#tmitransitioning

we have an overwhelming majority of testosterone/masculine centered asks being submitted, so that’s why this blog seems to answer them more.  To balance that we’re trying to answer estrogen questions as soon as they’re asked(to put it into perspective, of the 80 asks that are still unanswered in our box, at a minimum, 70 of them are testosterone based asks- i didn’t review the 110+ in the queue, but i would guess it’s near that ratio) As when this question was last answered, we strive to answer questions from all submissions and eagerly encourage asks and submissions from nonbinary and trans women/feminine of center people.  

Great tips anon! Remember that injections into the fat (subcutaneous-SQ- injections) use different needles than injections into the muscle (IM injections), so definitely talk to your provider if you’re planning on switching.  I switched to SQ after the first year- and studies show the blood levels stay just as steady IM to SQ at 7-10 days, so you’re getting the same dose.  Here’s the rules- Pick the right spot for the injection.  (here’s IM) (here’s SQ). change spots with every injection- at least a couple ‘fingers’ away from the last one or a whole new site.  if you use the same spot time after time, scar tissue will form, especially knowing you might be injecting there for 30, 40, 50+ years.  Be sure to use the right size of needle for your injection site/type AND body size.  (if you’re very heavy, you need a longer needle to get into the proper area).  Generally for IM you need a 23g 1″ or 1.5″ needle- or up to a 2″ for larger bodies, and for SQ you need a 25g or 27g, 5/8″ needle, or up to a 1″ for larger bodies. the gauge (Xg number) goes in opposite order, with the larger number being a smaller needle.  because testosterone is thick, the smaller the needle, the slower it is to inject, and the more force you’ll need to get it in (be sure the needle is screwed tightly into the barrel of the syringe).  Lastly- use a “draw” needle- a second separate needle (sometimes it’s a large gauge standard needle, sometimes it’s plastic or blunt tip metal) with a thick gauge to pull your dose into the syringe.  that way you don’t have to puncture anything but your body with the injection needle- so it’s not pre-blunted.  You’ll draw up your dose using the draw needle, change to the injection needle, then give your dose.  -mod mayhem

what happens during transition and what you end up with “after” transition is very individual.  first- transition is an individual process, not every person has the same combination of social/legal/medical (hormones)/surgical transition.  Generally people with dysphoria transition in the ways that help ease their dysphoria.  I’m not one, so i can’t speak for these people with certainty, but i understand that trans people without dysphoria base their decision on how to know WHAT to transition based on what things make them feel more or less comfortable. (other mods please weigh in).  Which transitoin steps you personally take will largely guide what your “end” looks like.  Second- assuming you decided you wanted to do everything that was available to you for transition, and had access to these things, your end might not look the same as a fellow transgender person with different genetics, or who has a different lifestyle.  It’s normal to have doubts, especially early when you’re trying to figure things out.  Look at our resources page, which outlines the typical changes each step of transition can offer you, and look at your relatives.  armed with that knowledge (how medical treatment might interact with your personal family genetics) will give you a better guess at what your future might look like.  Taking the best possible care of your body (good diet, physicial activity, avoiding smoking) will also lead to improved results from transition.  as far as coming out to your family- you have time.  generally people who don’t want to see can do a really good job at convincing themselves they don’t see anything.   I was getting Sir’ed in public about 80% of the time and had someone who knew me “before” tell me “you look exactly the same.”  I encourage you to look for a local support group (or one online) or a trans-experienced mental health professional to bounce these feelings and ideas off of.  It’s 100% okay to explore the concept and decide you’re trans, and it’s just as okay to decie you’re cis.  It’s also 100% okay to be trans, transition, and NOT tell your family if that makes you safer. -mod mayhem

we’ve answered this a bit already (use search), but they work just as well.  there have been some conflicting studies that say they may be slower, but that’s neither been conclusively proven nor disproven.  as long as your hormone levels are what they should be, your changes will still happen.  mod mayhem

face shape will change regardless, as you age- so be prepared for that, however, the redistribution of fat on your face is not considered permanent. Voice changes, facial hair changes, and genital changes are all considered permanent changes, in that what changes you see do not go back to how they were before transition, no matter how long you’re off hormones.  You may see some softening of these permanent qualities over time, however (i personally have noticed when i’ve taken a break from T i get misgendered over the phone more frequently; similarly others report facial hair growth is less full and less dark; and still others report that their erections are less firm).  mod mayhem

i’m reblogging this for an FYI, with the caveat that using a combined estrogen/progesterone pill during T therapy is not keeping with the standards of WPATH/evidence based best practices.  (see page 56).  This goes against the recommendation of the main worldwide trans healthcare professional organization. mod mayhem

I’m a nurse and i’m not 100% on what they’re referring to with this.  what i THINK they mean is that if you give the injection in the same place time after time, you can get scar tissue build up in that same area (which will feel like a knot, and could be mistaken for a clump).   Also for some people, you can develop knots for other reasons (sterile abscess, hematoma/ bruise at the injection site, allergic reaction), which could be mistaken for a clump of testosterone.  the testosterone is a liquid, it doesn’t, to my knowledge and training, form clumps for any reason after injection.  It can crystallize in the vial if it gets too cold, but warming it up fixes that problem and the T is good to use again. Anyone who uses the phrase “clumping” should feel free to write in with more details on how they use it if i’m misunderstanding something. Mod mayhem

facial and body hair growth usually starts somewhere after 6 months, highly variable on your genetics (are you and your family fuzzy people or not?- my dad has like 6 chest hair and i couldn’t grow what you could PROBABLY call a beard until 4+ years on T).  it also is pretty slow to ramp up- 4-5+ years before you’re fully fuzzy, again based on genetics (faster if you are going to be hairier).  I do notice that I started getting more hair after i had my ovaries removed, and i had to adjust my testosterone to compensate for that.  if that’s in your lifeplan, prepare accordingly.  As far as hair removal, we have the same options as cis men (and all people) for hair removal, including-laser- Kills the hair root. takes up to 8 treatments starting out (because hair grows in a cycle). works best if you have pale skin and dark hair. doesn’t work with blonde/white hair.  people with dark skin have limited options (but they are out there).  generally requires yearly touchups to maintain hairlessness-electrolysis- uses electricity to kill the cell where the hair starts (deeper than the hair root), one by one.  takes weekly treatments for a year or more depending on how much surface area you’re trying to cover. it’s painful and slow (some people say it feels like a tattoo, others say it’s worse), but it’s truly permanent without yearly follow-ups like laser. it’s best for small areas because it is individual hairs. or longer term temporary options like waxing (have to grow the hair out first, and it hurts), or hair removal creams (easier than shaving, but can cause skin reactions, patch test EVERY SINGLE TIME before use, their strong smell might not be suitable for people with breathing/migraine/chemical sensitivities)hope this helps!mod mayhem