So! I’m a trans man, being on testosterone has significantly improved my quality of life by leaps and bounds.. except for this. My endo confirmed it’s balding. This really bothers me. Like a lot. But T has improved literally every other aspect of my life, so stopping isn’t an option. AND starting finastride kind of defeats the purpose of HRT
This wouldn’t bother me so much if I wasn’t NINETEEN. I’m okay with going bald at some point, it’s in my genes, so I figured- but I just don’t want it to happen NOW
Anyway I’m rambling. TL;DR been on T for a couple years, hairline now looks like this. Very not happy about it, but unwilling to stop T and concerned about finastride
min could help with your situation since it’s a growth stimulator that won’t mess with your testosterone levels. You might also want to look into microneedling, which can enhance the effects of min. Just remember, these treatments take time, usually several months to a year, before you might see noticeable improvements.
I’m also considering topical finasteride, as it apparently works locally instead of systemically. I’ve heard some of it would be absorbed into my bloodstream, but not nearly as much. Is that true?
I’ve also been on and off minoxidil for a while. I took it back when I was only a Norwood 1, but then I got complacent. I then took it for a time when I was a Norwood 2, got complacent again, and then.. It’s like it turned into this overnight. I recently started retaking it this month. My hairline’s at a point where I can’t meander in denial anymore, so I intend on staying on it indefinitely. The hair loss is so aggressive, though; I think I probably have to take more measures to keep my hair.
You may also consider taking finasteride anyway. Finasteride inhibits the creation of DHT, but not of T. Yes, DHT is important for sexual differentiation, but AFAIK it’s not super important for trans men. Perhaps you’d consider taking finasteride in the meantime, and if you feel like it’s getting in the way of masculinization, you can stop finasteride anytime.
DHT is very important for trans men, particularly during the first years of HRT. It definitely contributes to masculinization as it’s the main driver of facial hair growth and genital growth (also for cis men). In fact, some afab non-binary people go on a mid-low T dose together with fin for a non-binary medical transition with reduced masculinization. Starting HRT is like starting puberty, it takes some years. So in this sense it would be like suggesting that a 15 year old takes fin (changes-wise), though topical should be fine if it doesn’t go systemic.
Additionally, on trans subs you’ll read many stories of trans men on fin that report undesired sides with regards to the hormonal effects. Unless OP doesn’t have gonads (intersex or surgery), fin can increase feminizing hormone production, not only halt masculinization.
