Transmasculine HRT (Beginner)

Overview

Starting transmasculine HRT on your own (DIY) can seem intimidating. It is somewhat harder than its transfeminine counterpart, but it is 100% feasible in Spain.

Buying it is a "gray market". In Spain, buying and using it are legal, while selling it is illegal. That means you can acquire it without worrying about any legal consequences. (Unless you are an elite athlete, in which case you should check the current regulations.)

This guide will help you navigate the basic theory and recommended practices for starting transmasculine HRT safely and effectively. If you are looking for more detailed information, check the advanced guide.

If you need help, you can ask us on Our Discord or in other online communities.

Theory

In short, masculine transition is based on two main factors: raising your Testosterone (T) levels and lowering your Estrogen (E2) levels in a controlled way.

Testosterone is the key hormone for developing masculine characteristics such as facial hair growth, increased muscle mass, changes in body fat distribution, and deepening of the voice. By raising your testosterone levels, your body will begin to develop these characteristics over time.

There are other hormones involved in the transition process, such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and peripheral androgens, but we are not going to go deeper into them in this guide.

Fortunately, Testosterone behaves as a "blocker" of estrogen's effects at a relatively low dose.

There is one effect to keep in mind, which is the aromatization of testosterone into estrogen. Do not inject more testosterone than recommended, or part of it will convert into estrogen (which you definitely do not want if you have not finished female puberty)

The only method we are going to discuss in this guide is obtaining and administering Testosterone cypionate and enanthate intramuscularly (IM) and subcutaneously (SubQ). Testosterone gel also exists, but it is much more expensive (unviable), and you have to apply it every day, it takes a long time to dry, and it is less effective.

Risks and side effects

1. Testosterone is not a replacement for contraceptive methods. Always use contraception methods.

2. Do not use combined contraceptives (which contain estrogen) if you are taking Testosterone.

3. Pregnancies are dangerous while you are taking Testosterone.

4. High/very high doses can cause serious side effects, especially cardiac ones. ALWAYS keep your dose controlled.

5. You may experience vaginal atrophy. It is a dryness and loss of elasticity. It complicates sex. If you go to the doctor, they can prescribe a topical estrogen cream that would help with the issue without interfering with the rest of your transition.

Dosage

The most common approach in public healthcare is to start with very low doses and increase gradually to simulate puberty. If you have already gone through your natal puberty you do not need to do this, start directly with the minimum/recommended dose in this guide. If you see that it does not have enough effects or that they are too slow, increase the dose.

To find the right dose based on your vial, use the following conversion factor:

Conversion factor: (Desired dose in mg) / (Vial concentration in mg/ml) = Volume in ml

Here is a table with the recommended weekly doses for Cypionate and Enanthate:

Being on a microdose is something that is not recommended for a long time: they are too low levels of testosterone, but testosterone suppresses the estrogens your body produces so you will have low levels of both hormones, which causes energy crashes, sometimes emotional problems and long-term osteoporosis. It is dangerous and I would not do it unless I were starting to hormone someone very young. If you do it, do it only at the beginning and keep increasing. I would not recommend less than 40 or 50 mg a week.

Sources and Buying

Buying testosterone online is very easy, but you have to remember these things:

1. Only buy from trusted sources. Research before buying.

2. Do not buy large quantities. 1 vial will last you 1 year. Larger purchases can be suspicious.

3. If your product is intercepted by customs, do not say it is yours, nor that it is testosterone.

4. Check the policy of the site you buy from. Some allow reshipments or refunds.

Here are some trusted sources for buying testosterone:

• Driada Shop

  Shipping from the EU (I think). Discreet packaging. It is cheaper to buy from them directly than through Roidbazaar.

• ROIDBAZAAR

  Supplier aggregator, Aliexpress-style. Some are more reliable than others, but in general they are reliable.

After buying

Once you have your testosterone, it is time to learn how to inject it:

1. Check your vial. Although many of the products say "FOR INTRAMUSCULAR USE ONLY" on the label, Cypionate and Enanthate in oil can be injected subcutaneously without any problem. If you have any doubt, you can inject yourself intramuscularly.

2. Then, check the injection guide.

What if I am afraid of needles?
Ask a friend to inject you in the glute, preferably if they have experience. It is a safe area, and it should not hurt since it is an area with so much fat. We do not have a guide for this, but you can find information very easily online. Over time, you will stop being afraid of it, and you will be able to do it yourself.

Expected Changes

Once you start taking HRT, you will notice changes in your body and in your mental state. Here are some of them:

• Changes in body odor: (Your sweat will smell like a man, it is a much stronger smell, the genitals will also change smell.)
• Increased libido: (It is often overestimated and exaggerated. You will get used to it.)
• Increased appetite: (You will want to eat protein or meat.)
• Bottom Growth: (Increase in clitoris size)

  This is the strangest effect. The clitoris lengthens and becomes something similar to a penis. It can have erections, and it usually measures 1 to 4 centimeters. It is one of the first changes to appear. At first it will be very sensitive, and having sex will be strange, but over time it improves. Keep in mind that you still have all the nerve endings of the clitoris, it is just lengthened.

• Cessation of menstruation: (This does not mean you are infertile, maybe you are, maybe you are not. Do not have unprotected sex.)
• More body hair: (It will be stronger, darker, and in more areas of the body (A commonly mentioned area is the glutes or the area around the anus). You can start growing a beard/mustache!)
• Voice changes: (It will become deeper. You will lose range in the high register.)
• Acne and skin changes: (Your skin texture will change, becoming oilier and thicker. You also have a chance of developing acne.)
• Fat redistribution:Long-term effect. Your fat will move from the thighs, chest, etc., to the belly.
• Decrease in breast size: (Over time, breast tissue will shrink, making it easier to bind.)
• Increase in energy and strength:
• Emotional changes: (Some people report feeling more irritable, or with mood swings. This is not something that happens to everyone, and it usually improves with time. You will probably find it much harder to cry as well.)

A few months after starting

After a few months, you should consider switching esters, from enanthate/cypionate to undecanoate (undecylate). It is a more stable ester, which requires less frequent injections, and gives more stable and consistent levels.