Study: T-Therapy Not a Risk For High Red Blood Cell Counts

[Carolyn Marie]

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-11-28/testosterone-therapy-for-transgender-patients-may-be-safer-than-thought

 

 

Carolyn Marie

[RaineOnYourParade]

YOOOOOOO LETS GO :DDD

 

Also researching I've found I might be anemic based off symptoms (not a definite, I'm not self-diagnosing), so if I actually am, yummy red blood cells anyways I guess lol

[Jet McCartney]

My doctor warned me of this, because I already have a massive overproduction of red blood cells. T has definitely aggravated the problem, but that's all anecdotal. I assume that T's effects of red blood cells will be on a  case-by-case basis. 

[Heather Shay]

Always work with a trained health care specialist. It is vital to you. I self-medicated and it cost me issues big time and a long time to luckily overcome the issues. Now I have an incredible Nurse Practitioner for HRT and recently had reassignment surgery and all the experts were fantastic and that is super important. Find good practitioners and FOLLOW their instructions. 

[StrainAsylum]

My PCP (who is/has treated 300+ transgender patients, which is why I chose him) found that I had secondary polycythemia (too many red blood cells), as well.  In the past, I'd always been borderline anemic and I've been on T for 4 years, so we were pretty sure it was due to T, but he sent me to an endocrinologist for that and fatigue issues (vitamin D).  So, yes, it was secondary (yay!) and not primary.  He suggested that I start donating blood to see if that helped, rather than potentially mess with my T, since it's successful and positive in all other ways.  I used to donate blood regularly anyway, so I was fine with that.  After 2nd donation, we checked again and sure enough, the RBC count was in good shape again.

 

NOTE:  if you have secondary polycythemia due to Testosterone (or other medications), you'll need a prescription from your PCP in order to donate and you won't be able to donate at bloodmobiles or other sites where they use the automated process - at least that's what LifeSouth (FL) told me.  Once you're in their system as having the prescription, you can donate every 8 weeks as usual (at a donation center).  The prescription stays in effect for 2 years, I think; it might be only 1 year, but I THINK it's for 2 years.  Another good thing is that they do the regular blood tests and you can see the results on the (LifeSouth) portal (not sure of other organizations).

 

Anyway, I hope this helps someone.