The Physical Journey

On this page you'll learn more about the physical process of my transition. I personally am unable physically to endure the continuous regimen of hormone replacement drugs that most transmen have the option to, but I will post the experiences I have had while cycling on and off of them. I also am on disability due to health issues so I am still saving my pennies and nickels for my top surgery in case I am medically cleared for it one day in the future. Take a look on my "Trans related links" page to find the link to detailed information regarding transmen surgical procedures.

The physical process for me has been the easiest and most successful. I naturally have levels of the hormone Testosterone that remained on the very low end of normal for bio males.. For those of you who are not educated in this area, Testosterone is the male sex hormone.

Both the male and females body produces this hormone. Females body usually produces it in smaller amounts when compared to the male body. I fortunately have been blessed with a body that produces it at much higher levels. This has made my transition a lot easier in the beginning.

I was able to grow and maintain facial hair before starting Testosterone injections. For me my physical transition has been more about changing things such as clothes, hair cuts and allowing nature to take it's course. I have cycled on and off of Testosterone for 7.5 yrs now. April of 2009 will be the month I hit 8 years.

My experience with Testosterone is kinda unusual compared to a lot of other transmen for two reasons. 1. My body produces testosterone at much higher levels and the female hormones at much lower levels than most other biological females. The most common causes have been ruled out but there has been medical opinions that point to particular possibilities, however my insurance continues to refuse coverage for the tests. As a result of this issue I was placed on female hormone replacement in my early teens.

2. I have health issues which have resulted in my body not being able to tolerate a continuous cycle of Testosterone. I no longer maintain the female HRT therapy obviously, but due to not being able to continuously maintain a comfortable hormonal balance one way or the other it has caused a lot of uncomfortable problems both physically and emotionally.

While on Testosterone replacement therapy I am prescribed the drug Testosterone Cypionate maintain a weekly injections of Cypionate at a dose of 125 Mg Per injection. A genetic males Testosterone level varies anywhere between 200 And 900. My Testosterone levels without Testosterone replacement averaged at the very low end of normal males. While on Testosterone it averages near the top half of the normal male levels. Due to being on Estrogen and Progesterone from early teens I've had some big issues with lingering side effects but hopefully one day they will work themselves out.

My body seems to have been born into a state of confusion at birth and has manifested in both the body and the mind. I've had issues with multiple auto immune diseases ranging from Addison's disease to MS (multiple sclerosis). I hope things becomes more bearable in the end but It isn't looking like it is going to ease up anytime soon.

I mentioned before that I was gonna battle my insurance company and attempt to get them to cover a hysterectomy and I did. My insurance agreed to cover it but when getting ready ready to do the surgery my doctors redid testing and declared I was not physically well enough to be put under. It seems low blood oxygen, high co2 levels in the blood along with reoccurring arrhythmia are gonna ruin my ability to do a lot of things in life.

Anyways, now that I have covered Testosterone basics I'll get into the symptoms I have experienced. Keep in mind that my experience with Testosterone is different then a lot of transmen. Its highly possible your experience will be more influential than mine.

I often joke that by being on the Testosterone replacement therapy I have a better understanding of what teenage boys go through when they reach puberty. The first thing I noticed physically was a major increase in sex drive. And trust me when I say that it was the symptom that hit the fastest and was the most frustrating of all.

I already had an overactive sex drive and honestly did not believe it could get any higher. I'd say within several hours of my first injection I began to feel a sense of sexual excitement that blew me away. Although part of this may have been a result of emotional excitement that comes with that first injection, It was a physical feeling that could not be ignored and had to be tended to immediately!! Ha!!

It got worse with each injection for several months. I do my injections every 7 days. On day 5 or 6 the sexual tension would ease up, only for it to explode again a day or two later when I had my next injection. It took a few years for this to settle down any. I mean seriously I was looking at my pets in a whole different manner!! Thinking in my head "Here kitty kitty kitty!!" Ha Ha!! I had went from desiring and or engaging in sexual activity a few times a week , to desiring it every second of the day and engaging in it 2-4 times a day or more!! It was and still is pretty intense at times!!

Other symptoms that are normal with Testosterone replacement therapy include acne on the face, chest and back, Increase in body hair on the face, chest, back, legs, arms and butt. A lot of transmen also have other symptoms, including irritability, mood swings, aggression, and difficulty sleeping (probably because they can't stop thinking about or engaging in sexual activity!! Ha!!)

There are some transmen that don't have the emotional type symptoms. I personally have had none of the emotional symptoms, with the exception of sleeping issues while actively on Testosterone and I have already describes the issue with that. I will say that during times that I have had to stop the Testosterone to let my body recover I do end up with all of those symptoms and then some. It is not pretty at all!

Another symptom that will likely affect any biological female taking Testosterone at the doses given to transmen Is the cessation of the menstrual cycles. I personally believe this would be the most popular symptom along side of facial hair growth for most Transman. Also a big plus for Testosterone replacement therapy is the ability to gain a whole lot of muscle and very quickly. The fat on the body will be redistributed to areas of the body where fat is most typical for biological males.

There are some possibly life threatening complications that can take place with Testosterone replacement therapy. Most of them are rare but you still must be monitored for signs of them. These complications include, cardiac complications, renal and liver complications and or failure and cancer specially cancer of any remaining internal female organs.

These are most of the symptoms I experienced and or know take place with Testosterone replacement therapy.

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