something else really important that's been on my mind recently concerning transmasculine issues, intersex people with vulva-like structures, smaller penises etc is bottom growth. a lot of trans guys online have a huge thing against it and are either really afraid of it or seem disgusted by it in general.
however you feel about it, the fact remains that information about it can be really difficult to find that isn't just "it will happen." it's pretty stigmatized. i'm gonna talk about it in more depth below the cut. some things to expect when starting T, how to care for it, how you may need to change washing and hygiene, etc. consider this a crash course in bottom growth.
please do not sexualize this post or make sexual comments about/towards transmasculine people or anyone else on this post. it isn't the place to do so.
i'm gonna try my best to break this down into coherent sections so bear with me.
1. growth itself
this depends on your dose, and if you're taking finasteride (DHT blocker) or not (and also potentially other hormones like estradiol in the case of intersex reasons). most transmasc people have bottom growth as their first change on testosterone, but this isn't guaranteed or true for everyone. finasteride isn't guaranteed to make it not happen either, but if you are using finasteride, it's highly probable your bottom growth will be much slower than others would be.
2. what is bottom growth exactly?
"bottom growth" is sort of a sugar-coated-sounding term honestly. it literally just means that your clitoris will elongate (more) and become more significant, and that your genitalia will change in ways you may or may not expect. the sensitivity regions may/will change, the nerves may/will change, certain tissues may shift/elongate, et cetera, in a way so as to more closely resemble a penis and even a scrotum, depending on your specific situation of perisex or intersex. your external genitalia may also change how it appears as well.
3. important anecdotal things to know about bottom growth, especially starting T
4. some actual advice on hygiene
a LOT of perisex transmascs experience a lot of hypersensitivity in their clitoral regions when they're early on T, though this varies in time and length for different people. most people seem to report 3-6 months before the sensitivity calms down. I see people recommend using q-tips, baby wipes, or baths to help clean at this stage, in the case it's really painful and tender to the touch or to let any water run on. ftm reddit is a good resource for more on this but use your own good judgement. a neutral no scented PH balanced vulva wash might be helpful as well.
5. other weird things that may happen while your body changes
you may find that your clitoral hood/foreskin is longer now and also less sensitive, all told. i'd say that's normal, given how testosterone based puberty tends to run. what will help as things change for when you need to start cleaning beneath that hood/foreskin is gently pulling back the skin up towards the top of it (think nearer to your pubic bone). however you go about that is up to you. it may take some time to actually stretch adequately, and that is also normal. perisex pubescent boys also have a period of time in which their foreskins have to be stretched back.
when you manage that, you'll be able to clean beneath it. the important thing is to not force it. you don't want to hurt your genitals or tear anything. there may be some build up beneath, just by virtue of how this anatomy is often structured. i'd recommend softening it as much as possible with vulva wash and working it out with your fingers. it may hurt. a fucking lot. go slow, be gentle. after that try and really regularly pull back that hood/foreskin whenever you shower/clean yourself to prevent build up. these things may feel embarrassing and obvious but no one actually talks about them, so i'm going to.
especially if you're chronically ill. you may have some unexplained itching, inflammation, redness, and other bizarre things going on in your genital region. if you do not have reason to believe you have a UTI, BV, or a yeast infection, or any STI's or STDs and you get regularly tested, I would strongly advise against your going to the doctor or urgent care about this specifically; as cis female nurses are notorious for assaulting transmascs. please instead wait to see if it resolves itself and if you have a trustworthy endocrinologist, ask if they have any information about it. also ask around in your trans community about it and look into trans and intersex anecdotal experiences. our experiences are almost always more reliable than anything a doctor could offer you.
6. some quick other things I forgot to mention
your sexual satisfaction may be (entirely) different. your discharge consistency and color may feel/look/smell different (thicker, stringier, more sperm-like, is what i hear sometimes). this stuff is also normal and not cause for alarm unless there are warning signs to go with it.
if anyone has anything to add onto this, especially if you're an older transmasc or intersex individual, please feel free. i'm sure there's more i haven't thought of and other peoples experiences i've yet to know. x
