Questions About Testosterone

Can I stop HRT?

Yes, you can stop taking HRT at any time and your body will resume producing oestrogen as your dominant hormone. However, as addressed in the individual sections, not all changes are reversible, while some are.
If you stop taking HRT, you can still return to taking it at any time.

Can I take a lower dose of HRT for different effects?

Yes you can take a lower dose of HRT, however this does not mean you won’t get the same changes, you will likely experience all of them to some degree.
If you continue taking a lower dose over a longer period you will likely see the same degree of changes as those on a regular dose, they will just take longer to occur.

Can I take a higher dose if I'm not satisfied with my effects?

If you are feeling dissatisfied with your effects, the best thing you can do is get a blood test to check your levels and book an appointment with your healthcare provider in order to discuss both where your hormone levels are at and the physical changes you are dissatisfied with.

If your bloodwork shows your levels are indeed on the low side, you should be able to have a discussion with your provider about increasing your dose and/or the frequency of your dose (depending on the method of your administration).
- If your bloodwork finds that your levels are too high for it to be recommended for you to increase your dose, it's best to try and address the specific changes (or lackthereof) you are feeling unhappy about, so that you can explore possible options to address them that do not involve increasing your dose.
  - For example, if you are unhappy with your facial or body hair growth, you could try applying minoxidil to the area in which you are looking to increase your hair growth.
  - Or if your periods haven't stopped and that is your main cause for concern, there are other ways you can work with your healthcare provider to try and reach the cessation of your periods.

You deserve to see the changes you want, so ideally your provider will work with you to find ways to achieve this, which may not always involve the raising of your dose.
- Increasing your dose if your testosterone levels are already high won't actually help you achieve the changes you are looking for, as if your body has excess testosterone, it actually converts it into oestrogen - which is the exact opposite of what you want!
- Levels that are too high can also present a risk to your health through raising your blood pressure or triggering thyroid issues, amongst other things.

So if you are dissatisfied, definitely seek support in achieving the changes you want! But be open to other avenues of achieving this than simply upping your dose.

Also, unfortunately, sometimes it really is just a case of time, and needing to wait a little longer for the changes you want. This can be really hard, and it's important to seek out support from someone if you are struggling during this period. But different people experience changes at different rates, and it's important to remember that the people who are most likely to be sharing their changes on social media are going to be the people who have experienced the most dramatic changes!

Sometimes it does just take time, and this is frustrating, but more often than not, you will eventually see (at least a greater degree) of the change you seek in the mirror!