has anyone gone through an experience similar to this after years on HRT?

[almondmeat]

hi, this might be a bit of a long post so please forgive me, and thank you if you can find the time to read it.

last month i had my 4 years on HTR anniversary and i’ve noticed some changes happening that i haven’t been able to find much info on. i started T when i was just a month off from turning 14, and now later this month i’ll be turning 18. in the first year, i had the typical changes with my voice, darker leg hair, and unfortunately a lot of acne on my shoulders. i had a few smaller changes too but everything was pretty standard. after that first year, i didn’t have many changes other than my voice gradually getting deeper.

recently, however, i’ve started noticing

- my voice breaking when i’m just talking normally (i haven’t really had that since the first year)

- i’m finally starting to get Slightly prickly whiskers above my lip and by my jaw in the sideburn type area

- i’m starting to get acne on my face this time which i’d never had before

- i’m getting hair in a line down from my belly button

- and the final thing, i’m getting leg pains like i haven’t had since i last grew in height. i think i’ve heard testosterone doesn’t affect growth spurts, however i was wondering if maybe this could be a sign that maybe i’m going through almost a “second round” of puberty?

maybe this is a stupid question, but if there’s anyone who has any thoughts on this, or a similar experience (even without explanations,) then i’d love to hear about it!

maybe this is just me hoping i’m gonna have more changes and so i’m trying to make something out of nothing, but i’m interested to hear what anyone else might think. thanks to everyone who reads! :]

Edited July 23, 2021 by Carolyn Marie
Minor change to Topic title

[Susan R]

7 hours ago, almondmeat said:

i’ve started noticing

- my voice breaking when i’m just talking normally (i haven’t really had that since the first year)

- i’m finally starting to get Slightly prickly whiskers above my lip and by my jaw in the sideburn type area

- i’m starting to get acne on my face this time which i’d never had before

- i’m getting hair in a line down from my belly button

- and the final thing, i’m getting leg pains like i haven’t had since i last grew in height.

Hello @almondmeat And welcome to our support forum. I’m glad you reached out. I hope others can chime in here but I have several FtM friends that have mentioned to me all the symptoms you have mentioned after starting a Testosterone regimen except for the leg pains. It could be nothing serious but I would definitely get in touch with your PCP (primary care physician) or hormone prescriber and discuss this last symptom or issue. Thrombosis (blood clots) can be a symptom of long term use of both Estrogen and Testosterone. I am not a expert but the lower legs is where they tend to start. I would make it a priority to at least check in with them. Thrombosis is a serious condition but you're more than likely experiencing a simple growth spurt unrelated to the T use but it’s always nice to know.

 

My Best To You,

Susan R?

[Jackie C.]

What Susan said. The leg pains are PROBABLY potassium deficiency, but absolutely consult with a doctor to be sure. Of course they could be a growth spurt too. Male puberty (and growth) can continue until you're in your 20s.

 

The other stuff sounds a lot like my first round of puberty. Well, except bakcne. I didn't get a lot of backne. I had friends who did though.

 

Hugs!

[lilhobbit37]

I would also mention that men usually continue puberty into their late teens/early twenties whereas females start earlier and end earlier, perhaps because you started on your testosterone early enough, your body is following a more natural male puberty pattern? 

[Heather Nicole]

Hi, @almondmeat. I'm AMAB and went through full male puberty as a teen/young adult. Aside from the leg thing, all of what you described happened for me too. All very common male puberty stuff, and the timing from the initial onset of male puberty (ie, starting T in your case) sounds pretty typical too. 

 

I agree with the others on the leg thing about running it by the doc. I don't know if this is what you're experiencing, but one thing I did occasionally get in my legs during puberty - every once in a while I'd get a huge pain (or maybe kind of a cramp?) right in the back of my knee. It'd have me almost doubled over for a few seconds and then it'd fade away. Don't know how common that is.