Gabriel Perez's one-year testosterone update, fact-checked

What does this video actually claim?

Gabriel Perez (@themoresun) posted a brief update marking one year on testosterone therapy as part of his gender transition. The caption is sparse but celebratory, noting this is "just the beginning" of his transition journey.

The post doesn't make specific medical claims about testosterone's effects or timeline. It's more of a personal milestone celebration than an educational video about hormone therapy outcomes.

The hashtags position this within the broader FTM (female-to-male) transition community and reference TRT, though this appears to be gender-affirming hormone therapy rather than traditional testosterone replacement therapy for hypogonadism.

What happens during the first year on testosterone?

Most transgender men see substantial changes within 12 months of starting testosterone therapy. Voice changes typically begin within 3-6 months and plateau around the one-year mark, according to research by T'Sjoen et al. published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine (2019).

Facial hair growth starts within 3-6 months but continues developing for years. The same study found that muscle mass increases significantly, with most gains occurring in the first two years of therapy.

Menstruation usually stops within 2-6 months of starting testosterone at therapeutic doses (typically 50-100mg weekly for intramuscular injections). Fat redistribution from hips to abdomen occurs gradually over 1-5 years.

Is testosterone therapy safe for trans men?

Long-term studies show testosterone therapy is generally safe for transgender men when properly monitored. A 2019 study by Ott et al. in the European Journal of Endocrinology followed trans men for up to 41 years and found no increased mortality risk.

The main health considerations include monitoring for polycythemia (elevated red blood cell count), which affects about 5-10% of patients according to Deutsch (2016) in the International Journal of Transgenderism. Regular blood tests typically check hematocrit levels every 3-6 months.

Cardiovascular risk remains a topic of ongoing research, but current evidence doesn't show increased heart disease risk in trans men on testosterone compared to cisgender men with similar testosterone levels.

What's the difference between TRT and gender-affirming testosterone?

Perez uses the hashtag #trt, but his treatment is technically gender-affirming hormone therapy, not traditional testosterone replacement therapy. The goals and protocols differ significantly between these two uses.

Traditional TRT aims to restore testosterone levels to the normal male range (300-1000 ng/dL) in men with hypogonadism. Gender-affirming testosterone therapy for trans men targets similar levels but starts from a baseline of typical female testosterone levels (15-70 ng/dL).

The dosing often differs too. Trans men frequently start with higher doses to achieve masculinizing effects more quickly, while cisgender men with hypogonadism typically use lower replacement doses.

What should people know about testosterone timelines?

Perez is right that one year is just the beginning. While many changes happen in year one, masculinization continues for years. Facial hair can keep developing for 3-5 years, and body composition changes continue throughout the second year.

Individual responses vary widely based on genetics, age when starting, and dosing. Some trans men see dramatic changes within months, while others have more gradual transitions over several years.

The phrase "esto recién empieza" (this is just beginning) accurately reflects the medical reality. Most endocrinologists tell trans patients that the full effects of testosterone therapy take 2-5 years to complete.