A question about low T

[Charlena]

Hello all, I have a few questions that I would like your opinion on, instead of grouping several together I would like to ask one or two at a time and learn from your experience and knowledge;

I am 51 years old, am not on HRT as I have not decided yet wether it is right for me. I have a long term P-doc and am seeing a gender therapist.
I have low T, have for several years (15 years?) for the first 5 or six years I took the weekly shot as the Doctor said it might help with depression and libido, it did not and I quit taking the shots.
My question is if I go back on shots (for lethargy) will this bring male attibutes that I do not want. I am healthy but feel low on energy.

I also realize that low T can be a natural part of aging as one gets older.

I welcome your thoughts, Lena

I read other threads about this but i would still like your comments please, Thank You.

[JohnH]

Off the top of my head if I knew I had low testosterone I think I would take estrogen to prevent osteoporosis. Testosterone might cause complications with the prostate such as enlargement. But I cannot speak from experience.

Johanna

[LaurenS.]

51 is not old and certainly not old enough to be causing abnormally low T levels. I don't know what your level is or how you are feeling now compared to how you were feeling when you were taking T shots before. Were you lethargic before when you took the shots? Did it help? You really need to be talking to a professional. We all have our own experiences and knowledge but you could possibly get many different answers. I can only tell you from my own experience that I had low T levels before I went on hormones and was happy that I did. But I was not lethargic or depressed. Libido was OK until hormones. You need to decide where you are mentally in your life in order to make any T decisions. Taking T will or should make you more masculine.
You need to understand all of your health issues and then know where you want to be mentally. To me I would think that if you don't know if hormone therapy is right for you then it probably isn't.
Don't take anything I say to the bank. Just trying to be helpful.
I know dealing with all of this is such mental turmoil.
Good luck to you.
Lauren

[Chickhe]

Sometimes I feel lethargic, but I find if I force myself to get up and do something especially some physical activity I end up feeling better.

[Stephanie Anne]

Don't care so much about appearance. your health is more important that wanting to avoid extra back hair.

[Dawn D.]

Charlena,

I have been where you are! I had low T. It started when I was in my early to mid forties. Unfortunately it wasn't found out about until I was about 48 and was misdiagnosed as anemia. In my case though, I had it sever enough that I contracted osteoporosis as well!

It is not really normal to develop low T at such a young age. Yet, dealing with it should be a primary health concern no matter how young or old you are. If you and your doctor feel that T injections are the way to go and you do not risk other health issues, then I would probably take my doctors advice.

Areas of concern for me were, the prostate and the effects of injecting T when I already had BPH. My own research showed me that I felt the risks of adding more T was not worth potentially contracting prostatic cancer. So, I opted for another method of getting that energy level up.

Since I had already come out to my doc that I am transsexual prior to this discovery, I sought out medically how E would perform as a substitute for T. There really isn't much data on that subject. Yet I did find a little bit via searching the internet. Convincing my doctor to "go" with that method was a "no go". He had me try one of those bisphosphonate drugs for the osteoporosis which nearly killed me. I had to find another doctor who would listen and was willing to prescribe and monitor. I was successful.

To date, my E levels are at that of a teenage girl, my T levels are as well. The effects of such a regimen which include vitamin D, Calcium and exercise, are that I no longer have osteoporosis. I have renewed energy levels, I dare say even better than what I had as a teenager. My blood panels show none of the markers that were seen as me having anemia and are fully clear. Sadly though, the loss of libido is not only a trademark of low T, but, also an outcome of introduction of E. That may change once I am able to have GRS. We'll just have to wait and see.

I think you could expect a return to higher energy levels if you went back on T. Your libido should also return. Other male indicators probably wouldn't be affected from an external physical aspect. Unless, you are someone who never really had a lot of body hair before. I have a friend who also had Low T at the age of 49. He never had much in the way of facial or body hair. After starting the injections, he looks like a freaking gorilla with all the extra hair he's developed. His skin texture also changed. It became a LOT more leathery. He also developed a higher aggression level. Not something particularly attractive!

These are all just my opinions and not representative of, nor intended to be any form of medical advice. For that, seek out a professional opinion from trained, licensed and qualified medical personnel!


Dawn

[JohnH]

My two cents worth:


Since I had already come out to my doc that I am transsexual prior to this discovery, I sought out medically how E would perform as a substitute for T. There really isn't much data on that subject. Yet I did find a little bit via searching the internet. Convincing my doctor to "go" with that method was a "no go". He had me try one of those bisphosphonate drugs for the osteoporosis which nearly killed me.

Good old "masculine anxiety" pandemic to this society!


I have a friend who also had Low T at the age of 49. He never had much in the way of facial or body hair. After starting the injections, he looks like a freaking gorilla with all the extra hair he's developed. His skin texture also changed. It became a LOT more leathery. He also developed a higher aggression level. Not something particularly attractive!
Dawn

I'm curious. Did he like those effects?

As for me I would really hate those effects. I like my soft skin, small B cup breasts [would like them larger], and relative hairlessness [even less hair on my body would be great!]. So I guess I am transgendered. Just an aside - however I do have a very deep basso profundo voice which I really like. It's kind of ironic that I look kind of like a girl but have the deepest voice of any of the men in the community chorus.

By the way, Dawn, you look great! You look like a woman in her late 30's or early 40's.

Johanna

[Charlena]

Thank you all, you have given me something to think about. Next week I see my therapist and will ask his opinion and I think I would like to go with the estrogen regiment. The T injections did make me aggressive and angry and I DID NOT like that. That is not me. The labido thing deoes not really matter much to me or my spouse (she has had four surguries in two years) we both love each other very much. I actually do not care to get aroused it just does not feel right anymore... if it ever did? Thanks again, Lena.

[Dawn D.]

My two cents worth:




I'm curious. Did he like those effects?

As for me I would really hate those effects. I like my soft skin, small B cup breasts [would like them larger], and relative hairlessness [even less hair on my body would be great!]. So I guess I am transgendered. Just an aside - however I do have a very deep basso profundo voice which I really like. It's kind of ironic that I look kind of like a girl but have the deepest voice of any of the men in the community chorus.

Johanna


As a matter of fact, he is thrilled with his outcome. He found out what his problem was with having low T after I came out to him and explained all of the medical issues that made me make sense, to myself, lol (sounds a bit twisted, but true)! In a way this sort of helped him accept that his friend (me) was suffering from a medical issue, and not a whimsical choice. He's a real nut about fitness and works out daily. Since he has started T, he has also had an incredible gain in muscular mass. Something us MTF's shutter at the thought of!


By the way, Dawn, you look great! You look like a woman in her late 30's or early 40's.

Oh, yeah! That's all I need! Feed my ego! LOL. Seriously though, thank you so much! I've only had fourteen 39th birthdays, lol!


Dawn