Hormones 2016

Hormone effects in female→male
Gastrointestinal
• There is a risk of liver damage and liver cancer with all testosterone
formulations, but this is minimal with all forms except oral or unless
very high levels are administered. However, as with any drug that
carries even a small risk of liver damage, liver function tests (or at
least Alanine Transaminase (ALT)) should be periodically monitored
(unknown, 2012). Maybe have Aspartate Transaminase (AST) tested
as well. See also Alanine aminotransferase - ALT, and also Aspartate
aminotransferase - AST
Neurological/Psychiatric
• Headaches - Pre-existing migraine headaches can be significantly
worsened with androgen therapy. Headaches can also become
problematic in men without prior headache disorders.
• Epilepsy - some seizure disorders are androgen-dependent. These
may be worsened or (very rarely) unmasked with androgen therapy.
• Sleep deprivation worsens almost all seizure disorders, so concurrent
obstructive sleep apnoea caused or worsened by androgen therapy
may also be responsible.
• Some transgender men report mood swings, increased anger, and
increased aggressiveness after starting androgen therapy (similarly to
the effects reported with body builders who abuse androgens.) This is
much less severe however than the "roid rage" experienced by bodybuilders
because with transgender men significantly supraphysiologic
levels are not present.
• Many transgender men, however, report improved mood, decreased
emotional lability, and a lessening of anger and aggression. Likely
this is not a physiologic effect but rather the alleviation of emotional
distress from long-standing gender dysphoria.
• An article from 2006 indicates that cross-hormone therapy in transmen
may result in an increase in brain volume towards male proportions
(Pol et al., 2006) (unknown, 2012).
Metabolic
• Testosterone increases body weight (and increases appetite.) The form
that this weight gain will take depends on diet and exercise as well as
genetic factors. Since testosterone has anabolic effects, gain of lean
muscle mass will be easier than it previously was for transgender
men. Moderate amounts of exercise will cause greater gains and will
ameliorate some of the adverse effects of testosterone.
• Many transgender men report an increased energy level, decreased
need for sleep, and increased alertness after testosterone therapy.
Version 2016.3576– – Document LATEXed – 1st May 2016
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[git] • Branch: 1.5 @ 26b5e6d • Release: 1.5 (2016-05-01)