Hi Everyone my name is Grace and it's my first time posting here.

At the moment i'm 19 and half and going to be starting HRT soon. I'm currently a nursing student in Australian and going into my second year soon. When I start HRT I wanted to know about how long it would take to become noticeable and how could I hide it ( I know it does vary a lot from person to person) just would like some guesses and info. I don't want to hide it after i finish my second year since i do look a bit feminine already and hopefully i can pass with makeup and a lot of praying by then.

The main reason i want to hide that fact that i will be transitioning is because i will be doing work placement in local hospitals and i i'm against causing any sort of problems and worry for patients if i can avoid it. I know some people will be understanding and some won't be but i still would like to pass male for the time being so i can focus on my training and the patients if i can.

Thanks again to anyone that reads this and hope everyone is happy

If you held off on laser removal for facial hair, and wore facial hair, that's such a hyper-masculine visual trait that it'd balance out the effects of HRT therapy just enough.

As for disguising breast growth, you'd use a breast binder, found ones on eBay, for such a specific item they're quite cheap! (under $5):

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Casual-Breathable-Buckle-Short-Chest-Breast-Binder-Trans-Lesbian-Tomboy-5-Sizes-/190958996018?pt=AU_WomensLingerie&var&hash=item2c760b0a32&_uhb=1

In my experience, nobody will bother or care about most changes. I've never been bothered with questions about no beard or arm hair, long hair, etc. Boobs are becoming, erm. Unmistakable, but it's probably just me. Actually, they're still smaller than most of the guys I work with. I think you'll actually be surprised by who little people pay attention, especially if you're helping them. But I'm still a noob and only like 14 or 15 weeks hrt, although I started lhr a long time ago if that's something you're concerned about.

Welcome Grace from not so sunny and dry Sydney. Hmm. What's the weather doing now?

If you don't point it out I am sure you could go quite a while before revealing true self.
It has been interesting that most people don't see the obvious as they honestly don't care if it doesn't affect them.

Get yourself started with Laser if you can as it takes time. I'm 16 months and still going as mine was very bad but no one has even commented once about the changes it has made.
By this time you should be ready to be you.

There's lots of Aussies here so speak up if you need help.
PS E is wonderful.

Hugs and all the best Jen

Hi Grace,

A cold lady in Adelaide. Overcast and chilly here where is summer?

I work in four public hospitals, no issues, no problems. To be honest I would say just go for it, get laser ASAP as Jenny said it takes time. The workplace laws here protect you 100%. So you should not have any problems!

Thanks everyone for the support I really appreciate it.

I do want to get started with lhr soon and I'm not hairy by any standards so it's almost clearing up what's not there already. I going to be working with a lot of different people and these people are going to be scared and vulnerable and last thing I want to do is make it worse for them. I guess this all comes down to the fact of wanting to care for the patients. I'm really lucky that I'm 5.7 and not masculine besides my giant feet size 12 and I've been told by friends that I already look feminine even without make up and in my normal cloths.I'm just worried that this is going to, for that time that I am transitioning make my changes even more obvious. But I'm probably over reacting to all this and what I'm worried about is just in my head. I'm in general I'm really happy about doing this.

Thanks everyone, even just saying hello is lovely thankyou!

Ow and I'm a little bit south of the Gold Coast, It's hot up here but very wet.

Hi Grace, I'm Grace too! (and also an Aussie!)
Yeah I wouldn't worry about it, the changes probably start to be a bit noticeable after six or eight months but your mileage may vary. You'll probably find that your breasts will be too tender to bind (also, binding too tightly might flatten them which I'm sure isn't something you want) a larger than normal shirt will usually do the trick. Being in Australia means you have a lot of rights regarding transition, especially in the public system. Welcome to Susan's!

I started HRT in February and had to come out at work in May because it was impossible to hide the changes. However, I think I may be an odd case...

(Incidentally, binding is VERY bad for developing breasts. It damages breast tissue even in fully developed boobs.)

Hello colleague

I think that once you have a voice you can use comfortably you will be easily accepted by the people around you. I did my first hospital practice 3 months before I started transitioning, and since I've fallen behind by a semester I won't be out on hospital practice again until late next year, so I'm a bit lucky with my transitioning schedule.

But I've learned that the voice does a lot. A few days ago I visited the bank with an obvious 50% beard growth after electrolysis, presented a check with my old male name on it, and I still got referred to as 'she'.
And earlier this year I worked a few months with home care, and one of our patients (half blind) once said I was one of the nicest girls he'd met, and that was before I'd even started voice therapy or anything.

So I think people pick up on a lot of things other than what they see

I should add that I once worked in HR at a large public hospital in Sydney; a young nurse transitioned to full time, from male to female, on the job. As far as I know she did fine (and no doubt her patients did too), and that was 1989!

I'm MTA/MTF. I've been taking hormones for about a year. I have a binder, which I use sometimes (but rarely). I simply look like a very feminine male right now. You might be like some people and not pass as your birth sex even when you want to (eventually). But generally you can keep your hair shorter/ medium in a masculine/ semi masculine style.

You might have a lot of breast growth, you might not. It honestly depends on a ton of factors. You could grow a small beard if you want to hide even more. It kindof depends on you.