Transgender Man: Meaning, Identity, Transition, Health, and Sexuality

A transgender man may:

• use he/him pronouns;
• choose a masculine name;
• wear masculine, feminine, or gender-neutral clothing;
• take testosterone;
• have surgery;
• make no medical changes;
• keep his transgender history private.

Simple examples include:

• A transgender man is a man.
• A transgender man does not need surgery to prove his identity.
• A transgender man may be straight, gay, bisexual, or another orientation.
• A transgender man may still have a uterus, ovaries, breasts, or other reproductive organs.
• A transgender man decides which words feel respectful for his body.

Being a transgender man concerns gender identity. It does not automatically reveal anatomy, medical history, sexual orientation, or sexual behavior.

• a transgender man;
• one transgender man;
• several transgender men;
• an openly transgender man.

Examples include:

• He is a transgender man.
• The clinic supports transgender men.
• A transgender man may choose to transition socially or medically.

The plural is transgender men, not transgender mans.

The adjective transgender describes the noun man. Avoid using transgender alone as a noun:

• Less respectful: “He is a transgender.”
• Better: “He is a transgender man.”
• Better: “He is trans.”

Common Usage Patterns

The phrase often appears in expressions such as:

• transgender man’s health;
• transgender man’s identity;
• transgender man using testosterone;
• transgender man and pregnancy;
• openly transgender man;
• transgender men’s rights;
• healthcare for transgender men;
• transgender man in a relationship.

Both expressions are respectful when the individual uses or accepts them.

Some people prefer simply man because their transgender history is private or not relevant. Others identify proudly as trans and use the term openly.

The best language is the language the person chooses for himself.

A transmasculine person may identify as:

• a transgender man;
• non-binary;
• genderqueer;
• demiboy;
• another masculine-aligned gender.

Not every transmasculine person is a man, and not every transgender man uses the word transmasculine.

A transgender man is a man whose gender identity differs from that assigned sex.

Both are men.

The words transgender and cisgender describe different gender histories. They do not indicate who is more masculine, natural, healthy, or legitimate.

His assigned sex at birth was commonly female, based mainly on visible anatomy. Assigned sex is a label given by others, while gender identity describes the person’s internal understanding of himself.

Expressions such as assigned female at birth, often shortened to AFAB, may be useful in medical or educational contexts.

However, assigned sex should not replace the person’s current gender in ordinary conversation.

• he/him pronouns;
• a masculine name;
• masculine titles such as Mr., brother, husband, or father.

Some transgender men use they/them pronouns, mixed pronouns, or another set.

Using a former name after someone has changed it is often called deadnaming. Referring to a transgender man as a woman or using unwanted pronouns is misgendering.

A respectful response to an accidental mistake is to correct it briefly and continue.

Social transition may include:

• changing his name;
• using different pronouns;
• changing clothing or hairstyle;
• using men’s facilities;
• updating school or workplace records;
• asking family members to use masculine relationship terms;
• coming out to friends or colleagues.

A person may transition in every area of life, only in safe places, or not publicly at all.

Medical transition may include:

• testosterone therapy;
• chest reconstruction surgery;
• hysterectomy;
• removal of the ovaries;
• genital surgery;
• voice or fertility care.

Not every transgender man wants or can access these treatments.

Some may have one procedure and not another. Others may make no medical changes. None of these choices determines whether someone is truly a man.

• a deeper voice;
• facial and body hair;
• increased muscle development;
• changes in body-fat distribution;
• menstrual changes or stopping of periods;
• increased skin oiliness;
• genital growth;
• changes in sexual desire.

The effects, timing, and degree of change vary.

Testosterone does not reliably prevent pregnancy. A transgender man with functioning ovaries and a uterus may still become pregnant, even if menstruation has stopped.

Possible procedures include:

• chest surgery: reshaping the chest to create a flatter appearance;
• hysterectomy: removal of the uterus;
• oophorectomy: removal of one or both ovaries;
• metoidioplasty: creating a penis from hormonally enlarged genital tissue;
• phalloplasty: constructing a penis using tissue from another body area;
• scrotoplasty: creating a scrotum.

Surgical choices are personal. It is usually inappropriate to ask a transgender man which procedures he has had unless the information is directly relevant and he is comfortable discussing it.

He may have:

• breasts or a surgically flattened chest;
• a vagina;
• a penis created through surgery;
• a uterus and ovaries;
• no internal reproductive organs;
• any combination of sex characteristics.

Some transgender men prefer standard anatomical words. Others use different language to reduce discomfort or gender dysphoria.

Partners and healthcare professionals should ask which terms the person prefers rather than making assumptions.

Dysphoria may involve:

• the chest;
• menstruation;
• voice;
• genitals;
• facial appearance;
• being misgendered;
• being treated as a woman.

Not every transgender man experiences dysphoria.

Gender euphoria is a feeling of comfort, happiness, or affirmation when someone is recognized as male or feels aligned with his gender.

He may identify as:

• straight;
• gay;
• bisexual;
• pansexual;
• asexual;
• queer;
• questioning;
• another orientation.

For example, a transgender man attracted mainly to women may identify as straight. A transgender man attracted mainly to men may identify as gay.

Gender identity describes who he is. Sexual orientation describes whom he may be attracted to.

Healthy sexual communication may include discussion of:

• preferred words for body parts;
• clothing during sex;
• touch that feels affirming or uncomfortable;
• contraception;
• STI prevention;
• pregnancy possibilities;
• hormone-related changes;
• privacy about transgender status.

A partner should not assume that a transgender man wants specific sexual roles or activities because of his anatomy or gender history.

Pregnancy may occur through:

• vaginal sex involving sperm;
• donor insemination;
• assisted reproduction.

A transgender man may pause testosterone under medical guidance when trying to become pregnant, because testosterone should not be treated as contraception and may be unsafe during pregnancy.

Some transgender men preserve eggs or embryos before certain medical treatments. Others do not want biological children.

Parenthood does not change or invalidate a transgender man’s identity.

Depending on his anatomy, he may need:

• cervical screening;
• breast or chest care;
• contraception;
• pregnancy care;
• STI testing;
• hormone monitoring;
• bone-health assessment;
• fertility counseling.

A transgender man who has a cervix may still need cervical screening. A transgender man who has had chest surgery may still need individualized chest-health advice.

Respectful healthcare uses the correct name and pronouns while discussing anatomy only when medically relevant.

A person may remain private because of:

• safety concerns;
• family attitudes;
• employment;
• religion;
• housing;
• discrimination;
• personal preference.

No one should reveal that someone is a transgender man without permission.

Former names, assigned sex, medical procedures, legal records, and anatomy are private information.

• misgendering;
• deadnaming;
• bullying;
• employment discrimination;
• denial of healthcare;
• housing discrimination;
• exclusion from men’s spaces;
• harassment or violence;
• unwanted disclosure of transgender status.

Transgender men may also be overlooked because public discussions sometimes focus more heavily on other transgender experiences.

Supportive families, workplaces, schools, healthcare providers, and communities can improve safety and well-being.

A transgender man must take testosterone.
Hormone treatment is optional.

A transgender man must have surgery.
Surgery does not determine identity.

A transgender man cannot become pregnant.
Pregnancy may be possible when certain reproductive organs remain.

A transgender man is automatically attracted to women.
He may have any sexual orientation.

A transgender man’s body determines whether he is really male.
Gender identity is not dependent on particular anatomy.

1. A transgender man is a man whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned to him at birth.
2. The transgender man asked his coworkers to use he/him pronouns.
3. Can a transgender man become pregnant?
4. A transgender man does not need testosterone or surgery to be recognized as a man.
5. The transgender man discussed contraception with his healthcare provider.
6. A transgender man may identify as straight, gay, bisexual, or another orientation.
7. The transgender man preferred different words for certain parts of his body.
8. No one should reveal that a person is a transgender man without permission.
9. The clinic based the transgender man’s care on his organs, symptoms, and medical needs.
10. Respecting a transgender man includes using his chosen name, pronouns, and identity terms.

A transgender man may have any anatomy, orientation, relationship style, or preferred sexual role. His body does not make him less male, and his gender history does not create consent or reveal which activities he enjoys.

Accurate sexuality education recognizes transgender men as men while addressing their individual health and reproductive needs without assumptions. Respect includes correct names and pronouns, privacy, consent, affirming body language, and access to appropriate healthcare.