Susan's Place Transgender Resources

You know, those types of things that you can't seem to just come and and ask, or talk about with people IRL. Maybe it's because people don't know the real you, or you're not "out" like you want to be, or it's one of those things that wouldn't exactly be appropriate for mixed conversation.

I am actually full of awkward topics lol. And I don't have a large circle (maybe 2 people, tops) of folks to even discuss awkward things with.

So ... I'm gonna start out the awkward topics, but as this progresses I want to feel not-so-alone and all and I want you guys to throw your awkward topics in here as well and we can all discuss them in a not-so-awkward-cause-we're-not-sitting-together-having-tea kinda way.

The first awkward topic is . . . morning wood.

Seriously.

First off, I did not get the, er, short end of the stick shall we say in this department (born that way, didn't get it taking T, luck of the draw I guess). So it's kinda not ignorable. Second, I'm not actually horny (well, I would say maybe 95% of the time I'm not) when I wake up to discover I've been stricken with this affliction. Honestly if I can, I try to fall back asleep. Third, have you ever tried to piss while that's happening to you? Difficult. Fourth, I've actually had pajama pants malfunctions that were quite awkward upon waking up. I like pajama pants, I don't sleep naked, exposed parts = awkward. Fifth, I don't think I have a fifth point really. Anyway, it's awkward because it's not really something that comes up in normal conversation ... "Oh hey guess what I had this morning!" or "What do you do with your morning wood?" See what I mean? Awkward. I also actually don't know any other trans guys IRL so I have no one to ask if it happens to them too. I guess most people don't feel the need to talk about something like this... but then again, I've never been "most people". Eh, I'm a curious mofo so I wonder about stuff like this.

Well you don't have to be horny to get morning wood. In a normally functioning body, it should happen about every night for men AND women. It's just one of those things on your body's checklist of nighttime maintenance. That's also why men who think they have ED usually get monitored in their sleep first before getting a sure diagnosis. If they get wood in their sleep, they should be healthy and the ED is usually just psychological. If they don't, well I guess that becomes unfortunate in more ways than one  ::).

Trying to explain "why" I'm doing this is usually kind of awkward.

Because I want to get the point across, but it's difficult to do so without getting long-winded and boring them. If they ask, I will likely not be able to explain well. If they don't, and just continue to act confused about it, I can't explain because it's unwarranted.

And then there are a handful of things I just won't talk about.

Well if you're looking for other's opinions, I get them too, not wood per say, I don't have the equipment, but I often, almost every morning wake up with sex dreams. I hope I didn't go over board, and that this is what you're talking about. About having other people to talk to about this, I'm in the same boat.

@Meepit yeah I actually looked up the "why" too - maintenance type thing, happens during certain REM sleep, etc. But I wasn't too clear if it happened to the average girl in the same type of way or if it happened to transguys taking T.

@Silver You mean why you're transitioning?

@Hurtfulsplash I think everyone has sex dreams now and then. There's some really big, long term study (forgot where I saw it though) about sex dreams. It was interesting the data that was coming out of that one (no pun intended).

Yep yep. Hmm, don't tell people about my sexual dreams either but then I have no urge to.

Oh, I think I might've been unclear to the question then D: whoops.

I dunno if this is what you're after or if it'll just turn out to be random TMI, but I'm not on T and I do get random boners. They've happened since the start of high school and just happen out of the blue with no stimulation at all. Is that what you're talking about? You hear it often happening to cis-guys, but as for why it happens in this case I have no idea either  ???. Crap now I'm curious too  ::).

Quote from: Meepit on September 01, 2010, 02:14:55 AM
Oh, I think I might've been unclear to the question then D: whoops.

I dunno if this is what you're after or if it'll just turn out to be random TMI, but I'm not on T and I do get random boners. They've happened since the start of high school and just happen out of the blue with no stimulation at all. Is that what you're talking about? You hear it often happening to cis-guys, but as for why it happens in this case I have no idea either  ???. Crap now I'm curious too  ::).

No you got it ;)

Although now that you mention it, random boners could definitely be awkward. As far as I knew, those happened to younger cig-guys because of their hormones going all crazy during puberty. As they get older the random, during the day, boners stop happening. I haven't had a random daytime one in awhile. I think the last one I was just focused on particularly naughty thoughts for too long lol.

Quote from: insideontheoutside on September 01, 2010, 02:25:50 AM
No you got it ;)

Although now that you mention it, random boners could definitely be awkward. As far as I knew, those happened to younger cig-guys because of their hormones going all crazy during puberty. As they get older the random, during the day, boners stop happening. I haven't had a random daytime one in awhile. I think the last one I was just focused on particularly naughty thoughts for too long lol.

Well that solves it for me then  ;D. You're right, they don't happen too often anymore unless I'm really bored and my mind wanders to "certain" thoughts  ::). But since we're on this topic, I might just throw something in to make it a little more awkward for everyone. How long did they last? Like did you have to maintain them or did they just linger for a while? Cuz when I got random ones they lasted for a LONG time and seemed a bit more "out" (for lack of a better word) than the ones I'd get when my mind wanders.

Don't feel obligated to answer! Just awkwarding things up.

I've heard of guys getting them for no reason at all, no sexual thoughts involved. Just pops out, even after puberty.

Quote from: Meepit on September 01, 2010, 02:33:21 AM
But since we're on this topic, I might just throw something in to make it a little more awkward for everyone. How long did they last? Like did you have to maintain them or did they just linger for a while? Cuz when I got random ones they lasted for a LONG time and seemed a bit more "out" (for lack of a better word) than the ones I'd get when my mind wanders.

Don't feel obligated to answer! Just awkwarding things up.

LOL I think you're getting the hang of being awkward just fine Meepit!

I'm gonna have to go with "linger for a while" ... and "a while" varies. Come to think of it, it varies in the morning too. I guess if the theory that morning wood happens because you wake up right after a period of dreaming then if you wake up in the middle of a dream (which I often do) then they'd probably last a little longer than if you woke up after that phase of sleep was really over and things are going back to normal.

@Hurtfulsplash Yeah it can definitely happen. I once got one while I was getting a massage (no, not THAT kind of massage ... just on my back!) and I mentioned it to one of my friends and he said he could happen when you're just really relaxed. Odd.

Apparently you can get them when you're nervous as well. Spenny from "Kenny vs. Spenny" (a Canadian TV show) was teased about having one in the middle of a speech or something on stage in one episode. Maybe that just proves that they DO have a mind of their own.

Quote from: Meepit on September 01, 2010, 02:58:41 AM
Apparently you can get them when you're nervous as well. Spenny from "Kenny vs. Spenny" (a Canadian TV show) was teased about having one in the middle of a speech or something on stage in one episode. Maybe that just proves that they DO have a mind of their own.

Now THAT is a scary thought! Thankfully I have no had that experience (and I am prone to nervousness).

And on that note, I'm off to bed ... we'll see if I wake up AWKWARD!
;)

Quote from: Hurtfulsplash on September 01, 2010, 02:38:53 AM
I've heard of guys getting them for no reason at all, no sexual thoughts involved. Just pops out, even after puberty.

human males is very subliminal creatures so those random erections may be a response to either being full of sperm that needs emptying or because something in the previous minute or two perked the sex button - might be as simple as a whiff of scent or a glimpse of a sexy advert.  The researchers tell us that females are less easily perked but then there is the little matter of the ovaries releasing eggs that demand fertilising and the best way to get eggs fertisilised is to get sex.

Wow I must be a wee bit odd ball then I think heh. With me I don't really remember my dreams heh it's rare for me to remember what I dreamt. As for boners, it happens off and on, sometimes I may get one for no reason and I'm like oook what gives? Lolz. Other times it mainly happens when I find myself thinking dirty thoughts or when I'm messing with my bf of course :p well that last one is well bound to happen anyway lol. But waking up with one, don't happen often. Wow awkard lolz.

HEY I'VE GOT AN AWKWARD TOPIC FOR Y'ALL.
pubic hair. (on either type of genital area) what are your policies? do you shave/wax/trim/let it grow or what?

I"ve never experienced morning wood, but I've tried to piss while I'm hard and it does feel different although I'm pre op and obviously can't pee thru my dick yet. I don't know what causes morning wood, but I've never experienced it. I only get hard when I'm turned on.....so far. With the growth I've got so far I'm excited to see what happens as it gets bigger.

Heh I mainly trim if I can stand it I will shave it off idk it makes me feel cleaner. Triming and other things concerning that area I'm either iffy on or just uncomfortable about it.

@Matt Chase hee! manscaping!

I haven't really decided on my own personal policy on manscaping. I do find shaving to be a pain in the ass - and it's something you have to keep up once you start because stubble in that region is awful for a number of reasons! Waxing I've only tried once and either I wasn't doing it right or it really is that painful! lol Honestly I think the reason most guys shave/trim is to make things look larger lol. I generally am not a fan of tons of body hair. Luckily I don't have tons. I probably have about the same amount as a non-hairy (naturally) bio guy.

@zombiesarepeaceful I would imagine the bigger the more noticeable any type of wood is gonna be ;)

I am non op but calling it wood and whatever does help me out heh I guess that makes since. Anyway yea shaving does make one appear an inch bigger I should know cause my bf does it all the time lol. But what I find really annoying is getting a pimple down there, idk what causes it but it happens and I get agrevated and pop it *ouch*  Anyone else here get that?

Quote from: Raven on September 01, 2010, 06:47:13 PM
I am non op but calling it wood and whatever does help me out heh I guess that makes since.

Personally I consider anything that has erectile tissue (and can there for get hard) is wood ;)

True heh

Quote from: zombiesarepeaceful on September 01, 2010, 03:16:16 PM... I've tried to piss while I'm hard and it does feel different although I'm pre op and obviously can't pee thru my dick yet.

I get that too. Also the stream direction becomes unpredictable.

As for morning wood, one theory is that it happens because T levels are naturally higher in the morning- for everyone. Of course this will affect people with higher T levels more often.

Quote from: Kohitsu on September 02, 2010, 10:01:46 AM
Maybe I'm an odd one out, but I don't think I've ever experienced this "morning wood". I don't really /have/ anything down there. I'm pre/non op and mine is just really small, sometimes I have a hard time finding it... Morning wood? I didn't even know that was possible... This is discouraging. =(

Same here. I don't know mine's size actually, never really gone spelunking around that area :P Might be a thing that some people get, some don't. If you had the same problem and you were bio male might be a problem (especially having a hard time finding it...ha), but since we were born female it might be less common? Or maybe we're freaks D:

Quote from: Kohitsu on September 02, 2010, 10:01:46 AM
Maybe I'm an odd one out, but I don't think I've ever experienced this "morning wood". I don't really /have/ anything down there. I'm pre/non op and mine is just really small, sometimes I have a hard time finding it... Morning wood? I didn't even know that was possible... This is discouraging. =(

I think if you got the normal girl equipment it's not as noticeable. If you're on T (or if you happen to have Clitoromegaly) then it can look (to varying degrees) like a smaller penis and act very much the same as far as erections go.

I can't tell if I've ever had the morning wood issue.  But I have some rather, err, interesting dreams at times. 

Quote from: Matt Chase on September 01, 2010, 02:55:23 PM
HEY I'VE GOT AN AWKWARD TOPIC FOR Y'ALL.
pubic hair. (on either type of genital area) what are your policies? do you shave/wax/trim/let it grow or what?

Haha! This is a topic I actually like to ask people about. It makes everyone feel weird.  :laugh: Um for myself I just trim it down neatly. Shaving is a nightmare when you're a klutz... and the stubble isn't fun. Not even gonna try waxing. :/ For a lover I really don't care as long as it doesn't develop into a forest down there.

Quote from: Kohitsu on September 02, 2010, 10:01:46 AM
Maybe I'm an odd one out, but I don't think I've ever experienced this "morning wood". I don't really /have/ anything down there. I'm pre/non op and mine is just really small, sometimes I have a hard time finding it... Morning wood? I didn't even know that was possible... This is discouraging. =(

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you, Koh. No matter how dirty the dream, I never seem to have "morning wood" because my equipment is just uh... too tiny for me to notice? Kinda like what insideontheoutside said.

here's kind of an awkward topic in regards to sex dreams:

as long as i've had sex dreams (since the age of 13 or so?), i've always had male anatomy in them, and this is even long before i knew what "trans" was.  to this day, i still have male equipment in every single sex dream i have.  does anyone else experience this?

I get morning wood.  Mine's big enough to act like a small penis.

I've always wondered what other people do with their pubic hair too.  I trim mine so it's pretty short.  On a lover, I don't care as long as it doesn't get in the way too much.

About morningwood: I've never felt myself as being "hard" in the morning. I tend to get more moisture than feelings of throbbing or anything if I'm turned on. Getting aroused rarely happens for me. I've also been told that what I have is large for a person not on T (inch and a half?).

About pubic hair: I don't shave, wax, etc. I absolutely hate when I am sexual with somebody and there's no hair. I personally think it's gross to get all hair removed down there but I'm not going to push somebody to not shave.

With my friends they always seem to have awkward questions that I personally don't feel awkward about answering. It's more awkward getting them to just ask what they want to ask lol.

I am not sure it I am allowed to participate as a genetic male, but take it from me, you don't miss a lot from morning wood.

It doesn't happen often to me, but when it does it is undenieable. It is quite painful when you roll over in your sleep on an erect penis.  :embarrassed:
It also results in embarassing encounters with women when walking to the shower in the morning

Quote from: dudical on September 04, 2010, 06:28:21 PM
here's kind of an awkward topic in regards to sex dreams:

as long as i've had sex dreams (since the age of 13 or so?), i've always had male anatomy in them, and this is even long before i knew what "trans" was.  to this day, i still have male equipment in every single sex dream i have.  does anyone else experience this?

*raises hand* Yup, always been male in my dirty dreams even before I knew what trans was. I did have a strange series of dreams last night though.. One was naughty and I was male, while the second was a nightmare where my parents found out about me being trans and threw me out. :/ I was female in that one.

Quote from: Octavianus on September 05, 2010, 03:49:11 PM
I am not sure it I am allowed to participate as a genetic male, but take it from me, you don't miss a lot from morning wood.

It doesn't happen often to me, but when it does it is undenieable. It is quite painful when you roll over in your sleep on an erect penis.  :embarrassed:
It also results in embarassing encounters with women when walking to the shower in the morning

Wow dude, thanks for sharing. xD Never imagined what it would feel like to roll over like that.

Quote from: Nick on September 05, 2010, 04:05:21 PM
Wow dude, thanks for sharing. xD Never imagined what it would feel like to roll over like that.

No problem  :D
The closest thing to that feeling is when you make a fist and extend your thumb. Place the tip of your thumb on a table and press untill it starts to hurt. Now imagine the thumb has no bones.

Quote from: Octavianus on September 05, 2010, 04:20:47 PM
No problem  :D
The closest thing to that feeling is when you make a fist and extend your thumb. Place the tip of your thumb on a table and press untill it starts to hurt. Now imagine the thumb has no bones.

Interesting.  Sounds painful. 

And don't worry - genetic males are welcome here.   :)

I find public toilets awkward.

First there's a whole world of weird things that can occur in a public toilet. Then there's how people are perceiving you when you go into one. I can be read as male or female in a number of ways. I ducked into a women's toilet once and I didn't think anyone was in there and this old lady was and she said, "you shouldn't be in here". I've gotten weird looks going into the men's toilet as well. People having conversations while in the toilet seems really awkward to me. People making noises while they're in the toilet seems awkward. They're just awkward all around unless you get lucky and no one's in there!

I hate public toilets.  Actually, one thing I liked about living in San Francisco was that most of the public bathrooms in businesses are single-occupancy, often unisex.  That makes so much sense.  Why can't all public restrooms be single-occupancy and unisex?

The main observation I have of men's public toilets is there is A LOT more farting. I let em rip all the time now. Good fun!

Also has anyone seen that Beavis and Butt-head episode when they do a school assignment on the mystery of Morning Wood?  It's pretty funny.