Hi you all. I have heard different things about the effects of taking testosterone. I read somewhere that if you stop taking it, all the effects will fade away, but I've also read that there are some effects that stay permanently even if you stop. I was under the impression that in order to maintain male characteristics, one has to take testosterone their whole lives.

So yeah...what's the truth? 

Hi Riley,

I will clear up what I can for you. Some effects are permanent abut some are not. You can easily find the list at several sites. Beard growth and your voice changes are permanent. The beard may soften and slow but will not stop.

The fat redistribution will revert. Body hair may or may not slow, or even almost stop. You will start to lose the added muscle mass.

I hope that answers most questions for you. If not, please ask.

I've heard a few reports of guys who quit T and said that their voices lost a little something, but I don't know how true those reports are. You might be able to find out more if you hunt around on YouTube.

If you are young enough when you start T, you should have some skeletal changes. Those won't revert.

Your junk will grow, and that shouldn't change. But if your sex drive ramped up while you were on T, it should go back down when you stop.

If you were fertile when you started T, you should start bleeding again when you quit unless you were on the verge of menopause when you started. This means that you can get pregnant and be another Thomas Beatie.

There are other reported effects (diminished sense of smell for some guys and more visual orientation), and I don't know if they revert. T works changes in the brain. Some could be permanent.

Don't forget the psychological effects. I feel much better about myself on T, but that could be psychosomatic.

I wouldn't count on regaining fertility as a 100% certainty. I've heard that if you're on T long enough, the organs can atrophy and you'll be permanently sterile.

There's a really good sum up of the effects of T at Hudson's FTM guide (google will find it for you easily enough ).

Everybody forgets, but there is in fact a wiki here with all kinds of information.

https://www.susans.org/wiki/Hormone_replacement_therapy_(female-to-male)

I have a ?? on the same theme. (My spouse is taking T)
If the T is stoped will the enlarged clitoris go back to normal?

Quote from: cynthialee on April 19, 2010, 07:47:16 AM
I have a ?? on the same theme. (My spouse is taking T)
If the T is stoped will the enlarged clitoris go back to normal?

No.

Some sites say that it may shrink slightly, but never revert back completely.

Quote from: SilverFang on April 19, 2010, 04:54:31 AM
Everybody forgets, but there is in fact a wiki here with all kinds of information.

That's why I think we should put an "intro" thread into a lot of these child boards, with a link to the appropriate wiki entries. I am just about to suggest this to the other mods, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Lazy.

But it will have to be after my therapy appointment. I've dallied too long here.

Quote from: cynthialee on April 19, 2010, 07:47:16 AM
I have a ?? on the same theme. (My spouse is taking T)
If the T is stoped will the enlarged clitoris go back to normal?

As in the rest of life, journeys involving "personal growth" cannot be easily undone .