To T or Not to T: The Transmasculine Singing Voice on Hormone Replacement Therapy

Abstract

ABSTRACT Because testosterone-based hormone replacement therapy (HRT) naturally lowers the mean fundamental frequency range of the singer’s voice, the transmasculine voice has historically been treated as a kind of “gold standard” for gender transition—take T, wait a year and voila: a male voice. However, the process of post-pubertal hormonal changes is far more complex than it superficially appears, particularly for the voice. Research on outcomes for transitioning voices is sparse, and anecdotal narratives about poor outcomes give both professional and serious avocational singers pause. This lack of readily available evidence-based research presents a challenge both to trans singers and the voice professionals working with them: given the uncertainty of vocal outcomes, should the transmasculine singer pursue HRT? This article seeks to provide an overview of current knowledge about HRT and the transmasculine voice, contextualize existing data from a singing-voice point of view and highlight the gaps in understanding—offering insight from a transmasculine voice professional’s personal transition and professional teaching experience.