What Are Testosterone Vocal Fold Injections — And How Do They Work?

The quest for a deeper voice is something that rings true for many transmasculine people. On subreddits like r/ftm and r/TransMasc, dedicated to helping trans men crowdsource information on ways to obtain their transition goals, how to make your voice deeper is nearly as frequent a topic of discussion as figuring out what form of testosterone to take. It has long been common knowledge that aside from voice training, there is no way to deepen your voice without starting testosterone-based hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or undergoing vocal masculinization surgery. Particularly for people who feel dysphoric about their voice but maybe don’t want some of the other effects of T, such as body hair and muscle growth, or to undergo surgery, this has long been a point of concern. But a relatively new treatment could be the answer.Mars Wright, a Los Angeles-based interdisciplinary artist, wanted to deepen his voice. Though he had been on testosterone for seven years, he tells Them his voice still caused him anxiety. But during a breathwork circle with his friend Eli, a gender doula, Wright heard about testosterone vocal fold injections, a new form of voice masculinization.View this post on InstagramVocal fold testosterone injections involve injecting testosterone cypionate — the injectable form of T used in HRT — directly into your vocal chords. While testosterone-based HRT already causes a deeper voice, the Los Angeles Center for Ear, Nose, Throat, and Allergy, where Wright received his injections, says that vocal fold injections can amplify the known effects of T directly on your voice. While the treatment is relatively new, with the first peer-reviewed study on testosterone injections to the vocal folds published in January 2023, it is no longer in the experimental phase of testing, meaning it is available to the general public.Documenting his journey on social media, Wright captured his experience with Dr. Abie Mendelsohn, a trained laryngologist, as he received