Although it may have benefits for some people, the treatment is not without risk. People may receive T therapy in a number of ways. These include:. In the United States, doctors prescribe the medication and provide guidelines on how to safely administer the therapy.
People typically receive T therapy as an injection, either into a muscle intramuscular or under the skin subcutaneous. Most people will receive the injections weekly, though some people may require higher doses every 10—14 days. Oral administration of testosterone undecanoate Jatenzo involves taking a pill twice daily.
Transdermal options are available as a gel Androgel or a patch Androderm. However, doctors are more likely to suggest these options to treat testosterone deficiency. The age at which a person can access gender affirming hormone therapy varies across the world. For example, in Europe , many countries allow people between the ages of 14 and 18 years to access it, but in some countries, such as Holland, people can access it from the age of 12 years, as long as they have parental consent.
In some other European countries, access depends on the maturity of the person who wishes to receive the therapy. In the U. At 17 years old, a person may have access, but they will require a parent or guardian to accompany them to appointments. At age 16 years or younger, additional paperwork is necessary for people to access such therapy.
People may consider T therapy as a second puberty. Although some changes will occur quicker than others, it can take years for the full effect. Changes may include :.
Some research also indicates that structural changes occur in the brains of those receiving continuous, high dose hormone therapy. These changes could affect how a person interacts with others or their verbal and spatial abilities, for example. For example, a person may experience emotional shifts, or they may feel fewer emotions than they did previously.
These changes may affect how the person relates to others or how they perceive things they once enjoyed. When a person receives treatment for gender dysphoria, they may also begin to feel more like themselves and more comfortable in their own body.
Some of these changes may settle down over time. Individuals may experience:. Below is a list of methods of taking testosterone:. Testosterone Injections: This is the most popular and cost effective method of delivering testosterone.
Injections are given either Intramuscularly injected into the muscle or subcutaneously injected into the fat. Whether you choose intramuscular or subcutaneous is a personal preference and most doctors will be willing to discuss the best choice for you dosing and frequency of these vary, but it is common for injections to be administered either every week at a smaller dose or every 2 weeks at a larger dose.
This method is less effective, more expensive and less likely to be prescribed. Finding the right dose for you is dependent on what your goals are. If your goal was to pass as male then the doctor would know to put you on a high dose. Your doctor could start you on a lower dose if you have chronic health problems or have had your ovaries removed. As far as the frequency of your dose goes ask your doctor about the different between weekly injections v.
Some folks opt for weekly injections as to not experience as intense peaks and troughs. Some folks have very intense peaks and troughs and others not.
You might want some of the effects of testosterone, but not all of them, which may mean testosterone is not the right option for you. Testosterone may cause acne. You can read more about acne and how to reduce it on the NHS website. This means that a medical professional is currently helping or has helped you manage the condition.
In a small proportion of people menstruation periods is not stopped by testosterone therapy, and either GnRH agonists 6, p.
In the UK, some clinicians recommend that people taking testosterone long-term should have a hysterectomy. They theorise that as testosterone suppresses menstruation periods , which could lead to endometrial hyperplasia thickening of the lining of the womb , this might increase the risk of cancer 1, p. However, subsequent studies have not shown any evidence of an increased risk of reproductive cancers from testosterone use, and they do not suggest any need for hysterectomy 8.
Hysterectomy for people taking testosterone is optional and you may feel the risks involved in a major operation are unnecessary. If you decide not to undergo hysterectomy it has been suggested that scans to check for thickening of the endometrium every two years could reduce any potential risks 1, p.
Testosterone is commonly available as depot injections or as gels applied to the skin 1, p. Oral pill forms of testosterone are rarely used as blood testing is more complex, and patches transdermal testosterone are rarely used in the UK partly because of the frequency of bad reactions to patches 5, p. Desirable physical changes that can be caused by testosterone include:.
Transgender men and transmasculine individuals who take testosterone for gender dysphoria also report declines in dysphoria, depression, and anxiety. This is because the treatment helps align their bodies to fit their identities and makes them feel more like themselves. There are aspects of gender affirmation that testosterone treatment cannot manage on its own, however. If an individual has gone through puberty and grown breasts, testosterone may somewhat shrink the breast tissue, but not remove the breasts entirely.
Further, testosterone cannot make someone grow taller if their bones have already matured from early estrogen exposure. Different types of testosterone can be administered in different ways. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these options. In addition to different formulations by which testosterone can be administered, there are also different types of testosterone, referred to as testosterone esters.
These include testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate, and testosterone undecanoate. Testosterone undecanoate has only recently become available in the United States in an injected formulation brand name Aveed and oral formulation Jatenzo.
Both carry black box warnings advising about the risk of malignant hypertension and, as such, are used with extreme caution under strict medical supervision. There is limited information comparing the safety and efficacy of these different testosterone esters, and they are thought to be largely interchangeable. In general, most providers prescribe the types that come in an appropriate format for the patient. Prescription choices may also be limited by the availability of certain types of testosterone.
There can also be substantial cost differences, and not all formulations are covered by all insurers. Different testosterone formulations have different methods of delivery. Injections are the most familiar methods, but advances in therapy have led to topical and oral formulations as well. Testosterone can be injected into the muscle intramuscular or IM injection. Intramuscular injections have historically been the most easily available, but can be more painful than subcutaneous under the skin injections.
In addition, they may need to be administered by a medical provider or family member. Intramuscular testosterone injections are commonly used every one to two weeks.
Testosterone can also be injected under the skin subcutaneous or sub-q injection. Subcutaneous injections are easier for people to give themselves, but they may not be a good option for those with needle anxiety. However, they are less painful and easier to manage, due to less frequent medical visits, and are only used every one to two weeks.
This is a way to deliver long-lasting pellets of testosterone under the skin, reducing the frequency of treatment to once every three to six months. Sold under the brand name Testopel, the subcutaneous pellets allow for easy, long-term dosing without the need for repeated doctor visits or self-injection. However, the dose is fixed after implantation.
This can be a problem if dose changes are needed to either raise or lower the amount of testosterone in the body. Testosterone can be delivered topically through gels, creams, and patches.
0コメント