I have been on hormones now for about 5 weeks and I can almost fill a size "A" bra. I was not flat-chested when I started, which is why I'm at this point already. I was just wondering at what point should I start wearing a bra. I am always nervous about people I am not out to noticing my new "developments" and if anything, I think it makes me appear a little fat. I guess I'm just curious at what point other transsexuals started wearing a bra.
Melissa
When nipples start to show thru clothes or when the bouncing becomes obvious - never liked bras myself ::)
I have more than just nipples showing through my clothing. I decided to try a sports bra today and now I look more like I did before HRT.
Melissa
http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/jacob.html
hey there Melissa.
As Jane said :) But if you feel the need to wear one then wear one. You obviously don't need a bra for support at the moment but if it's coverage you need then go for it. As you aren't full time yet you need to be careful that the bra itself doesn't show through, but you probably know that :)
Steph
Thanks. I just realized how ironic it is that I'm now wearing a bra so that my body appears more male to my co-workers. Anyhow, it's a white sports bra and if anyone sees the strap, I can say it's an undershirt.
Melissa
You could also ask them why they care... *wink*
(Your undergarments are none of their business, I think.)
The first time I really knew that I should start wearing a bra was when one of my co workers noticed me and she said that I had better start looking for a bra. I was out to her at the time and I wasn't out to too many people. I asked her if I had shown that much and she gave me this wink and said difinately. So, my wife and I went out looking that weekend for a bra. I remember it was a 42 A, what a size. I have lost some weight since then, but I have a big chest cavity, now I wear a 38 B and I'm still sore and my doctor said I'm still growing. She told me I could end up with a C cup.
I heard that wearing a sports bra will actually compress the breasts. Is that what you want?
Sheila
Actually the sports bra made my breast hurt, so I switched over to wearing a camisole. It's a lot more comfortable. Yes, I did not want to enhance my bust at work, as I am out to only a couple of people and am presenting as male. However, if I am presenting as female, then I will wear a regular bra.
Melissa
*nods twice* Yea, generally speaking a sports bra isn't what you want to wear all of the time, I'd think just for work though might erm, work well. Regardless though, I am loving my cami *wink* (=
I just got a new Cami last night and so far, it is much more comfortable than the sports bra and it seems to work just as well. It's funny, it almost feels that were like sisters Kimberly. I think your only a couple years older than me and about 5 months ahead of me on HRT. Plus we both program computers.
Melissa
So funny, a few weeks ago I went to buy some female clothes, pants and shirts.
Well I asked the salesclerk is she believed I alreayd needed a bra, she told me that yes.
Then I asked if her could choose some for me, it was nice. So now Im wearing 38B bras and guess what, I DO need them >.<
So hmm, its funny I now had to wear one all the time, cuz I need it.
(<sigh> -- late to the party...again)
FWIW, I remember a similar question to Ann Landers or her sister, or perhaps Miss Manners. A mother was asking when for her daughter wearing a bra was pretty much no longer an option.
The answer?
When you can place a pencil underneath a breast and it stays there without falling.
BTW, this is a really good news-you-can-use topic! I'm starting to ask the same questions. ;)
Haz
Thanks Haz. That's a much more definitive answer.
Melissa
You're welcome, Melissa;
And, I spent a lot of time researching bra sizing. My conclusion? Nothing works better than tryin' 'em on. Most of the charts seem to be off -- some wa-a-a-y off (no WAY I'm a 44A! :o )
This one, though, comes closest;
http://www.85b.org/bra_calc.php (http://www.85b.org/bra_calc.php)
Is it right? I don't think so. But it uses two chest measurements rather than one to determine your band size. I think it'll get you in the ballpark. After that you can go up or down a band size/cup size to find your TRUE size (at least for THAT brand of bra ;) )
Quote from: Hazumu on March 11, 2006, 10:10:34 AM
(<sigh> -- late to the party...again)
FWIW, I remember a similar question to Ann Landers or her sister, or perhaps Miss Manners. A mother was asking when for her daughter wearing a bra was pretty much no longer an option.
The answer?
When you can place a pencil underneath a breast and it stays there without falling.
BTW, this is a really good news-you-can-use topic! I'm starting to ask the same questions. ;)
Haz
Ah yes, the pencil test... :)
Steph
I never hear of a cami before so had to look it up.
Here's Wikipedia's Def:
QuoteA cami or camisole is a woman's undergarment which covers the top part of the body. It is sleeveless and tight fitting in contrast to a loose-fitting babydoll or chemise. The materials of choice in which they are manufactured are satin or silk.
A camisole can be worn over a brassiere or without one. Some camisoles come with a built-in underwire bra which eliminates the need for a bra. In modern times, the camisole has been transformed from simply being an undergarment to outerwear, with the fabric changing more into cotton based materials.
Some wearers shy away from the outerwear camisole because they fear their bra straps will be exposed, though of late several celebrities are indicating that it is fashionable to do so.
So Melissa is your silk, satin or cotton? I'd sure like to try one.
:)
Jillieann
Quote from: Hazumu on March 11, 2006, 10:10:34 AMWhen you can place a pencil underneath a breast and it stays there without falling.
I guess that would apply to a can of soda pop to? :o I used to put deodorant under my arms - when I had to start putting it under my boobs I figured it was time to start wearing a bra regularly. In another 10 years I'd be able to stick my nipple in my navel ;D Yes, getting old as a woman is a fight against gravity!
Quote from: Jillieann on March 11, 2006, 07:49:05 PM
So Melissa is your silk, satin or cotton? I'd sure like to try one.
Satin. My wife actually picked it out for me. It's just to cover my boobs at work so nobody sees anything, because I'm not out there yet. I wore a regular bra today to my support group along with a T-shirt and people were surprised how much growth I had for the short time I'm been on hormones (since Feb 1). Of course, not having a huge chest does help. It's definitely interesting having breasts now, especially since they've increased in sensitivity. I have worn prosthetics before, but of course touching resulted in no feeling. Now I touch my real ones sticking out and I feel it. I hope I can grow to at least a B-Cup, which at the current rate they're growing is entirely possible. At the moment, they are just a little short of filling my A-Cup bra.
Melissa
Quote from: Melissa on March 08, 2006, 09:33:46 AM
I have been on hormones now for about 5 weeks and I can almost fill a size "A" bra. I was not flat-chested when I started, which is why I'm at this point already.
Some call it Gynecomastia, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolescent_gynecomastia) I call it a head start... :eusa_dance:
Haz
Posted at: March 12, 2006, 10:08:23 AM
Found this researching gynecomastia -- a store that sells 'compression clothing' for men and women.
They carry a line of undershirts (http://www.underworks.com/products.html#998) that supposedly flatten the 'male physique' if it happens to bulge 'in the wrong places.' Perhaps if you're looking to put off for a bit longer confronting coworkers/friends/family with what's developing...
Haz
Well, the Cami I have is working fine for now. When I wear it, you really can't tell that anything is different. In fact, it looks flatter than before I started HRT. If people start noticing anyway, then that's fine. However, with my timetable of how I want to do things, I only need to hide it for another month or 2, then I don't care. If I got one of those compression tops, my guess is that it would probably hurt. Man boobs are not sensitive and they don't get sore as easily, hence the reason it would work for that.
Melissa
Thanks for mentioning cami's. I did a bit of web research and found
http://www.shadeclothing.com/Camisole.aspx (http://www.shadeclothing.com/Camisole.aspx)
Shade Clothing specializes in, erm, 'modesty enhancing' clothing accessories for those women who, for various reasons (religion comes to mind) don't want to show midriff or clevage but still want to dress like other young women in jeans, bigshirts, etc.
The above cami is high, long and very formfitting (thanks to spandex).
Karen
just to add a possibly helpful note: playtex now has bras in "half sizes" EG: nb, for nearly b.
Someone in a previous post talked about the pencil test. I wear a 38B right now but I tried the pencil test and the pencil doesn't stay there. My breasts don't sag, yet. My wife said that give it a few years and they will. She said what does it for most women is when they get pregnant. They start sagging from then on. She said that eventually I will get the sagging part. My doctor told me that mine were very firm. It must be from all those bench presses I did early on in life.
Sheila
Ok, this is getting scary (not literally). My breasts keep getting bigger ::) and are now pretty sore most of the time. The camisole I have now makes them hurt, but if I don't wear it, they are pretty noticable and if I wear a real bra, they are very noticable. This is even the case for wearing loose shirts. Maybe I'll just have to bite the bullet, not wear a bra or camisole and let them be noticable. Don't get me wrong; I love having breasts. I just hate hiding them. At the rate I'm going, I may end up going full time sooner than I had originally anticipated. Not to mention that the gender dysphoria is catching up again and I start wishing this whole thing could go so much faster. I need to get rid of my facial hair first though.
Melissa
Quote from: jan c on March 22, 2006, 11:53:31 AM
just to add a possibly helpful note: playtex now has bras in "half sizes" EG: nb, for nearly b.
is na not applicable? ;D
Quote from: beth on March 22, 2006, 01:51:17 PM
is na not applicable? ;D
Makes sense to me.
Melissa
Posted at: March 22, 2006, 12:30:40 PM
Ok, I just made a mental decision. I am tired of hiding this. I am going to dress androgynous and I don't care about hiding my breasts. My Dad knows I am looking for another job and as far as I know, has no idea I'm on HRT. I am having trouble functioning mentally. I keep having anxiety about how long I will need to keep hiding myself, plus the breast ache from the camisole is a constant reminder that I am going against my own grain with hiding this. Sometimes I just want to break down and cry. :icon_tears: I think the stress from this has been causing to to feel unwell lately. I've had to leave early the last 2 workdays plus I stayed home all day on monday. I'm sorry for this rant, but I just needed to get this out in the open. I feel like hiding this is making me go crazy :icon_crazy:. I just can't stand this anymore. My patience has worn thin. I don't know how anybody waits so long before they can go fulltime. Maybe I'm just not getting out enough as female in the evening. I don't know. I hate living as male. Maybe it's my medicine that's making me be so impatient. I don't know. It's really hard to say. I think it is my medicine. I hope it stops. Maybe I'd better call the doctor.
Melissa
Hey there Melissa.
It's not usual for your meds to affect you that way but not impossible. If it gets too much to handle though I would definitely see the doctor. However I think that you are experiencing what we all have until we went full time. You are sort of stuck in limbo right now with parts of you starting to sprout but you are still taken for a male. Going androgynous is a good solution. I did that before I went full time and I found that it helped a great deal. While cloths do not make the woman they go along way at easing the tension that transsexuals find themselves confronting, along with the constant switching back and forth. Like you it drove me crazy. However the only real relief is when you finally go full time and you can be the person you are.
Steph
Thanks Steph. I was having a reaction to the antidepressant I was taking. I was on one antidepressant last week and after having a manic episode, I switched over to a different one last Saturday. I was having another episode albeit less severe when I was typing that last message. I called my doctor and she wanted me to discontinue. I now need to talk to my therapist (also a psychologist) about the possibility of having bipolar disorder.
I do normally go for the androgynous look on weekends, but I might start doing that at work as well. Actually, when I have had to work on weekends, I have gone in wearing some andro girl clothes and nobody seemed to bat an eye including my parents.
I still do feel like I'm going crazy inside, but I think my medication made it more amplified and made me more verbal about it. After re-reading it however, it did make sense. I may still start dressing androgynous, but I'll be a little more prudent about it.
Melissa
Posted at: March 22, 2006, 08:07:00 PM
Well, I didn't wear anything today. I'm such a rebel ;) The thing is that my male shirts are ALL loose on me because I used to weigh more, so my boobs don't show up that well anyway unless you're looking for them. I did this diet thing about a year ago and I've pretty much kept the weight off since. I am now getting smaller due to hormones (muscle mass I think). Anyway, since I am not motivated whatsoever to buy more male clothes ever again, I am just wearing the big stuff. I may get some androgynous shirts though and wear those. The problem is when I go shopping it's hard not to buy the cute stuff.
Melissa
hey Melissa - it has been my experience that one be very careful about accepting a "bipolar disorder" diagnosis. The treatment is often worse than the condition. EG: drugs like Depakote, for one example, will make a person very sick. What I am trying to say is it may be better to take life with its ups and downs, mood swings etc, than be entirely without affect, which is what these drugs are designed to make happen. A truly manic person does things completely out of control and is a danger to self; EG: i got a little hyper for awhile and ended up on medication that utterly zombified me. My niece was on lithium for years; after her mom died, she got a little weird, now, fortunately is back to the ranks of the living after getting off that stuff. Unless you are, for instance getting on jets, flying around the world on your credit card, or ready to go out on a spree shooting the world up, be very careful about thinking you are 'manic'. I ended up 'manic' after taking antidepressants for depression (you know what that problem really was) - i did not exist for a time after that. These are dangerous drugs, sweetie, poison. Caveat emptor.
Thanks Jan. I may just live a life of ups and downs. Right now I feel pretty good and I'd like to always feel this good. No depression today and I'm not hyper. I feel normal and like that feeling. It makes GID much easier to deal with. The other side is that HRT may be helping my mood. It may have just been taking a while to kick in. I may not need to do anything at all. The reason I sought treatment in the first place was because I was getting suicidal from my depression and almost tried to kill myself a couple weeks ago. I went to the doctor to treat my depression and started having a bad reaction to antidepressants. Years ago, I was put on antidepressants and I had forgotten why I went off of them...until my recent experiences. I just can't take antidepressants. Being zombified also does not sound like much fun. So hopefully I am far enough along in my hormones where I won't feel suicidal anymore.
Melissa
glad to hear it Melissa. "Ah got mah ups an downs", like Otis Elevator, sure beats the other, which is no feelings at all. Stay cool.
Be careful with that thought.
What pushes you that close will probably still push... harder.
I figured that one out the hard way.
When my Mother's Puppy died I did not take it well. At all.
Previously to HRT I could at least deal with the situation ... not well but I could deal. I am not so sure I can anymore.
Now, if it is just GID related terminal thoughts you'll probably be fine, unless something happens.
*shrug* As I see it from where I sit anyway, for what it is worth.
Yes, definitely GID-related thoughts that caused me to become suicidal. I was feeling like I couldn't live as male or trans-female and that it would better to just end it before really getting into the depths of transition hell. However, maybe this is transition hell in the first place that caused me to go that far.
One thing I have to my advantage is youth. In a way, I think it's easier to transition at a younger age because the older you are, the more tohers tend to think of you twisted and treat you accordingly. Plus, people will have known you longer as male and have a harder time adjusting.
Melissa
Melissa,
Please try to keep your spirits up. As a newcomer here, you've already helped me with your feedback and encouragement. From reading of your experiences and seeing your photos, I think you're making amazing progress. You're already a beautiful woman with much to look forward to. I'm sure life in transition is hard, but it's got to be better than not transitioning. Keep you're eyes on the journey ahead and don't let the bumpy road distract you.
Take care,
Steph
Well, I lost enough of my belly and my breasts got large enough (just a little more) where they were becoming obvious anyway. Also, I couldn't imagine wearing a sportsbra anymore because they hurt all the time. So, I decided to start wearing a regular bra now. I'm a solid A-cup. It actually hides them a little by wearing a normal bra, although not much, but at least my nipples don't stick through my shirts anymore. :o
Honestly, at this point if somebody did notice my chest, I wouldn't mind coming out to them, since next week is my last week at work. Oh well, might as well start getting used to wearing a bra from now on.
Melissa
Hi Melissa!
I hope it's okay if I reply since I'm a GG and not a TS (I cruise this page occasionally to see if anything good comes up that I can mention to Jocelyn)
I think you should go ahead and start getting used to bras. I got breast buds around 9 yrs old (I remember, because it hurt!) So my mother took me shopping for a "training bra" (I still don't know what I was training my breasts to do, alas!) Just kidding. Training bras are worn to get used to wearing a bra, not for actual support. This is because bras aren't all that comfortable when you first start wearing them. Eventually you may feel naked without one, but the amount of hours you can go wearing one will increase with practice. Anyway, the training bra is very much like a sport bra but it has a clasp instead of a racerback, but now they're making sport bras with clasps so you may want to try that instead (I noticed that those don't squeeze so much).
Just make sure you're wearing the right size (if you're losing your belly, the band width may also decrease over time while the cup size increases. I've made the mistake of wearing a 36B when I was really a 34C after significant weight loss) Don't worry, when your breasts fill out more they won't hurt so much! Good luck!
Posted at: April 17, 2006, 07:30:13 PM
Melissa, I'm so sorry! I responded to your first post without reading too far ahead into the thread! Please don't think I'm heartless because of that last post!
I really hope you feel better soon. All I can say (that I know from experience) is that you are going through puberty as woman now, and it's not all that fun, but it does get better. The breast pain is a total nuisance but it will eventually go away, and I know that's nothing in comparison to the mood swings but please try to remember that your body will settle down in time. It's a transition because it isn't permanent.
I really admire you for deciding to come out and stop hiding. I've seen Jocelyn do it and I know it isn't easy, but things seem so much better for her now that she doesn't have to constantly worry about concealing her true self. I hope it does the same for you. Feel free to drop me a line if you ever are inclined to do so.
Best wishes,
Kelly
Thank you for posting Kelly. It's definitely ok to post. I like hearing advice from a GG, as they typically have more experience living as a woman. I started wearing my bra last week and it seems to do fine. As for coming out, it was really a necessity and keeping it hidden had just become too hard. As for mood swings, yeah, I've had my share of those. It really can get hard sometime. Sometimes I'm like the weather can can suddenly change. Thanks again for your post.
Melissa
*pout*
I feel left out!
My moods are about as fluid as they were before, I think.
*thoughtful look* I haven't noticed any sudden shifts, and what shifts there are, are all results of triggers. *ponder* At least I think.
*shrug* I probably should not complain :P (=
Also, just to chime in, I also always like hearing from the GGs, regardless of the topic.
Usually there is a trigger for my mood swings, but it tends to change on a daily basis. Today was good for most of the day, then it suddenly turned and I felt very gloomy and bored. If you don't feel any mental changes from hormones, you may want to get your levels checked by your doctor.
Melissa
In Europe you have to start your RLT as soon as you start with HRT
so getting HRT without living like a woman in real life is no option here.
For me it is no option anyway I could not wait to start living as a woman, I will not get my HRT before august this year and I started my RLT half a yaer ago.
I need to waer a bra with hard cups other wise my chest is too flat and yes when you waer the right size in cotton bra's it can even be rather comfortable.
I won't hide the boobs I need so much !
Good luck to you all
The way it works over here in the states is a person typically is on hormones for a period of time and gradually gets more feminine looking and at a certain point, they start their RLT when they feel they are ready. This isn't always the case, because some people start RLT right away before hormones and some people start at the same time.
For me, I would like to start right away, but because of so many people who have problems with transsexuals, one must pass fairly well or they will have an extra tough time with their RLT and may fail, whereas they may have passed otherwise.
My facial features themselves are not a problem. My biggest problem is coming up with the money for removing facial hair, which I am working towards every day. In this day and age, men wearing bras for whatever reason is less uncommon than it used to be. So, I wear mine more out of necessity than because I like wearing it.
I imagine upgrading my bra (size) will be pretty exciting as well. I'll just wear my current size until it starts becoming obvious that I'm too big for it, then get a new one. But, I'm thinking too far ahead. At this rate, that will probably be at least a few months.
Trust me when I say I look forward to starting RLT and I almost wish it were required to start at the same time (and thus be more acceptable) but I have changed my timeframe from the end of the year to somewhere closer to the middle. Perhaps in another 3-6 months depending on how well hair removal goes.
Well, back to dreaming up more ways to get money.
Melissa
Posted at: April 19, 2006, 12:24:14 PM
Here's a bit of an update to this thread.
I've now come to the point where I fall somewhere between an A and B cup. If I wear the A-bra, it's ok, but I'm starting to bulge out of it a little. I haven't tried shopping for a good B cup yet, but will probably try some on in a couple weeks. I have a push-up type B bra that fits well, but I'm still not out at work yet, so that doesn't work for my situation there. I plan on coming out in about 2 months. I'm not really worried about losing my job, I just found out several things working to my advantage:
1. I found out today that they have a written discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation.
2. The location I work in has laws that protect gender identity.
3. The office where HR is located is situated in the Bay area.
4. Everyone's extremely nice to me despite how feminine I look already.
5. I work with some very intelligent people and from what I heard, they tend to be more accepting.
6. I'm doing a good job and they need people right now like fish needs water.
I could potentially come out ASAP, but I want to get as much stuff prepared as I can. I don't feel I'm quite ready to go fulltime until it's closer to September, but would definitely like to before October.
Anyway, back to the topic. One reason that my breasts may be growing fast is because I tried something I read on a different forum. I had heard that American Ginseng (panax quinquefolium) which I've only found at GNC and no other type of Ginseng when combined with your HRT regimine has been known to help with breast growth. I've been taking that for almost 2 months now. The thing is that I don't think my mom or sister are any larger than a C-cup if not smaller, so at the rate I'm growing, I could potentially reach fullsize. I'm not even taking progesterone, which is also supposed to help.
Oh yeah, I started facial hair removal about a month ago. It's is very effective so far.
Melissa
> one must pass fairly well or they will have an extra tough time with their RLT and may fail, whereas they may have passed otherwise.
Being a girl who isn't exactly cute (YET!) and that passing thing is starting to happen more often but is far away from being the norm, AND who does not present as male... *shrug* RLT isn't a test, there is no exam at the end of the year; RLE is far far more apt of a term. *shrug* Besides, it is not like I can fail anyway. Fail to what? Go back to what? *wink* It is all down hill, an I can't even see the top any more...
*smile* I am glad to hear things are going well for you Melissa.
I didn't mean fail at being a woman, but more like fail at life.
Melissa
Ah all right. *smiles* I must respectfully disagree there also I am afraid.
(metaphoric) You cannot fail at life. No matter what you may think, no matter what you have done, or have yet to do. No matter what is ever said or even not said. Some part is exactly what you need, and some part has touched another for the better.
I am not certain, but I am tending to think that some part will hurt another, even if only slight.
Just my thoughts, nothing more...
(=
Perhaps fail was the wrong word, but more like "less successful".
Melissa
*smile* That I think I agree with (=
Hello Melissa! While you "in-between" cup sizes, there is a brand of bra that started making "Nearly" sizes. I believe that they range from nearly A through nearly C. It might be Playtex, but I'm not certain. That may work better for you in the meantime. And it's not like you'd have to buy five of them. If you could buy one and just wear it for a few days and then hand wash it before bed at night and let it dry. Believe me, it's so much better to wash bras that way, even though I'm kinda lazy and allow mine through the washer and dryer. Unfortunately, it wears the material out much quicker and if you're using underwire (which you probably won't be doing for awhile yet) it can bend the wire and make your bra real uncomfortable. Just my two cents!
By the way, I'm happy to hear that your coming out at work will be made easier due to their own policies. I think it's great that more and more companies are doing this for their employees. Just you make sure that they follow their own protocol!
Thanks, I actually bought one of those bras today. It is Playtex. I didn't think about handwashing being much better as I'm lazy too and use the washer and dryer too. I'm not going to be wearing underwire for a while, but I didn't think of them getting bent out of shape.
For the policies, they don't have one that specifically mentions Gender Identity. But they seemed to heavily stress not tolerating discrimination in the new employee orientation. I'm going to see a new therapist next week and talk to him about coming out at work and see what he says. Thanks for everything Angel's Girl.
Melissa
Hey, any time! I play big sister to everybody most of the time (I'm the eldest of four) so I'm pretty used to handing out advice, soliticed or not! ;) Usually, I'm reading the message board for ideas on how help Jocelyn (mostly on things I wouldn't normally think of myself as a GG) or other info I might need to keep in mind due to being in a relationship with a T-girl, but if I see a topic that I can help add to I usually do.
Good luck again with coming out at work if you decide to do it soon. I believe Annie Social had a post not too long ago about a letter she had written a prospective employer about her condition, so you may want to either find that thread or ask her about it. Also, if you haven't read "She's Not There" by Jennifer Boylan, she had a meeting with her superiors about it and then sent out a well-worded e-mail to all of her co-workers. It went over quite well for her.
I hope that bra works for you. By the way, if you insist on being as lazy as I am, be sure to dry your bras on low heat to avoid shrinking them. From experience, that really is not fun! :o And as far as outgrowing a bra is concerned, a couple ways you can tell is if the bra starts leaving deep grooves in your skin (either on the breasts, shoulders, or under the arms) or if your cups literally runneth over!
I haven't quite outgrown my bras and don't quite fit into the new one, but at least I have it available now for when they do grow bigger. I didn't have a good basisi for measurement before, so I had to do a certain amount of assuming.
Melissa
I am a mtf and I think we all go thru this. At what point do I go full time. Do I begin by dressing a little or do I do it completely. Everyone has there own point. I think it comes down to how ready are you and how confortable are you dressing either partially or totally as a woman. So let me say my opinion. The suggestions by some to wear a cami sound helpful and at the same time prudent. I was young when i started Hrts. I didnt really need a bra for many months some have said when they start moving and or the nipples are showing thru and I think when your breasts whether they are small or large are hitting everything and causing you much pain. I think that should be your clue. Their are many style bras out there that if you are not dressing full time should help and at the same time not be apparent to others that you are wearing one. But the key is being properly fitted. Going shoping is a whole topic itself and I am sure the many members here will be able to offer some good tips. One final thought and i think it was express very well by angelgirl, even if you dont absolutely need one now maybe it is time to begin to get use to wearing one since you will be eventually wearing one for the rest of your life. And as angelgirl said, it does get better. But dont expect to go thru this transition without some mishaps, the important thing is learning from each one and getting stronger. Also look at yourself and see yourself as others do but dont let their opinion deter you. You only have one life to live. Good luck. Patricia
Quote from: mariska on April 19, 2006, 01:59:26 PM
In Europe you have to start your RLT as soon as you start with HRT
so getting HRT without living like a woman in real life is no option here.
For me it is no option anyway I could not wait to start living as a woman, I will not get my HRT before august this year and I started my RLT half a yaer ago.
I assume you're talking here about the UK and though admittedly this is an old thread, I believe that some GID's (Gender Identity Clinics) might have relaxed their practices with regard to RLT and HRT. As recently as 3 years ago my local GIC (CHX) insisted on
6 months RLT
prior to them prescribing hormones. Personally, I neither would nor could have coped with that so I went private and after counselling etc. was put on prescribed hormones two years before I decided to transition in November last year.
With regards to bras, being full time I wear them daily now. However, whilst still part time I only started wearing one in 'boy mode' after a woman friend of mine took me aside and told me that I was starting to look positively indecent without.
You make an excellent point Jenny. In many cases we are a lot harder on ourselves than others see us. It took me so long to feel confortable with my new image and to feel secure. In terms of wearing a bra while still in male mode, it took a girl friend of mine to get me aside at work and ask me when am i going to start wearing a bra. Did not realize my nipples was sticking out of my shirt like a banner. I was working as a nurse at the time and still do.