do you think you would of transitioned prior to the use of hormones

[stephaniec]

It would be an incredibly though thing for me to do without the hormone. The hormones kind of give me the courage. I probably wouldn't be able to do it since there would be basically no change. HRT the wonder therapy

[Beth Andrea]

Slight conflict between title of thread and title of poll..."do you think you would transition..." -vs- "do you think you'd be able to transition."

No, I needed estrogen, whether or not it changed my body.  T was a poison.

I voted absolutely not, because without E I would've died by my own hand.

[Rejennyrated]

Yep I did. Twice actually.

First time (1964) doesnt count cos I was a little girl (about 4 years old)

Second time I was in my early twenties and having hit the buffers with the medics once before when in 1976 they had refused me puberty blockers, i decided I would take matter into my own hands and fullly transition before I even saw a doctor - thus making it very difficult for them to say no.

As it turned out I (cough cough) managed to get some hormones a bit sooner than I expected, but that's another story and not one I could condone in these more enlightened times when actually, compared to the dragons we faced in the 60's and 70's, todays doctors are FAR more reasonable. I eventually saw the doctors when I had already done a year, which had been fully documented, and thus on first visit collected not only hormones but also a refereral for surgery!

Back in the old days some doctors were sadistic to the point of disbelief taking great pleasure in making the patient cry, and taking them right to the edge of endurance... thankfully now things are much easier for you all, but back then having been bitten once I was in no mood to let them have a second chunk. Thankfully it worked too!

[kittenpower]

The whole point of transitioning for me, was to change my body to match my mind. And you can't really do that without HRT.

[stephaniec]

Slight conflict between title of thread and title of poll..."do you think you would transition..." -vs- "do you think you'd be able to transition."

No, I needed estrogen, whether or not it changed my body.  T was a poison.

I voted absolutely not, because without E I would've died by my own hand.

sorry

[Jen72]

While I have not even started HRT I feel that I could not transition without it for the following reasons.

1) Body hair and with HRT some feminization to at least start to change

2) Big one for me is that I feel it will tell me where I am going and realize it might not be the only indicator but I do feel it will be a strong one that will help me identify myself if that makes any sense.

[Mariah]

Did I yes, which I did do by a little over 2 months. However, my medical history is why I knew I had to whether it would have been successful without the hormones I don't know. Hugs
Mariah

[suzifrommd]

Definitely. When I first planned my transition, I decided I wanted it to be doctor-free, so I planned to transition without them.

Then a voice said, "Suzi, are you crazy?!? This is your one chance to get real breasts!"

Suzi, meet estradiol. Estradiol, meet Suzi.

[kelly_aus]

Given the sub-par results I've had from hormones, yeah, I could have done it and probably would have. But then, for me, my dysphoria was all in how I was presented to the world, how I was perceived by the world.. My body has never really been the issue - I'm a woman, therefore my body is that of a woman.

I'm a masculine looking woman, all the lack of hormones would have done is make me very slightly more masculine looking than I am now, so no huge change really.

[stephaniec]

Given the sub-par results I've had from hormones, yeah, I could have done it and probably would have. But then, for me, my dysphoria was all in how I was presented to the world, how I was perceived by the world.. My body has never really been the issue - I'm a woman, therefore my body is that of a woman.

I'm a masculine looking woman, all the lack of hormones would have done is make me very slightly more masculine looking than I am now, so no huge change really.

I think you look more feminine than your perception allows you to see. That picture in your home made dress was quite expressive of your femininity.

[RachelsMantra]

I'm starting to slowly transition and I'm pre-everything, haven't even started laser yet. But I think it's possible to feminize yourself enough through clothes, makeup, nail polish, hair, and jewelry that you can present a feminine appearance without HRT. Sure you won't necessarily look "passable" but you can still be pretty and well put together even if you don't pass. You can look clean and like you take care of yourself, that you've put some effort into your appearance and you didn't just throw on the first thing you found at the store, that you have some style that's fitting to your overall personality. I'm also fine with looking kind of androgynous . I think the key is being confident and carrying yourself in a way that says "Im fine with who I am". As Ru Paul says you gotta love yourself first.

[kelly_aus]

I think you look more feminine than your perception allows you to see. That picture in your home made dress was quite expressive of your femininity.

Thanks, but it also hides a few things, like my being flat chested and the lack of hips.. Or a butt.. Or much of a waist. It also hides the very male belly fat I have.

[Marly]

Aggressive, extensive and EXPENSIVE surgeries...or look like a very poor version of a RuPaul's drag racer? Sorry, it would not even have been option for me. And getting care? All but a few would most likely have been committed to an asylum. It was, unfortunately, viewed widely in society as a mental disorder.

[stephaniec]

Thanks, but it also hides a few things, like my being flat chested and the lack of hips.. Or a butt.. Or much of a waist. It also hides the very male belly fat I have.

I think talk of male belly fat should be a TOS violation my pics are always above the shoulders

[Beth Andrea]

sorry

No apology needed, Stephanie...you are *awesome* and I appreciate the pointed questions you've been posting lately!

*hugs*

[Beth Andrea]

I think talk of male belly fat should be a TOS violation my pics are always above the shoulders

Yeah! We could call it "Pseudo Pregnancy Presentation"---PPP--or some such.

[stephaniec]

thanks Susan's is an awesome place.

[Christine Eryn]

Transition without HRT would have been absolutely pointless for me.

[Lady Smith]

The only way I could have done it without hormones was if I castrated myself.  T was murdering my brain and I couldn't stand it anymore.  I actually did begin transition before I was prescribed HRT because once I knew for certain I wasn't male I jumped right into full time.

[SorchaC]

I seem to be a little confused about whether the question is fully transition all the way to surgeries or begin transition full time without any hormonal assistance.

I went full time without hormones but most definitely wanted them. My Psyche flat refused to help me at all until I was full time and had legally changed my name being as that was the policy for most if not all NHS Gender Clinics at the time. His one concession if you'd call it that was agreeing to let me see the center Speech Therapist who happened to be a Magistrate so was able to sign my Change of Name Deed making it all legal. Her first thought was to dissuade me from self prescribing which she succeeded at because she told me scary horror stories.

The question of if I would stop if they refused hormones was never asked but by the time they agreed to hormones I was 5 months full time and had concluded I'd done the right thing so I would not have stopped being me for anyone or anything at that point. I can't say that hormones have done that much for me except in my boobs but then we can all see the old us in the mirror until we do FFS.

Transition was about me not what others thought, Most still saw a man in womens clothes and happily let me know not usually politely but all I wanted was to be accepted by friends and to see a womans body in the mirror. Still missing out in the friends department but thanks to hormones and Dr Chett I almost have a body.

I wouldn't recommend people to transition without hormones with the knowledge I have now but if you put me back to 2007 and told me the only way you can do this is without hormones but I knew re the abuse and upset what was to come I'd still do it.

Hugs

Sorcha