Masculinizing hormone therapy includes medications that will increase testosterone levels in your body to cause masculinizing changes to occur. It is important to let your provider know if you take any other prescribed medications or over-the-counter supplements as these may interfere with masculinizing medications.
Testosterone can be given in many ways. The most common include: injections or topical gels and patches. It is important to let you provider know your entire medical history such as heart disease and cancers if any.
The primary risk related to testosterone therapy is elevation of red blood cell count.
Other possible concerns sometimes related to testosterone therapy include:
Below we have provided a list of common physical changes. Changes may be noticeable in 1 to 6 months and will continue throughout life. It is important to know that everyone is different. Things that will not change include height.
In 1 to 6 months:
If you might want children in your future, talk to your provider about fertility options before starting hormone therapy.
Even though your periods may stop when you take masculinizing hormone therapy, you should still use birth control if you engage in vaginal sex.
Your provider will recommend that you regularly come for follow up care after these hormones have started. Follow up visits may include physical examinations, measurement of hormone levels and sometime other testing depending on your age and medical problems. Other tests may include a bone density, mammogram, pelvic exam and/or pap smear, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screen and follow up of blood sugar and cholesterol.
Find an endocrinologist today to ensure that you are on the path to health with the right medical care. Keep Your Body In Balance!
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