It is okay if you realise that something is not working for you, or if you no longer feel the same about your gender as you used to.
Effect | Permanency |
Breast development | Permanent/Reversible only through surgery
At a low dose of estrogen, breast development may be slow and not discernable within the first few months. |
Softening of skin and decreased skin oiliness and acne | Reversible |
Redistribution of body fat in a feminine pattern | Reversible |
Decreased muscle mass and strength | Reversible |
Decreased sex drive and spontaneous erections | Reversible |
Erectile dysfunction and decreased ejaculate volume | Reversible |
Decreased sperm production and infertility | Mixed results. One may require fertility treatment |
Decreased testicular volume | Unknown |
Effect | Permanency |
Increased muscle mass and strength | Reversible |
Redistribution of body fat in a masculine pattern | Reversible |
Cessation of menstrual cycle | Reversible if uterus not removed |
Increased skin oiliness, rougher texture or acne | Reversible |
Body scent | May change |
Increased sex drive | Reversible |
Voice deepening | Permanent, reversible only through speech therapy or voice training |
Increase in facial and body hair | Texture or growth of hair may change, but hair that has developed will not disappear. |
Clitoral growth | Permanent; clitoral size will not shrink |
Hair loss (male pattern baldness) | Head hair loss is mostly irreversible, but may see improvements after going off T |