HRT time is coming for me

[Delilah.Rhyan]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the site and I have seen some people discuss on of my big issues.

I want to start HRT, I'm 34 and my wife knows I am transgender and is all about me going with HRT.  However I am worried.  I am not ready to come out with this to everyone.  We were hoping to wait until I was about 40 but I want to start the process now.  I saw some posts about people who have been able to hide that they are on HRT for years and years. Many said good sports bras with compression tanks.  That should be easy enough for me especially in the north where it is cold most of the year.  Even in the summer I think that should be fine.

What other concerns should I have for hiding?  I am already feeling so liberated being able to talk and go through this with my wife. I can't wait to start HRT and start to feel even better.  I have a haircut that is buzzed on the sides but longer on top, down to my ears depending on which side I comb it.  It isn't that unlike some feminine cuts depending on how I style it.  I'm pretty much always clean or almost clean shaven so that part wouldn't change. 

I am a little worried about boobs because the women on my side of the family are decently well endowed, I'm pretty sure my sister and mom are at least C cups.  However, I am a bit of a bigger guy. I'm 6 feet tall, I played baseball in college and lifted quite a bit, now I have the dad body with more of a gut than I like (which is slowly going away) and slight man boobs.  So I'm not sure I would have to worry too much. 

Are there any of tips and tricks I should keep in mind?  I'm just not going to be ready for my few close friends and family to know for awhile, but I'm also so ready to let myself be me whenever I can.

[Northern Star Girl]

@Delilah.Rhyan

Hmmm, hiding the girls!!!  Lots of loose fitting layers... large T-shirt.... large patterned shirts with vest/chest pockets do a great job of hiding the developing girls.  Very fortunately in the winter time you can wear heavy flannel shirts and perhaps a vest.  A soft cotton sports bra or T-shirt bra will help if your girls are large but hiding the bra and straps can be a problem with some clothing options.
Color combinations can cause problems too....   black bras under light colored clothing or white bras under thinner and lighter shirts....   and lace adorned bras.... all of those things are a no/no.

Lots of posts on various threads around the forums have to do with initially hiding your transition body changes.  I would suggest that you take some time to read the various postings that deal with early transition issues.

Thank you for feeling free to share.
Hugs and well wishes to you.
Danielle

[AnneK]

HRT time is also coming soon for me.  I also plan as presenting as a male for a while.  I'm also wondering about breast size, as I'm already an A cup, without hormones.

[Linde]

I am 6' tall and have B cup breasts.  I am intersex and gender fluid, and depending of the situation I go as a guy, but most of the time I am woman.  If  used a tight fitting sports bra, and loose fitting shirts, specifically those with breast pockets, I can still hide my boobs pretty well, and I can wear such an outfit all day long. 
The only thing you have to be aware of, is the fact that estrogen tends to feminize your face (different fat deposition), with some people earlier, others are later.
I think that I would have difficulties to hide my breasts once they would be a C cup, unless I would wear a wide sweatshirt.
Again mileage on estrogen varies, some people never get ny real breast development, others have their breasts growing pretty fast and larger big.  I seem to be in he middle field, and can feel the growing pain, but not see much advancement over what I have currently.

And that is another thing, once your breasts start to grow, they get so sensitive against touch, and hurt badly when touched hat yo better learn to watch out for the girls if you don't want to be in constant pain.  I found that a padded bra woks best for keeping the pain down to a minimum!

[maybesoph]

Wife only been on hrt for 5 months but hiding the twins is getting harder, I'm approaching a B cup now and the only way I can hide them is layers. Normally a t shirt with a loose checked short over the top.
However I thought I'd have a lot more time, as planned as well to remain in boy mode a lot longer, but my skin has changed so much people are starting to ask awkward questions.

So i'd say be prepared and do a lot of homework, can't see hiding for years working too well.

Wish you the best of luck starting thos amazing journey x

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Northern Star Girl]

HRT time is also coming soon for me.  I also plan as presenting as a male for a while.  I'm also wondering about breast size, as I'm already an A cup, without hormones.

@AnneK
Generally for many MTF transitioners just starting on HRT...  in 1 - 2 months the breasts may become sore, puffy and enlarged slightly, lump under nipples (breast buds), and erect and sore nipples much of the time.  At the 3 - 5 month point in HRT most will see definite breast growth along with other body changes starting to happen.

Be advised however that every body is different and depending on your genes and how your unique body reacts to HRT, your results will most likely not be the same as others that you read about.   As we say here on the forums regarding HRT....   YMMV...  meaning "Your Mileage May Vary"

Not a lot happens very quickly with HRT, Patience is required, but changes will happen.
For some, changes will happen more quickly and more significantly, and for others the changes will happen more slowly and not as significantly.......   YMMV !!!!!

There are a lot of postings here on the Forums that will be of interest to you and others that are starting with their HRT regimen.

Hugs and well wishes, 
Danielle

[Delilah.Rhyan]

So I'm starting to worry a little bit, because I kind of want to keep some stuff hidden, especially at work for about 6 years.  I'm having a hard time finding other women who have done that in the forums. I've found many more who just said they couldn't do it.  I want to start as soon as I can, my therapist was saying I should be able to this spring or summer.  My wife is all for it, I'm so lucky, she is so encouraging.  We have plans, hide until I'm about 40 and then come out when what I'm doing at work should have taken off and I won't be the public face and instead I will have others doing that. Plan B would be if my changes are so drastic that I'm outed then tell people and hope it is decently accepted. I would probably still have to change jobs.  Plan C would be if I'm outed, people don't accept then we move to either Boston, Chicago, or Seattle where we have other family that is very open.  We have 2 young children 6 and 2 but we have considered this move regardless of my transition as well. 
I know a lot of you have gone through this, I'm just so scared, as I'm sure many of you were.  I wish I didn't care so much what people thought. I just want to be me.

[Linde]

Delilah.
Most of us have gone a similar path.  Concerning hiding for 6 month.  I have B cup size breasts, and I can still hide them under a heavier shirt, specifically if the shirt has breast pockets.  Hiding with a sweatshirt on is no problem at all.  You could also wear a binder, and hide you breasts almost fully.

[Delilah.Rhyan]

Delilah.
Most of us have gone a similar path.  Concerning hiding for 6 month.  I have B cup size breasts, and I can still hide them under a heavier shirt, specifically if the shirt has breast pockets.  Hiding with a sweatshirt on is no problem at all.  You could also wear a binder, and hide you breasts almost fully.

Thank you, conversations with my wife tonight and this comment make me feel a little better.  I guess I'm hoping for a little guidance once this gets going.  I know that my therapist wants me and my wife to go to some groups.  Then there is meetings with new doctors.  That stuff doesn't bother me. 

A little more background into me, I'm a former high school special education teacher, I loved that job.  Then one of my best friends convinced me to work for him for his non-profit.  I absolutely love this work and it didn't take much convincing, although I do miss teaching.  But my job does cause me to be a face of the company in a way because I am often a first contact.  The goal is that in 5-6 years I will no longer be doing that but instead will be instructing others in that role. So I'm more okay to be out at that time.

I am worried about boobs outing me currently.  I'm not planning on electrolysis of my face at the moment, more worried about body hair because I hate it so much, makes my feel dirty and gross and makes me feel depressed. I'm also going to keep my current hair cut, and I have plans to buy a nice wig for when my wife and I have go out as a lesbian couple. Again I have an amazing wife who keeps telling me that is okay to do this.

So I guess my biggest concern is how to hide the boobs.  I know my face will change but I'm less worried about that.  I'm worried about my boobs getting to big.  I have seen lycra sports bra under mens compression shirt.  How flat does that make you?  I do usually wear a mens "wife beater" (hate that term) under my shirts so the appearance of shoulder strap material should surprise no one. W

What I am wondering is what do people consider baggy clothing?  I often see the wear lyrca sports bra, mens compression shirt under baggy shirts. I'm in Milwaukee, Wisconisin so I'm only concerning about summers.  Do long sleeve button ups qualify?  I can easily wear those since I currently do.  What baggy shirts are people suggesting?  I guess I'm looking for a little more specifics because I will go out a buy a bunch.

Honestly thank you, please give my more specifics than I have found in the forums so far.  I so want to be me and this would help so much.

[Delilah.Rhyan]

Delilah.
Most of us have gone a similar path.  Concerning hiding for 6 month.  I have B cup size breasts, and I can still hide them under a heavier shirt, specifically if the shirt has breast pockets.  Hiding with a sweatshirt on is no problem at all.  You could also wear a binder, and hide you breasts almost fully.

Also this helps a lot, thank you.  I really hope to get to a B cup. When you say a shirt with breast pockets are you talking about a long sleave button down or something else?

[Linde]

Also this helps a lot, thank you.  I really hope to get to a B cup. When you say a shirt with breast pockets are you talking about a long sleave button down or something else?

I see that you are living in God's own Country (Wisconsin welcomes you).  I was one of the Wisconsinites until I moved last year to Florida (the no more cold feet thing).  If I wear a jeans type shirt, no matter whether with long or short sleeves, the material is generally thick enough to cover my girls (I wear a tight fitting sports bra underneath, it gives you kind of a unibboob).  If I cover the sports bra first with a undershirt, I can wear almost any loose fitting shirt on top, and i just look like a big chested guy.  It helps for my case that i am 6' tall, and a bigger chest seems to be more natural.

Depending how estrogen works for you, your facial changes might be quite big in the way of feminizing your face, but you could always grow out your beard, and cover those changes and look even more manly.

[Delilah.Rhyan]

I see that you are living in God's own Country (Wisconsin welcomes you).  I was one of the Wisconsinites until I moved last year to Florida (the no more cold feet thing).  If I wear a jeans type shirt, no matter whether with long or short sleeves, the material is generally thick enough to cover my girls (I wear a tight fitting sports bra underneath, it gives you kind of a unibboob).  If I cover the sports bra first with a undershirt, I can wear almost any loose fitting shirt on top, and i just look like a big chested guy.  It helps for my case that i am 6' tall, and a bigger chest seems to be more natural.

Depending how estrogen works for you, your facial changes might be quite big in the way of feminizing your face, but you could always grow out your beard, and cover those changes and look even more manly.

I do enjoy Wisconsin except for January most years. I am also 6 foot tall so I'm hoping I can hide as long as I want. I know estrogen may decide that isn't my story but I would rather that then not starting HRT. My wife and I have laid down so many plans for this, I think we are ready. Plus at her hospital there is a gender clinix that I may be able to work at if things at my job go south. So I'm feeling at peace. I don't know if I really have ever felt this good before.

[Linde]

I do enjoy Wisconsin except for January most years. I am also 6 foot tall so I'm hoping I can hide as long as I want. I know estrogen may decide that isn't my story but I would rather that then not starting HRT. My wife and I have laid down so many plans for this, I think we are ready. Plus at her hospital there is a gender clinix that I may be able to work at if things at my job go south. So I'm feeling at peace. I don't know if I really have ever felt this good before.

Well, I wish you lots of luck for your journey!