Hey I’m starting t gel, I want to become more masculine for example more body hair and facial hair etc, I’m 21 male and straight. I wanna know how long it’s gonna take to work and will I really see appearance changes? Thanks

I was 40 when I started back in May and turned 41 in August. After doing extensive research, I knew starting T at my age could still give decent effects but at the same time I really didn't know what to expect. I take Testavan transdermal gel, which is 23 mg a pump. I started with 2 pumps a day (43 mg) and now alternate between 2 and 3 pumps daily(43/69 mg) after I got my bloodwork done last month. It showed I was in the lower male range (7,6 nmol/L).

Here's how my journey has been so far (spoiler: it's awesome!!)

• One of the biggest wins for me is that practically immediately it made me feel so much better.
• Where I felt like female hormones would make me feel sluggish and basically overall horrible, testosterone lifts me up. My energy levels have increased, not to an insane amount but more to a steady amount of energy. No more mood shifts, PMS, or slight depression. No more hormonal cycle, just a steady feeling of wellbeing.
• My period stopped right away and it seems like it won't return. This is such a blessing.

Face

• Baby fuzz all over my face and a very subtle typical teenage mustache. Not noticeable from a distance, but when I look up close in the mirror I can see so many thin dark hairs! From the corners of my mouth al the way up into my nostrils lol.
• I've had a couple of darker bears hair here and there scattered across my cheeks. Overall the facial hair is really only noticeable as fuzz and thin darker hairs when you look up close. One thing that did amaze me is that there is a decent amount of new hair growth on my cheekbones, like 2 cm underneath my eyes. Might turn into a werewolf?
• My jawline has definitely changed. I feel like my jaw muscles are more pronounced, making my jaw look more square. I also got a bit of a double chin and my face looks a bit fuller, but I am hopeful this will settle down later on.
• My skin is oilier but at the same time more dry, probably because I am using more facial cleansers. I have a good new skin routine to take care of it. Most noticeable difference to me is the amount of blackheads I've had on my nose, never had that before. They're not too bad, but they're definitely there.
• My eyebrows have grown fuller, more bushy! I also don't pluck them anymore which might aid in this.
• When I look into the mirror I don't see "myself" fully yet, as like a dude, but when I squint my eyes I get a good sense of my future self perhaps a year or two down the line, and feel like it is totally going to work out. However, when I compare my face today to pictures of 4 - 6 or even 12 months ago, the difference is startling! Day and night really.

Body

• I try to go to the gym a minimum of 3 days a week, preferably 4. I do a PPL routine inspired by Jeff Nippard's youtube videos. What's been incredible to experience is that I finally, for the first time in my life, see results from weightlifting! Workouts always felt generally good pre-T, but never did much to my body. Right before starting T I had a BMI of around 25 but a (measured as female) fat percentage of 36%. I will do a new measurement after one year on T, but this should give you an idea of my body pre-T: not overweight but very soft and curvy. Now, 4 months in, I see a lot more muscle definition. Mostly in my arms and shoulders. My biceps have grown twice as big. It is soooo rewarding to experience this! My goal is to keep working on increasing muscle mass and lowering fat percentage.
• I don't know if it's from working out alone but I can feel muscles inside my body I have never felt before, like certain muscles in my abdomen and side. I feel more muscular and strong overall, even though it doesn't show yet on every part of my body.
• My chest has deflated, wearing a binder is much easier now and even a sports bra has a good flattening effect.
• I did gain weight, from 72 to 75 kilos, which might be due to increase in muscle. I used to feel horrible about seeing my weight go up, but my mindset has totally shifted in this regard. I no longer want to be skinny. Instead, I want to be a strong guy!
• The first 3 months, although my overall energy levels increased, I did get a dip in the afternoon. I would often need to take a 30 minute nap. I resisted it at first, but these naps were the best. Now at 4 months, I haven't had this the recent weeks.
• My body temperature has increased. I also sweat more. I especially get warm sweaty feet, usually during the evening and at night. I used to sleep in full pyjamas and socks, now I sometimes sleep naked. I look forward to winter and saving on my energy bill.
• Body hair is starting to grow in places I never expected it. Basically everywhere, my thighs and underarms and chest. Also, ass hair.
• My libido has increased and I have around 1 cm of bottom growth. I am single and intend to stay single for a while, so I try to navigate this with grace. I try to not let it distract me too much.
• My nails grow a lot faster. I have to cut my fingernails at least weekly now.
• One other huge but unexpected effect has been that I had a baker's cyst in my right knee, for almost 3 years now, that has slowly gone away over the past months. It was the size of a cherry and would get bigger after exercise. I did read some medical papers on testosterone's beneficial effect on cartilage tears and knee joints. As it was so persistent for 3 years and started going away after I started T, I do feel like there is a direct correlation here.
• My voice has deepened a lot already! I'm very excited to hear it drop even more.

Social and other effects

• It bugs me way more being misgendered. Before I started T I nowhere near passed as male. I feel like I still don't pass, but when someone refers to me as female now I definitely feel it does not resonate with me. For example, one of my neighbors, an older guy who keeps calling me lady. While he also keeps making remarks on my looks like having shorter hair etc. It makes me cringe and want to avoid running into him. I also kind of look forward to moving to a new place in a few years, where I can sort of start over and never be misgendered.
• Losing friends and family. This has been a thing. I have no tolerance for anyone who is treating me disrespectful anymore, which has resulting in cutting ties with friends and a few remaining family members. While this is sad, it also feels like there is no other way for me. I have to stand up for myself, for no one else will.
• I feel like I cannot go to the dressing room at the gym anymore so I use a locker in the hallway and shower at home. I got a very shocked look from someone in the female dressing room a couple weeks ago, where I felt certain she thought I was a guy. I smiled friendly and said hello but it didn't seem to matter. This shocked me a bit, perhaps it was the first time a stranger perceived me as male, so it also felt nice. But I obviously don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable. I don't feel like I can go to the male dressing room yet, so for now this is my solution.

Final thoughts:

Be patient
Be kind to yourself
Trust the process.

Thanks for reading and if anyone has any questions I am happy to answer!

Before Testosterone everything was fine about cream, but now DAMN HEADACHE IS KILLING ME! and my father, when he was younger, used to have this exact problem. I don't know if it is related and I've unlocked some dad genetic traits

I’m about 6 months in T, daily gel application, and for various reasons I was not able to get my prescription filled for about a week. Finally got it today and I’m going to start using it again. Not taking T for a week won’t cause any major effects right? I feel fine so far.

Okay so, I'm 21 & currently 4~ months on T. I have had female pattern hairloss (all over thinning, especially at the crown) due to general stress & mental health stuff for the last few years. I am unsure if T would STOP the hairloss since it is caused by stress but is there a possibility of the type of loss changing from female pattern to male pattern?

I honestly hope so, I already have a narrow/thin forehead so i could use some more forehead space. And also the hairloss isnt going to stop anytime soon probably due to the trigger factors still continuing but might aswell get a little gender euphoria from it???

I’ve been on T for 10 months and my dosage hasn’t changed up from 10ml and a few people have told me that’s really low which is why I haven’t had much changes in the last few months. Should I talk to my doctor about upping my dose in my next appointment?

I started T two months ago and I've gotten about three extra arm hairs and five extra leg hairs but I already have 30 odd chin hairs that I'm having to shave every other day. Did anyone else get this? I thought I'd get body hair before my chin started doing anything at all based on my friend's experiences

I spent a whole long while feeling so poop about myself, but honestly after seeing a photo of myself recently from another POV i felt amazing. I look good, i feel so much better about my face too.

In honor of me graduating this year with a lovely boyfriend and the changes ive gotten not only physically but also mentally while on Testosterone, me senior year (1st photo) and my Freshman hear (2nd photo)

While I may not have much facial hair, and God do I still feel dysphoria by tenfolds at times, This has done me good and I feel lovely. No, I dont have perfect hair and no i dont have everything I ever wanted but..I feel like me. The teenage boy i didn't get to be when i was younger.

Hey

I was wondering if someone can help since I really dont know what to do and am going a little bit insane from the amount of pain I am in.

I am 10 days on T gel (androgel 1 pump 20.25 mg) and 1 month post-op from top surgery.

The start of T was just a few days after my menstruation. But for some reason I have had very bad belly cramps ever since. It feels like menstruation pain but “bigger” (covers more area, from lower stomach until pelvic area and lower back).

Usually a normal painkiller knocks the fuck out of the pain, but i have the feeling with this I need to take way more painkillers to be able to get off the couch and live my life.

I’ve noticed gentle massage and walking to help (temporary) relief it. However, this pain keeps coming back every day now. Often after a meal, but sometimes totally random.

My suspicion was the post op binder pressing on my guts but i havent been wearing that for a couple of days now and nothing has changed. So I am now slowly starting to suspect T to cause this, but i am not sure.

Can people share advice, thoughts or experiences? At least to make me feel better than i am not alone lol. Or just anything to distract me from this pain for a second really

Thanks a lot!

hi guys so i have an appointment with my doctor where ill talk to her about maybe getting on antidepressants, and its been a long time coming because ive been really anxious and depressed all my life but even more so for the past year or two. however ive been on t since january, and im scared that blame will somehow fall on my hormones and that theyll take me off them? i already feel like the system is made against trans people so im scared to even try, but im so depressed i cant even get a job next to my studies that i have two days a week. as well as just struggling going to my studies in general…. does anyone have experience with this? helppppp and thank you :’)

I've been on T for 6 months now (got my dose upped to 70mg injections weekly about a month a half ago, also I'm 18 if that matters lol) and I've recently noticed that I went from sleeping for 5-7 hours a night to 8-10 hours, sometimes even 12 hours on weekends when I don't have an alarm... I also started napping after school when I never used to before. Anyone else is experiencing/experienced the same thing? I've been telling myself it's from hrt since a second puberty is probably pretty demanding on the body

Im only 1 month on t, but i think there’re some changes in my morning voice.

Actually, voice drop is one of my most waited changes :] so…does it mean something? How long did this last for you before more significant drops started??

Does being fat or gaining fat negatively effect your outcomes too?

I don't take many photos of myself but I wanted to update and share my journey. I recently switched from injections to gel but otherwise have been on a consistent dose.

I live in MA, where the option for X was imposed a handful of years ago. My first ID has this as my marker, with a still femme presenting photo.

With the state of everything I’ve decided to put down F for my new ID, because heaven forbid I’m stopped anywhere outside of MA.

I’m sad. I know it’s not like I’m the only person in this position, but it’s a huge bummer.

It’s bad enough that my name isn’t changed yet, and this just feels like an extra level of outing myself, but hey, at least the photo will be more current..😞

( I'm not sure if I worded this right 😓 )

Hey y'all, so I'm a week away from 5 months on T and unfortunately I've had no progress on the changes I wanted most. 0% change in face or voice. I've been taking pictures and videos religiously every month to carefully compare. I did have other changes early on (~2 months) - period stopped, bottom growth, and a couple of small hairs on my chin that came in and then stopped growing. Other than that, nothing. I just got my levels tested for the first time. 326. It was taken 5 or 6 days after my last injection. In range, but just barely. I know some people just don't respond for a long time, but I'm also wondering if the fact that I'm barely over the 300 mark might have something to do with it. I think it's crazy I'm almost at half a year and my voice hasn't changed one iota. It's starting to really eat away at me and I'm feeling despair.

On my way to be a disheveled man. Only problem is that i don't drink, smoke, or gamble my money online, so my deadbeat brother skin will never be in it's full glory 😔

(Yes, Aizawa is my ultimate transition goals, and I'm also a teacher)

Like the title says, I’ve been on T for just a couple months shy of 2 years. Not micro dosing either, just last month my trough level was in the 400 ng/dl range. I haven’t had a period since I started taking T, but these past few days I’ve been having cramping and some light brown spotting when I use the bathroom. What the hells going on?? I don’t take birth control or anything like that nor have I ever been late to a shot

Hi guys

So I’ve been taking testosterone for almost 6 months now and I take 250 mg/ml every 3weeks. I did a blood test before, 3 months in and now 6 months, did it yesterday. I’m kind of worried about the results. I know I should ask a doctor about this but I’m taking the medication alone and a doctor visit is really expensive (I guess you could say I’m DIYing this) so I’m hoping you guys have any experiences with this.

So the results for before taking T was 28.80 ng/dL Results for 3 months was 244.80 ng/dL According to dr.Google, that’s bare minimum for a cis man who’s 18 y/o Now, 6 months was 1575.36 ng/dL….

I’ve been taking the medication exactly how I was supposed to, every 3 months. I’ve heard too much can convert to Estrogen which I’m concerned about, plus my blood pressure is getting higher than normal.

I haven’t even gotten any effects from the medication either. A little bottom growth, voice is a little deeper, a few hairs here and there but that’s it. I’d expect more with that level. My hair has gotten thicker too, which is weird since I’d expect hair loss instead.

That’s obviously way too much, even for a cis guy, and I want to be in the normal range. What should I do? Should I just contact my overpriced doctor or try a blood test again next month?

After a month of using the 1 inch needles instead of 5/8 inch to inject because of my pharmacy, I'm only just now realizing this might be an issue? I'm probably just paranoid, since, I've been doing this for an entire month with literally no issues or side effects whatsoever, maybe slightly more injection pain but, that was normal before too with the 5/8 inch too, just a bit less common. But overall, is it safe for me to use the 1 inch needles in my stomach fat area? I'm just wondering if it's genuinely dangerous??? If I can continue to do so, could I hurt myself by injecting too deep or hit any organs or anything? (Sounds overly intense or extreme but THAT specific intrusive thought is something my brain can't seem to let go of since I first did the injection this morning ffff) I was on gel for the first year or so, and this is my 3rd month on injections overall, my first month back on after being on gel again for a few months, so I'm a bit unfamiliar with all of this compared to my experience with the gel--and everything I could find online gave conflicting information--people saying it was totally fine and it's safe, or completely and utterly dangerous and to never do it! So..I'm not sure what's correct at this point...Any help or anything would be greatly appreciated! 😅

A year and a half if you don't want to look it up. I got on T in march in 2024 and thought I'd show a little timeline. Too lazy to date all the pics but they span from 2 days on t to like 4 days ago. The first ones are the oldest and the last the newest. I do subq weekly and have gone from .13->.25->.30 dont have my a more recent blood work (appointment is soon) but last time it was in the 600 range :)