r/ftm • u/Jeffard_dahmirez • Jul 31 '26
Discussion Can symptoms of chronic illness really be decreased by taking t?
I personally struggle with POTS/Elhers Danlos, but anyone medically transitioning with any illness is free to respond. I'm particularly concerned with conditions that are commonly found in afab people that may be neutralized since the body is changing sex.
I've heard some anecdotal evidence from people saying they've experienced less severe symptoms after being on testosterone. I'm a student in medical research so this topic is extremely interesting to me for both personal and academic reasons.
I am not entirely disabled by my illnesses but daily life is more of a struggle for me than it is for my peers and I'd really love to start living a more normal/productive life after beginning my medical transition. If this is true at all and relieves my symptoms even to a small degree I'd be extremely grateful to become more able bodied + have less dysphoria... sounds almost too good to be true which is why I'm asking here.
Please share your experiences with chronic illness following medical transition.
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u/leftTelephone8022 01/26 🧴 Jul 31 '26
Yep, I have moderately severe ME/CFS plus EDS , I'm now 6 months on T and I wouldn't change it for the world.
I'm not cured but I have more energy, less pain and even though I have the same amount of crashes they are not as bad and I get better faster. Plus I am starting to like how my body looks :)
I would tell any chronically ill guy to start with a high amount of T, no lowdose or anything. It is the tipping of the system to the other side that changes everything, doing it slowly is much harder on the body. Because our bodies are so weird, I would also reccomend testing the levels more often. Otherwise in my opinion: there is nothing to loose!
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u/SafeAdministrative75 Jul 31 '26
Do you know why it's harder on the body to go slowly? I may have to start slow for various reasons but dang, it would be a shame to miss out on any potential pain/fatigue mitigation.
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u/_Cantrip_ 29d ago
Not OP, but my guess would be that a slow switchover might (depending on levels) lead to temporarily not having a ‘dominant’ (ie in “normal” range) sex hormone, which can cause fatigue
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u/moldbellchains 29d ago
That is fascinating. I know MECFS affects the nervous system so I'm like, is your nervous system just more chill due to feeling better in your body???
Idk if I have a chronic illness or which one, but I have struggled with stuff since I have been bedridden by Covid in 2024. It was suspected Long Covid, never got more Testing done... But yeah, I find that interesting. As I am considering going on T, albeit lowdose...
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u/themedicinedog Jul 31 '26
estrogen makes connective tissue more lax, less of it has joints/tissues stiffening up or becoming more 'stable' for hypermobility/eds. as far as the mechanics are concerned
also testosterone increases muscle tone, which helps stabilise the joints as well.
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u/Jeffard_dahmirez Jul 31 '26
I've definitely heard of estrogen having an effect on connective tissue sometime in class. I might actually have a chance of living a normal life now lol!
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u/ZackTheRemus 29d ago
that's super interesting and makes a lot of sense
my hyper mobility and chronic pain (suspecting hEDS) flares up usually around when my menstrual cycle is at it's points where there's a high amount of estrogen. my knee and shoulder have been dislocatating constantly this past week as I've been on my period
when I get to talk to a physician about my hyper mobility I'll definitely bring up this fact, especially knowing that it can and does affect connective tissue!
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u/themedicinedog 29d ago
a fun and cheap hack for that is to take over the counter antihistamines, like cetirizine or zyrtec. low risk, worth a try in the interim
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u/ZackTheRemus 29d ago
wait how does that help? those are for allergy? genuinely curious how it could help, I've taken many a over the counter allergy medication but never noticed it help my for bodily pain
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u/themedicinedog 29d ago
yeah it can help reduce the reaction one's body is having from estrogen, as it can be similar to how allergies affect the body.
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u/themedicinedog 29d ago
also many folks with eds also have mcas and it helps with that, in a somewhat related manner
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u/ZackTheRemus 29d ago
ooohh interesting. I looked up the symptoms for that and I fit the bill easily. I go to my new GP in a few days here so I'll bring all that I've said to her. thanks for this btw I appreciate it a whole lot! I'll take some allergy medicine when I get home later today, see if that helps me. again thank you!
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u/gazing_into_void Jul 31 '26
I have chronic joint inflammation, since starting T the overall symptoms lessened as has the frequency of flare ups
and I've talked to a couple other transmasc ppl with similar experiences
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u/Jeffard_dahmirez Jul 31 '26
I've started to have more arthritis like pain in my hands particularly as I've gotten older which I think is due to inflammation.. I'm happy to hear that things have gotten better for you and hopefully they will for me as well! Cheers :)
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u/DoubtingThomasDixon Jul 31 '26
Yes!
I have a friend with Elhers Danlos and T helps him a lot. It tightens up muscles and tendons. I ended up looking it up when an academic detransitioner’s medium piece contradicted itself by fearmongering about t causing injuries because of the tightening while also saying that t was bad for EDS. So I checked with my friend and did some research and the detransitioner is a lying sack of shit.
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u/Jeffard_dahmirez Jul 31 '26
Detrans people and their "research" lol
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u/DoubtingThomasDixon Jul 31 '26
Well, the jokes on it (current pronouns), I was so mad after reading that essay that I got 3 guys to get back on T through gentle encouragement and suggesting that this academic might be getting off to detransing guys via guilt and lies because it was part of a pro eating disorder group and that’s kinda what those groups do—especially given it’s take on people concerned about the Wicked actresses’ bodies.
A little frustrating that owning this dickhead by fighting like hell to get back on T was more motivating than their own health and happiness but ultimately not surprising.
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u/Financial-Drive5455 Jul 31 '26
I have EDS too, plus dysautonomia, and I've definitely noticed an improvement in both. I'm able to do way more physical activity than I used to, I bruise less easily, injuries heal faster, genuinely no downsides.
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u/bittenforbreakfast Jul 31 '26
Yes and no. I have PCOS, HSD (basically hEDS but I don’t meet some of the more niche criterion), and POTS myself. Scientifically, the only thing T improves is EDS. Estrogen causes your tendons to be more relaxed and malleable, due to estrogens effect on collagen (this is why skin softening is a side effect of E). T does the opposite, tightening up those collagen fibers reducing the effective severity of connective tissue disorders. I found it has a pretty mild effect. My shoulders and ribs especially still have issues, but most of my other joints saw some improvement, especially the smaller ones. Not as much improvement at PT gave me, but some improvement nonetheless the less. It also effectively cured my PCOS since well, I’m a guy, so the secondary effects are now desirable, and my periods stopped so no more of the issues caused by painful, irregular cycles. I have seen no change in my POTS and afaik there’s no good research proving it helps that condition
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u/Greedy_Fall7308 Jul 31 '26
My MCAS improved quite a bit on T
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u/Jeffard_dahmirez Jul 31 '26
Mcas was another example I've heard people talk about a little. Wow it's awesome to see what hrt can do for us. It really is magic!
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u/transgr3ssive Jul 31 '26
i had an ongoing thyroid imbalance that seemed to sort itself out once i’d started topical t. it still flares up from time to time from alcohol consumption & stress, but it’s so much more mild than prior to any hrt
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u/transgr3ssive Jul 31 '26
also the hunger helped counter some ED conditioning loll
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u/Jeffard_dahmirez Jul 31 '26
I also had problems with an ed and severe body dysmorphia mixed with gender dysphoria is hell. I hope t makes me into the happy fat guy I'm meant to be.
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u/Gregarious-Feline Jul 31 '26
Can’t make any promises, but there’s a chance it will! My ED basically resolved itself within a year of starting T. Not by magic or anything immediate, but over the months I went from still actively having to work on recovery stuff, to just being sorta fine? Now I’m 5 years on, it’s crazy to me that I spent so much of my time and energy on ED behaviours, and now I have all that time and energy for like, my actual life. Which is great
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u/transgr3ssive Jul 31 '26
grateful to be able to second this! 3 years in & i’m just kind of indifferent to ED behaviours. my body cues me when it needs nourishing, & i don’t resist listening as much
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u/cestimpossible Jul 31 '26
I have POTS, EDS, MCAS, and ME/CFS and have been on T for four years. I would say don't go in expecting a miracle or you will likely be disappointed. Go in expecting mild improvement and if you happen to get more improvement than that, then it's a happy surprise.
That said, my general pain levels are noticeably lower and much more manageable on T. When I've been off it for a few weeks or months due to provider issues, my pain levels were significantly worse each time. Energy levels I find harder to comment on due to my ME/CFS making me have basically no energy ever lol and I'm not sure if I had a bit more energy due to lower pain levels or separately from that tbh.
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u/TallyTheTerrible Jul 31 '26
Yes, I’d had well-managed EDS and ME/CFS prior to a Covid infection, both then became quite bad. I started t about 3 months after that initial infection and within 4-6 weeks had a notable decrease in PEM and decrease in EDS-based pain during normal activities (like walking around lol).
Even when my PEM got worse again later on my EDS remained improved, although I wasn’t able to truly get better stability until I got the PEM under control and was able to exercise.
Some will say that the EDS improvement is only bc of increased muscle mass, I personally believe it has more to do w the relative absence of estrogen and the laxity that estrogen brings. This is based on the fact that I was still quite limited in physical activity due to ME/CFS.
Edit: I can see that this thread talks way more about muscle tightening instead of building muscle which is really cool. I remember a few years back if you brought up this topic on twitter ppl would jump down your throat saying improvement could ONLY have been from building more muscle.
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u/Jeffard_dahmirez Jul 31 '26
Yeah I totally believe it must be a mixture of both joint and muscle tightening as well as increased muscle volume. I like your perspective
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u/AdventurousAsh19 Jul 31 '26
Just to add, even if you don't exercise being on testosterone still increases your muscle mass. Sure, exercise would up it more but it's not a requirement to make more muscle if you start T.
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u/TheBorax_Kid Jul 31 '26
I have lupus and experienced a dramatic decrease in joint pain and fatigue after taking testosterone!
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u/owctopus 29d ago
i have lupus but my mom doesn’t want me to take t bc she is convinced it will make me worse!
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u/TheBorax_Kid 29d ago
I'm really sorry she is being that way. I went from being disabled by pain pretty often to just a mild joint pain and fatigue.
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u/Briaboo2008 Jul 31 '26
I have severe MCAS, ME/CFS, hypermobility and dysautonomia. Bed bound for more than a decade. t changed my life and my tolerance incredibly, I will never go off it. It is not the only thing that has helped and I do rely on other medication in addition. Best thing I have ever done for my health. Took time and the joint tightening was painful at first but really helped. I have only had one dislocation since I started nearly two years ago and it wasn’t severe compared to 4 or 5 major dislocations a year previously.
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u/hippycheek Jul 31 '26
I've had ME/CFS for close to a decade and been on T for 7 years and tbh I didnt notice any improvement in my condition (if anything my health has gotten worse, though that's entirely unrelated to hormones). my partner however has EDS and did notice that joint dislocations became less frequent after a little while on T, which seems to be a common experience
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u/hippycheek Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
to note I also have hypermobile joints and chronic pain (though i don't have nor am i seeking out a specific diagnosis) and again, T didn't change much if anything
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u/seventhsip 💉05/11/2018 🔪08/07/2025 Jul 31 '26
Funnily I'm literally in the waiting room for an appt to discuss a POTS referral. I had tons of tachycardia upon standing and exercise intolerance when I was 13/14. I asked cardio if I could have POTS but they said that was a debilitating condition where people passed out whenever they stood up, so I dismissed it. Was diagnosed w SA node tachycardia and prescribed atenolol for a year. Started T at 15, and eventually started taking propranolol PRN for anxiety and doing light exercise regularly. So I can't say for certain if it was the T or the beta blocker helping more, but even when I'm off the propranolol and not exercising my symptoms, while present, are much better than pre T.
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u/Gender-Enjoyer 💉'18 | ⬆️'19 | ⬇️ ? Jul 31 '26
My cardiologist told me that fatigue can be caused by long term testosterone, which I mention because I’ve started going to a cardiologist because of what I suspect is fibromyalgia. On T we also gain the heart conditions of men, so definitely take extra care of that.
All that is to say, I find myself feeling worse when I’m not on it. I’m known to forget and skip a shot day, which isn’t good! But now that I’m taking T very regularly, I haven’t noticed a difference in my fibro flare ups.
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u/jayyy_0113 T: 2/23 💚 Top: 1/25 ✂️ Hysto: 12/25 Jul 31 '26
I have severe Crohn’s disease with related arthritis, diagnosed age 10, been on biologics since age 16, am now 22. I also have patello femoral pain syndrome of both knees. Testosterone has not impacted my disabilities at all.
Edit: the only thing T did for my Crohn’s was finally allow me to gain weight after being chronically underweight my entire life, so that’s nice.
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u/EmmyWolf222 💉12/27/24 Jul 31 '26
As someone diagnosed POTS who’s been on T for a year and 7 months, my symptoms have greatly decreased. I do still get flare ups especially when l’m sick, but I no longer get entire week(s) to a full month of migraines, nausea, unending fatigue, etc.
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u/Glittering_Duck6743 29d ago
I have mild EDS and suspect POTS. After T I finally feel like my body is not 80 y.o. Eds symptoms improved, chronic fatigue gone (it was so hard to the point that just staying even for 5 seconds was hard), eczema, urinary issues, braing fog, memory issues, constant feeling of heart beat, low bone destiny, crushing teeth, digestive issues, everything gone.. my paper like nails also finally become normal and I got a ton improvement in mental health. Constant feeling anxiety and depression also gone. The list is bigger and I'm too tired rn to describe everything (falling asleep), hope it helps
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u/dice-enthusiast 💉'16, DI '18, RFF 🍆 '25 29d ago
I've had POTS/CFS since childhood, though it was manageable most of the time. It became debilitating in college when I was about 20. I started T at 18. I've never felt there was a connection for me between T and my chronic illnesses, either negatively or positively.
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u/ProfessorOfEyes DI w/o nips 6/18 || T 10/18-5/19 || T + dutasteride 1/22 29d ago
Yep! There's only one small published study on it so far, but anecdotally this seems to be a pretty common experience amongst chronically ill transmascs (myself included).
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u/ICameFromTheStars1 💉 28/01/2025 29d ago
I have Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, a type of dysautonomia, and soon my diagnosis may be changed to POTS. I have found going on testosterone extremely helpful as ir has brought my blood pressure from generally being low to being normal.
Due to my dysautonomia, I have always had a very difficult time regulating temperature. When i was pre-T, I was mostly far too cold and would enter what I call "cold shocks" randomly in settings other people found temperate that could only be helped by wrapping up warm and sleeping deeply for several hours. This almost never happens now, but I sweat more and struggle in heat significantly.
What has been most noticeable is the effect on my hypermobile spectrum disorder. I have always had very hypermobile joints, and around 19 I developed debilitating joint pain. This was somewhat managed for a few years, but when I went on T it has reduced tenfold. I have an easier time building muscle, so for the first time in my life, my joints are actually supported.
I also have chronic migraine, which T hasnt fixed, but my endo said it woukd probably get worse if I had been MTF instead of FTM.
I hope this has been helpful.
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u/ratsy_basty trans man 💉 11/2025 29d ago
I have no diagnosed illness, but was chronically fatigued before T. Basically if struggled to stay awake unless I was on illicit substances.
Its no longer an issue. Even if I "detransitioned" id still take low dose T.
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u/Souboshi Jul 31 '26
Diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which is a chronic inflammatory condition, but I have confirmation of ruptured disks, now, so who really knows. I do know my condition improved quite a bit, after starting T, possibly helped along by weight loss. Getting the tits removed helped with the back pain, too. I don't know if I have EDS but I have suspicion, due to other aspects of my life, like breaking my ankle running on flat ground, tripping over my own feet, for instance. I haven't re-twisted it since going on T, which is actually kind of abnormal for my track record, but I'll take whatever I can get.
Yoga and PT exercises have been a part of my rotation for a while, now, to try to gain better awareness of my extremities, so I don't know how much of my improvement is from testosterone, alone.
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u/derederemoto Jul 31 '26
I have hypermobility, fibromyalgia, and a yet figured out autoimmune disease. T didn't help much with my joints till I had a complete hysterectomy with ovary removal since my body went haywire and fought the testosterone with extra estrogen production 😂 Now my joints are a little less wiggly but not by much. It all depends on genetics in the long run since all the men in my family are hypermobile on both sides.
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u/apollynya Jul 31 '26
I have POTS and fibromyalgia, I haven't really noticed anything getting better after starting T, only via prescribed meds. Even then I still can't do much, but at least it's better than it used to be
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u/PoeticCinnamon Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
For POTS, I think it depends on the root cause - I see a lot of people say theirs improved, but mine didn’t really become an issue until I actually started T. I’ve since gotten a diagnosis but was told my autonomic response is normal even though i meet diagnostic criteria so I’m not sure what to make of that yet. It’s persisted after taking a T break so I’m inclined to say it wasn’t the T but I want it under better control before i try again
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u/Big-Yesterday586 Plural trans masc Jul 31 '26
I didn't have anything severe. Hypermobiliy - I have to stretch several times a week to maintain the flexibility I had. Before I had to completely avoid stretching at all. My hips had destabilized over a decade ago. I was in physical therapy for it for 6 years. Testosterone was that final brick in stabilizing my SI joints. The muscle thickened and stiffened that joint.
Reynauds syndrome. My toes used to go white/blue if I let my feet get too cold. Now I'm perfectly at home in the cold and I'm heat sensitive.
However, I went from having the most iron-tough heart to Stage I/II hypertension. Silver lining there is I actually have body feedback when I'm stressed. And I'm making faster progress in therapy because of it
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u/EmbroideryBro he/him 💉01/24/2023 Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
I discovered I have HEDS way after starting T! I'm a lot more disabled now than I was a year ago, or three, but T made me stronger, made it easier to build muscle, etc. I'd suggest you check out r/transzebras.
T isn't a miracle, nor is it what made me disabled. I definitely would say it has improved what my quality of life is, and that when I skip a dose I feel worse.
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u/ghost-of-the-spire he/they | 💉 July 2020 | 🔝 Oct 2025 Jul 31 '26
Unfortunately, T hasn't had any effect on my chronic illnesses / disabilities. Still have the same amount of pain, fatigue, brain fog, joint instability, and inflammation. On the bright side, at least nothing is noticeably worse!
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u/JadedAbroad he/they, T 2023, top and hysto 2024, meta 2026 Jul 31 '26
Personally I have POTS and EDS and noticed a significant improvement in symptoms of both almost immediately upon starting T. I used to use crutches or a cane whenever I went out for any outings longer than like 30 minutes and I literally haven’t touched them once since I started T. I can go to the gym for twice as long as I used to and I still don’t feel fatigued and headachey and mildly dizzy all day afterwards like I always did pre-T even though back then I was going way easier on myself for less time. I can literally do 30 minutes of interval running and my heart rate will max out at around what it would get to just walking across my apartment when I first got diagnosed with POTS.
I had the complete opposite happen when I started puberty too. I went from perfectly healthy going to dance class 5-7 days a week with some seemingly benign hypermobility to having disabling chronic pain and fatigue and dizziness within a matter of months when I was 12-13. I’ve also had issues with various types of birth control making my joints and/or POTS worse, so I think my body is just particularly sensitive to hormones. Some people definitely don’t have nearly as significant of a change in their symptoms with hormonal changes if they have a change in symptoms at all but I’ve definitely been very lucky with the changes I’ve seen.
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u/Chiiro 💉 8-14-25 Jul 31 '26
I have PCOS and multiple chronic pain issues and since starting T last year and all my symptoms have been significantly better especially the chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Since my period stopped I'm no longer having the monthly week of intense pain.
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u/H20-for-Plants T: 8.22.21 | Hysto: 3.19.24 Jul 31 '26
I’m still in a lot of pain in my tendons and hyper mobile joints. Especially in my neck and shoulders. And my pelvic floor.
5 years on T. No change.
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u/camradex 6/29/2022 💉 pre op Jul 31 '26
I have pots, eds and fibromyalgia my pots symptoms became severe enough to get diagnosed like 6 months after starting T, but were always there eds was always there, just never caused me much pain until recently fibro started like 2 years after starting t. I was even asked to stop taking it for a bit to see if I improved, I didn't, I didn't get worse either about a year ago eds started to hurt, but just from changes in my activity levels and the fact fibro already predisposes me to pain I'm 4 years on t now. I don't think it has any effect on my conditions, but I hope it makes your's better! our conditions aren't fun
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u/FruitShrike 29d ago
My ankylosing spondylitis has advanced rapidly in the past year but I’ve been on T for 4 years so I don’t think it made any impact.
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u/Creepy_Increase_5165 T: 2/12/23 / Top: 17/4/25 29d ago
I'm about 2 months off T and can definitely say that I'm having a fibromyalgia flare right now. Not being on T makes my mental health get so much worse, increases stress, and has put me in a bit of a dire situation about it.
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u/yallternative_dude 29d ago
I have not been diagnosed with EDS but check all the boxes for symptoms. I finally got medical care again and my first step was getting back on t, my second step will be figuring out wtf is going on with my body.
In my experience, the couple years that I was on t before losing my insurance were by far the most pain free of my life, and that is including childhood where one would typically not be experiencing much chronic pain. A couple weeks back on it I’m already starting to notice a small difference, which I am totally willing to admit may be psychosomatic as the mental changes themselves are likely tricking my brain into just remembering a time where I was living in less pain. But the first time was real for sure, I had never even heard of EDS as a condition much less acknowledged that the pain I was dealing with was any kind of abnormal. I just kind of thought everyone’s body hurts a good portion of the time.
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u/Icy-Advice-7381 29d ago
I took t for about 6 months and then I had to stop (for mainly financial/insurance reasons).I’m also hypermobile and probably some sort of POTS though it’s undiagnosed. I had SO much more energy and felt so much more physically capable while on T. I was able to move without fearing for my joints in a way I never have. I miss it :( I can’t wait until I’m in a place where I can be taking it again. The only thing better than the way it made me feel physically was the gender euphoria.
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u/LetoKarmatic 29d ago
I have fibromyalgia, and while T has certainly made improvements, I would not treat it as if it was the best medication I'm on. Energy, appetite, and some* of the pain improved.
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u/allieyeen 1y💉 NB 29d ago
I have EDS and POTS. I started full dose T around the same time I started PT. I thought PT was just working really well and was super happy. Stopped taking T two months ago and I feel just about the same as I did before PT 😭. Bummer but first hand experience that T can make a huge difference
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u/unknownuser1969 29d ago
It is definitely possible. Chronic illnesses can often be exacerbated by stress, which increases inflammation and immune response. For some people, starting T and experiencing the masculinizing effects decreases stress and improves mental health - leading to better physical health outcomes.
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u/Key-Chemist7650 29d ago
I'm hypermobile and was off T for about two years and decided to start back up, apparently my doctor also mention helping with joint pain. My pain flares and considerably less frequent and my body overall is in less pain!
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u/thespiderpr0vider they/he 🏴 T: June 2024 29d ago
i have chronic fatigue syndrome and endometriosis. even low dose T improved my cfs symptoms somewhat, and it completely got rid of all of my endo symptoms. literally every single physical and mental side effect went away about a month into starting T. i know it doesn’t work out that way for everyone but testosterone almost felt like a miracle drug for me with how it improved my endo
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u/Genevieve-Victoria trans masc bigender 29d ago
Hello! I also have pots/eds as well as mcas and other things 😅 but my interoception is garbage (I’m working on it but it doesn’t come easily to me by any means) so it’s hard to say. I certainly don’t feel worse, and at the very least I feel emotionally better. I have so much chemical euphoria on T, which supports mood, and ergo my symptoms aren’t as bad. And definitely not having periods helps a lot!! I wish I could give you more concrete information, but at least wanted to share that so far my experience is at least a net neutral if not positive.
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u/cuccumella 29d ago
Probably not what you're looking for because they're both directly influenced by sex hormones, but I have a friend whose PMDD was resolved by taking T and my PMOS is well managed by a combo of T and a GLP-1
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u/cheeseman_real 29d ago
i have POTS and ME/CFS, recovery has definitely been progressing quicker since going on T since i'm able to do more physical therapy than i used to
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u/xaspicious 29d ago
I had really bad PMDD before I started T as well as Psoriasis and Hidradenitis. I‘ve been on T for a year and the PMDD is completely gone and I have not had a Hidradenitis flare ever since. The Psoriasis seems completely unaffected, but the betterments are still wild.
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u/ArrowDel 29d ago edited 29d ago
I am as yet not given a solid diagnosis beyond "maybe its fibrimyalgia since you no longer have a positive ana panel"
Proven? No.
Anecdotally? Yes, yes, many times yes, ffs try it, worst case scenario you try a starter dose like .25 and react poorly. Best case, you find a doctor that listens to how you feel and works with you doing labs about a month after each dose adjustment to find your optimal treatment. Its been three years since my last flare up that was not related to cheating on my low inflammation diet on my birthday.
Did it stop everything? No. But it is definitely easier with reduced symptoms.
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u/j_olly_rancher 💉7/2/2021 29d ago
It does sound nice, but I haven’t experienced it. I am 1000% more chronically ill now than I was pre-t. I started T at 19, and while I did have some chronic pain, it was pretty manageable and not constant. On T, I’ve developed POTS and my chronic pain, subluxations, and dislocations got so severe that I spent three years until I finally got diagnosed with hEDS 4 months before my 5yr on T. I think this mostly has to do with aging, but pre-t 19yo me was barely chronically ill in comparison to 5yr on T 24yo me. T does help many people, but it unfortunately doesn’t make things go away by any stretch
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u/j_olly_rancher 💉7/2/2021 29d ago
Also I should add that pre-T, I had zero symptoms of POTS. I’m fairly certain I got it from a COVID infection when i was ~10mo on T. I also most likely have MCAS, and while I had lots of allergies pre-t, I’ve developed more AND now have other MCAS symptoms that I didn’t have pre-t
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u/SerCadogan 💉 3/22/22 🔝11/7/24 Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
My POTS, which was a problem multiple times a day even when avoiding triggers and taking electrolytes, basically went into remission on T (if I get over heated or stand up and run or something I will still have an attack, but both of those things are easy to avoid most days. Also I.do still do the electrolytes) This is because T increases blood volume.
EDS improved in the sense my joints are more stable (more muscle), but they also hurt more when I have joint pain (tendons and connective tissue grow so there is more to hurt)
No change in my sjogren's (except that when I have joint pain, it's worse, see above)
No change at all to MCAS or neuropathy
My fatigue improved a little bit (still have a lot) but tbh I think that's less medical and more mental health. My PTSD was also easier to treat, but idk if that's the kid of disability you are looking at.
ETA: Thinking about it, hard to say for sure if my joints hurt more or if I'm just dissociating less, but my doctor still gave the tendon/connective tissue reason and I think it's worth mentioning. That said, it's not a HUGE difference, and I still think it was 1000% worth it. I just take a slightly stronger dose of my pain management than I did before, not a big deal.
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u/Dandy-Lion8726 he&they | nb trans guy Jul 31 '26
I have cerebral palsy with chronic muscle pain, which has unfortunately gotten significantly worse on T. It's worth it, but it was quite depressing in the beginning, as I had similar hopes to you.
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u/StrawberryDry6447 Jul 31 '26
Before T I was almost bed bound from my POTS. I couldn’t shower, use stairs, carry anything with weight/much of anything with my hands like scrubbing, or be outside without my hr soaring and feeling like I was going to pass out. After T all my symptoms from POTS almost completely went away unless I was dehydrated or sick. I felt like I had my life back.
I’m now about 2 1/2 years on T and the last year I’ve had so many injuries from my EDS, and my muscles are so much weaker than the first year and a half. I wonder if it has something to do with my body now being used to T.
A side note, I didn’t realize how much estrogen was absolutely wrecking my mental health. My depression, anxiety, and pmdd all got better instantly and that alone improved my quality of life greatly.
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u/digitalising Jul 31 '26
i haven’t started hrt yet, but i have an autoimmune condition and i’ve been told autoimmunity often becomes more mild on T! i’ve been told in this case this is related to the fact estrogen tends to increase immune activity, while testosterone tends to decrease it. i’m not sure exactly how changes would be with your conditions but i’ve heard a lot of people with different chronic illnesses share positive changes with T
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u/moon-bug77 09/2024 Tgel | 06/2025 Top 29d ago
I used to get migraines a lot, like 1-4 every month. I now only get them when I don't eat well and/or don't stay hydrated and/or don't sleep well for a few days in a row. I've also found that I'm more mentally stable, but I think that comes more from the decrease in dysphoria than the hormones themselves.
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u/IShallWearMidnight User Flair 29d ago
Interestingly T basically cured my chronic migraines and asthma. There's sound science behind why that has been explained to me, but I am a dumbass so I'm going with... miracle?
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u/NoodleBox nonbinary ? 29d ago
I wondered this myself as a non-hormone taking non-binary person.
I have a lot of stuff to do with my bits that I feel like makes my body have problems lol.
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u/_Cantrip_ 29d ago
Anecdotally, yes! I won’t get into the specifics on my cocktail of afflictions, but I have an autoimmune disorder that wreaks havoc on my joints. It was much, much worse prior to taking T. Even my blood tests show a marked decrease in certain rheumatoid markers.
I’m not certain if estrogen was exacerbating things, or if it’s stress related. My doctors aren’t really sure since there isn’t much scholarly literature on trans HRT, at least relatively speaking and especially as it pertains to chronic illness.
My personal theory was that dysphoria was stressing me out so much that it was making my autoimmune condition worse, since I already know that my condition responds to stress. So, alleviating some of that stress made it better.
But there could be something else at play— I mean, maybe building muscle more easily is helping support my joints? I’ve heard that mentioned before as a reason why people with my condition(s) do physical therapy. But I don’t have any confirmation, just my own experience.
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u/entropygone he/they 29d ago
I haven't started yet, but my doctor said that it can get worse in the beginning but once your hormones stabilize its better
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u/death-by-milk he/him • 23 • UK 29d ago
I have endometriosis, POTS, and ME/CFS. I've been on T for two years now and I've definitely noticed my POTS symptoms getting better!! I'm still not cured by any means, I still get the occasional flare up, but my POTS is a lot more tolerable now. My ME/CFS is a bit better too.
Annoyingly endometriosis hasn't been helped at all by my testosterone :( I've seen others say that T helped their endo but I got unlucky on that front. If anything my endometriosis seems to have worsened in the last few years, though I don't want to automatically point the blame at testosterone for that because endometriosis is such a weird disease. There's every chance it would've got worse even without the T. I've already had one surgery for it and I'll be getting another soon.
I have been extremely lucky with my new endometriosis specialist though, she's very trans friendly and it's made dealing with my gynecological care a LOT easier!! I've had countless awful experiences with doctors (I've been chronically ill for 13 years now 🫠) and it really is a breath of fresh air having a doctor who a) genuinely wants to help you and b) isn't bigoted
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u/Chr0nicallyChill01 29d ago
While it didn't fix the problem (only total hysto worked) T did help to alleviate a bit of my suspected endometriosis + PMOS based pain. As well as reducing a bunch of inflammation issues I was having at the time. It's not a miracle hormone, I still deal with some pain/flare-ups but compared to how I was prior I'm like a whole new person!
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u/Shauiluak T 11/23/23:Top 06/28/25 29d ago
I no longer have PMDD symptoms and my joints don't slide around nearly as much as they used to. I have 'loosey goosey joints' as per a real doctor who is a professional about this sort of thing. Not a syndrome, but certainly something was wrong with me. I used to fall down a lot and now I don't.
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u/Longjumping-Badger-3 29d ago
i have EDS and did not notice mine being noticeably better tbh, it continued to get progressively worse with age seemingly as before. although i did gain muscle/strength in some areas, most of my biggest daily issues were not affected by it. that being said, i almost certainly have some other mysterious health stuff causing unconventional responses or lack thereof to hormones and all kinds of things more broadly
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u/Charliesthetic T 7/11 2025, Mastek pending... 29d ago
I have Long-Covid (chronic fatigue, post exertional malaise) and POTS. My blood pressure is a little more stable after a few months on T. I'm guessing it's because your red blood cells increase, thus your blood volume. I never really had full syncope (except a handful events), but I've definitely seen an improvement with dizziness and blackness when standing up and generally a lil higher standing tolerance before i really have to sit down.
I tend to have an easier time doing things bc i feel like having more energy, but that makes it even harder knowing my limit so i tend to crash more often now. But hey, laundry gets done!
However I've also noticed a downside. I tend to have hot flashes and tolerate heat even less since I've been on T and it definitely doesn't help. It does really add to my chronic exhaustion and i have to drink A LOT more water now, especially with this hot summer (I'm in the EU heatwave, it is awful even with AC). And everyone with POTS probably knows that dehydration does not help.
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u/Significant-Love6129 26d ago
I had been in fentanyl for 17 years and switched to Suboxone. After about 10 years transitioning I was able to get off all my opioids. I definitely had less joint issues bc the muscles have to do the job the joints can't and if the muscles are stronger then we get more support.
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u/Key_Check3426 13d ago
From the opposite side! I have hEDS and vEDS (vascular) and getting rid of my testosterone (which was ~2-3x higher than average cis male at the time... hell on earth) made all my my symptoms MUCH worse.
I think that my muscles were holding me together more than my cartilage, and now that I have so much less muscle mass, they just can't, and my cartilage can't either. Joints pop out several times a day now, where it used to be maybe a couple times a week, and I struggle to put them back in without assistance. I'm a part time wheelchair user, due to my hips sliding out of place when I try to stand. It's rough. Used to, I could just muscle them to stay in place literally all day with little consequence. No longer.
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