When I was going through puberty, a male puberty, I thought I was supposed to menstruate, or I wanted to anyway. Even now, some ten years later, I find this is a VERY sore topic for me. Does anyone else on here want a menstrual cycle? Is it wrong to want something like this? Has anyone tried to do anything to imitate menstruation? How in the world do I combat a disphoria source like this? 

I know someone that used to use tampons to simulate the "time of the month" even though she was pre-op.

Whatever works I guess. I have pregnancy envy and often get dysphoric about that but can't say I've thought about menstruation.

Quote from: Aleah on January 28, 2013, 05:24:16 PM
I know someone that used to use tampons to simulate the "time of the month" even though she was pre-op.

How?

Just by sticking a tampon in, obviously didn't do much other than sit there, but she did replace it regularly. Not sure if she went any further in her simulation.

This is one of those goofy subjects I try to avoid and don't get me wrong, I'm not making fun of anyone here either, I kind of get you though Hippolover. When I had my orchiectomy the surgeon helped my get dressed and he stuck a mini-pad in my undies before pulling them up for me. I was a bit tipsy from the pain meds, but I distinctly recall smiling and getting a secret thrill out of the idea at the time. My wife bought me a small box of them to use for a week.

I have menstruation and pregnancy envy.

I'm sorry, I don't know why anyone would have menstruation envy. Seeing how bad my roommate gets, i'm rather glad I don't have to deal with it. Not to mention she constantly tells me how good I have it because I don't have to deal with it. Pregnancy envy I can understand though.

Please don't be sticking tampons in there.  You run a high risk of toxic shock syndrome (my sister spent 3 days in the hospital from it).

Its also designed to absorb during the menstration cycle....its not designed for the anus and will lead to some serious issues down the road as you're absorbing everything under the sun with those those things.

I have no wish to have a menstrual cycle.. All my female friends have told me I don't want it.. And I have to agree..

Well, sort of in a way, but I'm also glad that I don't have one to worry about lol. Sounds like it's not something I'd like.

Never had menstruation envy. All my female friends say I'm lucky that I won't have a menstrual cycle. But I have always have had pregnancy envy

I have to say I'm jealous of many things that come with being born a CIS female, menstruation is not one of them.  I guess I kinda view not having a cycle as a "perk" of being trans.  Not to mention my hormone levels will always stay stable (ougt to know I get enough blood work done) but cycling up and down monthly, I'll take a pass on that.  Now granted pregnancy envy sure that I sort of have, but then talking to my friends who have given birth kinda snaps me out of that one. 

Quote from: Penny Gurl on January 29, 2013, 04:53:04 AM
I have to say I'm jealous of many things that come with being born a CIS female, menstruation is not one of them.  I guess I kinda view not having a cycle as a "perk" of being trans.  Not to mention my hormone levels will always stay stable (ougt to know I get enough blood work done) but cycling up and down monthly, I'll take a pass on that.  Now granted pregnancy envy sure that I sort of have, but then talking to my friends who have given birth kinda snaps me out of that one. 

I second that. Though with the pregnancy envy for me its not so much the pregnancy part as much as the having my own child part. I love kids  hopefully I can at least adopt some day...

.

Yes I think I'd rather have a period than take pills all the time.

Quote from: Penny Gurl on January 29, 2013, 04:53:04 AM
I have to say I'm jealous of many things that come with being born a CIS female, menstruation is not one of them.  I guess I kinda view not having a cycle as a "perk" of being trans.  Not to mention my hormone levels will always stay stable (ougt to know I get enough blood work done) but cycling up and down monthly, I'll take a pass on that.  Now granted pregnancy envy sure that I sort of have, but then talking to my friends who have given birth kinda snaps me out of that one. 

I agree with you for the most part but the cycling up and down monthly is actually what really stimulates female development which 99% of the so-called transgender expert physicians overlook while they continue to prescribe HRT that is typical for postmenopausal women who are long past their developmental phase. Natal women have a high estrogen level during the first half of their cycle along with a four or five day increase in prolactin levels early on during the second half of the cycle the estrogen level decreases and the progesterone levels increase. A woman's cycle is one month from period to period, it's this up and down cyclic activity that accounts for the feminization of their own bodies rather than just a flat rate of estrogen month after month. Once I figured this out I experienced some pretty good development. This of course has to be done under a doctor's supervision.

Quote from: Shantel on January 29, 2013, 09:12:04 AM
I agree with you for the most part but the cycling up and down monthly is actually what really stimulates female development which 99% of the so-called transgender expert physicians overlook while they continue to prescribe HRT that is typical for postmenopausal women who are long past their developmental phase. Natal women have a high estrogen level during the first half of their cycle along with a four or five day increase in prolactin levels early on during the second half of the cycle the estrogen level decreases and the progesterone levels increase. A woman's cycle is one month from period to period, it's this up and down cyclic activity that accounts for the feminization of their own bodies rather than just a flat rate of estrogen month after month. Once I figured this out I experienced some pretty good development. This of course has to be done under a doctor's supervision.

I have heard of something similar previously however only about cycling the progesterone.. Mainly on for a few weeks off.. Ect.  But not with both the E and the P.  I may have to ask my endo next checkup, but that won't be till June.  so I'll have to deal till then.  But as others have said, I would gladly deal with the monthly cycle and all it entails vs having to be dependent on meds.  However since I was not born a CIS female I can appreciate NOT going though that, planning in advance to make sure I'm stocked on product, checking the tampon and pad reserves in my purse and having to deal with the cramping, swelling and bleeding. Not to mention still taking "the pill" to help regulate the cycles, or shot.. Whatever.  I guess anyway you cut it chances are if you're female you're going to be depending on taking something either monthly or daily in reference to your hormone balance.

I can honestly say that, out of all the body discomforts I have, never being able to menstruate isn't one of them.

Well if you want to have all the joy (and mess) of menstruation, have SRS.

You'll have all the periods of your life all in three or four months.

Just following surgery, I had huge gauze packs that were changed twice a day.  Following my release from the hospital, I wore heavy post-pregnancy pads for the first few days.  I would have to change them at least 2 or three times per day.

Following that for the following couple of weeks I wore super absorbent over-night pads.  The thick pads provided clothing protection and a really needed cushion for my aching bum.  My doughnut pillow was my other constant companion.

In the following weeks to months I was able to switch to heavy day pads and only wear the over-nights, er, over-night.

After about 2-1/2 months I could switch to lighter pads and even just panti-liners during the day.  Once or twice I'd not wear the heavier pads at night and my sheets and pj's paid the price for it.

After three months or so, I would wear panti-liners just for mental security, just in case.  I'd still have the odd drip every now and then, so I needed it.

After four months I had gone at least two weeks without any noticeable blood, except after dilating, and felt confident enough to stop wearing even the panti-liners. 

Haven't had to since, and I don't really miss it.

I felt like a right stupid dork standing in the "feminine hygiene" aisle reading the packages of pads trying to find what I needed.  Most women have figured out what they want and just go and pick up their particular brand that they felt most comfortable with.

Oh, and never Never NEVER use a tampon!!!!

Early on, while I was still visiting my surgeon for the post-operative follow up visits, she noticed I was having a little heavier flow and obligingly put some gauze in my vagina to help with absorbing the blood.  Well a few hours after that the gauze was saturated and instead of putting more gauze in, I used a tampon.

Bad move.

The tampon did it's job and promptly absorbed the blood and also swelled in size, as it's supposed to, keeping anything from leaking out.  When I tried to remove it a few hours later I found that the plug was almost immovable!  It had swelled so much that I couldn't budge it.  I was tempted to tie the string around a door knob and slam it.

After a lot of poking and prodding I managed to get the thing out of me (a tamponectomy?)  Also since my internal tissues had not had a chance to completely bind to their new location, I also traumatized the lining of my vagina as well.  Dr. McGinn was none too pleased by my action.

So just stick to the pads.

-Sandy



cnat spel

Good advice for all. Love your sense of humor Sandy!