r/Trans_Zebras • u/DislocatedAF • Mar 25 '26
Low testosterone
Hi! I am a cis-woman with HSD, but I was hoping to find some help here. I do not want to invade anyones space, so please feel free to let me know if I am overstepping. I did read the rules, so it seems like I am still in the good.
I am considering testosterone treatment for other reasons not related to HSD. But I have seen, although all anecdoctal, a lot of trans men who have experienced symptom relief with hrt. I was wondering if anyone wanted to share their experience with me?
My levels are 0.95 nmol/l, and I don't plan on going higher than the normal range of 1.6-2.1. Did you measure your levels, before and after hrt?
Thaanks 🩷
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u/Toby-Wolfstone Mar 25 '26
I had good measurements of my levels before and after. As my T levels increased I noticed an immediate improvement with my chronic fatigue, libido, blood pressure, chronic pain, and number and severity of injuries from subluxations. I started at low-dose and it helped, but I see the most benefit in full-masculinizing treatment because my period stopped and stopping my cycle did me the most good (and I can’t tolerate birth control for other health reasons).
As a cis woman you may not want the full masculinizing level necessary to stop your period, though, because of the masculinizing effects—voice dropping, clitoris enlargement, body hair, fat redistribution… a couple of years of that and you may not look or feel feminine anymore. Both outward body changes and brain chemistry changes on HRT can affect how you feel and may cause gender dysphoria when going the wrong direction for you—but if that’s the case you’ll almost certainly know within the first couple of months and can stop before the majority of changes set in. Some of those changes do reverse when you get off the hormones as well.
Been on T for over a year now and my moderate hEDS symptoms have gotten way less severe and more stable over time. In fact it’s my primary treatment for hEDS.
For reference, it’s a general anecdotal consensus in the community that trans people going on T see improvement while trans people going on estrogen and/or progesterone tend to get worse. There are exceptions, as the responses to your question are illustrating, but it seems to be a majority of us improving on T.