Hello, forum people.
I found this forum and I thought it would be a good place to discuss my feelings with people going through the same thing.

I am so very nervous.
I recently started T. And that fact has made me start to dwell on my one major fear: going bald.
I know this is a subject that gets beaten to death within the community, and that it's a stupid, vain fear to have, but it's still my fear.

I used the search feature and some were saying FTMs had less of a chance of going bald because we possess two XX chromosomes- which made me feel a little better- but then others said we had a higher chance for that very same reason.
It's just very confusing.
I know it's supposed to depend on genetics, but it just seems like many FTMs go bald quite early, not all, but a lot.

I am afraid my hairline will innocently shift to a more male pattern and I will freak out, thinking I'm going bald, and prematurely cease T.

I've mentioned this to my doctor and she laughed, saying she has never heard any FTM ask that and then brushed it off, saying it doesn't happen at my age. 

Stressful.

So yeah, that is my first, whiny post.

Hey Gabe, welcome.

Take a deep breath, you'll be fine.  It is all about the genes.  We can't pick and choose what we get.  I have back hair, but I'm not gonna stop T 'cause I got an unwanted side effect.  Just like everyone else on this planet, we can't pick our bodies.

My hairline has changed a bit since I started T but nearly 3 years later i still have a full head of hair... and my hair is actually thicker than before I started T. 

You can always get Rogaine.

Well if it's really a concern for you then you need to think. What's more important, a head of hair or testosterone? If a full head of hair truly is more important to you, then maybe testosterone isn't right for you. But here's the thing, not all men go bald obviously. FTMs aren't more likely to go bald. It's genetics. Scientifically we don't know if our chromosomes play a role in baldness because what scientist has studied that yet? There aren't enough FTMs out there willing to out themselves for a test like that, there aren't doctors that care enough to do an expensive study like that, and I'm not even sure if it would be possible because baldness is such a long process.

If you feel you're at risk for baldness but want to stay on T, talk to your doctor about finasteride and minoxidil, which are approved by the FDA for possibly preventing hair loss.

And welcome to the forum! Good to have ya!

I understand I cannot pick and choose what effects I am dealt, and T is very important to me, but that doesn't keep me from being nervous about the possibility of going bald. Many bio males do the same thing.

No one is trying to underplay how nervous you are, don't worry about that. It IS a legit fear, but you said that you may freak out and stop T if you start seeing signs of male hair patterns, let alone male baldness. It's just worrying.

Maybe it's something you'll eventually come to terms with, or at least I hope you do. That nervousness is an unneeded stresser in your life, IMO.

I've been on T about 2 1/2 years now, and I've lost a ton of hair. I'm not bald, but I'm definitely seeing more and more scalp through the top of my hair than ever before. That said, my dad went bald at 17. It is based on genetics, and unfortunately, I got the short stick. There is Rogaine, though, which I'll personally be getting as soon as I can afford it, and far more options now for balding men than there ever have been before. I went through the struggle of figuring out whether or not it was worth it to me to have T at the cost of my hair, but the benefits far outweigh the costs. Just remember there's nothing wrong with a dude who wears a lot of hats.

SD

Quote from: Morgan on January 11, 2011, 09:22:33 PM
No one is trying to underplay how nervous you are, don't worry about that. It IS a legit fear, but you said that you may freak out and stop T if you start seeing signs of male hair patterns, let alone male baldness. It's just worrying.

Maybe it's something you'll eventually come to terms with, or at least I hope you do. That nervousness is an unneeded stresser in your life, IMO.

I understand. I'm a worrier about everything in life. 
I am fine with a male hairline, really, I was just saying I'm afraid I'll be stupid and read to much into it when that does happen and think I'm going bald when I'm actually not, it's just the hairline shifting to a more male pattern. Haha. 

Don't worry be happy, Gabe. As Sebastian said, hats are a glorious thing. Enjoy your transition instead of worrying about it, if you can at all help it.

Gabe, what do your male relatives look like (if you know them, that is)?

Oh my, I have quite a few. Haha.
My grandfathers on both sides were/are bald.
1 uncle of on mothers side is pretty bald. 1 quite thin. 1 somewhat thin. 2 others are just now starting to thin.
My dad has two brothers. One I haven't seen in years, but I think he was balding. The other, from what I remember, isn't balding.
My dad's doesn't appear to be balding, thinning maybe, but he going on 50.

I say Bah! to genetics. My dad is almost 70 and his hair hasn't even thinned a bit. I'm shedding like mad and have a spot that is see-throu. Uncles on both sides vary with my dads brothers having more baldness then my ma's brothers.

but then, I really am an alien.

Ok this may be wrong but something I've been noticing is that the most short you keep your hair, the most bald you become. It is not a rule, and could be coincidental, but I've been asking some old folks how long they had their hairs during their life before losing it. The completely balds told me "very short", the ones with a nice, white hair tied in an elegant ponytail, told me "Well, I had always at least three inches of hair on me..."
So... it may be ridiculous bet but hey, I'm going to try myself. Telling you in about 30 years 

Oh, and hey, don't stress, man. Stress is the worst enemy of hair loss. Just keep yourself relaxing, no worries, and eat a lot of ice cream. It is good for your hair!

Quote from: LordKAT on January 12, 2011, 04:04:06 AM
I say Bah! to genetics. My dad is almost 70 and his hair hasn't even thinned a bit. I'm shedding like mad and have a spot that is see-throu. Uncles on both sides vary with my dads brothers having more baldness then my ma's brothers.

but then, I really am an alien.

Haha. What a comforting viewpoint.

I am better today. It's still and probably will always be a concern in the back of my mind, but I'll just cross that bridge when/if I encounter it. Which is the obvious solution, right? Haha.
I just have always had those days I obsess about something to the point of freaking myself out. ...So healthy.