To take advantage of its virilizing effects, testosterone, often shortened to T, is administered to transgender men and other transmasculine individuals as part of masculinizing hormone therapy, titrated to clinical effect with a "target level" of the average male's testosterone level. This treatment is referred to as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or alternatively, and more specifically, as testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) or androgen replacement therapy (ART). Simply by applying the patch to the skin at the painful site, the drug can be gradually released to continue its analgesic effect, while reducing the side effects such as gastrointestinal discomfort that may be caused by oral medication. Our experienced medical team will work with you to determine if testosterone patches are the right choice for your situation and monitor your progress throughout the treatment. Like any medication, testosterone patches can have side effects. However, these drugs do this via prevention of the conversion of testosterone into its more potent metabolite dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and this results in dramatically reduced circulating levels of DHT (which circulates at much lower relative concentrations). 5α-Reductase inhibitors like finasteride and dutasteride can slightly increase circulating levels of testosterone by inhibiting its metabolism. Differences in sex hormones, including testosterone, have been suggested as an explanation for these differences. On January 31, 2014, reports of strokes, heart attacks, and deaths in men taking FDA-approved testosterone-replacement led the FDA to announce that it would be investigating the issue.
