When people take hormone therapy to align their body with their gender, both how much testosterone is in their blood and how they get it (like shots or gel) can change their red blood cell count — and each one matters on its own.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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Community contributions welcome

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Erythrocytosis Is Rare With Exogenous Testosterone in Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2024 Apr 19

The study found that higher testosterone levels and certain ways of taking testosterone (like shots vs. creams) both make blood thicker a little bit — and each one matters on its own, even when you consider the other.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

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According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Erythrocytosis Is Rare With Exogenous Testosterone in Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.

Score: 35

DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad651

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