TRANS-MASCULINE HRT · MEDICATION GUIDE
Testosterone therapy, a clear guide.
Testosterone is the primary masculinising hormone we prescribe. It's available as a daily gel, a long-acting injection, or a deep-muscle implant. Your clinician will help you choose the form that fits your body, your routine, and your embodiment goals.
OVERVIEW
What testosterone does, in plain English.
Testosterone is the hormone responsible for most of the physical traits we associate with male puberty: a deeper voice, body and facial hair, increased muscle mass, and a different fat distribution. When you take it as part of gender-affirming care, your body undergoes a second puberty. Most changes start within the first three months and continue for several years.
Some changes are permanent (voice, facial hair, bottom growth). Others reverse if you stop: muscle mass, skin texture, fat distribution, libido. Knowing which is which helps you make the choice that's right for you, and we'll talk through it together at your initial consultation.
HOW IT WORKS
The way it actually works.
Testosterone binds to androgen receptors throughout your body: in skin, hair follicles, muscle, fat, vocal cords, and the brain. Over time, those tissues respond by changing the way they grow and behave. Our job is to get and keep your serum testosterone in a typical adult-male range (roughly 10-30 nmol/L), then adjust based on how you feel and how your body responds.
FORMS & DOSING
Multiple ways to take it. Your choice, our guidance.
There's no single right answer. What matters is what fits your life. Most patients start on the simplest option and switch later if it suits.
EFFECTS TIMELINE
Changes over time.
Timelines vary between individuals. This is a typical picture of what most patients experience.
SIDE EFFECTS & RISKS
What to watch for, and what to tell us.
Most patients tolerate testosterone well. The effects below aren't guarantees. They're things to watch for, and most are manageable with dose adjustment or simple care. Severe reactions are rare. Always tell your clinician if something doesn't feel right.
Acne +
Vaginal dryness +
Mood swings +
Increased appetite +
Weight redistribution +
Erythrocytosis +
Skin reactions (gel) +
Sleep apnoea +
Cardiovascular risk +
Liver enzymes +
Hair-line recession +
Most of the testing is front-loaded while we fine-tune your dose. Once your levels are stable, it's usually just once a year.
COST
What testosterone costs you, monthly.
Your monthly plan with us covers the clinical side: appointments, calls, prescriptions, letters. Medication is paid separately at the pharmacy, and the price varies by form. Once your GP enters NHS shared care, the medication cost typically drops to the standard NHS prescription charge.
PATIENT VOICES
In their own words.
I was nervous about needles, so we started on gel. Two years in I switched to Nebido and the steadiness is honestly life-changing.
My voice broke around month four. I cried the first time I heard it on a recording. It was the right kind of crying.
The clinic talked me through every option. I never felt rushed and I never felt judged. That mattered as much as the prescription.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Questions, answered.
Ready to take the first step?
Send us an enquiry and we'll be in touch within two working days.
