I had no idea what to call this thread, but my main question is what do you think of cis people taking trans gender hormones? I kind of thought of that as a line you can't really cross without being trans or non-binary, but a friend of mine who previously identified mtf and is well into HRT is detransitioning but plans to continue to take feminizing hormones . Ultimately, I accept however someone wants to identify as their identity, but I can't help finding this a little hard to understand. How can someone identify as their assigned sex while transitioning away from it physically? I hope that doesn't sound judgmental, they're one of my best friends and I just really want to understand where they're coming from. Does anyone have any similar experiences/some perspective to offer?

Some bodybuilders take testosterone, the 'male equivalent' to the HRT you are describing for reasons other than gender, don't they? They do it to build a particular body shape even if they're cis. The same could be for those who want a more feminine shape.

Chances are they're still working things out, even though you don't understand just give them the support they need at the moment.

There are a lot of ways to transition.  I have been on hormones (MtF) for 12 years.  I have not obviously transitioned because of my job.  My age and industry precluded any sort of public transition.  That doesn't make me cis.  Perhaps they just want to continue the hormones until a more complete transition can occur later.  I have read of certain gay males who are mostly bottoms and take low dose estrogen.  They identify as male, intend to stay male, but just enjoy the submissive role.  Perhaps your friend is just finding the right path for her and is at a different place on the masc/fem scale.  That could change as her feelings change.  What I hate is attempting to put a label on people. 

Even if someone detransitions they're still going to need hormones in their body for health reasons.

Yeh after a while you won't produce your own hormones properly, and your friend my find the idea of testosterone supplements unpalatable.

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Transition and hormones are needed for some of us and yet for others they may just be experimentation? I dunno.

I've heard stories of men transitioning to be women for sexual reasons and that may or may not work out for them.

If that's their thing and it works then shrug, good for them.

I've heard others comment on transitioning because they had a 'better life' as a woman....again I cannot speak to this experience.

My life has been an upheaval since transition....both good and bad with the people I've lost in my life and the people I've gained. I definitely think it was worth it for me and I definitely felt I had the need to be who I really am.