Two Years on Low Dose Testosterone - Comparisons and Results

Wild that it's already been two years. Thanks for watching pals; if you have any questions about what low dose has been like for me feel free to ask :)
Some other fun links:
The video that introduced me to the idea of low dose T - • 6 Months on Low Dose T...
My music channel with other videos 'n stuff - / eorroxsox
My Tumblr that I can't believe I'm linking but oh well I'm just gonna do it - / rainbowbands
My favorite song at the moment - Still listening to Betty Who on the daily buuuut Don't Stop Now by Dua Lipa is quite the bop

[@hourtohournotetonote9864]

"If you identify your body as masculine, you have a masculine body", needed to hear that today

[@kainovember]

Oh my god this is so helpful. I'm a singer too and it's terrifying to feel like you have to choose between two huge parts of your identity. Thank you for this video, I needed to see that someone had went down this path and succeeded ❤️ you look so good

[@rainbowfriend2320]

Thank you so much Kai ❤️ I know that terror well; on the other side it’ll be so worth it (at least it has been for me)

[@moreiram.4276]

I've been living with this fear for almost 5 years :(

[@khashiana4554]

my jaw dropped when you shared your reason for you hesitation with T...this is exactly the video I needed to see. thank you!

[@khashiana4554]

sorry I don't know if you said this in the video, but I was wondering if your vocal range is the same as before you started T or if now you struggle to hit higher notes that you used to hit?

[@evan_escence95]

i'm a transmasc enby and been on low dose t for 6.5 months so far!! there's been quite a few changes, my voice is noticeably lower especially!! watching these sorts of videos are always so affirming and reassuring and i hope you're doing well!! it gives me hope to be in that same position someday

[@cosmicfishnyx8132]

Being non-binary, I’ve never related to a video before about transitioning so much.

[@rainbowfriend2320]

Thank youuuu wow I really appreciate this ❤️

[@titusgage85]

sorry to be offtopic but does someone know of a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly forgot my login password. I love any assistance you can give me!

[@theoskylar3287]

@Titus Gage instablaster =)

[@astrider5712]

you look stellar! also i love how smooth your voice is-- i really want to go on low dose T later in life and i definitely dont want my voice to change too severely

[@rainbowfriend2320]

thanks so much :) the slow and steadiness of the change definitely takes away that feeling of severity which is super helpful

[@nunyabeezwax1439]

imagining myself being here someday made me cry a lil

[@aldranzam3456]

same

[@anxiousabbyproductions8408]

Being happy with the skin that you’re in and your body isn’t egotistical! Self love isn’t selfish

[@lemoncupcakes6587]

I'm Non-binary, but have been thinking about taking T for some time. Mainly, I just want a bit of a deeper voice and a more masculine/androgynous face. It makes me feel better that people started to misgender you less, because I still have that problem a lot with my family and strangers after two years of coming out... I guess that's why I'm trying to look into T though. Thanks for the video!

[@schylermr6973]

Someone that definitely helps me feel better about my high voice is Kellin Quinn. His voice is so high and so pretty and he is such a king that it helps me a lot.

[@spenceranderson9642]

I check for new low-dose T videos like once a week. I feel like low dose will be right for me, and this video solidifies that! Thank you 💕

[@rainbowfriend2320]

Kiersten Anderson I feel you, I used to do that too :p good luck with it, I hope there’s a lot of euphoria to come 💕

[@LoganHollowC]

I'm glad you're feeling more confident, you seem a lot happier! it's really interesting how differently people's bodies react to T. Im on a 'normal' dose of T and my voice totally dropped about 3.5 - 4 months in but even now at about 5.5 months i still get read as female. I feel like my voice is really the only big change i've had.

[@rainbowfriend2320]

Logan Hollow congrats on 5.5 months! Definitely super interesting, and perhaps I’m giving too much credit to my dosage for why my voice dropped much later and my initial transition was slow; maybe it was in part just how my body reacted to T. I hope your being misgendered slows down soon pal, seems like it will ❤️❤️❤️

[@Jordan-mn2wj]

Hearing your voice before and after is so amazing to hear. Im still deciding what i want to do T wise, but just hearing evidence that it CAN go well makes me feel so much better lmao. Voice is my main dysphoria inducer so even just a little deeper would be amazing

[@MagpieMac]

The voice changes is what freaked me right out. I was on full T for 5 months and then had a nervous breakdown and pretty much unturned on my entire transition. I still identify as trans/nonbinary - but no one really accepts me that was, as I was transitioning ftm so they don't take me seriously. Now I just feel trapped in my original gender/body, and I was okay with it for a while, but I'm not so much now. Lots of my friends are "coming out" enby and I'm happy for them but also like... Sad about it. Feel like if I push for folk to see me as enby/trans they'll think I'm just at it. I'll never be the version of myself I want to be. And now? Now I don't ever sing. So it was all for nothing.

[@ptakmusic]

Hey Jack, this is super helpful, I’m in a very similiar situation, needing to transition and thinking about starting low dose t and needing to maintain my singing voice, or at least don’t want it to low down so quickly so thank you for sharing this ❤

[@lucycamarata8603]

Hi Jack, my name is Luca, and I'm transmasc. I know this is an older video but I'm so glad I came across it! Thanks for being so open and sharing your story -- this is like - identical to my situation and I have been stressing a lot about transitioning as a process while still carrying the unbearable pain of getting misgendered constantly. All that to say, I'm starting T on Monday and I am SO excited. Thank you for the great video!

[@CatCattinson]

Thanks for making this video. I checked out your music channel too. You're looking and sounding great, dude! I am a non-binary singer who just started low dose T and I was afraid to start it for a long time because I was worried about my singing voice. It definitely feels like the right decision though, and I can't wait to see the changes that occur!

[@rainbowfriend2320]

sorry for the late reply, gahhh I dint get any notifications for this video for a while. thank you so much for checking it out! I just subscribed to yours too, excited to hear more from you :)

[@CatCattinson]

@@rainbowfriend2320 No worries on the delay, and thanks a bunch! 😁 Looking forward to more from you as well.

[@fleek6319]

I just randomly stumbled over the low-dose testosteron today! I always thought I just wanted top surgery and never considered hormones but now I'm not so sure... anyway, I really like you, you seem incredibly kind and I love your style :)

[@SwedishAngmoh]

Your videos has such a calm feel to them. It's good to see you again.

[@rainbowfriend2320]

Annie Lidé thanks so much 💕 i guess they reflect my mood a good bit as i’m a rather calm fellow :)

[@nate_tha_great]

Thank you for this! It really has helped me in making the decision to start hrt.

[@elijahsmells8034]

i've literally been feeling the exact same way for so long, thank u for this

[@lenamarie2071]

Thank you so much for this video. I'm nonbinary and on low dose T for 3 1/2 months now and have been wondering when changes will happen, This helped me so much!

[@shyryTsr2k]

When going on T I was also afraid of losing my singing voice. I could hit the higher notes and could sing... Fairly well? However my voice kept dropping, and kept dropping. I lost that voice that I liked however I have relearned(?) how to sing all over again and now I have kinda like... Trained my voice to sing in a new style. It was difficult to find the style suitable to this new change at first however once you have it figured out, it'll get easier. Thank you so much for this🤗

[@SoWhySoSirious]

Is it weird if I want exactly the voice you have? It's so sweet and androginous but masc all at the same time omg

[@Nery_Nery]

Interesting that I want mainly the voice change and not a to of the other things! 😂 Cool video, thanks for the information!

[@KarolaTea]

"being seen for who I am vs doing what I loved" oof. yeah. I like my job, but it's a _very_ conservative field, I don't know if it'd be safe to be out. Hey, it's great to be happy with your body! Happiness is a good thing :) Great thing it worked out for you so well! I read something about athlete cis women using very low dose testosterone to boost muscle growth, and many of them also mentioned getting a slightly lower voice. So I guess it might not matter how low you go, that's just something T does, to some extend.

[@katzgilli]

What a lovely video! Thank you so much for sharing

[@rainbowfriend2320]

Kati Gilli thank you!

[@morganfontaine4741]

Looking awesome man! Thanks for the inspiration. You seem so happy😁

[@GoldenEagle469]

I love your hair color!

[@yogiperogy]

I’m a cat lover too! Nice to see other folks’ feline companions!

[@jaybailey3188]

Thank you for such an informative video! Two questions: 1. Did you notice a reduction in your vocal range? 2. Are there any exercises/general tips for working through the vocal changes as a singer?

[@rainbowfriend2320]

Thank YOU :) 1. I would say my vocal range was never super reduced but definitely a little bit for a time; as it dropped it expanded in the low end while the high end became rockier. For a year or so I didn’t have access to my falsetto in the ways that I used to. During that time my full voice range stayed the same size but without the full falsetto range I couldn’t do all the things that I used to. Overall, now three years in, I think my range broadened and I have a larger range now than I used to :p 2. The only tip I have is to keep singing, find what’s difficult for you, and work with it, through it, or around it as needed. With low dose, since the vocal changes are so slow, there’s nothing I needed to do to make sure my voice wouldn’t be wrecked; I would also just advise to try not to stress too much. I was quite anxious about it back then but it will all work out, you won’t hurt your voice by singing as it changes, and it’ll probably turn out better than you could’ve imagined :)

[@lounadeau5683]

I just cried a bit listening to your video, I started T gel this week and identify as non binary and relate so much with what you got through (like hey this is what kind of effects I want). On howmuch grams of gel were you ? I'm on 2.5 grams (25 mg of testosterone) and I cant wait to see some results 😭

[@dingdangdong8850]

Your voice is very soothing and comforting:')

[@xw591]

Wow, you were very successful! Very masculine face and neck but your voice is high. Nice job. Thanks for putting this online for us.

[@Jo-vl9mj]

So happy for you😊

[@susanpeter-thompson]

Hi, I'm exploring going on low-dose T as well. I really want a more masculine-looking body, but I'm afraid I'll lose my hair and end up looking like my old man. I'm almost 60, so that's a real possibility. Regardless, i definitely want top surgery. I'm glad there are videos like yours on KZbin and other platforms, because it makes me feel a lot less alone. Seeing a person on video is a lot different from reading about other people's experiences in a book.

[@maddiefleming9104]

Love this video :) I identify as trans and am highly considering low does. Also LOVE the cover of Bad Guy!! Cannot find it on your other channel :(

[@AUnicorn666]

Jack, you look great! Love the hair! ^-^

[@tofunmiolowu]

So handsome, and a wonderful voice! Gender is wiiiild. Much love from the Chi!

[@changer1285]

Thanks for sharing, my partner is starting the process of "microdosing" T and it's good to learn about the variety of experiences that can occur. Also can we meet the cat?

[@ianthejillian433]

use witch hazel & shea butter to help reduce the scarring. and congrats to you!

[@xw591]

I dig the blue sweater

[@DxityDoo]

Just started T yesterday. I’m trans masc nonbinary but am excited for most of the changes. I’m excited for my voice to drop but also very nervous coz I like my current singing range and default to singing high so I’m nervous to lose that but also excited to hear the difference. I have a lot of conflicting feelings about a lot of the effects lol

[@loupianeault]

hi! I wish I saw your video before starting hormonal transition. It would have been reasuring. I'm a signer too, and non-binary, genderfluïd. I feel like the share my voice transition experience! : I was terrified by loosing my pre-T voice which I loved (but which gave me dysphoria as well). I started on low dose for a few +/- 6 months, then went to a normal-low dose because I wanted the changes to come faster. My voice transition was VERY difficult for me, mostly because it wasnt stable. One week it would drop an octave below, then come back where it was, some weeks I had only 3 notes I could sing, and some others it was different... My randge would change all the time also, making it so hard to adapt songs and to know where, instinctively, to sing. It's hard for me to adapt to changes, and it was changing so much every day! I never knew what to expect. Also, there was some places in my voice that I loved to sing that I couldnt use anymore, and I had (though I had) to grief and I did cried a lot. I wasnt able to laugh or cry without hurting, I wasnt able to talk in a comfortable place, it would always sqeek... I lose my warm timber, for a squeeky one! I wasnt reconising my voice identity anymore. I had no fun singning nor talking, it would often hurt. I lost sooo much confidence in music, i was really feeling like a child or a teenage again. It was sooo hard! a long year... But! After around a year, my voice randge began to stabilise, and above all, I gradually found back my special timber again. I can hear my own voice again when I talk and sing. My voice stabilised a little bit less than one octave under. I'm still learning to understand it beter, where it transition, where do the notes now fits in my body. I think the timber of my voice make it very agendered or even femine even if it is low, and I like it. I'm irritated that I cant sing certain woman songs the same way as before while listening to it, but I'm learning to make different harmony instead. I also still miss some effects I was able to do before that I couldnt do. But I think I now could learn how to do these things again with my new randge with practice. I also learned new sounds and feelings to do with it. The more I sing and talk, the more I fall in love again with my voice. For me, its a lot like re-learning.

[@mullet_head_666]

thank you for the video! it was really helpful :)

[@cgottschify]

It really seems like the dose of testosterone only affects how fast you get changes, not whether you get them.

[@robinlandesberger3423]

hei, how did you train your voice? i want to become better at singing and i am also (hopefully) going to start low dose T in about 9 months. Your voice now (its 2021 now, and i haven't watched your latest videos yet) sounds amazing! thats exactly what i am looking for (i am non binary). i hope one day i will become as good at singing as you, love your music!

[@elleryberenger8203]

Thank you so much for posting this video! As a fellow singer and transmasc enby, I was wondering if you could elaborate on your process of maintaining your voice through your transition. For me, I started out on .2 ml injected T for the Summer of 2018. During that time, I felt like I lost about a third of my upper range, and just a few notes towards the bottom. I was devastated, and actually went off T that Fall. I just got off the phone with my PC this morning and am getting ready to re-start T this week. I feel ready for the change, but the vocal stuff still scares me. Would love your insight.

[@elenchanted9904]

I am so glad this was in my recommended. Because my main fear and t (I'm non-binary) is losing my singing voice. I'm so happy with my singing right now, I've worked for a long time to get my full range usable and sounding good. My main fear is not even really that I won't have the ability to hit the notes I can now, I think the fear is more.... Losing the ability to have three full octaves of range. I'm scared I'll be reduced to two or heaven forbid one. But I also know that I'm going to mourn the ability to sing ethereal vocals and my ability to sing Aurora covers...I am not ready to make that choice yet but I'm glad to see someone's journey who is similar to me in terms of what they were worried about before t. I'm glad you included the before and after singing too, that really helped me feel like singing after t will be possible, I won't have to give up what I love for my own comfort in my body.

[@cgottschify]

I dont know where people get the idea that T reduces range permanently but it seems unfounded when the norm is that men have the same range size as women. I think a lot of people on T panic when their voice goes thru changes and take "having to relearn how to sing" as "ill never get my range back". Your vocal cords change size, so its no surprise you have to get them used to vibrating at lower frequencies, and training harder for the higher notes. We all have the potential to be Brendon Urie!

[@flixsswithc8994]

I really want to go on low dose t but I don't want any facial hair or a receding hairline. Is there any way to avoid that?

[@thebluefaery_silly]

I know this comment is a month old and there's not many videos or info on this still, but if you google low dose testosterone and finasteride or low dose t and dutasteride, you can find a few posts on reddit and mabye Quora. Finasteride and dutasteride are DHT blockers and some of the changes associated with testosterone, balding, increased hair and beard growth, bottom growth are caused by DHT. A DHT blocker can stop or strongly slow those changes while still allowing the voice changes and fat redistribution. Some people say it slows your voice change and can cause depression or kill libido. Full disclaimer, I'm ace, so I didn't care that much about libido (though it's actually a tad higher which is the opposite of what cis men report when taking Finasteride so idk), but I've been on 1% or 2.5mg of androgel and 1.25mg of Finasteride for a month and already have a teeny bit more muscle, no additional hair growth, acne and my voice is slightly deeper, the latter of which I honestly didn't notice til someone who sees me almost every day commented on it. I also have depression and anxiety before Fin and this didn't worsen it for me (I have a pretty good handle on managing those now). THAT SAID, do as much research as you can and keep an eye on your thinking to watch for suicide ideation. Prioritize self care and do everything you can to prevent yourself from becoming depressed. Even then with regards to all of the above, everyone's body is different so YMMV. I hope you see this and that it helps you.

[@flixsswithc8994]

@@thebluefaery_silly This is super helpful, thank you. I'll make sure to do some more research on this before making any final decisions.

[@mothboy420]

I was on low dose and my voice changed dramatically and immediately anyway

[@BlairePatrick-vk4xl]

This guys handsome.

[@pop_dog7034]

I am in no way a good singer but I sing a lot for fun and joy and it really scares me that if I start testosterone I will lose my ability to sing for joy. This has really helped assure me. Now I just need to save up to get treated privately (coz the NHS delay is ridiculous)

[@KysEcstacy]

The main fears i have is the bottom changes and voice changes, im a music artist myself and thats a hige fear of me. The bottom enlargement terrifies me but my dysphoria is getting horrible so i feel desperate

[@gene2972]

Hello! What is your mg or ml dosage, and are you using gel or intramuscular injection or something else? I have heard everything from .1 to .25 ML per week as being "low dose." I love your results. I just went on 0.25ML injection (the 200mg/ML vial) per week about 4 days ago, and at the time, they said that's the lowest they would ever prescribe. But since then, I've heard about a couple of friends who have been on lower dose, so that's why I'm asking what your dosage is. Thank you!

[@rainbowfriend2320]

Hi! Sorry for the late reply; I was on .1 for a year and went to .25 in February! I heard that too from an endo that I couldn’t go lower than .25 but tons of people are on .1; it’s safe, a good option, and everything you see in this video came from that :)

[@connercarey]

As a non-binary singer, pre transition, thank you for making this video

[@yjas9999]

your chest looks beautiful !!

[@droptherapy2085]

The beginning of summer photo vaguely reminds me of Tillian Pearson

[@xw591]

Can you do a video on your workouts and fitness?

[@xeniahaberditz5472]

I'm nonbinary, not happy with some parts/appearances/functions of my body. I dont want the full dose of T, but maybe low dose ? Idk, still figuring that out. It's confusing me alot. Taking my time to figure it out.

[@Jo-vl9mj]

How much of the pack did you start on? Thanks for the video

[@DorianPaige00]

I get asked if I started estrogen and I've been on it at for a decade now. (M2F)

[@Peaceful_Days]

As an amab person it's not possible to make my voice higher. I wish I could make my voice a tone higher just because it would be more convenient to play songs in standard guitar tuning and sing.

[@cgottschify]

practice practice practice! try getting a coach

[@lexischnaebi1747]

how many grams did you take? That would be good to understand. thanks!

[@user-rn1ix9or3f]

I can't stop looking for the cat XD

[@jasonp.brunke3601]

Why not just be who you were born as? Just be okay with that? Everybody love everybody...

[@sarsoorGio]

curious who you went to for top surgery?

[@abcdefgh6951]

wait, so you cant just get on a high dose and have the usual changes if you changed your mind? How does that work, I was considering low dose and I thought I could always just get on a high dose if I wanted to, is that not true?

[@cgottschify]

I think what OP is saying that low dose in this situation caused the same blood levels as a higher dose. Endos try to keep you in a healthy range, with normal "high" doses being what typically gets you there. If OP went on a higher dose, i think the thinking is that the blood levels could end up higher, thus increasing risk with no therapeutic benefit.

[@jaymerr2685]

If you don’t mind answering what was your dosage?

[@jullev6709]

When you a day will realise what means to be a man you'll be very deluded and regret, and its too late. it 's not a game of medicines.

[@dingdangdong8850]

lmaooo the acoustic Bad Guy

[@hadestherecluse]

Let’s just say, I would completely read you as male even back in those photos but I guess I understand about the voice issue. People can only read me as female because of my voice. I started on the 25mg 1% packets. I am non binary, transmasculine. So what was ur dose, and did you ever cycle the dose at all? Sometimes I feel like I should do 2 packets of 25’s to equal 50

[@rainbowfriend2320]

I think these days I only don't get read as male when people know I'm trans, which is quite wonderful but it took a long time to get here. I was on the same, 25mg 1%, and was on that for two years (at the time I filmed this I thought I'd be on that forever). I just upped my dose last week to two packets because my blood work showed that my testosterone was lower than the cis male range; I didn't have to up it, as in it would've been totally okay and I still would've looked the same if I didn't up it, but I decided to go up to two packets for the mental health benefits of knowing my T is in the right range for me. So I guess in conclusion I'd say going on two packets is definitely an option; the low dose you're on works super slowly so your voice will likely change and drop in time, but two packets will definitely speed that up.

[@hadestherecluse]

Rainbow Friend Thank you so much for the reply man, have a great day ♥️

[@suliman7147]

How tall are u man!

[@dr.Acula13]

What was your dose and what was your prescription called? I think you had a nice transition. I wouldn't think twice. The pitch doesn't define you. You seem like a guy. If I didn't know I wouldn't question if you were man 😊 so many cis men have your pitch too!

[@yogiperogy]

Are LD T patches produced in quantity commercially or are they small-batch, made when prescribed? Mind you, I live in Canada so how things operate in America may not even apply…..boo, hoo! 😢

[@1-Goose-On-The-Loose]

God your voice is giving me a lot of gender envy.

[@intuneknitter4220]

From one musician to another. There is no cheap way around singing. You have to re-train your voice on HRT. I don’t want to sound to harsh, but the thing I can’t stand about people who go on “low dose” is that they try to pick and choose. That’s not how hormones work. You have to accept all of the changes, and that means working with your changing voice. I did appreciate hearing about your experience, and I hope you have continued success and happiness in your transition and singing career!

[@rainbowfriend2320]

In Tune Knitter I hear you; it seems though with microdosing there are ways to pick and choose to some extent! I didn’t previously think that to be true either but if you watch Sharp Left’s videos (the person I mention and link to) you’ll see how they were able to get what they wanted through microdosing, which was little to no voice change but muscle/fat redistribution and a more masculine appearance. I realize I’m not an example of a successful pick-and-choose transition, though, and that’s okay; I’m speaking from a position of having moved from thinking I wanted to hand craft my hormone experience for a no-voice-change transition to instead accepting, and loving, the way my voice did change. But I know with less T it’s still possible to have an experience without vocal changes like Sharp Left experienced :)

[@intuneknitter4220]

Rainbow Friend I’m glad you’re happy with where you’re at. I just think that promoting the idea of so called “microdosing” seems dangerous to me. I speak from experience because I’ve been on increasingly low doses of estrogen and no matter my dose my level is at least double some times as high as four times what it should be. I’ve actually noticed more changes on lower doses than when I was on twice my dose. Hormones aren’t straight forward. That being said, always talk with your provider and most importantly be open and honest about how you’re feeling. I’ve been lucky that my NP has given me a lot of agency with my journey. At the end of the day I want people having safe and healthy transitions whatever their goals.

[@rainbowfriend2320]

In Tune Knitter totally; in truth I don’t want to promote microdosing in the sense that folks should take as little or as much t as they want without checking their blood work and consulting a doctor, but since there are examples of folks who have gone on very low doses to avoid certain t side effects and have succeeded I want to amplify that! That said, though, i have no knowledge about what going on estrogen is like so maybe “microdosing” estrogen is totally different; for me my t levels have never been too high from low dose and have consistently been low/on the lower side of normal. Perhaps my body just reacts to hormones differently, but taking low doses has never gotten my levels remotely close to too high 🤷‍♂️ thanks for commenting and sharing about your experience!

[@dizzleydiz]

I’m not at all trying to sound like a jerk here, but I think that maybe people who are just naturally good singers might not necessarily need to “retrain” their voice, but rather just keep singing and practicing and adjusting to the changes. I’ve never had a singing lesson in my life. I suppose I just taught myself how to sing and only by simply...singing. Literally everyone remarks how much they love my singing voice, and I honestly have no idea what I’m doing. Just singing. I never “trained” it to begin with, So, when my voice slowly starts to change, I’m just going to keep singing like I did years ago when I had no clue how to and it just came naturally. People lose their voice on T because they take high/standard doses and their vocal chords/ voice box start to expand at a rate that their body doesn’t know how to keep up with. AFAB peoples voice boxes after puberty/ into adulthood start to become less flexible, so the faster the changes occur, the more harsh it will be on the vocal chords. And since higher doses do cause faster changes...low dose is a much safer bet for singers. This video is extremely helpful, and a great resource in a time when there are few examples to be found of slower transitions. Totally supporting Jack and thanking him for making these vids ✌️

[@barandmelody]

Hey, it’s been a while… how are you?

[@siriusly11]

😘💖

[@rainbowfriend2320]

[@patriciamoscato6586]

U can b egotistical

[@merilupa9942]

Real men don't wear nail polish.

[@Leo-ui9hu]

As a music major who also sings and is thinking about transitioning this is really helpful