Transmen With Pcos

[Guest I'dRatherBeSunny]

I don't know if anybody on here has this or knows about it but I'm really in need of some advice.

I have poly cystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS. (Yeah I know, like it wasn't bad enough being born with ovaries, I had to have problems with mine, but whatever xP) basically its different for every person. But its a hormone disorder and my problem was that my insulin was too high. Like over ten times too high the normal, healthy rate. So I've been taking Metformin, the diabetic medicine for a couple of months now and that has brought my insulin pretty much back to a normal level. But what I found out is that insulin is directly related to testosterone. And I had a lot of testing done and it ended up showing that I was born with a completely female body, but a male endocrine system. So it turns out I had too much T in my body to begin with, and now it was gone way down because of the meds.

So my question is whether or not taking T will mess with my insulin and if it does, how badly? I've gone to my endocrinologist about it but she is only a pediatrician endo and doesn't have a lot of experience with this particular issue(being trans not PCOS). And it looks like there isn't a doctor that specializes in this under my issuance policy. So I'm caught between two dilemmas, my finial abilities and my need to know whether or not I can take T and how far I can physically transition. There's like a million issues on top of that but I just wanted to see if anyone out there had any general knowledge or experience with this? Anything you could offer would really mean a lot. Even if its just about finding the right endo, please let me know.

~(Currently)Sonny

[Guest ShortyT]

I have PCOS and have been on Metformin for many years. Not sure what my T count was prior to starting treatment.I guess I can't really offer any input on your specific situation, other than to say I have seen mentioned that the ratio of trans men with pcos seems to be higher than the ratio of cis women with it, which is interesting. I just wish I remember where I read it so I could offer a source.

Oh btw, I have PCOS, hypothyroidsm, and a prolactinoma, none of which presented a problem in my case, when it came to starting T.

[Guest StrandedOutThere]

I know someone who has the same problem as you but don't know much about insulin and T levels. In my friend's case, they gave her other medication to regulate her hormone levels (some kind of birth control). I've definitely heard with insulin resistance being an issue with PCOS, but that's all the information I have.

My standard blood work (get it about every 6 months) includes a metabolic panel that gives my fasting glucose level, so maybe there is some relationship between hormone levels and blood sugar. Can you ask your doctor/endocrinologist for more information?

If it helps, my friend was allowed to take T but eventually decided to stop taking it (not for medical reasons, wasn't comfortable with the changes or how fast they were happening).

[Guest My_Genesis]

I have PCOS and have been on Metformin for many years. Not sure what my T count was prior to starting treatment.I guess I can't really offer any input on your specific situation, other than to say I have seen mentioned that the ratio of trans men with pcos seems to be higher than the ratio of cis women with it, which is interesting. I just wish I remember where I read it so I could offer a source.

Oh btw, I have PCOS, hypothyroidsm, and a prolactinoma, none of which presented a problem in my case, when it came to starting T.

yeah, I have PCOS. And I've heard that too, about the rate being higher in transmen. I'm not so sure about the insulin thing but I have never heard of it being a contraindication per se...

[Guest I'dRatherBeSunny]

I am supposed to be on a birth control to help with just the regular balancing of hormones but due to my own personal issues I've opted not to take it. It more for regulating your period and the hormone cycles that go along with it rather then the insulin stuff I deal with. I've asked my endo about it but she is not very knowledgeable on the subject. that's why I'm looking for another specialist so that I can really get all the answers i need...

[Guest My_Genesis]

I am supposed to be on a birth control to help with just the regular balancing of hormones but due to my own personal issues I've opted not to take it. It more for regulating your period and the hormone cycles that go along with it rather then the insulin stuff I deal with. I've asked my endo about it but she is not very knowledgeable on the subject. that's why I'm looking for another specialist so that I can really get all the answers i need...

yeah, that's probably a good idea. And personally, I would be staying away from BC pills too. If anything they feminize you even more and that's the last thing we want. PCOS is usually treated with birth control but in our case, that's kinda pointless if we are looking at starting T anyways, which shuts down the ovaries, which were producing too much T for a biofemale, altogether. It is even sometimes said that a lot of ftm's when starting T experience some of the symptoms associated with PCOS.

But definitely ask about that insulin thing. Sorry I can't help you more lol.