Testosterone and age

[TransMex]

Hello, I'm having a bit of a panic attack due to some information I've found online about the effects of testosterone in the body. First, I'm 24 (turning 25 in May) and writing from Mexico. I've made some plans to try to get some FFS by the time I'm 27, but I'm considering changing those plans due to the information I found, which tells me that Testosterone causes constant changes in the body and that, besides puberty, some big changes occur by the age of 30. Apparently, starting HRT before the age of 25 could make things considerably easier.

 

I've looked for confirmation of this in this forum but haven't found exactly what I'm looking for. My questions are: Will I get better results from HRT if I start now, instead of waiting after I turn 27 and I get FFS? Will testosterone make my face look less femenine by that time? 

 

See, my country offers free HRT services but only for people that live in the capital city, which I do not. Besides that, getting HRT would imply traveling to another state to receive any kind of treatment since there does not appear to be such services in my state. This would be a relatively large investment, which would probably push my plans to get FFS by a few years. I would have to pay for traveling, the hormones themselves and the appointments with the doctor, most likely.

 

My access to any kind of information or support about these things is very limited, especially because I do not interact with many people, even online. However. I am terrified that I am making a mistake and missing a chance to transition more easily like I missed my chance with puberty. 

[Jani]

Hello TransMex and welcome.   The effects of testosterone are not dictated by your age.  Every one is different but there are a few changes that are typical, such as facial hair, deepening of voice, body hair, oily skin, etc.  Obviously your personal experience will be related to your genetics so how much change is unknown.   Remember that going on testosterone will initiate a second male puberty and that puberty takes several years.  It is not a quick process.  

 

Its never to late to start and be who you are inside.  Don't be afraid of starting late.  Testosterone is a powerful hormone and you may be surprised at the change.  

 

All my best,

Jani 

[TransMex]

Very sorry, completely forgot to be more specific about my gender in the post itself and only realized after posting. I was assigned male at birth but I wish to transition and live as a woman. I'm concerned that waiting to block testosterone and start taking estrogen will prove to be a mistake, as testosterone will have made changes which will make my transition more difficult.

 

I couldn't find a button to edit the post and I'm quite embarrassed I made such an elementary mistake. Perhaps this post should be deleted in favor of one that is properly specific.

[VickySGV]

It is never too late to get results that you will be comfortable with over time.  You had me a bit confused there by talking about Testosterone but I see you are Male to Female.  No harm done now that it is cleared up.  Generally males do have changes going on until about age 25 and then things taper off as far as the adult body development.  Females also have a similar time line but theirs started a year or two before boys does.  To have dramatically improved chances for looking feminine you would have had to have puberty blockers in your young teens and had started actual Female HRT at 18.  Since you have been on male hormones since puberty the T will have done the major damage already.  One thing to think about though is that other than a beard female and male faces are not as different as people think and you may find you do not even need surgery on it.  I was told to save my money but three FFS surgeons, and a fourth one told me to keep up with my dentist and my ability to smile would offset anything they could do.  The HRT and dentist were great for my smile and all I have had surgery wise was a couple of small moles that could have been pre-cancerous.  I did not begin my HRT until I was 61, and it has been a wild but wonderful time.  

 

We do not allow members to edit their posts for the reason that we do not allow some things in here, but they are covered by the Community rules.  It is always OK to ask the moderator or Admin staff to help you if something is too weird.  I don't see a reason to delete the post really, you are fine here. 

[TransMex]

Thank you Jani and Vicky for the quick responses. Somehow I've already started to calm down somewhat just from reading them.

 

I really wish I had started to transition before my puberty but I had zero contact with anything related to gender issues before so no point lamenting that I guess. I have been somewhat lucky in other aspects. Apparently my face is not as masculine as those of my brothers so I may only require a few procedures to pass. Some of them (the simpler ones) I may be able to get in my country for a much lower cost than in the US. 

 

I will keep researching about FFS and HRT online, but my terror of essentially missing out on stopping masculine changes for a second time has been somewhat diminished.

 

Hope I'm not posting too much too quickly, I am a bit of a scrambling mess at the moment, but I really wanted to express my gratitude.

[VickySGV]

You are doing just fine and we probably have what you are looking for right here in the Forums by now.  FFS is not necessary to live a complete and wonderful life.  Passing is highly overrated and ten years in to my transition I do not know if I "pass" or not, but I am accepted as Vicky, called by name, and respected in my pronouns except for once in long while I come across a hater who ends up saying more about themself than about me when they deliberately use the wrong ones.  It is chaotic when we first come out and if you look you can see me in that position in posts I made back in 2011 when I first got here. Best way to handle all of it is one day at a time and one step at a time.  Join in with us and have the fun of trying on your True Self here. 

[Jani]

Hi!  You're not posting too quickly.  Vicky is correct about FFS.  Look around and you see people all look different with a mixture of feminine and masculine traits.  While at your age testosterone has caused you to obtain a number of male traits they are not unsurpassable, except for maybe height.  

 

Please join in the talk.  You'll find others like you to share with.

 

Jani 

[Jackie C.]

I'd like to add that the HRT makes some differences in how your face looks. Fat distribution changes and your face will take on a subtly different appearance. You're young enough that you might get some extra hips too (growth plates fuse around age 25). My avatar is me in good (OK, bright) light with no makeup. I'm not going to win a Miss Universe contest any time soon (also, I'm nearly 50 so there's that), but that's me after eighteen months... well, less than that at the time, but you get what I'm saying... anyway, that's me on less than two years of HRT. I haven't had FFS and I don't plan to get any. My face isn't perfect, but it's feminine enough that I'm not often misgendered and I like who I see in the mirror every morning.

 

So yeah, 24 certainly isn't too old. Heck, we have people on this site who didn't start transitioning until their 70's. We all have our struggles, but so do cis women. It's perfectly OK. I get where you're coming from though, I had the same kind of panic attack when I started looking into HRT in 2018.

 

Hugs!

[ShawnaLeigh]

I started two months ago.  I'm 52.  My pic is not an exact representation of way I look like day to day but with makeup and a wig I can look ok. 

So your are not to late.

We who have made these decisions later in life so wish we could of started at your age or before.  But it is what it is now -right?  Just look forward and be who you are.

I wish you the best of luck.

[TransMex]

Hello everyone. I would like to thank you very much for your responses and I would also like to apologize for not doing so earlier. After reading your responses (and some that I have received elsewhere) I've been spending a lot of time reflecting on my options and the future. I'm actually still thinking about it right now, I am truly not sure which path I will take exactly at this moment. However, I should not have neglected to respond to all of you, that have helped give me some peace of mind. I am no longer panicking as I was before, when I felt I had a biological time bomb on my person. The fact that I was able to take my time thinking about this at all is in large part thanks to you all.

 

Vicky, your kind words despite my fumbling around with these forums in my panic were invaluable to me. As I mentioned earlier I do not interact with many people neither irl nor online and that first mistake I made nearly convinced me to keep things that way; until I received your words of encouragement. Thank you for welcoming me to these forums so kindly.

 

Jani, your quick response helped me feel connected to other people like me when until now I've felt almost completely alone in these matters. Your reminder that the body's response to any hormone can be dictated in large part by genetics was the first thing that took my mind off the feeling that I had allowed myself to miss my one chance to live like I wanted. I have to remember that it is never too late to change.

 

Jackie, your words helped put things into perspective. Sometimes, I admit, I feel old at my age already. I felt like I had allowed my body to miss any and all chances to grow the way I wanted it to, but that changed a little reading your response. Knowing of someone that had felt the same way I was feeling in that moment, and was now happy with their appearance, really shook me off that state of mind. I cannot change the past, but that fact doesn't mean I can no longer be happy with my self.

 

Shawna, thanks for your answer. I really wish I could have gotten HRT before puberty but I didn't even know any of this was even possible. I don't know if I'll ever be entirely rid of that regret but you are right. It is what it is. I can only look forward, I cannot let the past prevent me from enjoying the present and the future.

 

Once more thank you to everyone. Since I posted these questions I've done some more digging around and found a group of people that may be able to help me getting HRT in my city if I wish to take that path. At the moment, I feel like that may be what I will do. However, I am taking my time to decide these things, and that is a big change from before. I was ready to start any kind of treatment however I could get it. Now I feel I don't have to take such drastic actions in order to secure my happiness. My anxiety is not entirely gone, but I am able to manage it more easily thanks to the help of people like you ladies.

[Jani]

Very good!  I'm happy to read you are at peace about this.  Take your time and investigate what the local people have to say.  If you can avail yourself to counseling I would strongly suggest it as talking with a professional is one way to help you along.  Continue to read and please join in the conversation here as you are not alone in your thoughts for the future. 

Jani  

[Jackie C.]

12 hours ago, TransMex said:

Once more thank you to everyone. Since I posted these questions I've done some more digging around and found a group of people that may be able to help me getting HRT in my city if I wish to take that path. At the moment, I feel like that may be what I will do. However, I am taking my time to decide these things, and that is a big change from before. I was ready to start any kind of treatment however I could get it. Now I feel I don't have to take such drastic actions in order to secure my happiness. My anxiety is not entirely gone, but I am able to manage it more easily thanks to the help of people like you ladies.

 

That's fine. Also exactly the right response. Take some time and think over your options. This is a very big step and will shake you up in ways that you won't expect. There's no "One True Way to Transition" so take your time and figure out what's right for you. Never do anything that makes you uncomfortable (well, uncomfortable emotionally, there are several steps that can make you uncomfortable physically) and make sure it's something you really want. Especially if the steps you're looking at are something you can't take back (i.e. bottom surgery & voice surgery).

 

Most of all, give yourself all the love you can and be patient with yourself. You'll get there.

 

Hugs!