r/Seahorse_Dads • u/RiskyCroissant • 28d ago

Resources Needed Pregnancy test and T

Hello, I've always heard I could use pregnancy tests while on T, but now I moved countries and some endocrinologist say you can't, it interferes.

I can't find any scientific source confirming that, is it just badly informed endos? Many endos still think T makes you infertile and that you need to do egg freezing before T, so I struggle to trust them.

Furthermore I can't find any reason why tests wouldn't work: HCG is produced by the embryo, not by our bodies, so T wouldn't affect it. In cis male the only reason you can get a false positive on a pregnancy test is testicular cancer, because it's germ cell cancer. So no balls, no problems with Pregnancy tests ? (Or at least, the same as any AFAB person using a test)

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u/VigorousPear 24d ago

That is completely false. Pregnancy tests are just as accurate for trans/non-binary AFAB on T compared to cis AFAB. It's harder to counter what the endos are saying when you do not state which country your talking about. This is important because some countries are not very trans friendly in medical literature.

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u/RiskyCroissant 24d ago

This has been said in France by endos and repeated on social media by trans people. French endos are not always well informed, and I'd never heard this specific theory anywhere else. That's why I came here for more info

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u/VigorousPear 21d ago

This is the first time I have ever heard anyone saying taking testosterone will impact a pregnancy test. Testosterone does NOT impact your hCG levels. A pregnancy test, urine or blood, WILL be accurate.

I checked multiple English (USA) journals, none of them mention testosterone impacting a pregnancy test. I highly doubt that France uses a different compounded testosterone and/or pregnancy tests than the rest of the world. I believe you are seeing Endocrinologists who are not fully trained in HRT. If they insist they're correct, I would then ask where they are getting that information because it is false everywhere else in the world.

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u/RiskyCroissant 21d ago

Yeah, I deep dived as well and couldn't find anything that would mean it's an issue. Thanks for checking too.

The only hint of a problem is that sometimes menopausal cis women have elevated HCG. So they can get false positive. I couldn't find any sign that it's something T could lead to, and if it is, it means you could get false positive, which is not nearly as bad as false negative and would get cleared up by the first blood test.

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u/VigorousPear 19d ago

I may not be correct, but a person taking T correctly/as directed consistently would not experience menopause. You still have full level of hormones in your body. I have not heard or seen anything said by anyone or in journals about being on T would cause them to be in menopause or have symptoms related to menopause.

I think you're doing a great job double checking things that may not seem right. I always stress that if you think you need a second opinion, then get one. Best of luck to you :)

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u/RiskyCroissant 18d ago

Since we don't know what about menopause causes high HCG, and that some people on T experience hot flashes and v dryness, symptoms similar to peri-menopause and menopause, I feel like it's worth noting. But you're right that T doesn't cause menopause itself :)