How would u consider yourself before hrt? Masculine? And if so...how long did it take hrt to make you passable?
Hi! I would not say that I was masculine before HRT, but was not mistaken for a girl/woman much. After 9 months of estrogen and spironolactone, I can't count how many times (in the past month) I've been referred to as "ma'm" or when I'm with my mom how many times we've been called "ladies." HRT alone won't make you 100% passable unless you start super young, but it will help in certain areas like the quality of your skin, how fat is stored on your face/body, and of course give you breasts and maybe hips if you're lucky or gain a lot of weight. Sooooo, yeah! It will help make you MORE passable after maybe a year or so but not entirely passable by itself. Sorry if I didn't answer your question.
You did thnx lots! Basically what i was asking was, how long did it take for u to just b passable without trying?
I honestly don't think HRT alone is going to make anyone "passable". There is just sooooooooooooooooo much more to it than that. It's just not as easy as popping a few pills, waiting a year and shazzam you're a passable, indistinguishable from genetic, female. It takes works. Hair, make-up, clothes, voice, laser/electrolysis, mannerisms, body movement, facial expression, language, speech patterns, and on and on... are all things I think are way more important in making someone "passable".
I've been full-time 24/7 for about the last 3 years, at work, home, everywhere, and have only just started HRT for the last 7 of those 36 months. Don't wait around for HRT to work some sort of magic-overnight-gender-transformation, cause they don't. They'll help some, that's for sure. And the younger, the better the results. But there's so many other things to work on that will help you "pass" more than HRT.
For the record, I hate the word "passable". It carries the connotation that we (MTF or FTM) are trying to pass ourselves off as something we are not, or trying to fool, lie to, or trick others, which is definitely not the case.
Quote from: JennX on March 21, 2011, 08:07:01 PM
For the record, I hate the word "passable". It carries the connotation that we (MTF or FTM) are trying to pass ourselves off as something we are not, or trying to fool, lie to, or trick others, which is definitely not the case.
This. I don't really care for the traditional interpretation of "passing." Whether I'm read or not I'm trying to give you an accurate presentation of my identity. This is not a costume or disguise. Respect that.
JennX, I really agree with the entirety of your post. For the most part I think that all of that will help you pass more than just popping some pills.
Quote from: JennX on March 21, 2011, 08:07:01 PM
I honestly don't think HRT alone is going to make anyone "passable". There is just sooooooooooooooooo much more to it than that. It's just not as easy as popping a few pills, waiting a year and shazzam you're a passable, indistinguishable from genetic, female. It takes works. Hair, make-up, clothes, voice, laser/electrolysis, mannerisms, body movement, facial expression, language, speech patterns, and on and on... are all things I think are way more important in making someone "passable".
I've been full-time 24/7 for about the last 3 years, at work, home, everywhere, and have only just started HRT for the last 7 of those 36 months. Don't wait around for HRT to work some sort of magic-overnight-gender-transformation, cause they don't. They'll help some, that's for sure. And the younger, the better the results. But there's so many other things to work on that will help you "pass" more than HRT.
For the record, I hate the word "passable". It carries the connotation that we (MTF or FTM) are trying to pass ourselves off as something we are not, or trying to fool, lie to, or trick others, which is definitely not the case.
I think this is excellent advice. There are a couple of comments from my experiences. I was out in public way before I started HRT, it taught me what I needed to 'learn', such as how to act, what make up I needed, what sort of clothes suited me*, that I needed laser, that I needed help with cosmetics, that I needed to build my confidence. After learning and going through these processe, and many are on going, I was very comfortable talking to my medics about
wanting requiring hormonal therapy. The conversations were essentially about what drug regime would be best for me. There was nothing about needing therapy etc. I had already proven where I was going, I just need the wrong bits fixed.
* I am a woman who likes clothes and likes to look attractive and feminine. I never want to look like a man in a dress, or a mature woman dressed as a teen. OK I can get the old green goddess build up when I see a cute young person in something I would love to wear, but totally inappropriate for me. Jealousy is a feminine trait ::). You have to learn how to dress for your age and the circumstance you are in. No pills or HRT will teach you how to do that, none will teach you how to do your makeup. None will teach you how to act in public. You have to go out and experience it. Go to the clothes shop and ask if this would suit me, go to the cosmetic counter for a makeover, take another female friend if you need support. Explain to these people if you are in 'boy' mode. They really don't care, they want to sell stuff.
Sorry if that's a bit repetitive I got interrupted by a phone call.
Cindy
AS JennX as said, it takes a lot to make someone passable. Not just HRT. I have been working on myself since age late 16, I am completely passable and am getting close to starting hrt.
I'm not sure really because I've never really tried to be feminine... I was already rather fem. naturally and people were always trying to make a man out of me... I tried really hard to be masculine for along time to please others but you see how that's worked out... I would get mistaken for a girl on and off most my life... Even when I thought I was being quite the guy
Like the others have mentioned HRT definitely helps but it is not the cure all wonder pill... Sure, how you look does have allot to do with it... Like Cindy mentioned, age appropriate dress and make up so you blend well and don't look like a sore thumb in your surroundings is very important
So, then to round out the picture are the movements and mannerisms... The way you walk and talk and carry yourself in public must appear to be natural... Nothing will get you outed quicker than over acting
Mainly keeping to yourself and observing for awhile can be a great tool... Go somewhere public and just see what's going on and how the women interact... People will notice you and that gives you the opportunity to experiment a bit... Then as your confidence builds, get into the action more and see how it goes... I actually did this when I was trying to learn how to be masculine
I don't know if I'm helping any or if I'm just babbling, but those are my thoughts on it
Quote from: Virginia Marie on March 22, 2011, 04:20:22 PM
I'm not sure really because I've never really tried to be feminine... I was already rather fem. naturally and people were always trying to make a man out of me...
Sounds like my older brother and father, me and Dad actually grew very close indeed he passed away two years ago.
Quote from: Virginia Marie on March 22, 2011, 04:20:22 PM
I tried really hard to be masculine for along time to please others but you see how that's worked out... I would get mistaken for a girl on and off most my life... Even when I thought I was being quite the guy
For me it dropped away in my early 20s and I denied my very essence, I'll look back at this and think of those wasted years but who cares my male side integrates nicely into my female self, life's not perfect and why would I want to deny being the strong woman I'm going to be :D
Full and complete :)