Trans Men Experiencing Postmenopausal Symptoms in Their 20s Due to Testosterone Treatment

[Social Media]

 

A recent study has revealed that transgender men taking testosterone to transition from female to male are experiencing "postmenopausal" symptoms typically seen in older women. This phenomenon is causing significant health issues, including bladder and bowel dysfunctions, which are under-researched and under-reported. The study, conducted by experts who analyzed 68 transgender men undergoing testosterone treatment, found that a staggering 95 percent had developed pelvic floor dysfunction. Participants, ranging from 18 to an average age of 28, exhibited bladder and bowel symptoms usually expected in women post-menopause. These symptoms included incontinence, frequent toilet visits, bed-wetting, constipation, and an inability to control stools or gas.

 

Approximately 87 percent of the participants reported urinary symptoms such as incontinence, frequent urination, and nocturia (urinating during the night), while 74 percent faced bowel issues like constipation and fecal incontinence. Sexual dysfunction was also prevalent, with 53 percent of the participants experiencing difficulties, including orgasm disorders and pain during intercourse. The rate of urinary incontinence among transgender men was found to be three times higher than that of women, affecting about one in four compared to eight percent of the general female population. These individuals also suffered from symptoms like burning sensations, hesitancy, urgency, and difficulty urinating, along with defecation issues.

 

Elaine Miller, a pelvic health physiotherapist and member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, noted that many women are unaffected by incontinence until menopause, after which it becomes a common issue. She stated, "That appears to be exactly the same trajectory for female people who take cross-sex hormones, but there hasn’t been much in the way of research." Miller has worked with around 20 detransitioners seeking help for pelvic floor issues and emphasized the stigma and embarrassment surrounding incontinence, which often leads to the minimization of the problem.

 

Miller highlighted the profound impact of incontinence on young people’s lives, affecting their ability to exercise, maintain intimate relationships, travel, and work. She stressed the importance of proper discussion of these risks within gender clinics, expressing concern that almost all female individuals taking cross-sex hormones could face these problems. The study pointed out that the menopausal process, characterized by loss of muscle mass and body strength, affects the pelvic floor and can lead to incontinence. Women who undergo early menopause are offered Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) on the NHS to prevent conditions like coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, and dementia. However, taking testosterone accelerates the menopausal process by stopping ovarian function and reducing estrogen production, which can exacerbate these issues.

 

Testosterone is known to impact muscle mass and hair loss and has been associated with blood clots and gallstones, but its effects on pelvic floor issues and incontinence have not been extensively researched. Miller noted that the treatment for trans men experiencing these symptoms is similar to that for postmenopausal women, which seems incongruous given their young age. Treatments involve addressing constipation, educating on normal bladder and bowel functions, and pelvic floor exercises.

 

Kate Barker, chief executive of the LGB Alliance, criticized the lack of thorough consideration given to the long-term consequences of these treatments. She highlighted testimonies from detransitioners at their annual conference, describing the lasting impact of decisions made at a young age, including permanent sterilization and loss of sexual function. Barker emphasized that these issues were officially acknowledged by the Cass Review, which led to the NHS halting the prescription of puberty blockers outside clinical trials and pausing cross-sex hormones for under-18s. The review called for more careful treatment of individuals under 25 and prompted a review of adult clinics.

 

The authors of the study, led by Lyvia Maria Bezerra da Silva at the Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil, called for more research into the long-term effects of testosterone on transgender men. They noted a high frequency of pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms among participants and stressed the need for a deeper understanding of the long-term impacts of testosterone treatment.

 

The findings were published in the International Urogynecology Journal, highlighting the urgent need for further research and better patient education on the potential risks associated with cross-sex hormone therapy.

 

Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-05-28

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

Oops. Seems that interfering with the natural order has unintended consequences.

Did anyone seriously think it was OK to mess around with a body by the use of drugs and not have problems?

Nature gave us a reasonably well functioning biological transport machine, within a certain time frame, but trying to modify it by artificial means was never going to work out well.

[riclag]

Its not nice to fool mother nature.

 

seems appropriate in this circumstance .

 

methinks

[Skipalongcassidy]

Disrespected the "plumbing" they were born with... now want it to work properly... 

[Drumbuie]

Wait till the osteoporosis kicks in as well. I simply don't understand why women want to do this to themselves or why anyone with a conscience would encourage and abet them 

Oh,wait . .is there a lot of money in it for somebody? A pharmaceutical company, for example? 

[newbee2022]

The next report will be about his pregnancy 🥱

[klauskunkel]

It is what it is.

[AgMech Cowboy]

It's sad. You can think you're a man all you want, but the body, organs, hormones, etc. are all female.  The dysphoria that these people experience is not being treated correctly, IMHO.  They should be affirming their biology, treating their minds and not trying to replumb the system.

 

That's my 2 cents.

[AgMech Cowboy]

4 hours ago, Drumbuie said:

A pharmaceutical company, for example? 

And the surgeons, psychiatrist and other specialist doctors. 

[0ffshore360]

Tapping the opportunities.

[Confuscious]

15 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Oops. Seems that interfering with the natural order has unintended consequences.

Did anyone seriously think it was OK to mess around with a body by the use of drugs and not have problems?

Nature gave us a reasonably well functioning biological transport machine, within a certain time frame, but trying to modify it by artificial means was never going to work out well.

This story is only the top of the Iceberg.
Several stories about failed use of drugs and failed sex changing surgery are rising up like mushrooms.
Interfering with Nature is not a good choice.

 

[stoner]

ouch. that turned all kinds of bad really fast. the next 10 to 20 years of study and research will be interesting. 

[spidermike007]

Poor, poor babies. One's heart just bleeds for them.

 

I guess nobody ever explained to them that life can be quite complicated when you make the decision to change the gender you were given at birth. 

[Danderman123]

Given this is a Thailand forum, and Thailand is filled with lady boys, there is a disconnect between the posts here and actual reality.

 

Now that I have reminded the guys here, I am sure that some will secretly engage in active investigation of this medical issue.

[Prison Mike]

Not sure why testosterone is even needed with some of these broads. Had an ex that started growing a mustache in her late 20's.

[KhunLA]

It's  a good thing children get to decide on their medical treatment, as they know best for themselves 

 

What are docs & big pharma suppose to do, turn down money make opportunities ... I think not 

[Luuk Chaai]

9 hours ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

It's sad. You can think you're a man all you want, but the body, organs, hormones, etc. are all female.  The dysphoria that these people experience is not being treated correctly, IMHO.  They should be affirming their biology, treating their minds and not trying to replumb the system.

 

That's my 2 cents.

 

Back in the old day ....a good slap in the head from MOM would fix just about anything !

[buriram39]

I take hormones to lower testosterone and I have serious side effects, sweating etc many times a day. Prostate cancer is my issue which would not be the problem for the people mentioned in this piece.

[john donson]

wait for the men to get prostate cancer as prostate grows with estrogen...

[Yellowtail]

20 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

Given this is a Thailand forum, and Thailand is filled with lady boys, there is a disconnect between the posts here and actual reality.

 

Now that I have reminded the guys here, I am sure that some will secretly engage in active investigation of this medical issue.

What is the disconnect? 

[Danderman123]

Just now, Yellowtail said:

What is the disconnect? 

I made a mistake, I assumed the story was about lady boys, not Tomboys.

 

Nevermind.

[Martin71]

Don't mess with Mother Nature... 

[Yellowtail]

6 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

I made a mistake, I assumed the story was about lady boys, not Tomboys.

 

Nevermind.

No, you made up some nonsense and can't back it up when you got called on it, you do that a lot. 

[Danderman123]

I don't know much about Thai tomboys, but I didn't know they were taking drugs. Lots of men take testosterone, do they have the same problem?

[thaibeachlovers]

On 5/29/2024 at 12:44 AM, Confuscious said:

This story is only the top of the Iceberg.
Several stories about failed use of drugs and failed sex changing surgery are rising up like mushrooms.
Interfering with Nature is not a good choice.

 

I once read a blog by a M to F trans person. It wasn't a smooth path by any means, and once there had some unexpected problems.

 

One of the unexpected problems was the unwanted attention by males that wanted to date "her" because they thought "she" still had a penis.

 

Anyway, seems big pharama is being rather naughty pursuing profits by selling the myth that if we just take some of their potions everything in our lives will be just peachy.

 

"want your kids to never grow up? use some of these puberty blockers" " having a bit of pain? Oh dear have some of this highly addictive painkiller and you won't have to worry about a thing evermore" "you prefer to be the opposite gender? Just take these pills and everything will be just marvellous".