Can Testosterone creams like AndroFeme and AndroForte and Androgel be used by people who are gender transitioning?
The answer is, absolutely.
Females transitioning to males need a higher dose of testosterone so AndroForte 5% is the best choice for females transitioning.
Males transitioning to females need smaller doses of testosterone making AndroFeme the ideal choice once the testes have been removed.
When talking about gender transitioning it’s important to understand how transgender individuals see themselves and what’s involved. Transitioning from one sex to the other involves surgical procedures to permanently change the look and function of the body. It also involves daily hormone treatments to support the new sexual characteristics and maintain hormonal balance.
Here’s what you need to know about gender transitioning and testosterone therapy.
1: What’s the difference between Transgender and Transsexual?
Transgender is the term used for someone who does not feel comfortable with their gender identity. It affects their sexual expression and gender roles. A transgender person will often feel uncomfortable in the body they were born with and may not identify themselves within any conventional sexual orientation group. Others may identify themselves as being heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual or even asexual. Some transgender people go through with hormone therapy and/or medical intervention and some do not. More often than not, they do not go through with full gender transition as the gender identity crisis may be fluid or temporary.
Transsexual is a term used to describe a person who is so unhappy with their natural gender assignment that they opt for gender transitioning. This is also known as sex reassignment surgery. Psychologically, transsexuals feel the gender they were born with is opposite to their psychological gender and often feel disassociated and uncomfortable with the body they were born with.
2: Is transgender caused by abuse or a traumatic life event?
When a family member decides to change sex it can be a traumatic experience for everyone in the family. The man you once knew will become a woman, or vice versa, and questions always arise about how this happened.
What makes a person want to change sex? A recent article in Rolling Stone magazine talks about the Science behind gender transition. Is it caused by nature or nurture? Many people presume that psychosocial reasons like childhood trauma or abuse is to blame. In some cases this may be a factor but the reason could just as easily be biological. A transgender woman refers to a man who becomes a women and a transgender man refers to a woman who becomes a man. In 2008 an Australian study found that there was a difference in the testosterone make up of transgender women. Testosterone is a steroid sex hormone (an Androgen) derived from its parent molecule (cholesterol), and is produced naturally by both men and women, although men have a higher concentration of it in their blood.
Testosterone in men is produced by the testes and testosterone in women is produced by the ovaries. It’s the hormone that controls male and female sexual and other characteristics as well as the reproductive system, sex drive and emotions. Low testosterone levels are linked with mood swings, anxiety and depression as well as the usual symptoms like muscle loss, low libido and sexual performance issues. Once Testosterone is produced it reacts with Androgen receptors in the brain and circulates around the body under the brains instructions. The brains response to testosterone is just as important as the actual production of testosterone, especially when considering the idea that Transgender is a biological issue.
The study found that the Androgen Receptor Gene in transgender women was longer than normal and caused communication efficiency issues in the brain. This has a direct effect on how a person sees themselves sexually. More research is needed, but the study definitely indicates that genetics and hormones are a contributing factor to transgender feelings and the need for gender reassignment.
3: What happens during Gender transitioning?
The following medical procedures may be required for transgender women and transgender men to complete the gender transition entirely:
- Genital removal and reconstruction,
- Chest/breast reconstruction,
- Removal/creation of Adam’s apple.
- Vocal cord adjustment ,
- Hair removal,
- Facial plastic surgery
Along with the surgical procedures hormone replacement therapy is also required. Gender transitioning isn’t just about surgically reconstructing the body; it’s about the hormone balance as well. Hormone balance controls gender characteristics like sexual desire and performance, hair growth, muscle mass, bone density, mood variations and a general feeling of well-being. Without the support of hormone replacement therapy, especially testosterone therapy, the gender transition is not complete and cannot be maintained.
For example, testosterone controls hair growth. A woman who becomes a man needs an increased amount of testosterone so they can grow more body hair. This makes them look like an authentic man. Testosterone replacement therapy helps them to achieve this. Without it the testosterone levels drop and a drop in testosterone results in a reduction in hair growth.
The same applies for muscle mass and bone density. For example, when a man becomes a woman they have had their testes removed resulting in no production of testosterone. Both men and women need testosterone to ensure sexual function and hormone balance. Testosterone therapy is needed so that the woman can achieve hormone levels within the normal range for an average woman.
Questions on the use of hormone and testosterone therapy in transgender and gender transition
If you have any questions on the use of testosterone therapy during transgender transition or after gender change has taken place then please feel free to contact our specialist at TestoCreams.com. We’ll be happy to answer any questions.