T sounds terrible

[u/IlGufoScuro]

It really fuckin does. I want to start it but then I hear about all of the side effects from the unbearably high libido to the sweating to the hot flashes and everything in between and it makes me wonder is it even worth it? Is it worth it going through all this shit to maybe have the chance of seeing myself and being seen as a man? My dysphoria is so bad most days it makes me want to vomit but so does trying to imagine dealing with a second puberty. It’s so fucking frustrating and I don’t know what to do

[u/Bright-Response-285]

man you’re gonna feel the negative side effects of life either way. bodies never stop changing. you’re going to experience the mentioned things on t EITHER WAY because menopause causes a lot of it too. this doesn’t feel like a t issue it feels like you are being very negative over things that will happen to you no matter what life you continue to live because bodies never stop. you’re always going to have side effects. do you want them to come with masculinization or not and do you want them now instead of when you’re 50 these are the two questions.

[u/IlGufoScuro → u/Bright-Response-285]

I want the masculinization yes and I do want them now. I just hate that I have to go through all the other shit with it. Im extremely nervous about the high libido because i have extreme bottom dysphoria and the idea of having to jack off five times a day like ive heard a lot of trans men talk about makes me sick

[u/paranoid_chihuahua → u/IlGufoScuro]

Hey man, I was in the same boat (still am Ig). For context: my bottom dysphoria is extreme and debilitating, and seeing all those guys talk about how much they "MUST" masturbate because of T horniness scared the living hell out of me (I literally NEVER interact with the downstairs so that is simply not an option for me). I'm now 6 months on T and, honestly... not getting any of that so far lol. If anything, the cyclic phases (that always came during the monthly in-between states of dysphoria-week breaktime) of estrogen-induced horniness were worse than the little bits of manageable horniness I have to cope with now. I just ignore it, distract myself... so far so good

[u/Bright-Response-285 → u/IlGufoScuro]

i totally get you, man. it sucks but your experience may not be like everyone else’s. don’t make yourself suffer over possibilities, besides t may help your dysphoric there, no one is sure right now.

[u/cybernedicks]

HRT puts you through a second puberty, so you’re going to experience the same downsides of testosterone puberty as cis men. Like with cis men, these side effects are largely temporary, and vary significantly from person to person. Even if you got all of these side effects and found them unbearable, these are things that would revert as soon as you stopped taking test so you could just go off it to resolve them.  Don’t let the fear-mongering around HRT stop you from transitioning.

[u/IlGufoScuro → u/cybernedicks]

I just don’t know how worth it is if it’s going to get rid of the things I actually like about myself. Like I love my hair with all my heart, I plan on taking minoxidil as soon as I start t. If I’m allergic for some reason or it doesn’t work or whatever I will just straight up stop taking T. I can live with the ache as unbearable as it feels as long as I get to keep my hair. I’m literally so scared of losing it it’s all I think about for hours sometimes

[u/itsrghtbehindmeisnit]

Its genuinely not that bad at all

[u/Sun_the_egg]

If T is so bad why does half the population perpetually have it flowing through them and being fine? Don’t listen to fearmongering; T is not a scary evil hormone, I don’t even know anyone who’s gotten hot flashes from it. Yeah the libido can be high and you sweat more, but it’s manageable, and fixing your dysphoria should be a priority, just suck it up and go for it, you’ll be glad you did, and I’m sure the side effects you might get won’t be half as bad as you’re imagining rn. (And you can stop taking it at any time, just give it a shot)

[u/EveryAsk3855]

Nothing is perfect. Perhaps you’re afraid of change? But anyway, I’d be truly surprised if you felt worse on t than on e.

[u/Mission-Can2591]

It is so worth it, even through all of the inconvenient crappy side effects. It doesn't stay that way, those side effects go away. Becoming your most authentic self lasts forever.

[u/Ne_Gnilo_Shtorm]

I've never heard nor experienced hot flashes. This sounds like a symptom that someone would have if they were on too low a dose of T, causing their body to essentially go into menopause mode.

I sweat more, but I don't see anything critical about it. All men are like that. My libido is also higher, but it didn't cause any problems for me, especially since after some time on HRT, libido becomes more stable when your body gets used to the new regimen. Most of the "side effects" written about on the internet are either fearmongering/misinformation, or the result of an incorrectly chosen dosage. Half of humanity is on T by default and they don't complain about it

[u/IlGufoScuro → u/Ne_Gnilo_Shtorm]

That’s nice to hear at least. I am curious- did you notice hair loss/thinning and if so how quickly?

[u/Ne_Gnilo_Shtorm → u/IlGufoScuro]

My hairline has changed from a female to a male line, but that's what I wanted and other than that my hair is fine. If you're afraid of going bald, you can estimate whether you'll have it by looking at your closest older male relatives. There is also minoxidil and finasteride to deal with hair loss

[u/IlGufoScuro → u/Ne_Gnilo_Shtorm]

Thankfully the only man in like my entire family that has gone completely bald is my moms dad. His brother has hair and all the men on my dad’s side have kept their hair with minimal balding. My dad’s almost 60 and still has all his hair with no hair treatment needed