Is age a big barrier for you when thinking of transitioning.

[roxie rudi]

Okay, I WILL become me and I WILL do so while taking my own exhortations to heart. I will be strong! I will be beautiful!

Thank you so very much for your encouragements girls and I love you for them,
big, big, big hugs,
Roxie.

[Missy D]

the thing is that the person in the media spotlight right now looks pretty fantastic for a person who's 65.

But then again her face is made of plastic and her hair isn't exactly real either. And I've seen the no make up pictures too - the effect is somewhat lessened without a few hours in the studio and an airbrush before the photos go to print. If I had millions of dollars to create a new appearance I'm sure I'd look even better  However I'm less than half her age. I still feel old to be starting this though.

[roxie rudi]

Would it be reasonable to assume that HRT coupled with FFS would allow for a passable face? I also take my health and fitness very seriously. In fact I'm off to the gym in 15 minutes to burn calories while simultaneously doing my best to avoid muscle building because I'm 46 and soon to commence HRT with a hope of being passable when I have transitioned.

[Lyndsey]

Hi All

I have to say that I started at 54 years old and have loved everything about it. If I started when I was younger My Dad would have killed me and even my Mother agrees with that. I had was tortured as a child for not being the stand up man that my father wanted. I have a twin sister and we are both small people I'm 5'-3" tall and 140lbs all my brothers are 6'4" and 220lbs and bald I am the oldest and have a full thick head of hair. I only wear size 8 women's shoes and my brothers are all in mens 14 shoes what the heck I'm the same size as all three of my sisters. I get called my sisters name all the time now as we do look a lot alike. So if you look at my time line I will post below you will see what Hormones can do at any age.

https://www.pinterest.com/burke1060/the-old-me-over-the-years/

Hugs
Lyndsey

[Lyndsey]

But then again her face is made of plastic and her hair isn't exactly real either. And I've seen the no make up pictures too - the effect is somewhat lessened without a few hours in the studio and an airbrush before the photos go to print. If I had millions of dollars to create a new appearance I'm sure I'd look even better  However I'm less than half her age. I still feel old to be starting this though.

Hey sweetie

I don't think that we should be beating her up as if I had her money I would have a lot done. Lets face it we all want to look our best. like I said before the young ones that are transitioning all the power to them.

Hug's and love it what we all need for all of us support all of us.It is a hard road as we all know.

Lyndsey Marie

[Maybebaby56]

No, not so much. My life unfolded as it did. I can't change it, and it does no good to look back.

Of course I wish I had the courage to transition when I was in my 20s, but it would have been much more difficult then, in terms of social awareness and medical support. Also, it took this long for me to (1) understand I am transgender, and (2) to find the courage - finally - to transition.  I was never in the transition-or-die club, but I got so tired obsessing every single day about being, or more precisely, not being female, that I finally decided to do something about it.

Terri

[roxie rudi]

Yes it drives one absolutely bonkers obsessing about being a woman when you have been born with a willy etc! And at 46 I wish that the awareness that now exists for trans guys and gals had existed for me when I was younger but seeing the beautiful youngsters that are blessed by contemporary understandings and medical knowledge I am finding that I must learn to be much, much more loving and forgiving. I will not be bitter, especially now that my life's redemption is in both reach and clear view. Instead I am happy for ALL those who find this escape from the mistaken bodies with which they have been born because I imagine it is a most beautiful freedom to know.

[RobynD]

It really hasn't been a barrier for me. In some sense, i have been transitioning 20+ yrs. The main thing is i now understand fully what i need to do and do it for me, and to do it for my loved ones, such to the extent that they deserve a whole and genuine me. As others have noted too, it really has saved my life from what likely would have been a spiral and early end.

My ability to meet others standards of femininity is pretty low on the priority scale. I want to look my best and at least like my own look. I am really starting to like looking in the mirror more and more. I did not hate the reflection before at all but the person i see staring back at me, finally seems like me and not some other person.

[roxie rudi]

Bye all, I'm off to the gym.

[kittenpower]

I wanted to find a way to transition when I was 27, but I was not able to due to my family situation. I had access to the Internet in 1998 when I was 35, and I found a therapist and began HRT, but due to my family, and my work situation (I worked with hazardous chemicals, and I was required to shower in an open locker room after work each day), I had to discontinue the treatment after 3 months, and I wasn't able to start HRT again until I was 39, and I didn't fully transition until a couple of months before my 44th birthday in 2007.

[Cindy]

I wanted to find a way to transition when I was 27, but I was not able to due to my family situation. I had access to the Internet in 1998 when I was 35, and I found a therapist and began HRT, but due to my family, and my work situation (I worked with hazardous chemicals, and I was required to shower in an open locker room after work each day), I had to discontinue the treatment after 3 months, and I wasn't able to start HRT again until I was 39, and I didn't fully transition until a couple of months before my 44th birthday in 2007.

Just a point. I gave a seminar on problems transgender people face in the workplace and shared the stage with the head of HR for Rio Tinto (Australia), who said that any transgender people working for them were supplied with access to their own lockers and showers. He also stated that any discrimination against transgender people was a dismissal offence.

The world is moving forwards! At least in places.

[Jessie Ann]

Like most transgender people I wish I had known back in the day what I know today.  Yes my life would be totally different but would it be better??  Depending on your situation there are some advantages to transitioning later in life.  I was able to have children, and they are the greatest joy of my life.  Sure I could have adopted but knowing that these people are a part of me is priceless.  I was able to establish a career in a field that is not gender exclusive working for a government agency.  I have job security and anti harassment laws in place to protect me at work.  If I were to lose my job for some reason, I have a vested pension that would allow me to retire today, at 54, with an income greater than the maximum Social Security benefit available. 

So with all of those things in mind my age was not a barrier but an advantage.  At my age I know I am not going to, nor do I have to, look like a model.  If I ever choose to go into the dating field (I currently have a wonderful girlfriend who has been supportive of my transition) I will be able to hold my own because I am a professional woman with a good salary who isn't going to be dependent on anyone for financial support.

Because of my age I was basically able to say, OK this is the situation, how do I handle it. 
It won't go away.  OK. 
It will get stronger as I age.  OK. 
Only real cure is death or transition.  OK 

I wasn't ready to die so I said "lets light this candle and see where this rocket will take us."
So far, as Jill F would say, it has been an "E" ticket ride.  I do not want to get off and I can't wait to see were else I am going to go.   

[stephaniec]

wow, I'm 64 and I thought  I looked like Greta Garbo , of course I do need to replace my glasses.

[Paige]

The WPATH conference in Amsterdam will be a game changer hitting biological causes. Bringing hard science forward that we will use against politicians.

Hi Cindy,

Can you expand on this a bit.  Is there a lot of new research that hasn't been made public yet?  It sounds very interesting.

Thanks,
Paige

[anjaq]

To me, age was scary. When I transitioned in 1998 there was little information, but I was desparate. I was 23 and was very much scared of getting 30 or older with testosterone and no estrogen changing my body. So I defeinitely wanted to do something sooner rather than later. But of course looking at how it is now - where people transition at 18, 15, 12 or as kids already - that certainly does make me envious too.
I think the later transitioners have some advantages over me or the younger ones - they can have a family and kids already, maybe they have a good job record and get better paid, maybe they already were able to save up enough capital to finance additional surgeries... I am now in my 40ies and have only now the financial stability that I could afford surgeries - at age 23 this was nothing more but a remote idea... of course if you are 12 when transitioning, you do not really need all of that money or surgeries...

[Karlie Ann]

I'm 45, and I am seriously considering it for next year.  Up to now, I've resisted it - I come from being a conservative Christian, married a Catholic, and spent years trying to live up to the Alpha male mystique.  When my wife walked out in August, I decided to see if this was for real and dressed full time at home except when I have my son for visitation.  It didn't go away - it confirmed who I am.  So yeah, my age sucks - testosterone has made my face masculine, my shoulders broad, etc.  I am terrified of being clocked if I transition.  But how can I deny who I am?  I long to be able to go out as my true self, and age or not, it's something I want and need, so will find a way.  About the only thing holding me back now is the fear that my wife will use it to take away the custody of my son from me, but my age is not a factor at all.

[Lyndsey]

Hi Karlie

Don't worry about your wife taking the kids away. I have seen this several times over the years and believe me there is not one judge that will do that as it would be discrimination against you and he could be removed from the bench. When I was a Fed this is the kind of things that I dealt with on a day to day basis. The Judge will not take that chance.
As for your age. I started at the age of 54 and I'm now 58 I feel wonderful. If you decide to do this and go on HRT the changes are amazing that can happen as you can see by my time line link I will leave for you. It is not and easy journey as people may think there is a lot of ups and down. Only you will know if it is for you. what ever you decide to do you have my Blessing. Feel free to PM me if you want. I'm always around. 

https://www.pinterest.com/burke1060/the-old-me-over-the-years/

Hug's
Lyndsey

[Lyndsey]

Hi All
In my opinion the latest age to start transition is when you are dead as in my opinion no age barrier. It is never to late to be happy!!

Hugs
Lynn