Usually 1 to 3 cm) and vaginal dryness. I understand that the following changes are not usually permanent (that is, they will be). Gender-affirming hormone therapy may affect other medical conditions, although research is lacking. These include autoimmune diseases, which can sometimes improve or worsen with hormonal changes, and migraines, which often have a hormonal component.
Ask your medical provider if you have more questions about risks, health management needs, and other long-term considerations when taking hormone therapy. Some of the effects of hormone therapy are reversible if you stop taking them. The degree to which they can be reversed depends on how long you've been taking testosterone. Clitoral growth, facial hair growth, voice changes, and male pattern baldness are not reversible.
Natural testosterone and its esters, even when applied in supraphysiological doses, rarely produce side effects. Through a negative feedback mechanism, exogenous testosterone suppresses the production of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, reducing testicular sperm production and, consequently, reducing testicular volume. The main reasons for concern about the potential adverse effects of testosterone treatment are the prostate and the cardiovascular system. Androgens play a permissive role in the development of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia; however, there is no data to indicate that the administration of testosterone can cause the progression of preclinical or clinical prostate cancer.
Whether the effects of testosterone treatment on lipid metabolism are clinically relevant has not yet been determined. The behavioral effects of testosterone, especially aggression, have not been established with certainty. Some effects of androgens, such as virilization and thickening of the voice, which are considered normal in adult men, are inappropriate in women and children. Starting hormone therapy at age 40, 50, or older may cause less dramatic changes than those seen when transitioning to a younger age, due to cumulative lifetime exposure to estrogen and decreased responsiveness to tailored hormonal effects that the age of menopause is approaching.
These hormones can cause mood changes, swelling, and other side effects, so it's recommended that you discuss these medications further with your provider if they are going to be used. Treat the effects of hormone therapy as if it were a second puberty, and puberty usually takes years before all the effects are noticed. Thinking about your goals will help you communicate more effectively with your medical provider as you work together to plan your care plan. Regardless of the type of testosterone you're taking, it's important to know that taking more testosterone won't make your changes go faster, but it could cause serious side effects or complications. Studies have shown that using a smaller needle and injecting it subcutaneously or subcutaneously is as effective as the intramuscular approach, which involves an injection with a larger needle that is injected deeper into the muscle.
Once you've reached adequate testosterone levels for men, taking higher doses won't cause faster or more dramatic changes; however, they can cause more side effects or complications. Now that you've learned about the effects of masculinizing hormone therapy, as well as the risks and specific medication options, the next step will be to talk to your provider about what approach is best for you. A relatively small number of men experience the immediate side effects of testosterone supplementation, such as acne, breathing disorders while sleeping (worsening of sleep apnea), breast swelling or tenderness, or swelling in the ankles.
