chest voice. It allows females to hit a lower range than their normal voice most of the time. On the other hand, it's the natural speaking voice for men. You might end up sounding more like a boy than a man but i would think it's better than sounding like a woman.

The process for accessing the chest voice is pretty simple. Most likely when you speak the muscles above the larynx tense up. You should be able to feel this by putting your hand on that area when you speak. To access the chest voice, those muscles need to be completely relaxed. Next you need to take the expression out of your voice speaking in a more monotone voice. Good luck and let me know if you need any more help.

Quote from: Dena on November 12, 2015, 07:14:36 PM
If you are comfortable without T, that's fine. You shouldn't have to do something to your body that you are uncomfortable with.

As for the voice, there may be a partial solution. In singing there is something called a chest voice. It allows females to hit a lower range than their normal voice most of the time. On the other hand, it's the natural speaking voice for men. You might end up sounding more like a boy than a man but i would think it's better than sounding like a woman.

The process for accessing the chest voice is pretty simple. Most likely when you speak the muscles above the larynx tense up. You should be able to feel this by putting your hand on that area when you speak. To access the chest voice, those muscles need to be completely relaxed. Next you need to take the expression out of your voice speaking in a more monotone voice. Good luck and let me know if you need any more help.

My voice is as monotone as Drake's