Will I pass as a woman if starting HRT at age 24?

[~Amanda~]

Hello everybody! This is my first message here.

From puberty to this point I've always liked to cross-dress and thought I was a transvestite but lately, transvestism has started to feel so hollow for me. I'm pretty sure I'm something more - I'd like to be a real woman. So, on Monday I went to the doctor in Finland (that's where I live) and they sent me to Gender Identity Disorder Policlinic. I'm still waiting for their invitation but I hope I'm allowed to start the obligatory 6-month-to-1-year-long examination period at the end of the year (meaning I will be nearly 23 by then). Then, maybe just after turning 24, I might be allowed to start HRT.

The question that really depresses me is if I will look like a passable woman or not if starting hormones at age 24. At the moment, I'm writing a cross-dressing blog where many people have told me I look just like a real girl/woman. However, I still feel a bit unsure.

Judging by my blog pictures, what do you think? How manly do you think I look now, and do you think hormones can make me look like a passable woman (if starting them in a bit more than a year)?

My blog:
http://momochuunosekai.blogspot.fi/ 

(I'm sorry the two recent posts are only in Finnish, but the older posts are in English, too)

[Medusa]

Depends how was you gifted by nature
I'm 26 now, started low dose at 25 (4 months ago) an in face to face noone have any doubts, so it depends

[alice10]

Hormones affect you more and the results are better when you are younger but it just really depends on your genetics and bone structure. HRT will definitely help a lot.

I started 22.

[Rita]

I am going to say genetics be damned, I mean its not so much physically passing.  Hormones will help considerably if given the time but its all about attitude, voice, finding your style, hair.

Genetics will help you pass like hormones but I find them to be subtle unless paired with other tricks 

Passing doesn't mean look like a bombshell, it just means people recognize you as female for better or for worst.  But of course as a girl our goal is to be prettier than the person next to us 

[blueconstancy]

Heck, you're super cute now!

My wife started at 32, and the last time she was ever misgendered was 6 months later. Including going out in a baseball cap and guy's clothes, no makeup. (She started using the women's bathroom the day she was in guy drag and still got a double-take and funny looks in the men's, which was about 4 months in.) HRT can work wonders, and 24 is really NOT that old. ...says the person much older than that, heh.

[Annah]

there are way too many factors involved with this issue that you can't answer it based on that question alone.

I started HRT at the age of 34 and im doing fine and others my age says they still struggle. Likewise, I know 20 year olds who started HRT and doing fine and I know others at the same age who say they still struggle with it.

[Rita]

there are way too many factors involved with this issue that you can't answer it based on that question alone.

I started HRT at the age of 34 and im doing fine and others my age says they still struggle. Likewise, I know 20 year olds who started HRT and doing fine and I know others at the same age who say they still struggle with it.

34 my butt! I thought you were like 17 in your avatar

[Beverly]

I started at 49 and I 'pass' already. Other women treat me as female.

Your age should help, but maybe you are 7 feet tall and weigh 300lbs with hands like shovels.... that could be tricky.

Or maybe you are 5 feet tall and weigh 100lbs with small hands and delicate feature, in which case you might not need HRT.

Tell us more.

[Alainaluvsu]

I started a month before my 29th birthday. I pass, no question... to the point where ->-bleeped-<-s don't even know. It all depends on you, not the age.

[Rita]

I started a month before my 29th birthday. I pass, no question... to the point where ->-bleeped-<-s don't even know. It all depends on you, not the age.

Recalls your story about that one girl in the restaurant, if thats not passing I don't know what is 

[Annah]

34 my butt! I thought you were like 17 in your avatar

I was 37 in that pic thats my avatar

[Alainaluvsu]

Recalls your story about that one girl in the restaurant, if thats not passing I don't know what is 

The guy that was with me at the time still teases me about how lesbians hit on me more than men =/

I was 37 in that pic thats my avatar

You do look young though! In-the-20s young.

[Stephe]

I started HRT at 51.. As others said there are SO many other things that tip the scales, I put HRT in the lower 5% of importance.

[Tristan]

i think you will. im 26ish

[Patty_M]

So much depends on your bone structure and genetics.  As much as I would like to tell you that yes, you will but there is no way for me to make such a prediction.

All I can suggest is to see how you respond physically and emotionally to estrogen. 

For what its worth I went onto Premarin in September 1985 and within six months or so was passing very well. 

[MT22TG]

You already look great judging from your pictures and really have to look close to pick out your features with hormones i think you will pass just fine, although i already think your friends are right in saying that you do.

[JoanneB]

The biggest factor or advantage of starting HRT "Early" is that the effects of testosterone on a developing body is stopped dead in its tracks. At 24 that ship sailed long ago. All things passing after mid-late teens is pot luck or as they say around these parts, YMMV

HRT, for the most part, will not make you pass. Help, yes but that is all. Physical changes do take place, but like any sculpture, the end result was already in the stone. The biggest factor to passing is self-confidence, followed by voice and some sort of fashion sense so you can dress appropiately for your age and situation. THe mental or emotional effects of HRT can help a lot in many areas, including self confidence. Even at very low doses and no feminizing effects.

In my early 20's I didn't feel like I could ever pass. I tried and stop my transition experiments twice. Some 30 years later I had a bit of a meltdown when it dawned on me I actually do pass and most importanly I actually am accepted as a woman. (Which leads to the obvious Now What? question) The only physical thing that happened to me to help me pass was gravity winning and me shrinking an inch from my 6ft even height. The rest was finall gaining some self esteem and self confidence with some credit going towards low dose HRT, which didn't help this much in my 20's.

[~Amanda~]

Your age should help, but maybe you are 7 feet tall and weigh 300lbs with hands like shovels.... that could be tricky.

Or maybe you are 5 feet tall and weigh 100lbs with small hands and delicate feature, in which case you might not need HRT.

Tell us more.

Did you see my blog ?

Thank you for the comments, everyone!

[Beverly]

Did you see my blog ?

I did indeed see your blog and it made no sense to me. Sorry.....

[Kevin Peña]

Passing doesn't mean look like a bombshell, it just means people recognize you as female for better or for worst. 

Well, it does help. 

Anywho, I'd say that there is no need to worry at 24. I've seen people get excellent results at 30. Just don't focus too hard on looking like a super-model. As long as you look (and perhaps sound) remotely like a female normally does, people will see you as female.