How much will my pitch lower with testosterone?
One of the most desired effects from testosterone administration is the lowering of pitch. Testosterone causes the vocal cords (aka vocal folds) to thicken, leading to the permanent deepening of the voice.
For most, pitch decreases by about an octave within the first year of testosterone HRT. For example, if someone’s baseline pitch before testosterone was 246 Hz (equivalent to the note B3 on the piano) an octave decrease would be 123 Hz or the note B2.
Pitch decrease from 246 Hz to 123 Hz
Pitch decrease from B3 to B2
I suggest downloading a free piano app on your phone (Tiny Piano) and listening to the difference between the notes B3 and B2.
However, for some transmasculine and nonbinary individuals, pitch does not significantly decrease from testosterone exposure. One reason for this is that the androgenic receptors on the vocal folds have decreased androgen sensitivity.
Ziegler and colleagues (2018) analyzed 19 published research articles on the effectiveness of testosterone therapy for voice masculinization.Data from the study showed that after 1 year of testosterone therapy, 21% of participants experienced limited voice lowering.
For example, if someone’s pitch prior to HRT with testosterone was 220 Hz (note A3 on piano) their pitch may have only decreased to 196 Hz (note G3 on piano) after testosterone, which is still perceptually considered a higher or more feminine pitch.
Smaller decrease in pitch from 220 Hz to 196 Hz
The good news is that if someone’s pitch hasn’t significantly lowered, there are still many things that a person can do to deepen, darken, or masculinize their voice. Modifying resonance, intonation, and breath support are all ways to help transmasculine and nonbinary speakers develop a voice that is affirming and authentic with or without pitch lowering from testosterone.
References
Azul, D., Arnold, A., & Neuschaefer-Rube, C. (2018). Do transmasculine speakers present with gender-related voice problems? Insights from a participant-centered mixed-methods study. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 61, 25–39.
Block, C. (2017). Making the case for transmasculine voice and communication training. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. 34-41
Buckley, D., Dahl, K., Cler, G., & Stepp, C. (2020). Transmasculine voice modification: A case study. Journal of Voice. 903-910.
Irwig, M. S., Childs, K., & Hancock, A. B. (2016). Effects of testosterone on the transgender male voice. Andrology, 107–112.
Nygren, U., Nordenskjöld, A., Arver, S., & Södersten, M. (2016). Effects on voice fundamental frequency and satisfaction with voice in trans men during testosterone treatment—A longitudinal study. Journal of Voice, 30, 766.e23–766.e34.
Ziegler, A., Henke, T., Wiedrick, J., & Helou, L. B. (2017). Effectiveness of testosterone therapy for masculinizing voice in transgender patients: A meta-analytic review. International Journal of Transgenderism, 19, 25–45.
