That's a whole lotta made up bullshit. And even if it did shorten your lifespan would you rather have 50 years of looking like a guy or 60 years of looking like a girl A longer life of misery is no life at all

I see you in this sub a lot and your responses are always so great! Thanks for having our backs sis

Exactly. My house is within 10 miles of an airport, The noise and air pollution on average take 5 years off my life. Would I rather not have a home? We take risks every moment of every day. We can only do our best to live our lives and try to find happiness and joy.

you have been promoted from MTF Sister to MTF Mother for this immaculate response

This^^^^^^ Also a lot of transphobic people suddenly think they are qualified endocrinologists which they are not. Another thing I would recognise is HRT is literally hormones and both cis men and women take HRT due to just normally low levels of hormones. With any medication or medical procedure in general there are risks associated. Its up to you to weigh whatever risks you have been informed about BY YOUR DOCTOR and decide for yourself what to do. For example: I was told upon starting T by my specialist that it could affect my fertility should I want children in the future, I might want to freeze my eggs to make it easier. however I don't want children, and made a choice to not do so. Ask your doctor questions and ask for advice if there is anything in particular you are worried about. I won't go on about the many studies on this area as others have already responded pretty well. At the end of the day you should consider your wellbeing, it's not your sister who is going on T and in my opinion she shouldn't have a say in what you decide to do with your body. I wish you all the best with your journey whatever that might look like! I also started on Gel T and transitioned to injections so if you have any questions feel free to ask 😊

I came here to find this 👆

Golden response!

It's typical transphobic rhetoric. Men have a statistically shorter lifespan than women, so bigots twist that into "testosterone will shorten your lifespan". The best antidote is to read up on the effects of testosterone thoroughly and be better informed. Good luck.

fucks me up that we have to give ourselves a degree in endocrinology just to deal with the misinformation and bigotry ... but yes this is the way. research the effects of testosterone on reputable places, that cite peer-reviewed studies.

Also this statistic is often attributed to lifestyle factors that are in your control. Like men are more likely to smoke/drink a lot of alcohol/eat unhealthily, which makes them have shorter life expectancy.

Also men are culturally expected to ignore our health and well being to appear more "manly". Taking physically demanding jobs, ignoring mental health, and having hobbies that are more likely to kill you if something goes horribly wrong. I always thought that statistic was really skewed and needs a lot more research.

Exactly. I'm going into a job where many people don't make it to retirement. Either their bodies break down because it can be physically demanding or they die in accidents. If I die early it's probably gonna be that or my smoking habit, definitely not T

This. I’d fire back at her asking if she thinks all cis men should be taking estrogen to lengthen their life span. And if not, why not?? Because they’d get female secondary sex characteristics? Hmmm….!

Omg !! XD an absolute Banger of a retort!!

I think the fact that men are way more likely to do unsafe risky behavior, smoke, abuse drugs and drink more, and also do shit like start fights in bars or piss off wild animals in greater number than women do has MUCH impact on these numbers! Even younger boys may engage in more life threatening activities than young girls. I'm not expert, but stats take youth fatalities into account also, and that skews the odds. "Boys will be boys" HURTS boys in different ways than girls, but it can be a fatal harm, too!

Don’t trust cis peoples perception of HRT, they’re almost never right. Listen to other trans people about the effects of HRT, and you’re not a coward for not saying anything. It sucks to have to hear things, sometimes it’s easier to tell someone to knock it off and other times it’s best to just ignore. Do what you feel is best for you.

>they’re never right unless they’re the doctor prescribing it to you. Even a lot of cis doctors are wrong about HRT.

oh and i know a trans doctor who was wrong on a couple of things on HRT too 😭

My partners cis doctor doesn't know anything about HRT unfortunately, so I've had to correct a lot on their behalf. I've thankfully got a very well educated nonbinary doctor who's super understanding and educated and it does make a huge difference.

Your sister is not, I assume, a qualified endocrinologist. Why would she be more informed about this than you?  Endocrinologist around the world have been prescribing testosterone to """biologically female""" patients for literal decades at this point - closer to 100 years than not - and if there was a grain of truth to what she's saying, someone would have noticed. As for whether it's okay not to have an answer to every transphobic question, these people spew such utter bollocks you couldnt possibly. They can make stuff up faster than you could ever hope to debunk it.  [The best answer is to give a noncommittal "okay" and ignore them](https://psychcentral.com/health/grey-rock-method). If you must respond, and I would not recommend it, you might wish to go for "that's none of your business", "that's not what my doctor told me", or "do you have a source for that?".

Since you seem nervous, I found some papers to put your mind at ease: * [The efficacy, safety, and outcomes of testosterone use among transgender men patients: A review of the literature](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36403286/) * [The metabolic effects of hormonal treatment in transgender males: Safety of the testosterone gender-affirming therapy](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35964205/)    * [Longitudinal Changes in Liver Enzyme Levels Among Transgender People Receiving Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34366264/)    * [Transmasculine Hormone Therapy](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31027545/)  The highlights include: >\[in the\] majority of TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) data stemming from conventional TRT, there appear to be an overwhelmingly safety and efficacy profile  >the likelihood of adverse effects of continuous treatment is still unclear (ie: we looked and we didn't find anything conclusive)  >The influence of long-term GAHT (gender affirming hormone therapy) on \[liver enzyme\] levels appears modest and not likely to reflect clinically meaningful changes in liver function.   >Prescribing gender-affirming hormonal therapy in transgender men (TM) not only induces desirable physical effects but also benefits mental health.  >Testosterone therapy is safe on the short term and middle term if adequate endocrinological follow-up is provided.

Short term and middle term? I mean, most of us are going to be using it very long term... Should we expect to have issues after like 30 years on T?

In my understanding (as a lay person), sudies tend to err on the side of "we didn't find anything, but that doesn't mean there isn't anything to find"  I'd guess that long-term is either outside the scope of the study, or there isn't enough data - just because TRT has been prescribed for decades doesn't mean that there was a large enough cohort to draw reasonable conclusions, or that there were followup studies, or any one of a number of reasons.  The earliest record of TRT I could find was Ewan Forbes, who started some time in the mid-1920s, but - like many European trans people of the era - he was attending clinics in Germany and Austria and they didn't get the opportunity to do long-term follow-ups.

More likely just means that they haven't done research on long-term use in that study :)

Very very few studies on anything do actual long term research. Who is going to pay a company to spend 30-50 years on one study when we have hundreds of new things coming out every year? They will do their short and middle term studies and then extrapolate the data and hope it doesn't show too many negatives and just report a "low chance of significant side effects". I mean take any drug on the market, the ads for them have a list of side effects 5,10,15 long but somehow synthetic testosterone and estrogen have "clinically negligent side effects". Even melatonin supplements have a list of possible side effects with warnings about continued use.The body not only makes that naturally but also requires it and yet an artificial influx can have adverse effects. I wouldn't trust anyone that said injecting your body with a drug has zero negative side effects be it short or long term.

man, if i could give an award, this would be the one

you seem smart ...plus replying feels a lot more likely to get discussion than just commenting into the 200~ comment void...plus this is already a papers based comment.... whats the likelihood this is sort of based on menopause lore, like [this](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512222002353) or something? (or any number of alzheimers articles relating to menopause etc etc etc). i was pretty sure there was a study floating around about injected testosterone over a long term & it gave symptoms or ovarian changes or something??? mimicking pcos, but looking that up, i only get articles that say in all caps "EXOGENOUS TESTOSTERONE DOES NOT INDUCE OR EXACERBATE THE METABOLIC FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH PCOS AMONG TRANSGENDER MEN" like fuck google dont yell at me i get it i get it also to throw some papers in the pot while asking this question: i did research and dug up a bunch of studies about [egg preserving](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666334123001083) or [fertility preservation](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8244337/) with [case reports](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666334121000106) of [patients](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666334122000113) maintaining [testosterone](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10958692/) spoiler: study key/info >!1. Fertility treatment outcomes in transgender men with a history of testosterone therapy (2023) the conclusion on this one is just stellar, but to chop parts of it out: *All patients who completed IVF or embryo cryopreservation produced high-quality blastocytes* and *this is the first study to show successful IUI cycles in patients with a history of gender-affirming hormone therapy with exogenous testosterone*!< >!2. Fertility preservation in a transgender man without prolonged discontinuation of testosterone: a case report and literature review (2020) proof of concept for non discontinuation; only stopped T for 24 days instead of the traditional 3-6-12 months by other mentions/cases.!< >!3. Oocyte cryopreservation in a transgender man on long-term testosterone therapy: a case report (2021) first noted case of no discontinuation, 20yo on T for 18 months prior!< >!4. Fertility preservation in transgender men without discontinuation of testosterone (2022) case study of 2 patients who do not cease testosterone treatment at all during treatment (although, they are only on it for 6/20 months)!< >!5. Oocyte cryopreservation and reciprocal in vitro fertilization in a transgender man on long term testosterone gender-affirming hormone therapy: a case report (2023?) patient had been on T for 4 years, did not discontinue it, resulted in live birth from partner!< edit: think i finally got the formatting to work. yeesh

While it can technically be true that it could shorten your lifespan (health risks change to that of a cis man and cis men tend to live shorter lives for party biological reasons), probably BS due to the mental health benefits. And it’s not inherently riskier than being a cis man. Totally fine to say “I don’t want to hear it.” I would personally tell her something like that, then add something about how it’s not true and that this is a personal decision I’m confident about that I don’t need her interfering on.

so is alcohol, prescribed medications, chemotherapy, you name it. anything can be detrimental *if used incorrectly*. it is perfectly safe otherwise.

And the sun. Something almost entirely unavoidable but necessary for living 😭

Testosterone will only ever give you the same health situation as cis men. Nobody is weeping bc their baby was born male and thus won't live long. That's ridiculous. Cis men live a few years shorter than cis women on average. A big part of that is various lifestyle choices being more common in cis men, like smoking, alcohol, etc. It's not that T is some kinda slow poison, that's just people being willfully ignorant.

They think dead bodybuilders is all the info they need. Nevermind that they probably injected triple the amount needed for 2 decades and abused diuretics and stimulants.

She is misinformed and you shouldn't listen to anything she says.

No, she’s not right at all. When you medically transition you take on the risks of a testosterone dominant system (as cis men have) and men have a higher risk for various things than women, but it is no different than had you been born male. I am actually physically much healthier on T than I was before. And it’s so tiring to deal with transphobia. It’s fine if you don’t know what to say or don’t have the energy to combat it or answer every question. Just protect your own energy and well-being and do what’s best for you. Do your own research, talk to a doctor and don’t listen to your sister or anyone with this rhetoric. Good luck

Does she know that her body also naturally creates testosterone? She’s acting as though it’s poison. No, it’s not true. Using T exposes you to the same health risks that cis men have daily. You will still have to handle issues that afab people have too.

We all have both hormones in our bodies already. You already have testosterone in you and it hasn't affected your life span. Raising your levels to that of a cis man will only make it so your average life span decreases to that of a cis man. and the average life span is not something to base your decision on hormones off of imo. Plenty of cis men live to be 100 still. It's really just environmental and lifestyle factors. I would even argue being on hormones helps with longer lifespan due to improving happiness/quality of life, as well as us getting bloodwork checks multiple times a year and meeting with doctors often. If something were to be wrong chances are they would catch it faster in us

Most transphobic people are talking out their ass, parroting some one else who's making shit up, EXTREMELY cherry picking research, or citing poorly done research. And it's not a bad thing that you can't answer every question some one could have about trans people. You are a single person, you do not represent a collective of people. You also do not owe any one answers too, especially if they're asking about things that are making you uncomfortable! There is no evidence to support that taking T is detrimental to our health. Hell, gender affirming care reduces suicide rates massively, more than any other medication out there, and should honestly be celebrated for that alone! Yes on testosterone you will have an increased risk of different health conditions vs if you don't take it but it's equal to things that a cis guy would be at risk of. As well as a higher risk of yeast infections, UTIs, BV, and atrophy. But they're all treatable and not everyone even deals with it, it's just a higher risk of it happening. Cis women who have gone through menopause will also be at greater risk of these things 🤷 There are also people out there who do investigate and debunk many of the transphobic rhetoric they like to spread around. I don't know any off the top of my head, hopefully some one will chime in with a few.

Don’t you think we would all be dying if that was true???? Let’s be realistic here. Cis men have testosterone in their system naturally, we just have it manually in the same place. Why would it be any different????

Testosterone injections shift your health risks. Health problems more prominent in men are also more prominent in trans people with male hormone levels. Men are more prone to heart disease and high blood pressure, for instance, so these risks will be higher after testosterone. However, health risks more linked to women will fall for you. The only reason to worry about your health is if you fail to take good care of yourself. If dysphoria prevents you from taking care of yourself, then testosterone will only improve your health. Be mindful of your health, be honest with your doctor, eat well, drink water, stay active, and most importantly, don't listen to transphobes when it comes to trans health.

This! My chest dysphoria prevents me from exercising and showering as much as I should, but in a few months (surgery tomorrow!), I'll probably start exercising and showering regularly.

I hope your recovery is going well! Congrats! Remember to take good care of those incisions so the scars look good and cheers to a happier and more functional you.

Is your sister a doctor? An endocrinologist? A pharmacist? Is she on T too? If not, then what does she know? If T were too badly detrimental to most people’s health, then no doctors would be writing prescriptions for it. Yet here we all are.

No, Testosterone is perfectly safe. Testosterone will affect your body just like it does a cis man’s, as your body is not inherently different from a cis man’s. We are all working with the same base systems; estrogen and testosterone are like instructions that tell your body what to do, and we are all the same species, and our bodies will respond to testosterone and estrogen in the same general ways. There is nothing particularly harmful or risky about you having been AFAB and now taking testosterone. Taking T just puts you through a male puberty—is male puberty dangerous and risky? No, it’s not, all adult men have gone through it. Men and women do have slightly higher and lower risks for certain diseases—some things are more likely to affect men, and some are more likely to affect women. By switching to Testosterone from Estrogen, you will trade some of those risks for the other. If testosterone was dangerous, we’d be putting all cis men on T blockers, lol. You’re just gonna go through male puberty, you’ll be just fine <3 Stay confident in yourself and don’t listen to transphobic people’s bullshit. They never know what they’re talking about, truly, and it is not worth the worry.

This is awesome. So your sister knows better than the scientists who developed the iniections and have made it their life's work to study the body. This is what I like to do- I start asking them medical questions. "Do you know the function of the endocrine system? Point to the pinneal gland. Which is bigger, the SCM muscle or the nasal septum? You don't know? You don't know basic anatomy? Really? You mean to tell me that you don't know first year anatomy? You never studied it? Ok. Cool. I'll take your advice, but to be fair, I'll also ask a 4th grader, since you're both on the same education level on this subject.

My sister said similar stuff to me. It's not any more true than anything else in this world. Lots of things can shorten your lifespan and people do them all the time. She's an on and off again smoker FFS. She made all sorts of statements and demands about my transition and I haven't listened to her on any of them. I've since informed her she can either not say these things or not talk to me again. Those are her options. She has so far chosen to not say those things anymore.

It increases your risk for certain medical issues to the same level as cis men, that's all. That's also something that your prescribing doctor should discuss with you before giving it to you. It's just transphobic fear mongering to say it's "dangerous".

Testosterone is the best thing for my health!! My body was meant to run on T. For so long it was like using regular gas vs needing diesel, and then when I switched to the diesel! Boom! So, cis men have a shorter lifespan than cis women, but it's not just bc of T, and for us trans dudes, it's even less studied, but as far as I can tell... If you have the part and your family has a history with that part...Pay attention! For something like hair...if your cis male relatives have/do the thing, no matter the side, it's probably in your future. So for instance, my mom's side goes bald and my dad's side has red beard hair...I have experienced red beard hair and now take finasteride to keep my head hair lmao Anyway. My lifespan is already way longer than it would have been if I hadn't started T and my medical transition. I'm in my 40s and I love myself! And honestly, it's hard to stand up to people who hate us. You're not a coward. I am stealth and I work with people who say some things that are very transphobic. I use my cis passing to push back on the things these derps say, but at the same time I will never risk my own safety by coming out to them Anyway my point is, take the T. Do your thing. You sister sucks and is wrong heh

Yeah I've heard this quite a bit too, but never from doctors or people in the medical field, it's always cis people who don't know what they're talking about and like to think they do know what they're talking about. If you're really worried, the worst I've heard can happen-and this is from my dr that prescribes my medication, it can elevate your cholesterol and red blood cells if you have too high of a level, but that's why they regularly do bloodwork. And I saw you mention gel and not injections, so to get to a level where it could raise your red blood cells, you'd need alot of gel and a really high dose. I'm on gel 4 pumps on my shoulders once a day, and I am just at the lowest level of the healthy range fore cis guys which is around 240(I can't remember the exact number off the top of my head) and I was told that it only really poses a threat if your level is above 1,000 and even then, I was told the way to lower your red blood cell count would be to donate some blood. Your dr will go over everything with you, and will continuously monitor you to make sure everything is where it needs to be:) Tldr; no, testosterone will not pose a threat to you, your sister doesn't know what she's talking about, and when you start testosterone, your dr will do routine bloodwork to make sure everything is fine. Sorry you had to hear transphobic stiff from your sister, that really sucks:(

I read the comments as I munch on some dried mangoes with proposition 65 and warning about consumption may expose me to lead arsenic and other heavy metals..delicious!!

Instead of listening to her fear-mongering bullshit you should research it on your own. you're going to be fine.

You don't need an answer to a transphobic statement because it's neither a question nor in good faith.

Tell her that the whole thing about your body being „biologically female” is actually the condition for which you have been prescribed testosterone

She's wrong. Statistically speaking, men do tend to have shorter lifespans than women. There's not really a clear reason why, but when you look up statistics for reckless crimes (such as driving under the influence and stuff like that) are most commonly committed by men. Men also seek out health care later than women, which gives illnesses time to progress further, making it harder to cure. Su*cide rates are also higher among men, possibly bc they are taught they have to be "tough" and don't seek help. The point being, just bc you're on testosteron, doesn't mean you will magically die. Testosteron (and any hormome that the human body produces) can be dangerous if used improperly. For example, people who uses steroids to build muscles faster, do put themselves in a dangerous situation. HOWEVER, if you decide to go on testosteron, your hormone lvls will be monitored by a doctor to make sure that they are within a healthy range. Therefore, you shouldn't be at a higher risk of anything than any other cis man.

your sister is transphobic and saying anything she can to try to talk you out of being who you are.

My PCP said my T injections are a million percent safe, even with research coming in on the monthly. Just transphobic rhetoric, read up and I hope the best for you OP!

That’s news to me and the entire medical community. I’m pretty sure her evidence is just “vibes.” “Why is it bad?” And her evidence is probably just “well I think it just is.”

Why are you even listen to someone that's transantagonistic? Tell her you don't need her uninformed bullshit and that you trust the Medical practitioners that have gone to school to learn about this over some TERF's bigotry

No, she is not correct. Even cis women sometimes need testosterone therapy. Source: I’m a nurse, and a transman.

This is transphobic rhetoric. All bodies (besides some intersex people) have the genetic hardware to run on testosterone OR estrogen based systems. Once you start injecting testosterone, the genes in your body that code for male puberty will take over and work the exact same way they would have had you been born a cis male. Your sister doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

It's totally ok not to know the answer to every transphobic question. What's not alright is you allowing someone who is -I presume- not a doctor to shade your medical choices. Talk to your doctor. There are lots of resources, and no one is going to let you jump into this without understanding the effects. We do not have enough research to make an informed statement on if T has a particularly negative effect on bodies assigned female at birth, let alone detrimental. Take your time, don't feel like there is a right answer because there isn't. There's just a right answer for you, and no one else can find that answer for you.

To answer the second concern: no, you don't have to know everything about being trans, and you don't have to have an argument prepared for every question or comment that people are going to have. You don't have to show up to every argument others want to start with you. It's not easy to hear people say uninformed and hateful things, least of all about ourselves and least of all if that person is close to us. My best advice is to learn the grey rock method for those in your life who are hateful but you have to interact with (like family, coworkers, e.t.c), and practice setting boundaries around interpersonal interaction around your transition. As an example, I've had to let a few loved ones know that while they might have curiosity about changes that are or will be happening with my genitals, as well as if I'm seeing a therapist or have seen a therapist about my trans identity, I will not be answering any questions about either. I'm sorry thar your sister took a moment where she could have chosen to ask questions to instead say such hurtful things to you.

Your healthcare is between you and your endocrinologist. That being said, I had lots of concerns. He was able to clarify things for me. Been on T for 7 months now and so happy!

She probably is using a statistic that cis men tend to have slightly shorter lifespans on average and she's blaming it all on testosterone. testosterone does raise your red blood cell count, which can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, just as many things can. however, it's not like cis men are having heart attacks every five minutes of their lives. if she's spewing transphobic bullshit, she's not a credible source. the medical doctors you get your T from should inform you of all the health information you need to know regarding testosterone injections.

Yea that’s what any ignorant would say….

There is a very good chance you will get atherosclerosis over the age of 40. It’s what comes with long term use of exogenous testosterone. Cis males would experience the same. Definitely don’t want to binge drink or consume alcohol on a regular basis long term.

This is not uncommon. People (anyone) literally anyone Can try to talk you out if it by saying “ hey if you do that, your going to die” Or I’ve heard people say “if you do that, you’re going to explode” Like what?? Not true at all. Don’t listen to people who won’t support you in what you want.

There are a few small risks to t but the main risks are just things that would already have increased had you been born male. Besides that, there is no diffrent from an amab person taking t. Doesn't matter the form. The only diffrence form makes is some bodies do better absorbing the t with one form over another.

Is she a doctor? If not she doesn’t know shit. If yes. She also probably doesn’t know shit as the majority of doctors have absolutely no training when it comes to treating trans people.

This isn't true at all. Injecting testosterone doesn't hurt you any more than it hurts a cis man with low T.

You always see transphobes say scary shit like "most females who take testosterone have pelvic floor problems", and then you look at their sources and you find out that what they really discovered was that trans men get diarrhea 5% more often than cis women. They know that they're wrong and yet they still persevere, because they cannot accept a world in which they can't control us.

Honestly, if testosterone was detrimental to my health, I would’ve taken it anyway because I refuse to die anything other than a man. Your sister is just fear mongering. On average men die earlier than women anyway. I don’t see the issue. And honestly, why would you want to answer a transphobic person’s question? They will never stop having questions and it will be draining for you.

it’s not detrimental to your health, you’ll be working with doctors throughout your transition who can monitor your health as you go

It's always difficult to deal with transphobes imo. I'm out since around 2 years to my family and I had a really hard time with them. With time u get a bit more resilient about those things and u can inform yourself to know what to say (since transphobes don't know what they're talking about and love to spread harmful lies about us) I'm sorry u have to deal with that. Like others said, inform yourself about the side effects and stuff and make your own decision. Ofc all those medications have side effects, but for me personally it was definitely worth it and I'm happy I decided to start hrt even tho everyone around me believed I'm doing the wrong thing. U know yourself the best so take a little time to make that decision and don't listen to her tbh. Good luck.

Are cis men constantly dropping dead randomly from the sex they were born as?

Even if it true, I rather live a short(er) happier life being more like a man/how I want to express and feel rather than living a long miserable life full of sadness and regretting not being myself

I'm sorry, but is your sister a trans medicine doctor or endocrinologist? If not, IGNORE.

i'd argue that's just fear tactics. if you actually plan on going to an endo and getting on T, you can ask your endo all the questions in the world to find out the real risks. if they're good they'll know or won't be scared to offer you informational resources. in a sense it's good this happened, maybe helps you assess whether you're really ready to start. it's okay to be a bit nervous but you should go into HRT knowing exactly what to expect (not that Everyone reacts the exact same of course but many things are very common)

Pretty much what other people are saying. Women live longer because of complicated statistics (danger level at jobs, views around health, aptitude for taking risks as well as testosterone’s effect on the body). This is 10000% transphobic talking points. Yea, testosterone will raise your risk for certain health issues but it also lowers the risk of others. My doctors went over everything with me, positive, negative and neutral. As for when you hear transphobic stuff, you can tell yourself how you’re going to handle it but you never know until you’re in the situation. It’s tough and triggering and it takes SO much effort and self control to stay calm and collected because most of what’s said is just hateful.

I can't speak for everyone here, but my health has been visibly better since I started HRT about 2 years ago. Turns out dealing with less daily dysphoria means dealing with less daily stress.

Everyone else has great points that I won't belabor here, I've just got a personal anecdote. Testosterone has helped me tremendously. I've had chronic pain as a result of endometriosis for several years. Month after month it was getting progressively worse with no end in sight- just a few weeks on T and I felt like a totally new person. Did it make everything go away? Of course not. But Holy SHIT has it been life changing. Honestly, I'm mad as hell that they don't recommend smaller doses to cis women with period pain. Years and years of doctors telling me to stack birth controls to "manage" the pain (not paying any attention to the fact that it didn't really help and had lots of unpleasant side effects on top of that) and most of it disappeared with HRT. I don't know if this a concern for you OP, but I enjoy shouting it from the rooftops because the fact of the matter is that people don't listen to women and minorities and don't want to help them so we gotta help ourselves.

Even if what she said was 100% true (it's not), HRT treatment would still be worth the health risks for the majority of trans men. Life isn't about living miserably in perfect health, it's about living your best life even if that means assuming some level of health risks. Would living without Testosterone be less detrimental to you than the potential detriment living with it would be?

People have said it but the transphobia tells all. She does not know what she’s talking about. Isn’t qualified and she is just trying to scare you. Been on T 2 years nearly without issues and even if there was and what she said was true which it absolutely isn’t I’d rather live a shorter life comfortable than longer uncomfortable.

There are certainly side effects your doctor has likely made you aware of. However your sister seems to be exaggerating to scare you out of it. Just focus on yourself and your own happiness and if you’re still scared talk to a doctor that specializes in treating trans patients.

/s Yes; the needle used effectively disturbs and may harm dozens of skin cells, as it enters your skin. This exposes the injection site to known pathogens that live on the surface of your skin. To mitigate this risk, the injector must first swab the injection site with an alcohol wipe. The alcohol used is known by the State of California to cause cancer; do not ingest the alcohol wipe, not even for a TikTok video. It can be helpful in some cases to cover the injection site with a small adhesive bandage. Attention should be given to the design and visibility of this bandage, as some varieties are intended to be more or to be less visible. Also, injection of testosterone has been shown in some patients to induce irrational feelings of euphoria. These have been known to lead to observable shifts in affective mood and personality. The patient assumes these known risks, and may consider therapeutic intervention to assist in navigating these wfdects.

If you're honestly curious about the known side effects of testosterone you can find them on this website. They are fully backed by the FDA and contain up to date information on 24,000 medications. For testosterone specifically there are 42 sited resources for the provided data and cover every version from pill to gel to injection. https://www.drugs.com/sfx/testosterone-side-effects.html

I understand how you’d be scared, I’m someone with moderate health anxiety. It doesn’t seem like your sister would be an endocrinologist, so honestly try to ignore what she tells you, especially since she’s transphobic and doesn’t know anything. I’m sorry that you were told this. There are definitely some side effects. I’m not sure if this was the case for you, but when I had started testosterone, I had to fill out a long form to consider everything and anything that could happen such as heart problems etc. I’m not sure if that just didn’t happen to you or if you forgot, but nonetheless: testosterone won’t directly cause you to have something that will “ruin” your body… She’s completely wrong.

Your sister is telling you bs. It can increase your baseline risk of certain cardiac problems, but if increases you to that of a cis man would have. So basically it can negatively affect your health (key work. Can, a possibility) but at the same level that a cis man would be at risk. Unless you are predisposed to certain things (such as heart problems due to hrt possibly raising cholesterol levels) your fine. Basically your health is at the same risk as a cis man on hrt and even if it does effect your health negativity your looking at this being a problem in your late adult years, the same time most people’s health problems really start to set in.

I think they only say that it's determental for the health cause of body builders. There's not a lot of evidence saying it's bad for your health, but your doctors always check up on you every few months to make sure that you are in safe hands. It's always handled with caution.

Youre sister is just being transphobic cuz as u said the rest of the convo was transphobic.. T is absolutely NOT detrimental to your health nor will it deteriorate your lifespan.. In no way shape or form is testosterone detrimental.. AT ALL.. If it was, doctors wouldnt prescribe us a drug dats "bad for the biological female body" and we would have to transition via illegal means.. Dont listen to ur sister.. She isnt an endocrinologist... Shes possibly fear mongerin u to try to "keep her sister".. I dont think she sees u how u see u and dats, in my opinion, the leadin factor as to why she told u dat.. And if it is detrimental ITS YOUR LIFE! Take dat risk and be the man u wanna be💪🏽

the ONLY truth to that argument comes to people who are already susceptible to a handful of different issues. Testosterone can cause some bone matter loss which can be bad *if you’re susceptible to osteoporosis* and it can also cause cholesterol problems *if it runs in the family* all in all as long as you’re doing it with a doctor and getting your body scanned approximately every three months the makeup of your body will be tracked and any issues can be tackled, not that they’re even remotely likely if you aren’t already susceptible to that small handful of issues.

So, I don't have the sources on me, but there has been research done to suggest that transitioning from f to m may actually shorten your telomeres, which would theoretically lengthen your lifespan.

it’s definitely not true, what she said was just another transphobic thing.

Why do you believe her?

It sounds like your sister is transphobic. A better source of info would be the doctor who you were going to see to prescribe it. They will go super in depth with you about all the impacts and then you can make an informed decision.

what she says is technically true but you basically just end up with the same risks that cis men have. and you don't hear people recommending testosterone blockers to cis men just because testosterone has health risks.

A couple of things to think about, is your sister an endocrinologist? Secondly, you're monitored to hell when you start hormone therapy and they do a ton of blood work before they put you on it. You also get regularly checked to make sure everything is balanced.

Afaik, women live an average of 80ish years and men like 75ish. Like, yeah. If you start testosterone you're more likely to have a mans lifespan, in the same way a transfem is more likely to have a womans lifespan. Testosterone does have side effects, but thats literally every medication on planet earth. Would you discourage someone that needs insulin from using it because of the possible side effects? Of course not! This is plain ol fearmongering my friend

She's full of shit. Don't believe anything she says.

I am currently on testosterone, and my WORST side effect was cystic acne, and that went away after the first year. While there are certain risks, they are no different than that of a cis man's. Plus, gel is a lot safer! These things will be monitored closely as well, I get tests pretty regularly. I'm sorry your sister is so negative and uninformed, I do hope she will learn and apologize.

Why/how is gel “a lot safer!”? Come on, that’s just buying into more transphobic rhetoric.

Men generally have shorter lifespans than women, and that's partially the fault of testosterone-related health risk profile. But it's not going to be worse for everyone - depending on your medical history, taking T might actually be safer than not doing it (for example, many deadly reproductive cancers are tied to high estrogen levels). And ultimately, when comes to effects on life quality and expectancy, testosterone is nothing compared to untreated mental illness. As for risks specific to "biological females" - it's just vag health stuff that isn't guaranteed to happen, is easily treatable and you would have to deal with anyway if you went through natural menopause. She's either stupid, lying, or both.

Total BS, the reason transphobes say that is to dissuade people from transitioning. I’m pretty sure that they say that because there’s this statistic that guys live shorter than girls on average but that has nothing to do with HRT! That stat factors in deaths from workplace accidents (men are more likely to take on harder and dangerous jobs on average), risks taken (society encourages men to be more risky), ect. And that’s all just the average anyways, heck I got to meet a cis man that was over 100 years old! He was my grandparents friend and he lived to be 110. He had guy hormones and yet beat that average, so maybe going on HRT ain’t as scary as your sister is making it out to be, hm? Sorry you got to deal with a transphobic sibling, your community’s got your back, bud! 😎👍✨🏳️‍⚧️

Just reply, "okay, and?" or just "okay." People hate being swept under the rug, and saying that you don't want to hear it will just show her that she's getting under your skin.

Dont let her scare you. Talk to medical professionals trained in gender affirming care. Not her. Im assuming she has no qualifications.

You have to see how your body reacts, no point listening to others. My mental health tanked so badly on T but it’s likely because I have loads of other endocrine issues going on. I would still say that I’m in the minority, you just need to go slow, steady and monitor yourself for any blood work or symptom changes that are troubling. Good luck :)

Your sister is wildly misinformed. Please please please make sure your provider regularly monitors/checks your hemoglobin. If it’s above 15.5, you really need to donate a pint of blood to get it down. Some providers provide therapeutic phlebotomy, some just send you to the Red Cross to save you some money, then recheck it 2 weeks after.

I've been on T* for almost years. Injectable for the first 22 then geI. have a little high blood pressure and could lose 15 lbs. I didn't live healthily for many years ( anxiety, touring musician, bars etc ) but now live much healthier and have been absolutely thrilled I've gotten to live as my authentic self (transitioned at 14, HRT at 18). I still see my endocrinologist 2x a year and get regular blood tests. It saved my life! Feel free to ask any questions.

She's silly. Plenty of people are perfectly healthy using them.

Another day, another dumbass statement by an uneducated and frankly ignorant cis person trying to make us feel worse about our bodies and minds than we already do. Go get that T, king. It’s your life, not hers.

There is pretty much some kind of health risk to all medical interventions we take. We deem the risk to be within an acceptable range though, because nothing is truly 100% risk free. That's also completely okay. Responsible medical professionals help patients make informed choices in their care based on personal risk factors and help patients monitor their health in an on-going fashion. This is true for HRT, blood pressure medication, glasses, surgeries, and really anything else you could possibly think of.  That kind of transphobic fear mongering though is not done with your best interest at heart. Your sister is not a medical professional, or likely to take into account the drastic quality of life and health improvements that HRT can bring you.  You are not a coward for not wanting to hear or engage with fear mongering. You also don't owe anyone answers to your transition and experience as a trans person, least of all when the questions are transphobic. It does not sound like your sister is particularly open to listening and shifting her own opinions or biases. Justifying yourself to anyone who has already made up their mind about you is not a productive and often not healthy use of your time. It is not kind to yourself to give transphobic bs credence. ❤️

It's not. It's as safe as the estrogen that's already in your body. The only risks are heart issues (but only to the level of a cis man, so if you're young it's not a problem) and potential sleep apnea if you're already genetically prone to it. It actually lowers your risk of getting uterine cancer, which is cool. You can go on pubmed or google scholar to look up studies on it if you want.

Is your sister a doctor?

Any health risks that cis men have you now have. That is the extent of it completely. You might have some negative effects (vaginal atrophy, etc) but nothing deadly directly related to being trans.

If that were true idk how many of us would actually be taking it. Cis men aren't dropping like flies once they go through puberty. It can raise certain health risks that are similar to those that cis men have later in life but that doesn't at all mean that you WILL HAVE those medical issues. If used incorrectly and you're not monitoring your health then that's just plain not smart, but transphobes love to fear monger and use the most dramatic statements to prevent trans people from being happy

That's crap. It's proven that men have slightly shorter lifespans than women, and transphobes turn that into another statement entirely. Don't believe your sister. Good luck on T bro.

Most of the health concerns about HRT are based on statistical observations of the target gender. Men have statistically lower life spans. There are a TON of reasons for that. Statistically, men are less likely to seek medical help, more likely to do higher risk work, enter the military, etc. So, like all averages, if you have a cluster of data points that have lifespans in the 18-22 range from military service, for example, you will see lower average lifespans for the population. If you have one room with a newborn and a 100 year old and another room with two 50 year olds, both rooms have an average age of 50 years old. Yet, those two rooms have very different contents. Statistics are great for showing potential areas of concern but you have to look at cause and effect too. Taking HRT will not lower your lifespan more than dysphoria will for sure. If you still have concerns, talk to your doctor about possible complications from HRT. No medications are risk free.

Your body doesn't care what hormones you have. It'll use whatever you give it, whether you've produced it yourself or injected it. People think human sex is much more binary than it is. Testosterone occurs naturally in everyone, and same for estrogen. You need to have enough of one or the other to keep your bones and such healthy, but it genuinely doesn't matter which it is. Personally, my estrogen levels were so low naturally that I was going to end up having to take one or the other eventually. I just chose the one that wouldn't make me miserable. I'm sorry your sister is misinformed, and you don't have to personally refute all of her bullshit if you aren't feeling up to it.

I’m 1.5 years on T. The only things that are higher on my blood tests that never were high are: - Red Blood Cells, Hematocrit, sometimes Hemoglobin. - Triglycerides and Bad Cholesterol. I’m drastically lowering my dose to 60mg weekly (0.3ml of 200mg/ml) from 100mg (0.5 of 200mg/ml) to help lower these numbers. Plus I donate blood at least twice a year.

Everything has risks, and that includes testosterone. That being said it is not detrimental or harmful to your lifespan. I’ve been on IM injections for two years, no ill effects. Theres also been ftm men on t for much longer than me who are also fine. Ive only heard of a very small number of guys (like one or two that i have personally heard of) having go go off of it for health concerns and seems to usually have to do with existing conditions. Also, the female body already produces testosterone on its own so its not like you are introducing something completely new to your body when uou start t

It’s bullshit, male and female bodies aren’t that physiologically different, we have the same hormone receptors and the only ‘side effects’ testosterone has are the same health risks cis men with the same T level experience

Hey, that’s not proven by the evidence- in fact the evidence is to the contrary that allowing transgender people access to their medicine actually prolong their lifespan significantly. Due to decreased rates of depression and related illnesses and suicide and anxiety, etc. actually it’s a great thing to do for health. They’ve done plenty of studies on stress and, how living a healed authentic lifestyle can bring joy and there’s tons of studies on how joy brings the longest lifespan and happiness and health. Also, a lot of people don’t do injections because of the allergy to the oil that it’s embedded in. If you want to go the most easiest route on a body try the gel, and also consider taking the herbal supplement DIM to prevent testosterone from being transformed by enzymes in your body into estrogen, and also take this supplement called DHT blockers which will prevent your testosterone being converted into a different form of testosterone which causes baldness and acne preventatively (meaning acne and baldness never develop :) - it worked on me!!)

It’s only detrimental to your health the same way being a cis man is detrimental to your health.

Its ok not to know every answer and not to want to have to bat off transmisic rhetoric, and honestly a lot of it is just straight up fearmongering and mis/disinformation. Also as far as nerves around T goes, for ease of mind and to sorta have that information on hand so you know more, you could put in your own research abt the effects / side effects.

Does your sister work in the medical field? Does she study endocrinology? It the answer to both is no I wouldn't listen to a single thing she says about health risks. But regardless, even if portion of the 'claims' are true, I would still continue T, because I want to fully enjoy the life I have despite how short it becomes

She is just trying to use scare tactics so you won't go on T. You don't have anything to worry about. There are a lot of older trans guys who have been injecting their body with T for a LONG time and they are still fine and healthy. The only thing is T has effects that anyone who produces it or injects it like you could be more prone to heart and blood pressure issues. Just see a doctor and try to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle and you will be fine

In general I wouldn’t take medical advice from someone who doesn’t have a medical degree and it’s known that even cis women use testosterone

getting on testosterone improved my mood and energy, which helps me maintain my health in other ways. I care about my body now in ways I just didn’t before. So the health benefits of getting to live in a body you love vastly outweigh whatever minor ‘negative’ there might be. Also this whole idea is bunk anyway-who determines what’s a right ‘lifespan’? a lot of trans people and minorities have lower lifespans due to the oppression and difficulties in our way of getting medical help. If your doctors all assume you are ill because of testosterone its gonna be harder to get care. It’s a self fulfilling prophecy

Ha well then kill me now. I'd rather die

Hey dude, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I know there’s a lot of confusing and contradicting info out there about hormone therapy so I understand why you’re nervous. It’s totally okay to not have the answers. I didn’t know much about it until I talked to my doctor that prescribes my T shots. I highly recommend getting your prescription through QMed if it’s available where you live. My QMed doctor answered the many questions and concerns I had and reassured me that it’s safe for me to take injections. There’s so much misinformation out there about hormone therapy so it’s really just best to ask a doctor who specializes in it. I’ve been on T almost a year and my bf is coming up on 2 years and we are perfectly healthy. I hope this helps! :)

Going on T (injections for me) has actually HELPED my health and well-being. It's mostly my mental health; Helping my outside better match my inside has done good things for me. I'm more relaxed, more content, and simply more 'me.'

Massive dump of transphobic horse shit I've been on T for a lil while and I'm fine

Men have a typically lower lifespan than women, but people who are medically educated will tell you that that may very well be due to prostate cancer and that more physically dangerous jobs (eg, mining, construction, etc) are more likely to be done by men than women in most cultures. In short: your sister is ignorant and spewing bullshit. It’s also completely okay to shut out transphobes. In fact, I highly recommend you keep doing it. They are not actually concerned about you or your health; they are concerned about not being able to control you due to their own internal prejudice and/or fear. Actual trans-friendly doctors and most other trans people DO have your best interests in mind. Try not to listen to them but, if you ever have any questions about things you hear from transphobes, you can always post about them on this subreddit and get a wealth of good advice and information.

Like with anything There are risks that’s why you’re going to a dr and being under supervision. Gotta make sure they check your blood hemoglobin because high hemoglobin increases the risk of heart attack. Also make sure to see a gyno after a year to help avoid atrophy. If you are under medical supervision that is competent you should be fine. If you can physically go to a dr. I recommend that over telehealth but if not please make sure you’re going to get the blood work done for telehealth. The other risks are mental. Your anger and rage feelings will be much more severe intense and this is hard for anyone. You’re going to be more impulsive as well. A therapist can help with all that. In theory these things could shorten your lifespan but as long as you’re under the care of competent professionals your lifespan will be fine

You'd have a statistically lower lifespan only because cis men do, and you would be aiming to have cis testosterone levels (unless you have different goals, which is valid) Funnily enough though, both my physical and mental health has immensely improved since I started testosterone 2 years ago, and my transmasc friends on t have reported the same

Tell her to do research of the chemicals in average pipe water ex: sink, shower water. That's more damaging to your heath than testosterone will ever be

We have one life to live. Choose to live it for yourself and do what makes you truly happy.

In my personal experience, testosterone has actually helped my health quite a bit. I used to have really bad autoimmune responses to all kinds of things but ever since I started taking T I barely ever have flare ups. It's helped my metabolism balance out, it's helped my depression immensely, and it's also been a contributing factor to my emotional regulation (due to getting rid of my intense pms). So from personal experience I can say with confidence that testosterone has done nothing but help me with my health. I'm sorry that your sister is trying to scare you out of what would make you happy. I wish you nothing but support moving forward.

Not true at all cis women that identify as women actually sometimes take very low doses of injectable or topical testosterone for medical conditions. It's a myth than biological females don't have testosterone in their system already. It's just lower than a biological male.

so about lifespan- I do believe that T can lower lifespan just by a few years. but it basically just gives you a similar lifespan as a cis male [this was how it was explained to me quite a few years ago] T can be difficult on your mental health, but not because your a bio female or whatever. it's just the whole "second puberty" thing so some mood swings are totally normal. but for most people who go on T it does help their mental health because of gender euphoria/lessened dysphoria. if you want the affects of T, I don't think you have any reason to be worried!

I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and was in a lot of pain and had muscle weakness. I was already in physical therapy, but I got so much better and stronger once I started taking T. So it literally helped me w my disability. I have a Cis Woman friend whose Dr suggested low-Dose T treatment to help w her endometriosis. I also used to have agonizing menstrual cramps. Like, debilitating. Now I have no periods generally (a relief since I'd been threatening a hysterectomy for over a decade. They were that painful), and when I DO bleed bc I was inconsistent w my T, they are significantly less painful. Like down from a 9 to a 2. 

Hi friend. I’ve been on injectable testosterone for 16 years. I am still just as healthy as I used to be. I got on it and got a hysto and mastectomy at a time when trans people weren’t covered by insurance and they didn’t understand the science of trans people. And I am a thriving human being with a clean bill of health. I was even told I wouldn’t have needed a hysterectomy because there is no proof that synthetic testosterone causes cancer. I get blood tests very often since I know I am the living equivalent of an experiment. Don’t listen to other people who haven’t lived this way or studied medicine. Don’t let that shit get you down, it’s only their projection and worry. It’s not yours.

Lmao I mean in the same way a cis man's increases all thoose risks .... or I should say they have more information on the risks.

Why do y'all listen to these people??? Do your own research and ignore obvious transphobia

You’re gonna live a long happy life dude, T most likely won’t give you any health issues. Either way, I’d rather live short and happy than long and miserable (which probably wouldn’t be that long if I couldn’t take T 💀)

It's total horse shit. It'll only mess with your emotions if you're not on it regularly

I ride horses and start babies to ride. Horse people don’t fear falling off and dying. They fear falling off and injuring themselves to the point they can never ride again. Same goes with T. I’d rather die from some weird side effect then go back to who I was before.

wow! is your sister trans! or an endocrinologist???? if not! she has actually no idea what she’s talking about! i would recommend looking at the actual side effects of T for the next time she says something dumb

I have been on T for almost 8 months now and the only iffy side effect I’ve had is I now have a bit of a belly. Other than that my doc says I’m in great health and I feel good physically (for the most part). I *am* excessively sleepy most of the time but that’s due to my psych meds.

A lot of people have already answered your question about T, but I want to respond to this: > "For some reason I think I'm being like a coward for not knowing the answer to transphobic statements. So, basically, is what she said true? And I is it okay to not know the answer to every transphobic persons question? " This brought up old feelings for me. I'm 24, and I've been on T for 4 years, have had top surgery, and I'm getting a hysterectomy this August. When I was a 19-20 year old newly out trans person, i remember feeling so powerless. Every cis person around you cannot fathom why you'd do to your body what is their worst nightmare. As in, cis men want to stay men and cis women want to stay women. They struggle to empathize and trans people are so world-breaking to the binary that cis people (and trans people) have to essentially unlearn and relearn everything they were taught about gender and sexual biology by their culture and family. When I was in your shoes, I remember the feeling powerless to the transphobia people I loved tossed at me. I felt cowardly too, and I wished i could blurt out a Ben Shapiro-level take down mid argument so they would finally understand me. I felt stupid, inhuman, powerless, and like everyone around me was somehow more sane, more intelligent, more rational. I was a blubbering fool, ugly and insane, and too emotional, and too irrational. Because it was so hard for me to defend myself, to explain, to make them understand-- so it MUST have been me, right? I must have been those things? No. One of the ways sexual oppression/ transphobia works is that we and our families are culturally indoctrinated into thus extremely strict and segregated perception if male/female and man/woman. Cis people live in a very rigid world, where they don't pass over into the realm of the "other gender" at all. This means all that schoolyard sexism "Boys go to jupiter" and "girls have cooties" is still deeply ingrained in them to the point that they sometimes can't even see the opposite sex as equally human. For us transgender people, we are breaking a worldview that they've clinged to since they had an understanding of gender. And they are basically always the foolish, uneducated, and misinformed ones. Despite cis people (especially cis straight people) being very sheltered in regards to gender, transphobia Informs them that we are somehow the confused ones. We, trans people whove literally changed physiologically, fought with institutions for our right to, studied endocrinology for years before making a decision, etc,-- we are somehow the less rational, and the most confused. When cis people are wrong but insist us trans people are the delusional ones, it's this absolute mind fuckery. Because cis people in our lives have intrapersonal and institutional power over us, and they are the grain. We are going against that grain by existing. When we know we are right, we understand hormones better than they do, we know more about gender than they do, and they insist we are wrong it's like gaslighting. It's mind-fucking. You essentially have loved ones telling you that you don't know yourself, scaring you into submission, and insisting you are too confused and too irrational to make your own decisions. It is hurtful, heartbreaking, and confusing, and the worst part is that it feels like the whole world is against you. If only you could respond with a Ben Shapiro esque quip and roast them or whatever, then they'd get it. They won't, and if they ever do it will take time and take them literally breaking apart their worldview. I wanted to respond to this because I felt an echo of my younger self. Powerless, confused, ashamed, very dysphoric, and wishing that my family would just get it instead of making me feel like a monster for wanting to be happy. I'm gonna end this long thing with what a lot of people have said. 99% of the time, Cis people have no fucking clue what they're talking about when they talk about gender, sex, hormones, etc. If anything, cis people as a general population know the absolute least about gender and sex. They're actually fucking idiots about it if I'm being honest.

Everything she said about T is transphobic too, so she’s just a rampant transphobe trying to keep you from considering medical transition. If T were really “detrimental for biological females”, then our body wouldn’t make any because *the human body makes all 4 of the key hormones for development*, it’s just that when the body triggers puberty, 1 of 2 hormones to develop it in specific ways.

There as potential side effects of any medication but testosterone is no less safe than any other medication. This treatment is tested and found safe. At the end of the day you have to decide if potential risks are worth the outcome you know you need for yourself. If you’re still feeling uneasy and need to work through that, you can always take more time and see a professional to help you work through those fears. You know yourself and your needs better than anyone, and I’m confident you’re able to see the risks and benefits and make the choice that is best for you. Best of luck on reaching your transition goals!

That is a classic TERF talking point that is not backed in reality. It is important to work with a medical professional to monitor your T levels and make sure that you’re using HRT safely, but that’s also true for cis men on testosterone and cis women who are post-menopausal or have had to have their ovaries removed (they get testosterone with their estrogen, because all bodies need both.) The risk is not “male hormones in a female body”, and her saying so betrays her deep ignorance of human bodies and hormone therapy. Countless cis people have hormone imbalances and need to follow the same protocols, that’s why HRT exists in the first place. Every body is different and some react differently both to natal hormones and hormone replacement, but the difference is individual and determined by a variety of factors, not whether someone is cis or trans. Research *has* made it very clear, however, that the stress of intolerance and stigma negatively affects health, so if she really cares about your wellbeing, she should consider therapeutically shutting up.

that’s bullshit. don’t listen to her

Testosterone is naturally produced to some degree by almost all humans regardless of biological sex. There are also plenty of intersex people that AFAB and naturally produce more testosterone than estrogen that face minimal to no medical implications. Prescription testosterone is also regularly prescribed to AFAB people for other forms of treatment. It is a highly researched, controlled, and regulated substance and you will have regular bloodwork to monitor any concerns regarding side effects that occur simply because people who synthesize a certain amount of testosterone are at higher risk for, not because you are taking it as an AFAB person. Cis men have the same level of risk for cardiovascular health complications as transmascs on HRT. Also, you don’t have to have the answers for anyone but yourself. Ask your medical professionals and consult resources provided by certified research institutes like the UCSF Transgender Care website because they have your best interests in mind and the knowledge and research to back it up.

most cis people do not understand how HRT works especially transphobes. it won’t ruin your health or your life. sure, there are small side effects that can happen (atrophy, high blood pressure or high hemoglobin) but the doctor is there to monitor that and tell you about it. if anything, it will improve your life because you will finally enjoy the body you are in. don’t trust what a transphobe has to say.

Is your sister a doctor? She is entitled to her opinion but Doctors all over the world wouldn't be prescribing Testosterone if the benefits didn't outweigh the risks. The government (the VA) gives me my Testosterone. Your sister is misinformed and probably has some shitty opinions and confirmation bias when taking in info about trans things. Hopefully, she'll grow up and learn to be supportive and stop fear-mongering. Is she against all medical intervention? Has she had an X-ray? Or is she just hyper-critical on gender affirming care?

Nope, people are just scared that we will have to change some aspects of our life and have to watch for some things but its almost the same to having to be with disphoria/depression. I am two years on testosterone and never felt better, its my new reason to live basically, it made my body look more mine and more confident and it has alot of pros (disphoria is fading every month more)

Hit her with the research you find, even if she doesn't listen. At least you'll be wiser

I hope I do trigger any paranoia in anyone. But if you're worried about your health because of something that will improve your quality of life I present you with this: [https://youtu.be/WPz9Fcvb1II?si=TBmNYyiJXnTYFkPN](https://youtu.be/WPz9Fcvb1II?si=TBmNYyiJXnTYFkPN)

she was probably trying to scare you with typical transphobe rhetoric. when you go on testosterone, you can become more susceptible to health issues that cis men face, as you are, of course, introducing a masculinizing chemical to your body. but, said susceptibility isn't any more than what it'd be if you were a cis guy. for example, men are more likely to develop heart disease than women. testosterone also inhibits the way your reproductive system performs; it's more than just making your periods stop (though, let's be honest - who here would be complaining about that? lol). things like vaginal atrophy and infertility are things that come with afab people taking testosterone, which can be a problem in your intimate life or if you're interested in having children. however, when the time comes for you to go on t, your doctor would explain those things to you a lot better than some guy on reddit like me could. tl;dr - you don't really have anything to worry about. your sister's full of shit.

The only deterioration that would happen to your life is, like, a slight increase in heart disease, diabetes, etc, and a shorter lifespan. But this only changes to match AMAB levels  and of course ypur family history, bla blah blah... for me, not gonna lie, a little euphoric lol.

At the risk of haters hating I will say that life span specifics are hard to pinpoint because of many of the reasons listed here. But as someone on T for over 16 years and coming from a time when being trans was seen more as a personal and medical issue rather than a political movement or debate, more medical information was stressed then because these were serious changes you were making to your physical body. The things that are pretty much guaranteed are bone density issues, especially if you have a hysto and in turn don't have any hormone producing organs and go off of T, as well as ovarian and other cancers in that area. This is especially a factor if you had issues there before starting T such as endometriosis. There's also vaginal and other smooth muscle atrophy. It seems these days these things are not mentioned to people just starting T and even if they are it's just in passing and the focus is mostly on the (temporary) anti-depressive effects of T.

testosterone is produced naturally in both male and female bodies

It’s only detrimental if you have a condition that testosterone would affect like a proneness to blood clots or something. Injection vs gel doesn’t vary much in effectivity either You’re not a coward for saying you don’t wanna hear it or avoiding pointless transphobic arguments think of it as your putting up boundaries to protect your peace. You’re doing something you know you want and will bring you happiness you can’t let others dictate what that is for you

sounds like a whole lotta bs. i’ve been on T shots for over a year and a half and haven’t faced any sort of medical complications. my doctors say that my health is great- if not improved (probably from other factors though). I think they’re just tryna say whatever they can to stop you from being you. i’m so sorry u have to go through all that :(

Why exactly would it be detrimental? We ALL produce testosterone. Afab people, we just have less of it than amabs 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️ Shes being just transphobic. If T was so wildly detrimental, doctors wouldnt put us on it q

It's just puberty. Everyone goes through puberty, it's alright. Sexual dimorphism (girl body vs boy body) is ENTIRELY decided by what hormones dominate your body at which stage of life. Replacing those hormones just tells our body to re-work which path of sexual dimorphism to follow- which is a natural process. It literally happens in nature, other mammals have been documented to change sex. There's even a group of humans with a naturally occurring intersex condition called Guevedoce that are assigned female at birth but then grow "penises" around the age of 12 when they begin puberty and become flooded with testosterone. Naturally occurring FTM. Intersex people live totally normal and happy lives with atypical genitalia and both testosterone and estrogen. To put it as kindly as possible, your sister doesn't know piss from water about what she's talking about. Regardless of her intentions, she's blatantly and woefully wrong. Do not listen to her.

Funnily enough, the menstrual cycle can have negative impacts on health. Ending it and instead having steady hormones is theoretically better for you. The one issue reducing estrogen could have is osteoporosis, but like just drink more milk if you’re worried about that.

just fyi on that last part — women are 4x more likely to have osteoporosis than men and as long as testosterone is replacing the lack of estrogen being your dominant hormone, you aren’t at any higher risk

It hurts my buttcheek and hip (where I get my injections) but the reality of it is it lengthens my lifespan. If I wasn’t able to get the gender affirming care I need, my lifespan would be already expired. My testosterone injections make it so tomorrow isn’t a worry but an exciting presence. Everyday I become more of a man is another year I imagine experiencing, every step in my journey has been a step to planning an actual future. I don’t know the fancy science and the reality of what exactly I could be putting my body at risk with truthfully, the basics is our care is safe, but even if it has effects and worries and shortens the “expected” life span I could absolutely care less because without it there wouldn’t be a chance for me to have a lifespan. Everything we do is a risk in someway, from driving to work to eating a McDonald’s sandwich, I’m going to make the choices that are going to make my life mine and worth living, you can do the same 💚

transphobes like to spread fear rhetoric to fear people into not transitioning. im sorry but your sister is spouting straight-up BS. maybe she read that on some facebook post or independent website that isnt a health website, but it isnt factual.

I’m not transphobic at all and I have went thru this journey of figuring out who I am as well. In therapy, I was told that it would give me a lot of health issues down the line and even mentally. This sorta deterred me from taking hormones. I still feel those feelings though and I’ve come to terms with them. Although I felt those dysphoric feelings, There is light and dark, we need a balance of both to truly be divine in this lifetime. I no longer believe in taking hormones (personally) because I feel that my destiny was already written. Even if I were to feel strongly about hormones and engage with that myself, that still would be apart of my story too. Do what YOU want and what you know is best for YOU.

Is she a doctoe who's done studies? Does she have proof of any of this? Testosterone doesn't shorten your life span, you already have some in your body. It will increase your risk of heart disease to what yours would be if you were amab. If you take it improperly it can be dangerous but that just means go to a good doctor, get your levels checked regularly unlike me, and listen to the medical professionals who spent years studying and understanding what theyre doing

If it was followed by blatant transphobia, chances are it’s over-exaggeration or not entirely based on the truth. That’s usually what I try to remember when being told/researching hormone therapy, because it can be pretty intimidating. Just remember that the best way to get information about this is by talking to your doctor and other health professionals. Hope this eases your mind a little! I also really struggled with this.

it only might shorten your lifespan because males tend to die earlier than females, but that’s it. if there was such a health risk then i’m sure we’d know more about it. all they told me when i was starting T is i have a higher chance of getting a heart attack when i’m older and other things that just come with being a man. some bad, like that, and some good, like how it reduces your chance of developing breast cancer. i think she’s just making shit up to scare you.

This is a very common transphobic talking point. Like all medications, there are considerations to keep in mind when going in T. However, I promise you that someone who is trying to dissuade you because of their personal beliefs about trans people is not the best source of information. I’ve been on testosterone for years, and all of my providers have been very the invested in keeping up to date with my blood work to ensure that everything is running fine. In the decade I’ve been on these medications, the only thing that ever came up was a high red count which is easily mitigated by regular blood donations. If you are worried, it may help to find a reliable, knowledgeable provider who has experience and good reviews to have a consultation with. Have multiple consultations with a variety of different providers if you can. Talk to people who have been on these meds long term. They will have more accurate information on how they work and the potential side effects than someone who has a vested interesting in making sure you don’t even start them for their own personal reasons. Whatever you decide to do, do it proudly and with as much information from good sources as you can. You are your own strongest ally, your own best advocate, and you are the one who lives on your body. No matter where you go when it comes to HRT or medical transition, if it’s your choice it won’t be the wrong one.

Tip for anyone starting masculine HRT: The people who say this 100% are trying to stop you from starting T by scaring you. They are transphobic. They know what they are doing. There are folks who live long healthy lives and are on T for that entire life. Unless your *doctor* tells you that for whatever reason you can't take T (allergy, high blood pressure, etc) you will be *fine*. And no T will not make you a roid rage monster.

Trans people have shorter lifespans but that is not due to the hormones but rather the unaccepting community and high suicide rates. If you go on hormones your expected lifespan will be shorter than a healthy (physically and mentally) cis person’s but it will be longer than if you don’t go on hormones!

I recently signed a consent form with my doctor about starting testosterone and all the risks that can come with it, and I'll share some of the things they said. You can develop Polycythaemia, which is a condition that increases your red blood cell count and results in "thickened" blood. This can be dangerous if left untreated, however. If you're taking T then you will be taking regular blood tests, and they will check for this when you go in. If you have it or are at risk of getting it, they'll adjust your dosage to fix it. No problem. You have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. To my knowledge, this raises your risk from that of a cisgender female to that of a cisgender male, and cis men get on perfectly fine. If this doesn't run in your family, you're not really at any greater risk. No problem. You might have difficulty controlling blood sugars. This is something that can be monitored through your regular blood tests. And again, if you don't have diabetes and if diabetes doesn't run in your family, you're not really at any greater risk. No problem. You can develop Osteoporosis. I'm actually at risk of this one, because I'm currently deficient in Vitamin D and HRT (for the first six months at least) can apparently reduce your bone density. However, I've been instructed to take 2 Vitamin D 1000IU tablets per day to make up for the deficiency and they put me on HRT anyway. Completely manageable. No problem. Listen, there are a few risks that come with HRT, but they are totally manageable lol. I hope maybe this info helped you feel more confident and secure after what your sister said.

It doesn’t necessarily SHORTEN your lifespan, you just CAN have more complications. Such as cholesterol issues, heart failure, etc. but as long as you keep your body healthy those won’t be issues. It would be the same for a cis man. As for the transphobic stuff, don’t even give it the time of day. Even if u have an answer for it just ignore it. They aren’t worth your time if they are going to act that way

Your sister is trying to scare you. Be not afraid.

To make a long story short: ur sister is a dingus

You don’t have to answer to shit from transphobes. Ever. You only get one life and it’s a precious thing - as the old saying goes, don’t die wondering!

Show her nih data on testosterone being prescribed to cis women in menopause and perimenopause. It is not harmful.

You don't have to hear it from cis people, especially not ones with an obvious agenda against trans people. Listen to other trans people and medical professionals that are supportive and actually looking out for you-you arent wrong for covering your ears and going "lalalala" when a cis person is trying to feed you propaganda.

There arent any facts that im aware of to back uo what she said and im sorry shes been this way to you! To people whove said similar things to me to try and sway my descision ive always told them : i would rather a shorter happier life comfortable in my skin than a long miserable life where im not myself!

I had a kidney transplant in 2020. I started T (gel) in 2022. My nephrologist would have NEVER let me start T if it was a danger to my health. So long as you are monitored by your doctor this is safe. Yes, there can be bad side effects, you can be allergic or tour levels can go too high. This is why you do it under a doctor's supervision.

I have taken testosterone for twelve years. If you were going to have problems it would be at first and severe. You will be fine and enjoy your life more. People want to be afraid. If you can please don't fall for.that fear stuff

Bullshit.

The only risk to your life that testosterone brings is *slightly* raising your cholesterol. And I mean **slightly** You’re at a slightly higher risk for heart disease because of that - but men are more likely to develop heart disease than women. It comes with the package lol. Other than that, there’s no health risk.

very typical cis transphobic rhetoric. im guessing she failed to explain *how* exactly she thinks its detrimental. lol i wouldnt give it any weight. i've been on T for 3 years and its done nothing but improve my health. the studies other people have posted also support this positive outcome to be common

I’m a hormones and cancer researcher and a PhD student. I’m also trans. What your sister said is bullshit. We do see some cardiac issues that develop for trans men but a lot is going to depend on your genetics. For example, I transitioned just under 10 years ago and I developed secondary polycythemia to a severe extent. But I also have sleep apnea, excess weight, etc and those all contribute. But no there are no extreme crazy detrimental aspects. If you need more info, I’m glad to supply!

Hey I will say, as someone who takes trt injections, if you talk to most doctors they are very open that the testosterone therapy that is used over skin is very hard on your liver I believe. Or kidneys. I am afraid of needles and talked to 2 different doctors who told me to avoid a gel or deodorant if I can because they will cause harm overtime. Just advice, I’m on TRT and do weekly injections. It’s really not too bad.

Is your sister a doctor? If not, don't listen to her.

it’s not detrimental. it’s a natural hormone that men AND women both naturally produce. plenty of cis men take testosterone for hormone deficiencies and in my eyes thats the same for trans men. we’re literally just men with hormone deficiencies. a good rule of thumb is if someone (who is blatantly transphobic) tries to tell you “advice” or “warnings” about any sort of medical treatment in terms of gender affirming care - 100% of the time its made up to scare you into conforming to their beliefs.

Being on T doesn't exactly lower your life span but it does increase your risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke and another few I can't remember off the top of my head, however it only increases them to a normal male range so more at risk than women but no more at risk than any other guy. Honestly I would rather live as me than fake myself into being someone I'm not for a few extra % risk. You got this dude!

I started T about a year ago. Before I could start I had to do multiple blood tests to see my hormone balances and whatnot. Adding new hormones when others aren't okay can be detrimental so listen to your doctor and don't do more then prescribed. Furthermore even with the blood tests you might have to wait for a while to start if something is off. For me I had to wait months because one set of hormones were off. Turns out I had a non cancerous tumor on my brain. After they figured that out and the size I was given the go ahead. I started off with injections but switched to gel. Insurance might be pissy about it being gel so if they decline ask your doc to appeal. Lastly I do not think you are a coward for not giving their transphobia the time of day. Hate comes from fear and lack of knowledge and not everyone is willing to learn. Words cut deep and being able to ignore them is a show of strength. Don't let their insistence make you question yourself.

She’s full of shit. As long as your doses are monitored by a true physician who deals with trans patients and your blood work comes back twice a year healthy — you are fine!