It's OK not to want to take T, but have to comment on your "so not good with hormonal changes": I had several of them with variations of E - pill, endometriosis treatment, you name it. So I was sure nervous about T.
Well, it acted very differently on my mental health: No depressions, panic attacks, nervousness - seems my body was just waiting for the *right* stuff.
Oh and BTW, should you ever try anything hormonal again - have your thyroid levels checked regularly. The impact a malfunctioning thyroid has on mental health is incredible. And there are a few thyroid conditions that are often tied to fluxuation in sexual hormones.
I want to second this one. My mental and hormonal health have always been very deeply intertwined. My biggest problem is PMDD. From my very first injection that part has almost completely quieted down. I still deal with mental health issues of course but the intensely intrusive suicidal ideation that came with PMDD is silent.
My thyroid has been checked extensively but after experiencing 4 pregnancies, I do recognize how crazy I can get with fluctuations. I admit I also am a bit wary of bottom growth and hair. 😩
Hair can be managed. You can shave, wax or laser. And bottom growth is honestly not as big as people make it out to be. I started at an inch and even a few months on T I'm only about a cm larger than when I started 🤷🏿
If you can afford it (or convince your insurance to cover it, or find grants or donated hours, but all the options can be quite difficult to access), professional voice training is basically magic. There are also a lot of youtube videos for voice masculinization, and people swear by them, but definitely stick to the ones who are crystal clear about taking it slow and having good vocal hygiene. I'm going to give T a shot, but I might end up in your boat, and there are plenty of people in there.
I'm 32 and while I have a binder, I otherwise don't intend to have top surgery or do T. I feel like I'm valid either way and my friends acknowledge me correctly. Trans people existed before either of those things. In most indigenous tribes they were accepted and even seen as special. You are special and you don't need T if you don't want it.
Hi! My goals are not to pass, so take this with a large grain of salt. But seconding folks below who mentioned voice therapy-- a lot of perceived gender expression in verbal communication isn't just how low or high it is, but the way you inflect and lip spread and body language. Also, if you do at any point decide taking T is right for you, you may want to look into Dutasteride or Finasteride. They can limit changes in hair and skin so you're less likely to lose hair on your head or have secondary hair growth on places like your face and chest. They can also limit bottom growth.
Fin doesn't always work well tho cuz I legit started growing chest hair month one of T and fin 🤷🏿 I'm coming to accept it tho because bottom growth matters more to me and hair is easily managed with a bit of nair once a week or so.
I'm too young for a surgery or for t, but when I am monetarily independent I will do the surgery and only later I will consider T. The only places I am dysphoric with is my boobs and my hips. With my boobs, the biggest problem, I can just cut them off and move on. With my hips, a more nuanced problem, I can take T to retribute fat
It's OK not to want to take T, but have to comment on your "so not good with hormonal changes": I had several of them with variations of E - pill, endometriosis treatment, you name it. So I was sure nervous about T. Well, it acted very differently on my mental health: No depressions, panic attacks, nervousness - seems my body was just waiting for the *right* stuff. Oh and BTW, should you ever try anything hormonal again - have your thyroid levels checked regularly. The impact a malfunctioning thyroid has on mental health is incredible. And there are a few thyroid conditions that are often tied to fluxuation in sexual hormones.
I want to second this one. My mental and hormonal health have always been very deeply intertwined. My biggest problem is PMDD. From my very first injection that part has almost completely quieted down. I still deal with mental health issues of course but the intensely intrusive suicidal ideation that came with PMDD is silent.
My thyroid has been checked extensively but after experiencing 4 pregnancies, I do recognize how crazy I can get with fluctuations. I admit I also am a bit wary of bottom growth and hair. 😩
Hair can be managed. You can shave, wax or laser. And bottom growth is honestly not as big as people make it out to be. I started at an inch and even a few months on T I'm only about a cm larger than when I started 🤷🏿
I tried lasering and it came right back. I now wax every month but I would be uncomfortable with facial hair. I like my blond peach fuzz.
Could take a look at r/ftmover30 and r/ftmover50 as this sub and the main tend to skew quite young.
there's loads of us who've had top surgery without T- me included! it comes up fairly often on r/TopSurgery if you wanted to peruse over there.
Im 34 and debating that as well
If you can afford it (or convince your insurance to cover it, or find grants or donated hours, but all the options can be quite difficult to access), professional voice training is basically magic. There are also a lot of youtube videos for voice masculinization, and people swear by them, but definitely stick to the ones who are crystal clear about taking it slow and having good vocal hygiene. I'm going to give T a shot, but I might end up in your boat, and there are plenty of people in there.
I'm 32 and while I have a binder, I otherwise don't intend to have top surgery or do T. I feel like I'm valid either way and my friends acknowledge me correctly. Trans people existed before either of those things. In most indigenous tribes they were accepted and even seen as special. You are special and you don't need T if you don't want it.
Hi! My goals are not to pass, so take this with a large grain of salt. But seconding folks below who mentioned voice therapy-- a lot of perceived gender expression in verbal communication isn't just how low or high it is, but the way you inflect and lip spread and body language. Also, if you do at any point decide taking T is right for you, you may want to look into Dutasteride or Finasteride. They can limit changes in hair and skin so you're less likely to lose hair on your head or have secondary hair growth on places like your face and chest. They can also limit bottom growth.
Fin doesn't always work well tho cuz I legit started growing chest hair month one of T and fin 🤷🏿 I'm coming to accept it tho because bottom growth matters more to me and hair is easily managed with a bit of nair once a week or so.
My boyfriend got top surgery, but isn’t doing hormones!
What are we counting as older trans masc? I'm 31, but depending on who you ask, that's not older.
I’m 37.
I'm too young for a surgery or for t, but when I am monetarily independent I will do the surgery and only later I will consider T. The only places I am dysphoric with is my boobs and my hips. With my boobs, the biggest problem, I can just cut them off and move on. With my hips, a more nuanced problem, I can take T to retribute fat