I know I'm going to want T, Today I made a step forward and contacted my therapist from 6 years ago when I first came out (longer version is in Transexual main forum if anyone is interested)

He's going to be in contact with me as he was in session when I called.

I got a couple of questions regarding T

You guys that have started HRT, did you see any difference in the way your pets behaved around you? I dont know if T will make you produce different kind of smell/chemicals animals tend to pick up, so anyone see any difference interacting with a pet?

Second question,  injection, pill or gel, is injection the better way to do it? for example does it over all work better? if I were to take a pill instead of injection would the possibility of my voice not dropping low enough be because I picked the pill option over injection and then get stuck with a teen voice?

I'm over weight right now, I've never had much desire to loose weight until I realized transitioning could be an option for me and now I want to lose weight and be fit so I can prepare for future top surgery early along with toning my body, Does T help or make it harder to burn fat?  and any over weight guys out there on T, did your excess bodyfat shift around, and if so how would you describe it?

I guess that's it for now

thanks 

I'm not on T yet, but will be starting soon.


I've read the question about pets elsewhere. From what I've gathered they don't care/notice. You will smell different.

I think injection is the way to go. Gel is messy. You have to slather it on, wait for it to dry, and worry about transferring it to someone. I don't really know anything about pills. Never heard about anyone using it. I've heard a lot of people say that's because long term use will probably hurt your liver. From time lines that others have posted, those on gel do seem to progress slower then those injecting. I can't say that's a fact, but just what I've observed. Going on T is like starting a second puberty. Everyone's experience will be a little different. You cant tell what changes you will get first or how long the bulk of each change will last. Your voice may take months or years to get to a place where you like it. I don't think you can get stuck. Your body will change as long as your levels are where they should be. Even if gel makes your changes slower, look how long a regular puberty takes.

On T you will gain more muscle so you will burn more calories a day just existing. This will make it easier to burn fat. Your fat will redistribute.

Quote from: Kitoro on September 05, 2011, 10:23:51 AM
You guys that have started HRT, did you see any difference in the way your pets behaved around you? I dont know if T will make you produce different kind of smell/chemicals animals tend to pick up, so anyone see any difference interacting with a pet?

Based on my experience and what I've heard from others pets don't notice/care.  You should be good.  My cats have not changed their reactions to me at all. 

Quote from: Kitoro on September 05, 2011, 10:23:51 AM
Second question,  injection, pill or gel, is injection the better way to do it? for example does it over all work better? if I were to take a pill instead of injection would the possibility of my voice not dropping low enough be because I picked the pill option over injection and then get stuck with a teen voice?

I thought they didn't offer pills anymore because of extreme liver damage associated with them.  I'm not for sure though.  But about the voice:  you voice will likely take years to change fully.  Other men on T have noted their voice dropping 3-5 years into T.  If you pick one method of delivery, that is not what you are stuck with for the rest of your life.  You can always change from gel/cream/patch to injection, and vice versa. 

Quote from: Kitoro on September 05, 2011, 10:23:51 AM
I'm over weight right now, I've never had much desire to loose weight until I realized transitioning could be an option for me and now I want to lose weight and be fit so I can prepare for future top surgery early along with toning my body, Does T help or make it harder to burn fat?  and any over weight guys out there on T, did your excess bodyfat shift around, and if so how would you describe it?

I'm only 10 months on T so my body fat isn't done shifting but I have noticed most of it has gone to my stomach.  I don't think it's a matter of T vs no T as to what makes you lose weight it's more of a lifestyle change.  Though T does make it easier to build muscle.

I am definatly going for a lifestyle change in preparation  for my transition, I want to be slimmer and muscular so T helping with muscle is good, but burning fat and eating right (trying) I've started already.

Thank you guys for answering my questions,

pills is the less effective way of doing it, because it dosent feel as natural for the body as the other things.

Quote from: Natkat on September 05, 2011, 12:55:15 PM
pills is the less effective way of doing it, because it dosent feel as natural for the body as the other things.

I'd probly end up going for the injection, I'm not sure what is available in my country, but I do know injections are.

I also have additional question about T

one of the side affects is baldness, is this also genetic as it is for bio men? for example theres no baldness is either side of my family, but is baldness to T a side affect none the less regardless of genetics?

Genetics will definitely play into that. T can only change your body as much as your genetics will allow. If male pattern baldness is not a huge issue in your gene pool, chances are you won't see too much hair loss. But male hair and female hair patterns are different and you will most likely see a change, e.g, hair thinning, becoming courser, and maybe -some- hair loss. (A few hairs now and then as opposed to going bald). Don't take my word for it, I'm not a scientist and I'm not even T. I just imagine that you won't suddenly wake up when you're thrity without any hair when your grampas have mops for hair.

Quote from: Synkronic on September 05, 2011, 01:54:22 PM
Genetics will definitely play into that. T can only change your body as much as your genetics will allow. If male pattern baldness is not a huge issue in your gene pool, chances are you won't see too much hair loss. But male hair and female hair patterns are different and you will most likely see a change, e.g, hair thinning, becoming courser, and maybe -some- hair loss. (A few hairs now and then as opposed to going bald). Don't take my word for it, I'm not a scientist and I'm not even T. I just imagine that you won't suddenly wake up when you're thrity without any hair when your grampas have mops for hair.

I am ok with hair thinning, I have incredibly thick hair and having it thinned out by T would be great, I'm not actually worried about baldness, i think I could handle going bald or partially bald. my grandpa on my mother side still has all his hair, altho its just white,

I dont know my biological father so I cannot ask him what kinda hair, body and facial hair he had, I wish I knew. I may ask my mom to tell me about his body

a friend on T told me that since his voice dropped his dog always thinks he is angry, but he said that didnt last long.

I had my cat for a month before starting T, then when I did start T he didnt act any different around me. 

and I think shots are the cheapest and fastest, i saw someone on youtube on gel and he hardly changed at ALL after a whole year

So you're in Iceland? Cool! Miniar's not the only one now (at least, I think he was the only one before, but I don't know everybody here).

None of my ex-cats responded differently when I started T. My new boy, of course, doesn't know any different.

I do injections and prefer them over creams and gels. Time and time again, I have heard that injections produce faster results, too. But I imagine that after a certain point, it would no longer matter. If you have mood issues, you might stay more stable on a gel or cream. I don't know anything about implants. You might talk to Miniar to find out what's available in Iceland.

I was pretty overweight when I came out for the final time (I went through a protracted sequence of different coming-outs, then went back into the closet). As soon as I did come out, I started a weight-loss campaign. I lost quite a bit of weight pretty quickly, but I have found that it is definitely easier to lose weight and maintain weight on testosterone.

There is some contention about some baldness issues--whether XX people are more or less likely to bald. I've seen the genetics laid out in some detail, but my biology is a bit rusty. But some of us do lose hair, and we tend to get a male hairline. My hairline looks just like my brother's and father's. My hair thinned--I still lose a noticeable number of hairs every other day, but the density seems to be constant--and the hairs themselves are coarser. I'm not sure whether the coarseness comes from aging, T, or both, but it suits me; my hair used to be like spidersilk, and it was murder to have a loose hair on the inside of my shirt, where it could tickle me mercilessly. The things were so fine that they were practically impossible to track down and remove.

They answered it all really well already so I'll just answer the pet bit. My moms dogs whom I live with and are basically mine as well handled it pretty well. I have one dog who has really bad anxiety issues worse around men (we know he wasn't beaten and we got him very young so we aren't sure why) who when my voice dropped and smell changed he was a little more careful around me for a few weeks but otherwise same as always basically.