Hey Everyone,
I have a general question. I got asked the other day when I'm starting my transition and I answered that I would be starting hormones in the next few months but it really got me thinking. When does one technically start transitioning? I've started therapy, my hair is growing out, I'm on propecia, I've had 1 laser session with my next one next week, I've come out to everyone close to me.

When I get asked "when am I starting transition?" how should I answer that? I feel like I started a few months ago with the therapy meeting and laser, but I'd really like to get your thoughts on this. Thanks, Meghan

A very subjective question, and a one that depends a lot on the person concerned.  It would be a safe assumption that transitions starts when the person concerned either through therapy or a feeling of self, realizes who and what they are and starts to rectify the situation.  Some say that transition is the journey made up of several paths that include such things as starting HRT, name changes, dressing in the appropriate gender, coming out, etc. and there really is no official date or time when this takes place or can take place.  Similarly there is really no official length of time that transition should or must span other than part of the transition normally includes the requirements that are outlined in the SOC, i.e. living for two years in the target gender...

Steph

Thanks Steph, that's kind of what I thought. I feel like I've already started transition & I could totally see how it's subjective. I love you bathing suit shot by the way, I hope you get to wear it a lot this summer. Gotta enjoy the summers in Canada!

You've not lived full time (a part of transition), but you undoubtably are transitioning by your actions.

My opinion is that you start to transition when you decide to take action in regards to your gender issues.  Hence, I'd day that transition begins the moment you accept yourself and move forward towards your goal.

tink

I would say my transition started the day I plucked up the courage to go see my Doctor and asked for a referal to see a specialist. There then followed a whole series of events and issues I had to overcome (as a consequence of my decision to transition).

I also started Electrolysis, speech therapy, buying clothes, make up, hormones, well before I actually started the RLE.

From a legal aspect in respect to getting letters for SRS / BA transition, was defined for me from the time I legally changed my name, all my documents and started  living 24/7 as the requirements of the RLE. Being on hormones, living part time for a period before that had no influence on when transition legaly started for me in the eyes of the medical profession.

So, what I am saying is that transition starts for the individual, when they decide it is the thing they have to do, but there are certain criteria that the "specialists" have to see, before they will define this medically.

i'm going to jump here   transition starts the very moment you swallow your first estrogen pill.  anything "before" that is pre-transition experiences.

For me, it started when I stuck the first needle in my butt.

It is a vague question, if anyone one had asked me that the proper answer would be to ask her or him, what specifically she or he wanted to know. It could mean a lot of things. Heck, I could say my transition began the morning I woke up from a dream 56 years ago and thought for a few moments that I was transformed into a girl. Or when I smeared some of my mother's estrogen cream on my chest or when I wore my sister's clothes,etc.

If I could venture a wild guess the question may have been meant to ask when are you going fulltime. Or when are you starting HRT. It could mean a lot of things to different people. To the ignorant, it could mean when are you having SRS. Really, there are a couple women in my recovery group who think that my getting SRS is changing me into a woman. And that was the plot in Transamerica, the idea that SRS changes you into a woman.  If you care to educate people and I do when I get this ignorant conception of "changing" or "trying" to be a woman, I always make it clear that I am only changing the outside and that I was born female with an unfortunate birth defect.

When do you "start transition"  ?

Guess when you come under the "care" of the medical profession and start bodily alterations (hair, HRT, whatever ...) with the aim of becoming physically as close as you can get to your brain gender.

You've "transitioned" when you go "full time" in every aspect of your life and live your gender 100%.

SRS / GRS is the "icing on the transition cherry" ....  ....

Laura x

Transition, for me, began the moment they gave me my first estrogen injection.
Lol @ Lori's post.

Quote from: Laura Eva B on July 05, 2007, 05:35:07 PM
When do you "start transition"  ?

Guess when you come under the "care" of the medical profession and start bodily alterations (hair, HRT, whatever ...) with the aim of becoming physically as close as you can get to your brain gender.

You've "transitioned" when you go "full time" in every aspect of your life and live your gender 100%.

SRS / GRS is the "icing on the transition cherry" ....  ....

Laura x

In my experience there had been no 'care' towards me by the medical profession in the U.K...

Quote from: Steph on July 04, 2007, 06:58:58 PM
Some say that transition is the journey made up of several paths that include such things as starting HRT, name changes, dressing in the appropriate gender, coming out, etc. and there really is no official date or time when this takes place or can take place. 

Steph

Quote from: Laura Eva B on July 05, 2007, 05:35:07 PM

You've "transitioned" when you go "full time" in every aspect of your life and live your gender 100%.

Laura x

I never thought much about it, but some of these replies makes a lot of sense.

I have a MTF friend who decided nine years ago that she was going to start living full time, and so she announced this to her family and she's never looked back.

Gina 

Quote from: Steph on July 04, 2007, 06:58:58 PM
A very subjective question, and a one that depends a lot on the person concerned.  It would be a safe assumption that transitions starts when the person concerned either through therapy or a feeling of self, realizes who and what they are and starts to rectify the situation.  Some say that transition is the journey made up of several paths that include such things as starting HRT, name changes, dressing in the appropriate gender, coming out, etc. and there really is no official date or time when this takes place or can take place.  Similarly there is really no official length of time that transition should or must span other than part of the transition normally includes the requirements that are outlined in the SOC, i.e. living for two years in the target gender...

Steph

Hi Steph

Which of the following definations for subjective do you wish to apply to this thread.

sub·jec·tive      [suhb-jek-tiv]
–adjective 1. existing in the mind; belonging to the thinking subject rather than to the object of thought (opposed to objective). 
2. pertaining to or characteristic of an individual; personal; individual: a subjective evaluation. 
3. placing excessive emphasis on one's own moods, attitudes, opinions, etc.; unduly egocentric. 
4. Philosophy. relating to or of the nature of an object as it is known in the mind as distinct from a thing in itself. 
5. relating to properties or specific conditions of the mind as distinguished from general or universal experience. 
6. pertaining to the subject or substance in which attributes inhere; essential. 
7. Grammar. a. pertaining to or constituting the subject of a sentence. 
b. (in English and certain other languages) noting a case specialized for that use, as He in He hit the ball. 
c. similar to such a case in meaning. Compare nominative. 

8. Obsolete. characteristic of a political subject; submissive. 

So, when does transition end, when the individual feels at peace or only after the "Community" determines transition is completed for the indivdual?