Shit I wish someone had told me when I started T

(NEWLY UPDATED AUG 2025)

It is HARD to find good information about what to expect after starting T. It can be difficult to find medical providers with even a 101-level understanding of trans medical care, which leaves many transmasc people trying to find information on the internet. And, at least when I was doing my searches before I started, most of the information about HRT online focuses on transfeminine experiences, and what I was able to find didn’t prepare me in the slightest for what I actually experienced.

Additionally, transmasc communities online are often actively unhelpful. Early-T transmascs are ridiculed or lectured by other trans mascs for being stressed about the weird and uncomfortable effects of T (I know I certainly was). And many transmasc communities focus on binary experiences, which can be unhelpful for non-binary transmascs like myself.

When I went on T, there were a lot of things I found myself getting indignant about - WHY DIDN’T ANYONE TELL ME ABOUT THIS? So hopefully, my experiences can help you avoid some unpleasant surprises.

Of course, I AM NOT A DOCTOR AND THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. This is just me talking about my experiences of T.

Note: This zine uses frank language about some TMI-type subjects. Second puberty can be weird and gross. You have been warned.