Transmasculine Guide

Introduction to DIY HRT:

In countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia, accessing DIY testosterone is typically easier and less expensive compared to DIY estrogen.

This is due to the significant market for testosterone among cisgender men using it for bodybuilding or performance enhancement, leading to established, trusted sources within this community.

The kind of testosterone used by trans masculine individuals for hormone therapy is the same testosterone available through these sources.

What is HRT?

HRT stands for hormone replacement therapy.

Testosterone (T) is an anabolic steroid and masculinizing sex hormone.

Everyone has both estrogen and testosterone, but men generally produce more testosterone than estrogen. We want to achieve the same result through hormone replacement therapy.

What does it do?

Testosterone induces both androgenic and anabolic effects.

Androgenic effects are the masculinizing changes that come with taking testosterone, which includes voice deepening, cessation of menstruation (stopping periods), increased definition of facial features and a more masculine fat distribution, facial and body hair growth, development of the clitoris into an enlarged and more phallic form (bottom growth), increased libido, acne, etc.

You can think of anabolic effects as changes to your body’s metabolism, protein building and how it uses energy. Anabolic effects include increased muscle mass and strength, increased bone density, increased appetite, etc.

The androgenic and anabolic effects of testosterone are about equal. You won’t necessarily have high levels of strength nor gain significant muscle mass, especially if you don’t exercise regularly.