I keep thinking 23 is too late to transition.

[Annaiyah]

Mmy biggest regret is not transitioning during my early childhood because i didn't know how my mom would've taken me wanting to be a girl.

But here i am now still afraid to take that first big step to free myself (scheduling the appointment at the Mazzoni Center). I an going to start HRT later this year one way or another but i can't help the thought in the back of my mind that 23 is a little late to transition. I know people a lot older than me transition at a later age but the younger you start the better.

I just utterly hate that I'll never be able to have a female pelvic bone and breasts without implants whereas i could've had those things had i started prepuberty. Ugh.

[Ms Grace]

Chances are you wouldn't have been put on estrogen until late adolescence as that seems to be the practice at the moment. Blockers yes, hormone replacement no. Even more likely to be the case ten years ago. Yes, you are not too old (gosh others start at more than twice your age (like me!))...don't hold off any longer or you'll be wondering if you're too old at 30 (again, no).

[Miss_Bungle1991]

23?!

Oh, you will be fine.

I didn't begin my transition until I was 30. Don't worry about it.

[FalseHybridPrincess]

Exactly , even If you had the courage to come out lets say on 14 they wouldnt give you hormones,,,
"too young to know" theyd say...

cases in which kids take hormones on 12 are extremely rare...

so the youngest you d be able to start is 16/17 which is rare too...
and by that age you wouldnt have been different than you are now...

my bro is 17 im 19 and he is waaay more masculine than me...
genetics play role...

you shouldnt give up you are still young

[LordKAT]

Many of us started at a much later age and turned out fine. What you have is wishful thinking which will get you nowhere.

[Apples Mk.II]

Yeah, and I keep hitting my head for not having started ten years earlier at 20. When you know, you know. And at that time, there was not that much information or a social security service to treat it.

[Hayley]

Felt the same way before I started to transition. 23 isn't to old. You will have female breast and a female pelvic bone because you are a young woman. Might not be the "hourglass" look but let's be honest that is rarer then people make it out to be. Everyone is shaped differently. I'm sure a lot of us wish we could've started earlier in life no matter when we start. Don't be afraid of being who you are and who you need to be. Life is too short to be afraid, take the first step and every one after that is easier than the last.

[Boca.Lisa]

I need to jump in here and i'll probably be the buzz kill everyone hates.

IF YOU CAN GO TROUGH LIFE AND NOT TRANSITION, THEN DONT!!!!

I was in my mid 40's when I started. i was never strong enough to do it when younger but one day i just couldn't do it any more. I knew I might lose everything, become the circus freak and never fit in. It didnt matter.

My point is this, if you can live as you are then do nothing but if you must do it, age does not matter because once you are yourself the concept of "passing" goes away.

One last comment, even the movie stars get pictures photoshopped. Almost impossible to have one of those bodies or faces for real....

[Danielle Emmalee]

IF YOU CAN GO TROUGH LIFE AND NOT TRANSITION, THEN DONT!!!!

Why is that?

[Miss_Bungle1991]

I need to jump in here and i'll probably be the buzz kill everyone hates.

IF YOU CAN GO TROUGH LIFE AND NOT TRANSITION, THEN DONT!!

I don't see it as being a buzzkill at all. I've seen this repeated on this forum many times in the several years that I have been here. Hell, it is certainly a lot cheaper, that's for sure.

But for some people that just isn't the case.

However, I applaud anyone that can get through all of this and not have to do it. It's a pretty gutsy move. So is transitioning, but it's really just two sides of the same coin: Heads you do it, Tails you don't.

[Danielle Emmalee]

I'm fairly certain I can go through life without transitioning.  I won't be happy.  But being happy doesn't mean life or death.

[Ms Grace]

I don't see it as being a buzzkill at all. I've seen this repeated on this forum many times in the several years that I have been here. Hell, it is certainly a lot cheaper, that's for sure.

But for some people that just isn't the case.

However, I applaud anyone that can get through all of this and not have to do it. It's a pretty gutsy move. So is transitioning, but it's really just two sides of the same coin: Heads you do it, Tails you don't.

Yes, I thought I could go through life without transitioning...turns out no I couldn't!

[Miss_Bungle1991]

I'm fairly certain I can go through life without transitioning.  I won't be happy.  But being happy doesn't mean life or death.

I couldn't do it. Plus, the idea of living my life being miserable would just fuel my desire to end it. Hell, what's the point of living if you are miserable all of the time?

I can't wrap my head around that idea.

Yes, I thought I could go through life without transitioning...turns out no I couldn't!

Same here.

I'm glad that I did and I don't regret it.

[Boca.Lisa]

I always thought I could cope. I did the classic over compensation US Marines, Football, Weight Lifting, Marriage, Kids....always just "chased it away" until one day I couldn't hide any more. Transitioning cost me my relationship with my children, my job and hurt many people I loved. If I could have spared those people the pain I would have....I couldn't.   

[FalseHybridPrincess]

Its not that we are not going to be happy if dont transition though...
Its that we are going to be extremely sad ...

I couldnt stand being sad forever...

Remeber that if dysphoria is something that makes you sad every moment, it wont go away, never...
so better transition than live a fake sad life...

I guess

[ZoeM]

I started at 23... It hasn't been perfect by any means (I'm still 5'11", for a start) but I would be highly surprised if your age was a prime determinant for hip and breast growth. (Speaking as a girl blessed with rather nice measurements in both areas 14 months in)

That said... Don't start transition for a desired end result of physical beauty. So many times it just won't happen, and even when it does the stress of maintaining stealth can lead to disappointment and unhappiness.

Transition to be someone; not to be something. Anything less is courting disaster.

[Michelle123]

23?  Count yourself among the lucky.

[FilaFord]

Chances are you wouldn't have been put on estrogen until late adolescence as that seems to be the practice at the moment. Blockers yes, hormone replacement no. Even more likely to be the case ten years ago. Yes, you are not too old (gosh others start at more than twice your age (like me!))...don't hold off any longer or you'll be wondering if you're too old at 30 (again, no).

What!? You are over 46?

*wipes eyes*

I don't believe you. I hope I look that good in my 40s!

[Nicolette]

Yes, I thought I could go through life without transitioning...turns out no I couldn't!

Yes, it seems you can only be certain you can go without transition once you're 6' under!

[amZo]

Mmy biggest regret is not transitioning during my early childhood because i didn't know how my mom would've taken me wanting to be a girl.

But here i am now still afraid to take that first big step to free myself (scheduling the appointment at the Mazzoni Center). I an going to start HRT later this year one way or another but i can't help the thought in the back of my mind that 23 is a little late to transition. I know people a lot older than me transition at a later age but the younger you start the better.

I just utterly hate that I'll never be able to have a female pelvic bone and breasts without implants whereas i could've had those things had i started prepuberty. Ugh.

Seems like a pretty common regret.