Genital Changes

Note: This document will use the phrase “T-dick” for the part of genitalia typically called the “clitoris” – this is both in an attempt to avoid triggering dysphoria but also a deliberate drawing of attention to the fact HRT fundamentally changes genitals: the way they look, feel, smell, the sensations they produce and how best to interact with them. Once someone has been on HRT their genitals are not the same as before and it's important not to engage with them as if nothing has changed. However, we also want to note that many people on T may be okay with the word "clitoris" in reference to themself and may use it to refer to their genitals and we do not want to stigmatise this in any way. Whatever you call your junk, we want to empower you!

Will my bottom growth revert if I stop taking T?

Bottom growth is generally considered irreversible but some transmascs have reported a reduction in size – although this may just be due to not getting hard off T.
However, you won't experience any further growth after you stop taking T.

You will likely experience some degree of growth of the body part typically referred to as a “clitoris” and it will begin to look more like what is typically referred to as a “penis”. You will likely develop a kind of foreskin, and typically people experience growth of 1-2.5 inches, though some people experience minimal (or occasionally, no) growth, while others experience very significant growth.
Many transmascs may prefer to call this part of their body a dick, cock, penis or similar, especially after experiencing noteworthy changes in how it looks. The term clitoris often causes dysphoria so you should always ask your partner what terms, if any, they prefer to use for their genitals (including their vagina as well).
While you are experiencing the period of most intense growth (typically the first 2-6 months) it is common to experience some discomfort or pain in your T-dick. This may occur in response to being touched (not just by a person but by clothing or anything else rubbing up against that area , such as clothing), or it may occur randomly. The type of pain can vary significantly, including aching, throbbing, or shooting pains.
Bottom growth will likely slow significantly after the first year, but some transmascs report noticing growth after as long as 5 years on T, so it can vary hugely how long you continue to experience growth for.
If you don’t want to experience clitoral growth, finasteride can be taken alongside testosterone to block DHT - but this will also mean you are unlikely to grow any (or just minimal) facial hair or extra body hair.

Clitoral Growth and Change In Appearance

Bottom Growth Will Look Different On Everyone

Just like cis dicks, bottom growth looks different on everyone
As well as the range in size, which is typically 0.5-2inches but can range from basically no change to as big as 4 inches, the shape will vary too
Additionally, how much of the head is exposed versus how much is covered by foreskin will vary, there's no way to predict how your T-dick will look
There is no wrong way for a T-dick to look!

Now you have foreskin, it is important to clean under it by pulling back the foreskin while in the shower/bath and gently washing the area the foreskin attaches by running water over it and sometimes using your finger to wipe over it if letting the water go over it isn't enough to get it fully clean. (it's a good idea to take a look while you wash this area, even if dysphoria can make that hard).
This may be a very sensitive and even painful task while your T-dick is still growing, which may last several months.
However, if you don’t ensure you wash this area you will develop bad smelling and thick textured material under your foreskin, as well as collecting fluff and dirt under there as well, so even if it’s sore, make sure you clean it right to the back!
You should ideally do this every time you shower/bathe (especially if you have a sexual partner who is coming into contact with your T-dick!) But it’s not the end of the world if you forget for a few days, you are just likely to find more build up and need to put in more effort to clean it.

Cleaning Your Foreskin

Getting Hard

With bottom growth, you also begin to experience your T-dick getting hard
Clits also get hard but due to size we don’t tend to notice it
With growth, it becomes a lot more noticeable.
Alongside your T-dick getting hard, your labia will likely swell also, and have a different texture as a result - they may look and feel more like balls, and this change along with developing a T-dick is often a source of gender euphoria for people.
You may find that you get hard unexpectedly - sometimes you will just experience random erections
Also, as you are still in the stage of your dick growing, at times it can be painful to get hard or touch your T-dick to masturbate.
You may find that getting hard at random things – such as your dick brushing up against your trousers in a specific way – sets off your sex drive, as at this stage you are very sensitive to anything potentially arousing.
At this stage you also may get hard at things you don’t actually want to do in real life, which may be confusing or even distressing, but try to remember it’s completely normal and will almost certainly calm down the longer you are on T.

Will I stop getting hard if I stop taking T?

You will no longer get as hard and it will happen less often and is likely to require more stimulation, if it is possible at all.

Masturbation

You will likely find you need to masturbate more often, at least during the bottom growth stage.
It will calm down and stabilise, likely around the time your bottom growth also stabilises.
You will likely find that even after your sex drive stabilises, it remains higher than it was pre-T.
You may find the physical stimulation you desire changes, and you may find it both stimulating and gender euphoric to do something closer to jerking off your T-diick, and some transmascs love suction toys such as the Blue Valentine, or the ShotPocket - which was made specifically for trans guys, and this style of toys work more like fleshlights, which may offer some people may find affirming and a source of gender euphoria.
You may find you can’t orgasm as easily as before, or it may become easier.
You may also find it harder to have multiple orgasms, and instead need more of a break between.
You may desire different and/or more erotic stimulation now, for example you may find yourself desiring more visual stimulation such as porn, whereas before reading or imagining was good enough.
You also may find that the need to masturbate feels different, more of a physical drive/need than a mental desire.
After a few months on T, the rate of your bottom growth will likely slow and the random erections will likely reduce alongside this

If I stop T will my masturbation experiences return to what they were pre-T?

Your sex drive will likely return to what it was before T.
The experience of the need to masturbate will likely return to a pre-T mental desire.
You may still like the same kinds of stimulation, or they may return to something more like your pre-T desires, or something new entirely.
You may find your ability to have multiple orgasms – if this is something you had previously – returns.

Will atrophy revert if I stop taking T?

Atrophy and difficulty producing self lubrication will go away after a while off T, although the specific time will vary from person to person

Changes To Vaginal Experiences

More common: Atrophy

Some, not all, trans people on T will experience some degree of vaginal atrophy, this may lead to:
- Less production of self-lubrication
- Pain during penetration
- Difficulty taking as much girth as previously possible during penetration
- Moderately increased risk of to tearing during sex due to thinner skin
  - e.g. Nails that are not kept very short may now be enough to cause a tear, when they didn't before, resulting in bleeding. This bleeding should not be hugely significant in volumeThis bleeding will likely not last more than 24 hours and will be very light after the initial bleed from the injury. You may find there is some resulting pain for a few days afterwards, in which case it’s probably best to take a break from penetrative forms of sex and explore something else if you are still horny.
  - This means it is very important to speak up during sex if you feel any pain or sharpness, and to ask your partners to maintain short, filed nails (or alternatively they could consider wearing latex gloves during sex which can have added benefits as the gloves make your fingers smoother as a whole, which can make sex smoother in turn!).
A common phrase regarding trans genitals is “use it or lose it!” - for those on T this relates to how experiencing penetration (which doesn't need to involve a partner) at least semi-regularly can help with minimising the chances of atrophy.
If you notice any symptoms of atrophy you can notify your doctor and get prescribed a localised oestrogen cream to lessen the effects.
- This oestrogen cream is localised to only affect your vagina and will not have any other effects on your body, so don’t be afraid to take it. There’s no need to suffer in silence when an easy solution is out there!

Less common: Increased Production of Self Lubrication

While decreased production of self lubrication is most common, some people do instead find that T actually increases their production of self lubrication.

Will my periods come back if I stop taking T?

Unless you are on something else that may block your periods, such as the Depo shot or other hormonal contraceptives, your period will return once you have been off T for a while. The length of time this takes will vary from person to person.

Menstruation

You will likely experience your periods stopping after a few months on T.
However, for some people it may take longer, or they may continue even beyond a whole year on T.
If this is the case for you, you can take progesterone-based contraceptives, commonly the Depo injection, which also help reduce the likelihood of you having periods, or at least cause lighter periods.

Changes in Sensitivity and What is Pleasurable

Due to the head of your T-dick now having a much larger surface area (due to bottom growth) the bundle of nerves is spread over a larger area, meaning for most people it will be less intensely sensitive (after you are past the initial sensitivity of early bottom growth)
Different kinds of stimulation may be more pleasurable, whilst things that previously were very pleasurable may lose their appeal
- Treating your T-dick more like a cis dick is often a more pleasurable approach than clitoral stimulation techniques, this might mean:
  - Desire for a jerking off motion instead of/as well as rubbing
  - Oral sex often being more pleasurable when the focus is on sucking rather than licking
  - For people who have experienced sufficient growth, it may be possible and pleasurable to attempt penetration using your T-dick. And even if penetration isn’t possible, grinding your T-dick into wetness on and around a vagina may be both pleasurable and gender affirming
After some time on T your G-Spot Tissue will become more like a prostate (or in fact, like multiple small prostrates throughout your vaginal canal)¹, which often makes anal stimulation more pleasurable.
- Plenty of trans men enjoy vaginal stimulation or “bottoming”, and you may even find this becomes more enjoyable after some time on T as this change to the G-spot can also be felt through the vaginal canal.
However, none of the aforementioned effects are guaranteed and you may find what worked for you before remains the same after taking T. This does not mean there is anything wrong with you or that you aren’t as masculine! And you can always get experimental with finding ways to make those methods of stimulation more gender affirming.
Remember it is possible to experience both pleasure and enjoyment of an act and also feel dysphoria during/after it, so it can be good to plan aftercare for if dysphoria does arise. This could be doing something that is very gender affirming for you, or just receiving affection and reassurance from your partner.

Citation: ¹ https://genderanalysis.net/2020/10/trans-men-and-transmasculine-people-on-testosterone-can-grow-prostate-tissue/

Will what I enjoy during sex change if I stop taking T?

The kinds of stimulation you enjoy may remain the same as whilst on T, may return to what it was like pre-T, may be a combination of the two, or may be entirely different again!