takingtestosterone

[takingtestosterone]

6 months on T update

Sorry for the slight delay but here's my 6mo taking 2mg of T gel!

Pros: Hair growth! This is my favourite thing so far. I love the slight thickening of my leg and crotch hair, and my snail trail is really coming along. I think my face hair is thickening as well? But it's hard to tell cause it's so blond. I haven't noticed that much more bottom growth since the spurt I had at the 3/4mo mark but am happy with what I've got. The voice tho,, it's noticeable that my voice is straining when I'm trying to talk "normally", and that my natural range is lower. I love the reverb of it. I'm really trying to hold onto my head voice as I like singing but if it goes, it goes. Also my skin, surprising to some, I like how spotty I am. My back is a pain, but I like the texture my face has with its spot scars. I'm also pretty sure I'm getting squarer? Like my fave and waist have more weight/shape to them, so swag.

Cons: Nothing major! But with the summer approaching the body odour is already getting a little annoying. I've always been a sweaty person so it's nothing new but I've also found it harder to cool down. Not sure if it's just uncharacteristically warm but sleeping is becoming a ball ache cause I'm always too warm :/

Overall, I'm super happy! Keeping the dose as is for now. I anticipate having to lower it if more visible signs of T start but seen as my parents haven't pointed out my voice yet, I think I'll be good for a while.

[takingtestosterone]

I need testosterone so I can grow a fuck ass mustache that everyone hates

[takingtestosterone]

voice drop and dosage

so despite low dosing my voice has noticeably changed. I've lost some of my upper range and people keep asking whether I've got a cold. My voice feels like it reverberates in a new way and comes from my chest rather than throat (although idk how much it sounds like there's a bassiness to it).

As not everyone in my life knows I'm taking T, I have had to start training myself to sound how I used to. It's a funny thing, having my voice be most comfortable in a range that I used to strain to get to and now straining to return to what I used to sound like.

Because of this, instead of upping my dose to 3 pumps I'm actually lowering back to 1 for the time. Hopefully my current body hair growth doesn't decrease.

[takingtestosterone]

04/feb/25 — diary post

not much to update, but bloods came back well, going to be increasing my dose slightly.

cons: my back acne is returning with a vengeance

pros: my voice is dropping? is it a perpetual illness or the T?

[takingtestosterone]

10/jan/24 — GP experience

So today I got a call from my GP after I asked to be referred to the Greater Manchester Indigo gender clinic (I'm using Indigo cause they have a tiny waiting list compared to other UK gender clinics, they are now seeing people referred in April 2023, and see myself staying in Greater Manchester for the foreseeable). The GP was lovely and did not challenge my current taking of Tostran. It was a quick process and I'm thankful I didn't have to prove my masculinity over the phone.

I'll be getting a blood test next week as my 3 month on T is coming up, and I'm thinking of upping my dosage from 20mg to 30mg. I'm so grateful to have such a supportive GPs.

[takingtestosterone]

stomach hair(!!)

I can't express how happy I am that my stomach hair is coming in. Gel placement is paying off. Despite T generally making skin oiler and triggering breakouts (yes, I do have spots on my stomach), my skin has been dry/flaky where I'm applying the gel. I think this might be because of the daily friction against that area of my skin, or perhaps due to me stopping taking the combined pill.

So I gotta remember to moisturise! This hair growth has been the most notable change – it's only a few dark strands coming through. I haven't experienced hair changes anywhere else yet.

[takingtestosterone]

02/nov/24 — updates

So! Just over a month on T (20mg of gel a day) and there have been some noticeable changes. Some of these changes are also to do with my no longer taking 150/30 Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol.

Oilier skin. I've started breaking out on my upper/middle chest and above my stomach (where I most often apply the gel) and my back a little. I had bad acne on my back in my youth and expect that to return. I may start applying the gel to my legs to reduce chest spots.

Bottom growth. It's ever so slight but I'm pretty sure it's happening. My libido is increasing although I think this has more to do with coming off my Levest pills than the T.

I'm getting better with my voice training. I don't expect any noticeable changes to my physical vocal chords any time soon (which is good for being stealth about hrt). And I generally feel more confident in my masculinity which is what it's all about!

[takingtestosterone]

22/nov/24 — gel placement

So I've been trying out applying the T I use in different areas. I find that it absorbs quicker in different places and I'm not fully sure why. My calves are quickest, in the sense they are completely dry first compared to e.g. my stomach. This area is somewhat sticky to the touch for a while after application instead. I'm therefore applying it to my calves on days where I don't shower, as I don't have the time to wait before getting dressed and can put on short whilst it dries.

Has anyone else found this? I'm thinking that perhaps the texture of the skin is the culprit.

[takingtestosterone]

for whoever needs to hear this:

starting HRT doesn't have to be a huge momentous all-or-nothing decision. you can just try it like you would an antidepressant you've been informed of the risks of.

there won't be any immediate irreversible changes overnight. you can always stop, change your dose, change your delivery system, decide it's not the right time. you can even microdose if you want to.

you don't have to tell anyone. you don't have to announce it if you don't want to.

stop waiting for a perfect time in your life because it won't come.

stop waiting to reach a mythical level of certainty that never comes to anyone, for anything.

you've been thinking about it long enough. if you have the opportunity, just give it a shot. you're worth the courage it takes to make a change in your life.

[takingtestosterone]

Something I didn't anticipate about this journey was T themed dreams. I think I have some anxiety/guilt about my parents (who are my financial support) not knowing I'm doing this which is causing stress dreams.

In one I had a moustache that I was trying to secretly shave...

[takingtestosterone]

27/oct/24 — first dose!

For my first time applying the Tostran I used the first pump that came out with gel (I'm not going to waste the gel by priming the canister, although this is recommended) and rubbed it on my stomach in small circles until it had dried. I'm choosing this area and my thighs, alternating each dose, as hair tends to come in thickest where the gel is applied. Snail trail gang!

It does feel momentous. I'm excited to continue sharing changes. I might talk vaguely about how I procured it but I do not want to put my supplier (or myself) in any danger

[takingtestosterone]

Pinned post

Welcome to my side blog about my DIY HRT journey, you can call me Tj and my pronouns are he/him, this is a sideblog!

I am making this blog as a record about what it's like to be on HRT via not so legal means in the UK.

I'll do "traditional" T updates (changes to my body etc), as well as speaking about the experiences I have (with family, procuring hrt, blood tests, interacting with healthcare professionals) as someone who self medicates.

Please don't hesitate to use the ask box!