No libido increase on T?

[Fynn]

Hey everyone,

 

This is my first time posting in this forum, so as a quick introduction I'm Fynn, 18 and I'm almost 6 months on T.

I'll just be sharing my experience here in hopes someone else wants to share theirs or give advice I guess.

 

So to get to the point, before starting T, I've never felt the need to masturbate, bc I was also never really aroused. I don't have massive dysphoria, I don't even know if I want bottom surgery. Idk where I was going with this, but I thought the whole thing was bc I was feeling uncomfortable in my body and didn't want to touch it. I just thought I had suppressed any desires so as not needing to deal with my body. I also never wanted/want to experiment and touch myself, and not ever being in the mood didn't help that.

 

Before starting T, I had a talk with my endocrinologist, it went well and he made clear, as I already feared, that my libido would really increase. So I prepared myself for that, and even thought maybe that's good bc then I am finally forced to deal with my body and maybe it isn't so bad after all.

 

Now, after almost 6 months, I feel exactly the same, kinda disappointed and at the same time relieved that nothing happened (other changes like my voice happen as they should). Like before, I don't really get aroused, although I did/do sometimes watch porn. 

 

Now I'm just confused and wondering whether it's normal that I have like no libido (would I be asexual then?) or if I'm still repressing something.

 

Thanks and see y'all, Fynn

 

[DonkeySocks]

Hi, Fynn! Welcome.

 

Unless your doctor says otherwise, a low libido is not dangerous. You don't have to worry about it. On the other hand, you could, potentially, be anxious enough that you're artificially lowering your libido. That would be okay, too.

 

Also, you may be asexual. if you are, that's fine, too. And it doesn't mean you're not trans. Gender and orientation aren't the same thing. You could be ace trans masc, or you could be unlabeled right now and for as long as it takes you to explore your feelings, until you wish to apply a label.

 

Labels are shorthand, but they're often not helpful at all. For instance, the only people whose business it really is what your orientation might be, is dating partners. And if you say "I'm asexual" it could mean a lot of different things to different people. It's so much easier in the long run to explain everything from where you're at. "I believe I might be asexual but then again I've only been on T for six months and I'm still figuring this out." So much more informative. Labels take less time to use, but if the information is important to share with someone, then it can be shared in detail.

[TrIIIy]

Hi, @Fynn. As a trans asexual man, I can offer my own experience on testosterone.

 

This may not help you if you are not on medications, but I have been on heavy duty medications since I was a young child, and I am still on a variety of medications such as antidepressants and antipsychotics. Some of these medications have been known to lower libido significantly, so I’m not sure whether I’ve never had much of a natural libido or it is mostly a side effect. Either way, I have never wanted to actually have sex with another person, which is why I consider myself asexual. And after I started testosterone, I did not notice a change in my sex drive, which I thought was a bit odd myself.

 

Recently though, I was taken off of my antidepressant and put on a different one. And suddenly my libido was through the roof. The new antidepressant didn’t work in the least, though, so I am now back on the old one. And my sex drive is back down to almost zero.

 

Honestly, I am disappointed and frustrated with my lack of arousal now, but I still have not acquired a desire to be sexually active. 

 

Like I said, this may not be applicable to your situation, but I guess I’m just trying to say that many factors may be in play with regard to libido. And dysphoria could be one reason, but it might not be the whole picture.

 

And if you do happen to be on the asexual spectrum, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s a natural way of being for many people. You don’t have to nail down a label for yourself if you don’t want to or can’t at the moment.

 

 

[SL]

Hey!

 

I am also a trans man on the asexual spectrum. I'm demisexual, but I had a pretty high libido before. I think my libido may have increased a small amount but not much. I agree with previous posts that you may want to look into asexuality as an identity. I just want to show that there is a spectrum within asexuality and that even if you do start to have a libido it wouldn't negate that identity. Wanting sex and wanting sex with someone are very different. If you do start to have a libido there are different things that can help, but I don't think we're allowed to get into details here haha. 

 

It's also okay if your libido doesn't change on T. Everyone has a slightly different experience with it. I'd imagine you have to have blood work done every few months to check hormone levels and other things so as long as your testosterone levels are within an acceptable range (which also varies) you should be fine. I know health care systems are very different there, but do you have a portal where you can see the results of your lab work? If so, I know looking as how your T levels change over time is helpful when you start to have concerns like this.

[Fynn]

On 1/18/2021 at 4:01 AM, DonkeySocks said:

Hi, Fynn! Welcome.

 

Unless your doctor says otherwise, a low libido is not dangerous. You don't have to worry about it. On the other hand, you could, potentially, be anxious enough that you're artificially lowering your libido. That would be okay, too.

 

Also, you may be asexual. if you are, that's fine, too. And it doesn't mean you're not trans. Gender and orientation aren't the same thing. You could be ace trans masc, or you could be unlabeled right now and for as long as it takes you to explore your feelings, until you wish to apply a label.

 

Labels are shorthand, but they're often not helpful at all. For instance, the only people whose business it really is what your orientation might be, is dating partners. And if you say "I'm asexual" it could mean a lot of different things to different people. It's so much easier in the long run to explain everything from where you're at. "I believe I might be asexual but then again I've only been on T for six months and I'm still figuring this out." So much more informative. Labels take less time to use, but if the information is important to share with someone, then it can be shared in detail.

Hey, thanks for the answer! I have an appointment with my endocrinologist at the end of the month anyway, so I'll just ask him. And I agree with you on the labels, I like not having to label everything and I think it just gives oneself more freedom.

[Fynn]

12 hours ago, TrIIIy said:

Hi, @Fynn. As a trans asexual man, I can offer my own experience on testosterone.

 

This may not help you if you are not on medications, but I have been on heavy duty medications since I was a young child, and I am still on a variety of medications such as antidepressants and antipsychotics. Some of these medications have been known to lower libido significantly, so I’m not sure whether I’ve never had much of a natural libido or it is mostly a side effect. Either way, I have never wanted to actually have sex with another person, which is why I consider myself asexual. And after I started testosterone, I did not notice a change in my sex drive, which I thought was a bit odd myself.

 

Recently though, I was taken off of my antidepressant and put on a different one. And suddenly my libido was through the roof. The new antidepressant didn’t work in the least, though, so I am now back on the old one. And my sex drive is back down to almost zero.

 

Honestly, I am disappointed and frustrated with my lack of arousal now, but I still have not acquired a desire to be sexually active. 

 

Like I said, this may not be applicable to your situation, but I guess I’m just trying to say that many factors may be in play with regard to libido. And dysphoria could be one reason, but it might not be the whole picture.

 

And if you do happen to be on the asexual spectrum, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s a natural way of being for many people. You don’t have to nail down a label for yourself if you don’t want to or can’t at the moment.

 

 

Yeah no, that doesnt apply to me but thank you for sharing anyways, I appreciate it!

[Fynn]

11 hours ago, SL said:

Hey!

 

I am also a trans man on the asexual spectrum. I'm demisexual, but I had a pretty high libido before. I think my libido may have increased a small amount but not much. I agree with previous posts that you may want to look into asexuality as an identity. I just want to show that there is a spectrum within asexuality and that even if you do start to have a libido it wouldn't negate that identity. Wanting sex and wanting sex with someone are very different. If you do start to have a libido there are different things that can help, but I don't think we're allowed to get into details here haha. 

 

It's also okay if your libido doesn't change on T. Everyone has a slightly different experience with it. I'd imagine you have to have blood work done every few months to check hormone levels and other things so as long as your testosterone levels are within an acceptable range (which also varies) you should be fine. I know health care systems are very different there, but do you have a portal where you can see the results of your lab work? If so, I know looking as how your T levels change over time is helpful when you start to have concerns like this.

Hey, yea I can just say the same I replied to @DonkeySocks and I won't label myself just yet, we'll see! 

I think my endo will check my hormone levels next time I'm there, but otherwise you don't really get blood work done all that often.

[SL]

I wonder why that is. I had to get it done before starting T, after one month on T, and every 3 months after that for the first year I think. I'd much prefer to do it your way though haha.

[Fynn]

On 1/19/2021 at 11:03 PM, SL said:

I wonder why that is. I had to get it done before starting T, after one month on T, and every 3 months after that for the first year I think. I'd much prefer to do it your way though haha.

I'm from Germany so I guess it's different everywhere but I also wouldn't have a problem with more frequent blood tests haha. Also here almost everyone starts with a testosterone gel for the first 6 months, don't you immediately get injections? 

[SL]

It depends on the doctor. My doctor doesn't like people to do transdermal methods until at least a year in unless they have a special reason. I pass out when I get shots and when other people get shots, but evidently that's not a good enough reason haha. I think a special case would be if you have liver or kidney issues, but I don't remember. He says he prefers doing shots at least the first year because it's easier to ensure how much your body absorbs or control doses which can make it easier to predict when changes will occur or something like that. There are some people in the US who never have to do injections though.