We provide you with all the basic information you need to know about testosterone and oestrogen.
Testosterone
Testosterone, also known as Nebido or Sustanon, is one of the body’s main hormones. Transgender people who wish to masculinise their appearance take this hormone as part of their gender affirming healthcare journey. Below is a list of the most common effects of testosterone.
Effects of Testosterone:
- Overall body and facial hair growth, with the potential of rendering them thicker.
- Clitoris growth.
- Fat redistribution, including the reduction of fat on your hips and buttocks.
- Muscle mass growth.
- Increase in libido.
- Your voice pitch lowers.
- Changes in your body’s odour.
- It may cause more acne.
- Your menstruation cycle stops.
- Testosterone can cause infertility, either temporarily or permanently. However, you should not take it as a contraceptive measure as you can still get pregnant.
- It can potentially lead to male-pattern hair loss. However, there is other medication you can take to treat this side effect.
Most of these effects are permanent and not reversible. Testosterone can come in the form of gels, patches, and injections. Healthcare professionals will usually administer the injection for you. However, if you need to do it yourself, watch these two videos on how to safely self-inject Nebido and Sustanon.
You can find more information on the risks of testosterone injection and how to safely dispose of needles on our website. We also offer injection sessions to guide you through the process of self-injection. You can book a session with us directly via SimplyBook.
Oestrogen
Just like testosterone, oestrogen is one of the body’s main hormones. Transgender people who wish to feminise their appearance take this hormone as part of their gender affirming healthcare journey. Below is a list of the most common effects of oestrogen.
Effects of Oestrogen:
- Breast growth.
- Changes in your body’s odour.
- Oestrogen can make your facial hair thinner.
- Fat redistribution, including the increase in fat on your hips and buttocks.
- Decreases erections.
You can expect changes to be noticeable after a couple months. However, your body may take up to several years before reaching the maximum effect of oestrogen. Breast size also varies from person to person. Oestrogen can come in the form of pills, tablets, gels, and transdermal patches.
Requirements to access testosterone and oestrogen differ based on where you live. If you take testosterone or oestrogen, make sure to regularly check your blood levels. For more information on blood tests, visit the GenderGP website. We also offer a guide on how to use home blood testing kits.