Direct Vocal Fold Testosterone Injections
Direct Vocal Fold Testosterone Injections
As a leading innovator in the field of gender affirming voice, and through his work with the International Association of TransVoice, Mr Al Yaghchi is constantly exploring advances in treatments from around the world which can be offered to trans and non-binary patients.
His latest focus has been on novel approaches to voice masculinisation. One particularly exciting procedure, which is making waves among experts in the field, involves the use of local injections of testosterone, administered directly into the vocal folds.
While still in its infancy, this method is already proving extremely promising in terms of the speed and the effectiveness of the results that can be achieved.
Voice deepening through hormone therapy
While a deepening of the voice is often one of the desired outcomes of testosterone therapy in transgender men and trans masculine presenting non-binary individuals, the systemic use of hormone therapy to bring an individual’s pitch into alignment with what might typically be associated with that of a cisgender man, is not always straightforward.
The key challenges that come with using testosterone therapy in this way are the length of time it can take to achieve the desired results as well as the fact that systemic use of testosterone does not always result in the degree of change that a patient might like. There are also individuals who would like to achieve a deeper voice without having to commit to a regime of hormone therapy to do so.
An additional benefit of this treatment is that it is minimally invasive. This makes it a safer option with lower risks in comparison to surgical interventions to deepen the voice. One such intervention is type-3 thyroplasty, which can have side effects and vocal trade offs such as roughness and loss of projection.
This is where Direct Vocal Fold Testosterone Injection can help.
Voice therapy
The Direct Vocal Fold Testosterone Injection may also offer a solution for those who have tried voice therapy but who have not been able to achieve the reduction in pitch that they are striving for.
Localised injections could be for you if:
- Intramuscular/topical testosterone and voice therapy have not resulted in the desired change
- You want a minimally invasive approach to voice masculinisation
- You are looking for noticeable results within a shorter period of time
- You want to achieve lower baseline pitch and frequency without reaching conventional male ranges of testosterone
How does the DVFT injection work?
As one of the body’s secondary sexual organs, the larynx is highly receptive to testosterone. By targeting the receptors in the larynx directly, the desired results can be achieved safely and within a much more immediate time frame than through the systemic use of hormone therapy.
The treatment consists of four injections administered over a five week period, until the desired outcomes are achieved. The testosterone is injected directly into the vocal folds, or cords, two bands of smooth muscle tissue located in the larynx, or voice box. The appointment takes less than 20 minutes and patients report a deepening of their voice with minimal adverse side effects.
The procedure is available now at the London Voice and Swallowing Clinic. For further information or to book your consultation with Mr Al Yaghchi contact: secretary@lvsclinic.com