A few questions that maybe seem obvious but I don't know the answers to.

1. When do you get to legally be the gender you identify as? Do I need bottom surgery to legally be a man? I have no desire for bottom surgery - if I could snap my fingers and have a cis man's junk I would, but as it is, I don't like trans men's surgery options.  I do want top surgery though.

2. How expensive are surgeries? How expensive are hormones? Do any school or work insurances cover at least hormones?

3. If I was to get married while I was still legally a girl and then got my gender markers switched, would thst nullify the marriage in some states, or would I just have found a loop hole in the system?

4. How does being on T affect your vagina? I've heard people talk about vaginal atrophy which sounds unpleasant.

5. I'm Hispanic and already have ass hair and back hair as a girl, is getting on T going to turn me into a forest? Will it maybe be easier for me to grow facial hair?

Hi and welcome

I can answer some of your questions

1) It depends on where you live as to when you can legally change your gender. In my state you do not need to have surgery. I just needed to have a letter. If you are changing your gender on your birth certificate you have to deal with the country/state where you were born and their rules

2) my insurance is paying for my hormones and it looks like they will cover a chunk of my SRS surgery. So some companies do. I don't know the cost of bottom surgery but top surgery runs around $8,0000

3)- I don't know that one

4) Your clitoris will probably grow. I have also heard about vaginal atrophy but haven't experienced that

5) It will probably be easier for you to grow facial hair. how much hair you get varies from person to person. Take a look at your family members, that will probably give you an indication

Quote from: wolfxheart on October 11, 2014, 01:59:04 PM
A few questions that maybe seem obvious but I don't know the answers to.

1. When do you get to legally be the gender you identify as? Do I need bottom surgery to legally be a man? I have no desire for bottom surgery - if I could snap my fingers and have a cis man's junk I would, but as it is, I don't like trans men's surgery options.  I do want top surgery though.

This depends on what you consider legal gender. You can change your passport, which matters more than a birth cert, and your social security number without surgery. Those are both federal programs. Your DL depends on what state you are in as does your birth cert.

2. How expensive are surgeries? How expensive are hormones? Do any school or work insurances cover at least hormones?

ACA has made it  illegal to not cover hormones for you if they would do it for anyone else under your policy. They cannot deny you because of your gender. You may have to fight your Insurance if they hassle you, but you would win that one.

Surgical costs vary with doctor and country. Expect about $10k for top surgery if you add up doc costs, hospital costs and scripts. The cost of T varies but without insurance you can get it for $45 to $150 every 5 or 6 months. The cost with insurance will depend on your policy.

3. If I was to get married while I was still legally a girl and then got my gender markers switched, would thst nullify the marriage in some states, or would I just have found a loop hole in the system?

No, not in any state. I wish it did.

4. How does being on T affect your vagina? I've heard people talk about vaginal atrophy which sounds unpleasant.

Yes, it atrophies, how fast and how much will vary from one person to another. It hasn't been an issue for me.

5. I'm Hispanic and already have ass hair and back hair as a girl, is getting on T going to turn me into a forest? Will it maybe be easier for me to grow facial hair?

This is definitely a YMMV type of thing. Much depends on genetics.

Quote from: wolfxheart on October 11, 2014, 01:59:04 PM
A few questions that maybe seem obvious but I don't know the answers to.

1. When do you get to legally be the gender you identify as? Do I need bottom surgery to legally be a man? I have no desire for bottom surgery - if I could snap my fingers and have a cis man's junk I would, but as it is, I don't like trans men's surgery options.  I do want top surgery though.

2. How expensive are surgeries? How expensive are hormones? Do any school or work insurances cover at least hormones?

3. If I was to get married while I was still legally a girl and then got my gender markers switched, would thst nullify the marriage in some states, or would I just have found a loop hole in the system?

4. How does being on T affect your vagina? I've heard people talk about vaginal atrophy which sounds unpleasant.

5. I'm Hispanic and already have ass hair and back hair as a girl, is getting on T going to turn me into a forest? Will it maybe be easier for me to grow facial hair?

1. My understanding is that to legally change your gender on your birth certificate, you have to provide proof that you have undergone irreversible SRS. I know at least one surgeon who will write you a letter that says as much post top surgery.

2. Fees are largely dependent on the surgeon. The general range is from $3500-$9000, not including travel expenses to and from. Top surgery is generally not covered by insurance, as it is seen as an elective procedure. Hormones are covered. Your best bet is to find an LGBTQ friendly and experienced doctor's office and have them help you with the paperwork.

3. Not entirely sure. My guess is that it is largely dependent on the individual states in question.

4. I can't say from personal experience yet.

5. Maybe and maybe. It really just depends on you. Some guys get hairy, some guys stay about the same, some can grow beards, some can't. I know that's not the answer you're looking for, but it is what it is. Being pre-disposed to a lot of body hair probably won't hurt, and it will probably help with passing.

Aside from 1&3 question, you will probably get more in depth answers to the other questions on the FTM board.

Probably going to mirror a few answers here but here goes

Quote1. When do you get to legally be the gender you identify as? Do I need bottom surgery to legally be a man? I have no desire for bottom surgery - if I could snap my fingers and have a cis man's junk I would, but as it is, I don't like trans men's surgery options.  I do want top surgery though.

This depends on the state/country you live in. I can only attest to the US.
Here is a nice graph showing what's possible in which state "loosely"
http://www.vocativ.com/culture/lgbt/transgender-rights/?page=all
I have been informed that NY is getting some more rights for transgenders soon so that state is out of the lineup as far as updates go.

Quote2. How expensive are surgeries? How expensive are hormones? Do any school or work insurances cover at least hormones?

All of this is a wide variety of costs. Hormones can range anywhere from $15 co pays(with insurance) up to over $150(without insurance)
Granted these numbers are literally each end of the spectrum. The average costs for a 10mil bottle of T usually runs persons $50 range (goodrx is a great coupon site for this)
School and work insurance also vary greatly per state and which offer them.
Here is a good list of insurance providers that cover trans* related costs http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/finding-insurance-for-transgender-related-healthcare
As far as surgeries go, this also is a massive variant in costs. Top surgery has many procedures and many surgeons charge very different things per each of these.
A very very average number across the board for say a larger chested person would be in the 5-6k range.
Again this is a loose number and not the standard. Good site to start looking at: http://www.topsurgery.net/costs/

Quote3. If I was to get married while I was still legally a girl and then got my gender markers switched, would thst nullify the marriage in some states, or would I just have found a loop hole in the system?

I have been married to a male 8 years now and listed as a female. I too had that concern for when I change my gender marker to M that it would null my marriage but it does not. As far as I can tell all 50 states recognize a marriage between a M & F EVEN if one or both persons later change their gender. The states see the marriage as a contract. The original contract still holds until one or both of the spouses contest it.

Quote4. How does being on T affect your vagina? I've heard people talk about vaginal atrophy which sounds unpleasant.

This varies per person and no one can for sure say what is going to happen to you down there.
Atrophy is a possibility but it is not guaranteed. If it does happen there are medications you can take that do help and alleviate it.
You could also experience clitoral growth as well. No one can say how big nor small it will be nor stay. That's genetics.

Quote5. I'm Hispanic and already have ass hair and back hair as a girl, is getting on T going to turn me into a forest? Will it maybe be easier for me to grow facial hair?

Hair is genetic. If the males in your family are exceptionally hairy then you have a chance of being that way too. But again it's not a guarantee but it is a chance.