How do you know when it’s time?

It appears I already took the pink pill long ago as I found out recently that I was born with the pink pill already swallowed...I am an intersex woman!

hugs,

Ms. Lauren M

For me it was a traumatic brain bleed! In the depths of despair a little girlie voice in my head said “I’m here, it’s time… use the time left to do what you’ve been always desired.” So I did…

Polly

Hi Kerri! My first step into the rabbit hole, was considered a bit shallow by me, as it was piercing both ears. I knew I wanted to do this crossdressing thing and if I was going to do it, it would be all the way as much as possible. Then some other significant moments happened for me and I was able to connect the dots and put the word "transgender" to the feelings I had and it all started to make sense. Then, the big step. I got in touch with the major local university close to me, to find out about their transgender program. The psychologist I was referred to happened to be a "transman", who understood, first hand, everything I explained about. I was also referred to an "endocrinologist" in their treatment program, that had experience treating other transgender people. This doctor explained which parts of the body change first when receiving injections of estrogen. Then which will change next and so on. Plus other ins and outs of being on female hormones which also included explaining the risks of getting too much when being given to us grandparent types. As of today, I've been on this plan of care with them with the injections and monitoring for a bit over 4 years. Everything is going well and I'm in good health. Progress is being made with the physical changes, but it's a bit slow because of the low dose for staying healthy with my age! I highly recommend this type of action when considering HRT, so you can stay healthy and enjoy the benefits of changing to who you are! I also found that my health insurance covered some of this at the time. I have since retired, so now it's just maintenance visits and not involving the more costly office visits from early on.
Anyway, I would advise finding a clinic or hospital that has experience in treating transgender people and one that follows the standards of care from the "World Professional Association for
Transgender Health", (WPATH). This should give you the best results and you will be able to enjoy being "You"! Yeah, it was a big step, but I'm glad I made it!

I agree with Gabby.  I never wanted to be trans.  But I am trans....and have been since birth.  I needed to transition to relieve the gender dysphoria I've felt my entire life.  Every day I delayed was another day of misery.  That's no way to live.  And it's not a choice the way I see things.

It took decades of denial and years of therapy to accept who I am....and accept that I needed to transition.  So I was as sure as I could be.  I jumped into the rabbit hole with both feet.  It took about 3 days to confirm it was the right decision.

You want to get this right.  I can't emphasize that enough.  Buyers remorse really sucks.

Going on HRT is a big deal.  You're making fundamental changes to your body and brain chemistry.  There are significant risks.  The risks can be mitigated for most patients.  Even older ones.  You need a good doc that knows how to treat trans patients.  Lots of docs don't have a clue and do more harm than good.

I would offer that you put your credit card away and talk to a good gender therapist.  Take the time to get this sorted.  You'll be glad you did.  And if you decide later on to have surgery, a therapist's letter is practically mandatory.

/EA

If you feel your a woman in your heart then I suggest hrt to help your body match how you feel on the inside.

I came out of hospital a while ago, and for 5 weeks I lived as Cerys. I'm signed off work, so I could be Cerys all day, every day. This is what I did. Every day I'd get up do my hair and make up, and dress and be Cerys. Doctors appointments, trips to the pharmacy, shopping, meeting friends for coffee, getting tyres fitted to the car, all done as Cerys. I started thinking, maybe I was trans. It felt right. It felt natural. There was no concern about where I went, or who I met. I was very comfortable being Cerys. I was enjoying being Cerys.... I was Cerys!
Then one morning, I woke up, jumped in the shower. When I came out, I wasn't in the mood to do my hair and make up. I just wasn't in the mood. I dressed in my man clothes. Nearly two weeks of being in male mode. I had no desire or interest in being Cerys. I did try. I put on a skirt and nice top.... Nothing. I got changed back.... Now, I'm flitting back and forth between "normal" and Cerys mode. I might be in Cerys mode, but if I have to go out, I'll get changed. I'm typing this at 8:30 AM. I'm in Cerys mode. I have to go out later.... Do I change into man mode? I don't know yet. The feeling so far is no, but that might change.
This has cemented what I have known all along. I am not transgender. I am a crossdresser.
Before anyone "takes the pill" or goes down the permanent changes road, seriously think about it.
For a while, and I appreciate it was only 5 weeks, I thought I was Cerys. Family knew. Friends knew, work knew, openly posting on FB... Every one knew... I could so easily have announced that I was trans. It would have been accepted..... I didn't and I'm not.
You will know if you are ready, or indeed, right for going down the transition road, but if you are, take a step back and reassess. Then, if you are certain, take that pill.

Cerys

I feel that Cerys makes some valid points about the subject. This is fundamentally a Crossdresser website encompassing the wearing of womens clothes. There is a broad base of members who enjoy dressing, are happily men who like to do so. Some will take it to the fullest and want to appear as women and go public who  have enhanced their appearance to the max being able to mix with little or no issues and even gain an acceptance with family and friends.

Then comes this niggling question no doubt borne out by the wealth of information available now, 'Am I trans'?  We can see from the replies that some are definitely trans and have desired to be a women all their lives and duly progress to that end.  It is also an age thing too as many of those that question are of more mature years so is it a desire that has been constrained by life events and social perceptions now manifests itself. Crossdressing is simply the desire to wear the clothes as a male, that desire was with me as a child but then wanted to be like them which would suggest being trans but was I.

How many here have felt the desire to dress all their lives but has diminished through puberty and mid life but manifested strongly at a later age and what is called the pink fog descends and it becomes a passion to appear as a woman if not full time or as much as possible. At this point, and many posts have been on this subject, an individual questions what it all means feeling they are trans so the next logical step could be hormones or surgery.

It is a big step and perhaps the relative ease and access these days makes it doable but is it right for you? No one but yourself can give that answer but consider all the outcomes before you do and take advice from a professional.

From my own standpoint I have always wanted to dress as a woman, life and circumstance has allowed me to take it further where I am living almost full time living and working having an identity as Angela.  After a chance conversation with my doctor after dealing with another matter I was asked if there was consideration for hormone treatment and perhaps more. I took up the offer and saw the specialist doctor at the practice and started hormones a year ago. I knew it wouldn't transform me into a woman but would maybe enhance some features over time so I accepted the offer. It was for me a natural progression as I had already thought about the pros and cons well before the conversation and it would have little impact on myself and how I live as it would be a gradual progress. It is only a further enhancement to presenting better.

I will still be a male and know that I do have my few male days which is part of my life and enjoy. I have always had female traits and mix happily with women, love the clothes and presenting as female. The person I am hasn't changed at all only the feminine traits in me have been allowed to come out more. To make it easy for an employer or other official departments I say I am trans, to anyone else I say I like to appear this way and they can either ask for further details, which they usually don't, and allow them to draw their own conclusions.

Perhaps I am trans but taking Cerys reasoned points am I just a male that likes to appear as a woman and be as good as possible at it and just a crossdresser at heart.

Lauren,

Thanks for your insight.  I have one foot in and one foot out of the rabbit hole.

Very well said Angela.

You and I are very similar in that I have at most 2 or 3 days per month where I need to be male for one reason or another. And it does not bother me at all. Often it's not for very long and I have no problem with my male self although I much prefer my female side.

Your very last sentence is a perfect description of the way I feel - I am just a male that likes to appear as a woman and be as good as possible at it. I am just a crossdresser at heart.