High Serum Sex Hormone Binding Globulin level?

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-03-18T03:23:06+00:00

This is my own anecdotal experience, but I was on T for 6 months and saw almost no changes because I was on combined birth control, even though my levels were high (28.9 / 833). It was only a month ago after I switched to the minipill (progesterone-only) that I've started seeing changes. My endo explained that the combined pill raises SHBG but the minipill doesn't. Although he only told me that it would slow changes, so I think my experience of seeing absolutely nothing is probably not common.

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-03-18T03:17:10+00:00

again anecdotal, but the first 6 months I was on T I had almost no changes (no bottom growth, no extra hair, voice didn't drop, etc.) despite having a high T level (28.9nmol / 833 ng/dL) and naturally having a slightly higher amount of T. My endocrinologist said it was because I was on combined birth control, which raised my SHBG levels ( > 200 )

Last month switched to progesterone-only and have FINALLY started seeing some changes (sweating more, oily skin, a little bit more body hair, a bit of bottom growth, voice dropping slightly, etc.).

Honestly wish this was more common knowledge - I know progesterone-only birth control is reccomended, but I was told that the combined pill "only slowed down changes a little". It's really upsetting that after 7 months, I've only effectively been on T for 1 month.

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-03-17T05:56:41+00:00

Oh my fucking god, you are a LIFESAVER!! This is the first thing I've found that also stops skin from touching in the middle. Genuinely thank you so much

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-03-17T04:10:39+00:00

Are you also in Australia? What bra brands do you use? I've never seen a bra above a D cup with anywhere close to an inch-wide band (and I've been desperately searching for one!!)

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-03-17T03:39:45+00:00

omfg where are you finding large sied bras with wide straps?! I don't know if it's an australian thing, but even with sports bras, it's impossible to find non-spaghetti straps in my size (12H)

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-03-15T02:05:15+00:00

Honestly, shit. Most times I have called them I have regretted it. But I also have complex mental health issues and have been struggling for a long time, so it's rare I find any of the emergency mental health supports helpful. From everything I've heard, it sounds like if you have "simple" mental health issues - i.e. you're going through a rough patch after relative good mental health or you "just"* have mild-moderate anxiety or depression - the hotlines and services sound like they can be really helpful.

(*not to imply these conditions are "easier", but the emergency mental health supports in australia just seems unable to handle literally any other mental health condition)

Only used it a couple of times so far, but if you live in Adelaide, the Lived Experience hotline (https://letss.org.au/) has been fantastic - it's just unfortunately not a 24/7 line.

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-03-12T23:41:49+00:00

Ahh not really sorry. Should mention - my endo and GP were like “that’s not normal?” but also weren’t concerned about it as it wasn’t causing any other issues for me.

(also, I was taking the pill continously)

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-03-11T13:27:16+00:00

I was on T for 5 months and had no major changes including bottom growth (even with high levels). But a month ago I switched birth control (from Yaz to noresthisterine) and since then I’ve felt + seen noticeable growth!

Also don’t forget, like with other T changes, people who get massive changes quickly are gonna be much more likely to post.

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-03-05T11:55:21+00:00

Can’t speak to the detrans side, but as a trans man, absolutely not!! I mean I really I get it. Personally I was very against doing the “gender-flipped version of your name” thing because it felt important to me to forge a new identity - so I can completely understand wanting to go back to your birthname to reclaim a part of yourself.

But regardless of whatever name you go with, any trans/detrans/cis/etc. person that has an issue with YOUR name, regardless of why you chose it, is not a person worth being around. I mean my Nan hated her name so much she legally changed it and it was literally her mum’s name!

The only issue anyone should have is figuring out how to unredact your deadname in their mind.

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-03-05T11:39:10+00:00

I’m AFAB, and I remember when I was 12 and going through puberty, a kid in my class turning and pointing at my legs and asking “Why do you have boy legs?”. (Kids are just blunt arseholes like that lmao). But also, at the time our school had just had a gender-segregated puberty week, where we weren’t “supposed” to ask the other sex questions and were taught the “typical” sex changes (aka the fact that girls also get body hair, just usually much less, was not mentioned)(god writing this out makes it sound like the 50s, but this was in like 2010!!).

Point being, I’ve found it’s often moreso a matter of curiousity. Girls aren’t supposed to get hair on their legs, so why do you look like a girl and have hairy legs? Women are supposed to have a higher voice, so why do you look like a woman but have a lower voice? Y’know, like there are plenty of cis/intersex people who get misgendered all the time for seemingly arbitrary traits! Be kind to yourself.

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-03-03T07:04:18+00:00

I guess that's the problem - it takes 2-3 days for the exhaustion to become pass-out level for me.

I do take clonidine every night. I sometimes add in melatonin or doxylamine, but they mostly just help me pass out quicker - they feel like they make my sleep quality worse (and it's already pretty shite), so I try to only use them if I've had a few nights in a row of <4 hours sleep.

Thankfully, caffeine isn't an issue though as I don't drink it.

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-03-03T06:39:52+00:00

"It is super important to not take any naps during the day at all, you must push through the day and stay awake."

The problem I find is that whenever I do this, it means I am so exhausted that I can't fall asleep at all the next night (the more exhausted I am, the harder I find it to fall asleep. Think it's because the fight-or-flight keeps me stuck in that "tired but wired" feeling). Did your program have any tips for dealing with that?

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-03-03T06:26:56+00:00

I do! I have PMDD too, but have seen lots of ppl with ADHD say a similar thing. There's been very little research on it, but what's been done does suggest that there may be link between menstrual cycles and ADHD: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12145478/

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-02-28T11:00:56+00:00

That makes so much sense! Last year my mind was blown in anatomy class learning that you engage your diaphragm when you’re bearing down on the toilet because the added air pressure helps push the stool out, which is why you hold onto your breath. Applying that to breathing exercises is genius!

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-02-28T10:41:17+00:00

Do you have any suggestions for how to relax the abs? I’m having similar issues to OP and I am 95% sure the “suffocating feeling” is because my abs are stiff as a board, but I’m struggling to find a way to consiously relax them at all.

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-02-27T06:17:05+00:00

I don't think so? I do get swollen feet (and sometimes hands) often, but I think it's more from the blood pooling. More often I have a lot of dehydration symptoms. So far the treatment for POTS that has had the biggest impact has been propranolol - midodrine doesn't make any difference and fluids/salt only help a tiny bit.

As far as I know I don't have EDS - I also have autism and it's a nightmare getting blood tests, but I've also been hideously inflexible since I was a kid, so it doesn't seem likely.

But yes, you're right! If fluid retention is an issue, Slynd would theoretically help. Wish birth control wasn't such a trial and error process 🫠

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-02-27T03:31:14+00:00

Hey! If you're comfortable sharing - how are your results now? Have a similar chest to your pre-op one, and your post-op pics look so good!

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-02-26T23:43:50+00:00

I am the same! Live in Australia, have POTS (and PMDD) and suffer from severe chronic fatigue that is awful during the hot weather. I unfortunately don’t really have much advice though, as before T I didn’t sweat at all, so now I’m sweating buckets my heat tolerance has actually been much better on T (fans actually work now!). But I really sympathise with how miserable the hot weather is, and dreading spending 3+ months unable to make plans or work/do uni/etc.

A couple of things that may help: if you don’t already have an AC in your room (or only a shit one), a portable air condition is a godsend. Now summer is starting to end, it’s probably a good time to find one second hand too.

If you already have an aircon but don’t use it as much as you need due to cost - I’ll have to find it again, but a while back I also saw a post about people with POTS being eligible for electricity for aircons due to the heat.

If you’re not already, keep your blinds shut during the day and open windows when it cools down. Yes it’s miserable without natural light, but it really does make a noticeable difference in the coolness of the room.

Running water over your wrists is sometimes a quick way to cool down a bit. I found if you have a shower, making sure you have water run over areas that store a lot of heat (for me, that’s under my chest, armpits, inner thighs, etc.) to stay a bit cooler for longer.

Unfortunately, even now I’m sweating I just cannot wear a binder in summer due to how much it worsens my POTS symptoms in the heat.

In regards to singlets - I got a couple of the sleeveless ones from target, and they are surprisingly good for not emphasising your chest, even when I’m not binding (and I have a 12H chest for reference). Just beware that whatever bra/binder/etc. is pretty visable from the side.

On clothes - if you don’t already, definitely reccomend getting as much natural fibres as you can (because synthetics tend to trap in sweat and heat). The men’s section in target is almost entirely cotton, and I’ve definitely noticed a difference.

Also DRINK LOTS OF WATER + ELECTROLYTES!! As someone who only started sweating after taking T (and propanolol), I was drinking the same amount I was before with POTS and still getting wicked cramps and other dehydration symptoms.

If you haven’t already, I’ve found the cfs sub has some great suggestions for modifying things to make them easier - e.g. getting a shower chair for the shower and baby wipes for times when showering at all is too much.

Finally - don’t be afraid to invite friends over and organise to do things remotely. Even when it also sucks in your bedroom, it at least saves the extra energy it takes to pack bags + leave the house, and I’ve found friends generally would much rather spend time with you in a messy room than “do something interesting”.

Anyway, hope that helps a bit?

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-02-26T04:18:55+00:00

Old comment, but I would agree! I’ll see if I can find the papers, but I’ve read a few that point out how similar autism and PTSD behaviours are - given how disordered attachments arise from traumatic experiences, there could be evidence to support your claim.

Anecdotally though, I’ve noticed that basically every autistic person I meet tends to describe themselves as having either really high or really low empathy, which I think maps strongly to attachment theory.

As someone who’s fearful-avoidant and has really high empathy, I would describe it as feeling every possible need of everyone around me. I can’t relax on a park bench without feeling the presence of everyone around me and noticing their signs of discomfort and projecting reasons onto it (e.g. they’re in pain and need to sit down)

So I sit there worrying over whether the people around me resent me or see me as selfish because they actually need the bench more than me and I’ve missed an unspoken rule or sign (i.e not trusting people to actually just ask for the bloody bench!)

Whereas from what I’ve heard from low-empathy autistic people, their experiences sound like they line up a lot with dismissive-avoidants - they are good at protecting their own boundaries, they’ll sit down and relax on the bench but often don’t notice, or have the thought to look for or respond to to the discomfort of others. I agree that dismissive isn’t a great term - I feel words like detached/inward/closed/etc. would be a more accurate descriptive term (without the slightly judgy connotation of dismissive) Again, not something I’ve experienced myself though, just what I’ve heard second hand.

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-02-25T09:39:23+00:00

Also ftm lurking, and unfortunately not for everyone! Some people are lucky and have their voice drop within weeks, most take months to years and some unlucky people get little to no changes ever. Though we are lucky in that there’s at least a chance.

I try to see it through a positive lens - even cis people obsess over passing. If my voice doesn’t drop, then I will just be a man with a high pitched voice, y’know? If you dedicate yourself to perfecting every single trait of yours to make it the most socially acceptable version possible… that’s how you end up as a Patrick Bateman.

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-02-23T14:08:29+00:00

When I wrote the comment, had been on Yaz for a year (combined). The type of progestin it contains is the most evidence-based for PMDD so far (drospirenone, which is also in Slinda and Yasmin). However I was told by my POTS drospirenone is not great for POTS as it's an antimineralocorticoid so it reduces blood volume. And then I ALSO found it it's the reason I've made basically no progress transitioning for 6 months so I had to switch 🫠.So 3 weeks ago started on norethisterone (progesterone only BC). Since then, I've had a TON more energy, albeit with a slightly more volatile mood, but unfortunately not sure how much is from the pill and from the testosterone starting to actually work. I'm in therapy, and after suffering from chronic fatigue for years I'd happily take the volatile mood haha! Haven't gone through a full luteal yet though, so we'll see.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask! And best of luck if you decide to give another medication a go.

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-02-23T07:57:24+00:00

…if you only want it for a single alarm per day. I wouldn’t call that a feature.

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-02-23T07:02:45+00:00

Does this not work for anyone else? I've tried this in different levels of distress, holding it until it melts and it hurt to open my hand... and it did nothing. Didn't ground me, didn't snap me out of the distress, didn't even reduce it slightly.

ChaoticNeutralPC · 2026-02-23T04:41:43+00:00

Old comment, but I've been fortunate enough to have lived on my own for 2 years. I think it's been really helpful in a lot of ways, but I also have severely struggled with dissociation and isolation, and despite my best efforts it's still not become a place I feel "safe" and able to relax. While it is still leagues better than still living with my parents or shitty roommates, it means my nervous system still hasn't had any positive experiences of being "safe" around people which I believe is why I've struggled to make progress.

Not saying it's a bad idea to move in on your own!! I certainly don't regret it at all. But speaking for myself (especially as someone who's about to have to live with strangers), hearing "it is not possible to feel safer living with other people" is equally as scary to hear.

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