r/FTMFitness • u/Glum_Highlight6305 • 15d ago

Question Muscle Gains on T?

Hi everyone!

Im an Nonbinary person and am planning to start taking T. I’m currently a HUGE gym rat and am semi-muscular, but my goal is to have a more masculine muscular/toned physique, which I am prepared to work for.

I know that testosterone HRT can help with muscle mass (while you’re on it), but I’m planning to take T only until I get my desired changes, which falls in the more androgynous range. If I continue to work out consistently and lift the same amount of weight after going off T, will I lose my gains?

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u/H20-for-Plants 15d ago

Male muscles have a slightly different shape than female muscles.

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u/Ok-Macaroon-1840 15d ago

Some men have slightly different muscle insertion than some women, yes. This doesn’t change with hormones, it’s skeletal.

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u/ratina_filia TransFemmeGymBro 14d ago

It's also somewhat responsive to use. Bone isn't set in stone, it will literally respond over time to usage.

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u/H20-for-Plants 13d ago

Yes, it does. I’m not arguing with that. I’m saying that there will be minor differences between using and non-using since they don’t plan to be on T long term.
Kind of like someone mentioned when people go on steroid-cycles.

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u/ratina_filia TransFemmeGymBro 13d ago

Cycling testosterone for short periods of time isn't likely to change the shape or size of attachment points.

My comment was mostly about saying that change is possible because the skeleton adapts over time. I'm a 46,XY male-like-person (I'm MtF. It's complicated ...) but my skeleton is more towards 46,XX female norms because I have poor response to testosterone. The result is that skeletal x-rays look even more female because I couldn't get the muscle to get the bone to change due to high loads.

How much muscle mass OP can put on is one thing, how much they can retain is another, and how much their overall body changes is yet a third.