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Testosterone
- Started taking
Testosterone at 27 years old
- I take testosterone
for... um, this isn't such a straight
forward question for me. I was firstly attracted
to what it would do for the physicality of my
body, i.e. that it would remove my curvy bits,
which were the bain of my existence. I
completely hated my female body and once I
decided to go on T I knew I would be able to
cope with the secondary effects of presenting as
a guy in society and what that entailed. It
worked and I now 'pass' and am a different
person in terms of my joy/ contentment of how I
relate to my body. A side effect that I didn't
expect was that I am more into the 'maleness'
than I thought I would be. The hormones changed
my internal emotional world and I continue on
this path because I find that I am calmer and
more satisfied on several levels other than the
ones that started me out.
- The end result of
taking testosterone for me is put simply,
I present as a guy to the general public, as
well as privately. There are many social,
medical and emotional consequences that need to
be considered and re-considered on a
semi-regular basis for me. I check in with
myself and my lover, because although I identify
as a guy and look like a guy, my female history
can at times be difficult to fit in to my new
identity. T doesn't change you into a completely
different person, so you retain your
socialisation as well as a large sense of
yourself. I never found a day when I woke up and
my life had changed and that was it, rather it
has been a long and negotiated path.But
ultimately I'm much better off.
Habits & Health
- Do smoke
- Only drink socially
- Only use drugs now and then
Mental Health
No answer
Life prior to Treatment
Life before transition is
harder to have a complete understanding of. I
prescribe only partly to the medical model of
having a medical condition. I also think that that
there are many sociological factors that collate to
form gender identities in differing cultures.
Having been socialised in this cultural setting
means that i participate in the western constructs
of gender identities and gender politics. It would
be silly of me therefore to think that because I
never wanted to wear a dress at the age of three
has overwhelmingly led me to transition as I know
it now.
I identified as a
lesbian
My life was kinda
normalish before T. I wasn't the whole person that
I am now, but many people have emotional issues for
all sorts of reasons, I had a few as well, I don't
see it as a specific trans related issue, but
rather a human issue..
Yes, I had an 'exit-plan'
in my late teens and early twenties.
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Treatment & Effects
What medical
process/hormone regime —
Pretty general in that I
saw my GP who referred me to Endo, who started me
on hormones. I am in hindsight a bit disappointed
that I wasn't asked to see a psyche, as there are
several ways that it would have helped me to
discuss things and therefore have a fuller
understanding of what it all meant to me. I have
been referred on and will be having chest surgery
very soon!
What changes occured
that you wanted? —
- the masculising
process over all, my body fat moved from my
hips
- I have much more
muscle mass
- I have the sideburns I
always wanted...
What changes occured
that you didn't want? —
- I could do without the
back and bum hair!
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body type
before
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pear
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body type
after
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I'm more trunk
like
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weight
before
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92 kg
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weight
after
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80 kg
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height
before
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178cm
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height
after
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178cm
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Did testosterone or
transition change your sexuality (who you are
attracted to)? —
No, um, not really, I have
always been a bit bisexual. I'm more likely to be
more comfortable in a sexual relationship with a
guy now, because I'm more confident overall, but
its all theoretical because I'm married.
Attitudes of HealthCare Providers
Positive aspects of
healthcare provider treatment —
They're understanding and
attitude has been great. They have attempted to
form long term relationships with me, which is
great because I will be seeing them for a long
time... it just makes things more
comfortable.
Negative aspects of
healthcare provider treatment —
They keep asking about
when I plan to have surgery. They mean well, but
its a bit draconian in that I'm expected to want it
or that my treatment has progressed with a silent
understanding that I will be submitting to it
(which I will be), but it has come up more than
several times.
Other Comments
No answer
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Kevin
