One Year Testosterone! (A Timeline)
I’ve officially been on T for a year! I’m not sure what to say besides I’m so relieved I went in for my initial consult. The me who, a little over a year ago, made that post saying man I really need to schedule that appointment feels almost like another person. Maybe not another person. Just a more confused, insecure person. If I could sit down with one-year-ago-me I would tell him that I’m proud he made the appointment because it was completely worth it :) If you’re reading this because you’re FtM, nonbinary, or a friend or family member of someone trans, here’s what a year’s progression of taking testosterone is like.
First, keep in mind that results are different for everyone. For example, if you’re nonbinary and microdosing on testosterone, results will be different than someone on a standard dose. And even the results of a standard dose vary from person to person because of genetics.
1 DAY - About 24 hours after my first dose, I had a sex drive for the first time in years. My sex drive skyrocketed for about the first 6 months and then evened out a little. It’s very healthy now.
1 MONTH - My energy level was a lot better. I have a chronic illness and I found that I was able to exercise, sleep and eat better. I’m not sure how much of that was just because of the hormones or because I was starting to feel more confident. I think it was a little of both. Looking forward to “passing” has definitely motivated me to try to stay fit. Also, my clitoris enlarged about half the size of what it is now which is about an inch.
1-2 MONTHS - My voice started cracking. I stopped being able to sing. Throat was sore sometimes. It took about 6-8 months for my voice to reach its current pitch. It hasn’t deepened in a few months so it might be done. Appetite started changing; wanted less carbs, more veggies and protein. About 50% of people called me ma’am on the phone, and almost every stranger called me “ma’am/she/her” in public.
3-6 MONTHS - Lots and lots of ass and leg hair. Increased pubic hair. Fat started redistributing. Slimmed out a little, became less hourglass shaped and more rectangular. Fat in my face redistributed and I started to have a more noticeable jaw. Processing my feelings and expressing them became more difficult in part due to hormones and in part because I wasn’t sure how I wanted to present myself. Had to deeply reflect on positive masculinity and what that meant to me. A few strangers at drive-thrus and in stores would call me “he/him.” Nobody “ma’amed” me over the phone anymore. Calves became pretty defined.
6ish MONTHS - Started getting compliments on my forearms which I gratefully took lol. Started noticing that things like my forearms and hands looked more masculine and had more defined veins. About half of strangers would call me “he/him.” Started to get belly hair.
10 MONTHS - Started really noticing my sideburns coming in. Strangers stopped “ma’aming” me, exclusively called sir in public. All acquired fat started going to my gut...hooray. My hips and ass drastically squared out. Started to get my first few light blond chin hairs. Cried for the first time since starting testosterone, not for lack of wanting to, just the way the hormones worked with me.
1 YEAR, current! - I have a very, very light blond 5 o’clock shadow, moustache and chin hair. It is visible in photographs. My sideburns are still coming in and they’re thick. Starting to get chest hairs. Face is much more masculine compared to older photos.
There’s still a long ways to go but I’m happy with the progress. I definitely got lucky with genetics when it comes to facial and body hair. I don’t have a lot of beard hair yet but I have enough that I can see where it’s going to really come in, which is great progress. Can’t wait to check back in next year! Love and peace!
