Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a metabolite of testosterone that’s recommended by some SRS surgeons to encourage genital growth in transgender men. DHT can be topically applied in a transdermal cream, but is not to be confused with testosterone cream or testogel/androgel. DHT is at least three times more potent as an androgenic compound and is therefore the preferred choice for FTM genital growth.
DHT plays a vital role in virilization. When a trans man injects testosterone, his body converts some of it into DHT. It influences facial and body hair growth, voice changes, sex drive, and growth of muscle and genital tissue. Unlike other androgens, DHT cannot be converted to estradiol, and it’s not anabolic, so it doesn’t build up in tissues, muscles and bones.
DHT for Dick Growth
For genital growth, a 10% DHT concentration, non-alcoholic cream is desired. A typical dosage is 20 mg administered three times a day, and it dispenses very easily when packaged in syringes (1 line = 1 dose). Simply rub the cream onto the glans, shaft and foreskin; it absorbs quickly. A minimum of three months of use is recommended.
Topical DHT shouldn’t drastically affect blood pressure or testosterone levels, but it’s a good idea to get regular blood work done while you’re using DHT, and to observe your moods and adjust your testosterone dosage as required.
Getting a Prescription for DHT
To get a prescription for DHT, ask your doctor or endocrinologist for “10% Dihydrotestosterone cream.” If they grant your request, take the prescription to a compounding pharmacy. Be sure to specify that the cream should not contain any alcohol.
In North America, DHT has been available to compounding pharmacies through the PCCA. In July 2009, the PCCA announced that they were out of stock and that the manufacturer had ceased production of DHT. This was reportedly the only source of DHT available to Canadian pharmacies. It’s unknown if there are other sources available or not in the United States. It may be difficult to get a prescription for DHT filled in North America at this time.
Buying DHT Online
You can buy a 2.5% DHT gel called Andractim online and without a prescription. However, this product is alcohol based and may cause a temporary burning sensation. It’s also important to note that DHT is a schedule III controlled substance. In North America, it’s illegal to import it. Purchase at your own risk. If you do buy DHT online, check off “female” for gender on the order form, otherwise you’ll be required to purchase a prostate test kit.
Side Effects of DHT
Hair Loss
Despite being responsible for facial and body hair growth, one of the potential side effects of DHT is hair loss. DHT leaves a waxy substance at the root of hair follicles on the scalp that can inhibit hair growth. One possible solution is saw palmetto berry extract tincture, a natural herb that’s been shown to block DHT. The tincture can be mixed with water and topically applied to the scalp to prevent that build up in the hair follicle roots. Dosage is 30-60 drops daily. A one month supply of saw palmetto tincture costs about $25 USD.
Secondary Exposure
Like Androgel, DHT cream presents a risk for transference and requires diligence to prevent accidental secondary exposure to sexual partners, children, and pets. Washing well an hour after application reduces—but does not eliminate—chance of exposure. The only safe form of protection is zero exposure. Since DHT is applied daily, avoiding all direct contact to the genitals throughout the period of usage is recommended.
DHT Research
While there aren’t any clinical studies about DHT use in transgender men, we can look to related studies for some guidance, particularly with regard to safety.
Transdermal dihydrotestosterone therapy and its effects on patients with microphallus.
All patients demonstrated growth of the penis during treatment. The mean increase rate (153%) in the first 4 weeks of treatment was higher than that (118%) of the second 4 weeks… In conclusion, transdermal dihydrotestosterone therapy is an effective and relatively safe modality in the treatment of microphallus.
We conclude that 3 months treatment with transdermal dihydrotestosterone gel demonstrates expected androgenic effects, short-term safety, and limited improvement in lower limb muscle strength but no change in physical functioning or cognitive function.
…percutaneous DHT administration is a relatively safe modality of androgen replacement therapy as far as atherogenicity is concerned.
Absorption of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) after its intramuscular administration.
…suitable for long-term substitution therapy.
DHT offers trans men the potential for genital growth that exceeds the promises of testosterone therapy alone. While dedicated research is lacking, related studies and anecdotal accounts suggest that DHT is a safe and promising treatment.
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October 10th, 2009 at 6:45 am
Thanks for taking the time to write, test and report your experience.
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:32 am
Hi,
I wonder there other testosterone cream in USA? I understand about DHT is difficult approve by USA. I am appreciate how you explain about testosterone. I send link to my doctor if he read and understand it but problem he see that DHT can’t be in USA. I wonder what other can use? I am trying to find other one. thank
November 2nd, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Thanks for putting this information together. Since my spouse is a transwoman, and drug transfer would be most unwelcome for her, it’s not a viable option for me. With topical T, you can put a bandage over the skin to prevent transfer, but . . . it would be taking safe sex to an extreme to spend three months with a bandage over my junk. Still, I’m glad you wrote this blog article, to help guys make informed choices and know about their options.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
@Austin Yes, you can easily get plain testosterone cream compounded. It may have some effect, but it’s not as effective as DHT in this regard.
@gabriel Everyone’s different, but I quite easily managed 3 months of no genital contact w/ sex to avoid transference, and it was worth it given the growth I experienced.
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Joshua,
Please tell us what growth (length and girth) you experienced? Did you administer typical dosage of 20 mg three times a day? If you are in USA, could you recommend a doctor and/or pharmacy? Thank you.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:45 am
Fred, I haven’t done my official final measurement, but I achieved about 1/2″ to 3/4″ of extra length. Not sure I got much extra girth though. It might not sound like much, but it could mean the difference between clearing my fly or not post-op, so I’m pleased. Yes, I used 20mg of 10% DHT three times a day.
I’m not in the US. I obtained a prescription from my primary care provider here in Canada, and had it filled at a compounding pharmacy, with DHT sourced from the PCCA. If I do have a metoidioplasty with urethroplasty, I will do two more 3-month DHT treatments: 1 pre-op and 1 post-op, both in conjunction with pumping. Of course, this assumes that DHT will once again be manufactured and available in North America.
November 5th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Hey Joshua
I got the andractim gel online and found that if I use lidocaine ointment before I apply the gel it doesn’t sting at all. My question is, should I use it more than 3 times a day because it’s only 2.5%?
November 6th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Lidocaine is a great idea! Someone on YouTube suggested Orajel. (Note: Anbesol has alcohol in it, apparently Orajel does not.) However, Orajel is not intended for genital use, while lidocaine is, so again, great idea Key!
Given that the Andractrim is only 2.5% concentration, yes you could use more safely. Rather than increasing frequency (I found 3x day inconvenient enough!) I would increase dosage.
It would be great if you could report back with your own anecdotal experience with DHT!
November 8th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Thanks for the info Joshua. I will definately report back. I started about 3 days ago and I forgot to measure first but i’m gonna go ahead and do that now. I’ll report back in about a month.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
This is great and incredibly interesting to me. I have had significant growth from my T shots alone so hopefully I’ll be able to acquire this prescription (I live in the states).
Thanks, again for posting this, Joshua.
December 5th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Hey Joshua –
I am desperate to get hold of some DHT, however I live in the UK and it is not available here.
Do you think there is any way to circumvent the prescription process to allow someone to purchase and post this to me?
Thanks!
Ben
December 6th, 2009 at 9:40 am
@Ben: Yes, you can order Andractim DHT gel online.
December 10th, 2009 at 5:31 am
I’m a guy who’s cock stopped working and shrunk after using a drug for hairloss, will DHT cream work for me? (Just to clarify I’m not a transguy but your experience and expertise of DHT gel is invaluable. Thanks.)
December 20th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Hey Bonzo, sorry for the delay. Honestly, I don’t know. If the hair loss treatment was designed to block DHT, and now you’re off that treatment, topically supplementing DHT may help reverse the effects. DHT gel has been shown to alleviate finasteride-induced gynomastia, so there’s a chance it could help. I bet there are plenty of men who are considering this or have done it, so keep looking for those accounts for more anecdonal info.
December 22nd, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Hello Joshua.I would like to know if I use DHT cream only my genital parts it will be possible to growth hair in my face and my voice could be changed.Thanks.
December 22nd, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Max, some of the DHT that’s topically applied will be absorbed into your system, so yes there’s a good chance that using DHT for genital growth will produce other masculinizing effects.
I don’t recommend using DHT to acheive other masculinizing effects as there’s supposed to be a specific ratio of DHT to T in your system, so one probably wouldn’t want to be on it for long periods of time. It’s a good idea to get DHT levels checked in addition to T levels when using DHT.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Hi,Joshua.Thanks for answer.I don’t started my transition yet.However, I’m 40 years old and I have many questions about the process…Thanks again.Happy new year!
January 5th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
hey bro,
funny thing i thought I’d share. I googled metoidioplasty, and your pic comes up!!!
January 10th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Ha, look at my mug smiling back in the search results! I suppose it’s the meta/phallo survey, my meta surgeons blog post series and the meta content here that’s dropped my Gravatar into the results. Ethan’s photo used to be there. His site is an awesome resource for metoidioplasty.
January 30th, 2010 at 1:19 am
Hello Joshua, and thanks for this great article. There are a few questions I’d like to ask you about DHT:
– Can DHT be taken only untill the penis has achieved a comfortable length, or must I take it for the rest of my life to maintain the size? I really hope that I can just take it untill I am satisfied, and then go off it with confidence that my penis won’t start to shrink back.
– Did you experience any hair loss? Can hair loss be estimated based on genetics? If you did experience hair loss, did you do anything to counter it?
– How long had you been on T before trying DHT? And how old were you when you started DHT? Are you still applying DHT?
– This one is really important. If my penis has stopped growing from the T, and I start to apply DHT, will it start to grow again?
– Lastly, does age effect hair loss probability? For example, if I apply DHT for a set number of months and I am 17 years old, will I be less likely to experience hair loss than if I were applying DHT as a 30 year old?
Sorry for the multitude of questions. Don’t feel obliged to answer every single one, they are probably better suited for my endocrinologist, I just have a lot of trouble asking them. If you do happen to answer my questions, then hats off to you, you’re a life saver.
January 31st, 2010 at 6:52 pm
Hey MC, I’m happy to answer your questions. Some endos wouldn’t be able to answer these anyway…
You do not need to take DHT for life. I haven’t come across any information that suggests that growth achieved with DHT goes away after treatment has stopped. (It has not in my case.) I wouldn’t take DHT for periods longer than 3 months anyway, for several reasons including…
Yes, I experienced hair loss. I noticed it quite immediately. I started using the topical saw palmetto and that stopped the hair loss. However, I didn’t continue the saw palmetto after I was done the DHT, and I wish I had because the hair loss picked up again at that point and lasted a few more months. In the future, I will use the saw palmetto for an additional 3 months after finishing the DHT. I don’t think age is much of a factor with DHT related hair loss. Lastly, DHT is one aspect of hair loss, while genetics is another.
I started using DHT when I was about 14 months on T, at age 35. I wouldn’t recommend using it until hormone levels are balanced (ie, after 1 year of T.)
No, I’m not using it now. I used it for 3 months, and will use it again twice more, pre-op and post-op (if I op!)
It’s possible that you will experience growth with DHT despite the fact that you’ve stopped growing from T. I say it’s “possible” not because of this fact, only because some of this is genetics too: not everyone experiences measurable growth from DHT. Also, I’ve heard plenty of guys say that they had growth spurts 3, 4, even 5 years after starting T, long past when it seemed like growth had stopped.
Hope that helps!
January 31st, 2010 at 11:43 pm
Yes, it does help. Thanks a ton for all the information, I copied and pasted it into a word document to save and reference in the future.
Cheers!
February 27th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Hi Joshua,
This site that u mentioned to buy andractin is trustfull?
Thaks,
Cilene.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Cilene, lots of guys have ordered Andractim gel online and had no problems. I sent them emails with questions about ordering and they never replied. That was a turn off for me.
February 28th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Ok thank u for the information.
March 19th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Hey Joshua, after a couple of months I have come back to this article, and after re-reading my questions and your answers, another question came up.
You said that you used DHT for 3 months, and plan to use it again for another 3 months pre-op. You were pre-op the first time you used it, so why would you need to use it again, for another 3 months?
My question is: If I use DHT for a 3 month period, and then go off it and wait, and then use it for another 3 month period, will I grow even more? And why would I need to take a break?
Either way, could you explain to me why you went on DHT for 3 months, stopped, and now plan to do it again (if you decide to have surgery)? I realize what the purpose of applying DHT is (genital growth for metoidioplasty), but I don’t understand the need for multiple treatments.
Thanks a ton once again Joshua, I really can’t express my gratitude.
March 29th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
I don’t know that another 3 month treatment would provide additional growth or not, but I would use DHT again simply to ensure that I could get all the growth possible before surgery. No harm trying! I would take a break between treatments because the systemic build up of DHT can cause hair loss.
March 30th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
testosterone gel helps to dick growth too?
March 31st, 2010 at 8:24 am
@Cilene I’ve heard that plain testosterone cream (compounded, not gel) can provide growth, but it’s just the same stuff that’s injected and generally speaking more T doesn’t equal more or faster changes. (In fact, too much can cause feminization.) DHT is a bit of a different beast and more effective for this purpose. Also, I believe there’s a warning in the Androgel leaflet that it should NOT be used on genitals. I *think* this is because of alcohol content, but don’t quote me on that.
April 1st, 2010 at 5:32 am
Thanks mate !!
April 14th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
DHT is in the US. For the guy in the UK, perhaps you need to travel here to get it.
April 15th, 2010 at 7:49 am
@Rik Do you know if you obtained DHT from a pharmacy that had it in stock, OR if it’s actually being manufactured again? What’s the DHT concentration that you obtained (%)?
May 23rd, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Could DHT be used as a replacement for T therapy. Why and why not? Benefits and disadvantages.
May 26th, 2010 at 8:31 am
@Dee First, be sure to read the excerpts above (highlighted in blue) from the journal articles. There’s some info there pertinent to your questions. I’m not an endo, but I don’t think DHT is suitable as the sole source of HRT for trans men because I imagine that it’s necessary to get a full spectrum of testosterone for optimum health, not just certain metabolites. Secondly, DHT is pricey and hard to get. It’s also transdermal (representing an accidental transference risk) and needs to be applied several times a day (read: inconvenient.) Personally, I wouldn’t want to use DHT for longer periods than three months because of the high likelihood of hair loss. I think it has it’s place for male enhancement, but only as an adjunct, not as the sole FTM HRT medication.
May 26th, 2010 at 11:51 am
@Joshua Thank you very much for the response.
June 7th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Regarding Rik’s comment above about DHT being available in the US: I contacted Rik via email for more info and learned that he obtained DHT from a pharmacy in the US that happened to still have some in stock. Given that DHT is not common and is no longer available in North America, Rik got very lucky! The only hope of buying DHT in North America (with a prescription) is if you can find a pharmacy that still happens to have some in stock, like Rik did.
June 11th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Joshua: Thank you so much for your posts! I am 1 year on T shots now and wanting to use DHT however my doctor is unsure of DHT? Do you know where can I get some w/o prescription. Is the site to buy andractim safe?
What else can you recommend?
Rik: Where did u get your DHT cream?
June 11th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
@Jecx: Yes, my doctor had never heard of DHT either, but he wrote me the prescription when I brought him journal articles and information about it. The only commerically available DHT gel is Andractim. Because it’s a controlled substance in Canada and the US though (just like T is) it’s illegal to import it. They didn’t reply to my emails, but lots of guys order it without problems. It’s wise to know the risks though.
Rik obtained his DHT with a prescription from a pharmacy that happened to still have some in stock. He got very lucky.
Unfortunately, I have no other recommendations for obtaining DHT at this time. I do think it will eventually be available again, if only because the stuff does work for enlargement.
June 12th, 2010 at 8:03 am
The age management company I work with has a compounding pharmacy in the States and we prescribed it for our patients. We dont sell it to anyoen except our patients however. If your interested go to our website and if you want to become a patient let me know. I will give my email then.
June 14th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Dr. K,
Yes please send me your info I would like to be a patient of yours.
Thank you so much.
June 14th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
@ JOsh: I have contacted the andractim site and they did respond to my question about if they ship to the US. Is there anything else that I should ask them? Also what kind of journals did you give your doctor?
Thank you so much.
June 14th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
@Jecx Go to the website in Dr. K’s comment (click his name) for more information. Also, please see above under DHT Research for journal articles about DHT.
June 14th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Joshua: Thank you. I looked at the site but im not sure if that was the right site. Its for aging?
June 14th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
@Jecx: Yup, that’s the one. My guess is that signing up for their age management program doesn’t come cheap. Also, maybe I just don’t understand how health care works in the US, but I can’t think of any reason why the compounding pharmacy they work with has special access to a new source of DHT when other compounding pharmacies in North America do not. I’m guessing it’s another case of that pharmacy having DHT in stock. They would have it stocked if they’ve been regularly supplying it to Cenegenics, but once they run out… Don’t count on Cenegenics giving out the name of that pharmacy. I’m sure they’re keeping that kind of info to themselves.
June 15th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Joshua: Thank you so much for your help. I guess I will try to convince my doctor to prescribe DHT, if not I will try my luck online. Also when you used DHT did u have to use a pump? Did it grow any longer aside from the 1st measurement you had? Thank you so much, you are giving me so much hope.
June 17th, 2010 at 9:15 am
@Jecx If you get a prescription, where will you take it? If you’re in North America, you’ll still need to find a pharmacy that happens to have DHT in stock. I didn’t pump while I was using DHT because I really wanted to find out if DHT worked or not. I don’t think I got much growth past the first measurement at 4-6 weeks, but it was still worth it to me and I plan to use DHT cream again in conjunction with pumping.
July 18th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Josh: I finally got DHT..from mexico thou.. not in North America .. ill probably use the cream in conjunction with pumping. How long did it take you to see growth? ..
November 8th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Hey Joshua, I asked my therapist about DHT cream and she said that it is Illegal in Canada how do i do what you did? What do i specifically ask for? Could you please let me know so that i can get it and started with using it right away?? Thanks
November 8th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Mitchell, your therapist’s comments are inaccurate: DHT is not illegal. It is however a controlled substance that requires a prescription, and it’s illegal to import it. Here’s the problem: you can get a prescription if your doctor is willing, but you probably won’t be able to get it filled because there’s currently no manufacturer supplying Canada (and the US.) You’d need to locate a pharmacy that already has DHT in stock, and since DHT isn’t common, that’s going to be a long shot. Your only other option is to buy 2.5% DHT cream online, it’s the stuff that’s surgeon recommended and used in research settings, BUT it’s still illegal for you to import it! Unfortunately, this is the state of things at this time.
November 14th, 2010 at 9:41 am
hi i am takeing propecia to prevent hair loss, witch is working, but i was wondering if it might stop dick growth as well,? and if i were to try DHT cream would i need to stop propecia? any info will be good thanks
November 20th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
@NeoN: Hmm, it’s a little “chicken and egg,” I think. Propecia will block your body’s production of DHT, and can inhibit certain aspects of virilization, like facial hair, and maybe dick growth too. If you add DHT to the mix, you’ll won’t know how much it will increase your systemic DHT levels, which if elevated enough could further contribute to hair loss. I don’t think I’d mix the two.
June 7th, 2011 at 7:42 am
Hi, first of all, thank you for this site, looks great!
Just for clarity’s sake: do you mean 20mg of DHT 3x/day or do you mean 20mg of the DHT-cream (which I don’t really think, though, as it seems it would be difficult to figure out the correct amount of gel?)?
I’m currently in Europe and Andractim is available here, so that’s why I’m asking. I have a bunch of questions, hope that’s OK (of course, you don’t have to answer all of them!). I’m afraid they’re a bit special.
You’ve mentioned pausing the application: due to concerns about building up high DHT-levels? Isn’t DHT eliminated naturally, anyway, and does it really take weeks to let DHT-levels drop to ‘normal’ levels?
Do you have any information about what kind of (range of?) elevation of DHT-blood levels we’re talking about here?
In transguys with hypertrophy of the clitoris already present before starting on T, could the effects of DHT differ, e.g. be diminished? I’m not sure but I think the micropenis treatment is only possible up to a certain age? Of course, there are differences regarding both conditions but I’m wondering if this still could be a factor to consider?
A doctor (surgeon) told me that in his experience clitoral growth only takes place during the first 6 to 9 months of HRT (with T). Others say that it keeps growing.
Is the prevention of hair loss under finesteride solely due to the inhibition of converting T into DHT and the resulting lower DHT levels? I thought the exact mechanism hasn’t been established yet and that finesteride seems to protect the root somehow, perhaps similiar to the saw palmetto extract?
Loads of questions and I could come up with even more!
June 11th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Thank you for your questions, Seti! Here goes…
My dosage was 20mg of DHT topically applied three times a day. My pharmacist wisely packaged the cream in syringes which made dosing really easy: at 20mg / 0.2ml, one line = 0.2ml = 20mg.
DHT is naturally processed, but since you’re adding additional DHT, above and beyond what one would get from a normal T dose, I think it makes sense to cycle it. And, from what I understand about cycling DHT, it does take a couple of weeks to drop. (Though admittedly, most of the information I’ve found relates to those recognized male at birth, not trans men.)
For information about DHT blood serum levels, see the diagrams from this journal article, under “hormonal and biochemical effects”: http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/86/9/4078.full
The effectiveness of DHT with regards to trans male penis enlargement depends on the number of active DHT receptors in the genital tissues. Over time, these receptors “burn out.” (This is why treating microphallus with DHT is less effective in adult males.) When a trans man injects T, some of it is converted to DHT and acts on those receptors. Since there’s a limit to how much DHT the receptors will process, it’s logical to think that the longer one is on T, the less effective DHT will become as an option for enlargement. And, this is also why the most growth from DHT will happen very quickly, while subsequent rounds of treatment will be less effective, if at all.
I have heard many, many anecdotal accounts of (penis) growth spurts years after starting T, and after hysterectomy. Certainly though, the majority of growth happens in that first year.
From what I understand, Finasteride works by blocking conversion of T to DHT , via inhibition of the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. (I wouldn’t touch the stuff, personally.) Saw Palemetto works similarly, but when used topically on the scalp alone, it specifically targets the DHT that accumulates at the root of hair follicles.
Hope this answers your questions!
June 12th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Hi Joshua:
Thanks for the explanation.
Hm, maybe cycling DHT could address the diminishing susceptability of the androgen receptors, too? Number and ‘density’ of receptors shouldn’t be always constant, as up/down regulation of the receptor’s expression takes place? So that things pick up a bit again when resuming DHT. While anecdotes are not evidence, growth spurts after hysterctomy could point in the same direction.
I’ve no idea what my DHT-levels look like. I could try to get some blood-work done and maybe could share my observations here on the topic. If you guys out there are interested, that is.
Personally, I thought that hormonal treatment of microphalli was only effective up to a certain age because growth of the tunica albuginea isn’t possible later in life. Or maybe other structures are involved, too. That’s why I was wondering if a pre-existing condition of clitoromegaly would mean that further growth under HRT and/or DHT-administration is limited.
I know that finasteride blocks 5-alpha-reductase, but I thought that it’s effectivity in treating MPB was thought to have other underlying mechanisms here. Prevebting the accumulation of these waxy deposits which sort of suffocate the follicle. OK, I’ll have to read up more on the subject.
Maybe I can get hold of an endocrinologist or urologist who would answer some of the questions. I know they’re a bit of the beaten track.
Thanks again.
June 12th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
I’m not certain. In cis gender men, the body compensates for the extra DHT by down regulating the androgen receptors, but I don’t know exactly how this is expressed in trans men.
Since I have blood work covered here in Canada, I looked into getting my DHT levels checked. Unfortunately it’s a rare blood test, not covered, and very expensive. (Samples are shipped on dry ice to… Idaho, interestingly.)
Growth of the tunica albuginea later in life is highly disputed, but those in the jelqing/pumping camp will tell you it’s possible.
I’m guessing that trans men also have a lower number of DHT receptors (or perhaps less active receptors) than cis gender men, which would limit results.
I’m not aware of other underlying mechanisms behind Fin’s effectiveness.
I have found very few medical professionals who know anything about DHT, but that’s a conversation I’d love to have with a trans knowledgable endo!
Ultimately, some guys will have success with DHT and others won’t. For me, it was worth the expense to try, given that even a 1/2″ of growth could mean the difference between clearing my fly or not STPing post-op. I’ve had what I consider success with it, and I plan to do one more round of treatment to see if I can squeeze any more results from the effort.
June 13th, 2011 at 2:28 am
Why should transmen have lower numbers of androgen receptors (both T and DHT activate this receptor)? After all, the receptor’s genetic code lays on the X-chromosome and ciswomen have a higher sensitivity to T than cismen.
DHT blood-levels aren’t really considered to have much clinical significance so I’d guess that’s why nobody knows a lot about the topic. I’ve got blood work covered, too, but I’d probably have to explain to the doc why I’d like to get DHT done.
Individual genetics always play a mayor role when it comes to differences.
Sadly, there aren’t many trans knowledgable endo around.
Do you think application of DHT post-meta would make sense?
June 29th, 2011 at 10:42 am
Just wondering, if I applied DHT cream to my hips & thighs would it lower estrogen and reduce female pattern fat storage?
June 29th, 2011 at 11:04 am
Hey C, DHT doesn’t convert to estrogen, and in cis gender men supplemented DHT can cause a shift in the body’s estrogen/testosterone ratio, with a change in body fat distribution as a possible result. In those assigned female at birth however, I’m not certain that DHT alone would be as effective as “full spectrum” testosterone in this regard. DHT is expensive and long term studies are lacking. Any effect on body fat distribution would be lost once the DHT is stopped. Also, we can’t really pick and choose what we get from hormones, so there would likely be other androgenizing effects from the DHT as well. (It’s unclear if that would be acceptable to you or not.) While DHT can be obtained without a prescription in some parts of the world, a better course of action might be to get a prescription for testosterone. (I say “might” because I don’t know what your full intentions are.) I would also recommend a cautious course of action since hormones have such a big effect on physical and mental health.
October 4th, 2011 at 10:42 am
hey josh,
I’ve got a question: I’m a married 32 yr old woman (not lesbian), my husband uses testosterone gel 5% everyday, he suggested i use some on my clit everyday for sexual purposes i have been using the gel for 2 months now and my clit has grown triple in size even looks like a tiny penis, which i really like now i feel obsessed to make it bigger. i wanna do this without masculizing effects. i wanna stay looking and sounding like a woman. i do pump my clit sometimes. should i switch from test gel 5% to DHT cream. please help.
November 2nd, 2011 at 7:32 pm
Hi Joshua..
congratulations for the website…
I’ve been reading it and it’s very encouraging that a hormone can be a penis bigger.
I’m a biological man and I wish to increase my penis too..
do you know about any case of penis increase with a biological man?
thanks
December 7th, 2011 at 10:52 am
Hey Joshua, First of all Just wanted to say your website is extremely helpful and awesome.
Also, I was just wondering, do you think you can get DHT into the UK?
Also do you think it’d be okay for a 16 year old to use DHT? I’m planning, if it’s even possible, to get it at the same time I’m old enough to start T.
What are the best hair-loss treatments for it that won’t effect the growth, because MPB is deff in my family :[
Okay, Thanks.
December 18th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
I don’t know whether or not DHT is restricted in the UK. I wouldn’t use DHT until you’ve been on T for at least a year because I think it’s wise to see how your body adjusts to T before adding DHT to the mix.
I don’t know what the best hair loss treatments are. I’ve only experimented with topical saw palmetto myself, and I had good results. If you have MPB in your family, it’s likely that you will lose hair with T alone, never mind DHT. Not all guys will go bald on T, but I think it’s safe to say pretty much all trans men lose some hair when they go on hormones.
December 18th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
@Montana Theoretically, DHT will increase penis size in natal men IF they still have active DHT receptors in the penis. These receptors typically burn out after puberty, but it varies and some adult men will still have active receptors. If you try DHT, it would be a good idea to cycle it, say 2 weeks on 2-3 weeks off, because you don’t want your body’s natural production to get “lazy.” Also, jelqing can help too. Nothing to buy, though you have to be dedicated about it.
December 18th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
@SXYDEZY They say you can’t pick and choose what you get from androgens, so I recommend caution since you don’t want masculinization. Cycling would be a good idea, so that T doesn’t build up in your system. You could try DHT but it’s a more potent androgen and could result in hair growth (and paradoxically hair loss) plus other side effects. Plain T and pumping is probably a better idea in this case.