I know this is a 'piece of string' question, but I'm sure newcomers would like a rough ballpark on what to expect. Have you been on hrt for five years and still fly under the radar? Did you get outed after three weeks when someone exclaimed "He's a girl!!!!" Any and all experiences most welcome 
As a side question you can mention whether or not you were TRYING to go stealth   

Quick reply here. I was able to make it about 8 months before some (not all) people would assume I was a woman as long as I didn't speak. After that I started trying to present as female.


~Evelyn

You could go forever around people you know if you wanted to.  It's all in how you dress and present yourself.  If a random stranger genders you opposite of what you desire . . . it doesn't matter.


Sapere Aude

I've gone about 6 months before the guys I cycle with noticed that I was much slower and started asking what was up.

From a looks perspective it depends what i am wearing, if I am in guys clothes I still don't look too feminine- if I wear androgynous clothes I am mainly taken as a woman.

Dana

Within months of starting HRT and laser hair removal, I couldn't pass any longer as male (I also had long hair and androgynous features). Had I not done any hair removal, I think I could have passed as male for longer.

I'm at four months; I'm growing my hair out, and three sessions into laser beard removal, but otherwise people are still surprised when I come out to them.

8 years

I made it about a year before I was being occasionally gendered female by strangers. But passing is an overall thing. If you really need to hide it, you can.

I don't look very masculine or androgynous most of the time. If i chose to dress/present that way, and shortened my hair etc i agree that i could do it indefinitely in most situations. Some clothes would require some sort of minimization of my bust though and athletics/swimming would be hard to say the least.

Hi,

I'm just on spiro for the last 6 months.  I'm very stealth.  Have had people telling me my skin looks softer.  Some who have touch me say it's softer.  I've even had one guy tell me in the middle of a conversation that I should grow my beard back because it looks better.  I definitely got the impression he thought something was up.

Take care,
Paige

The beard is a huge disguise. As long as I hide my breasts no one can see past the beard. Luckily I don't have any problems with it.

Quote from: Deborah on April 13, 2016, 07:12:53 AM
You could go forever around people you know if you wanted to.  It's all in how you dress and present yourself.  If a random stranger genders you opposite of what you desire . . . it doesn't matter.


Sapere Aude

I have heard this before, it will be interesting to see how it works out...

Quote from: KayXo on April 13, 2016, 09:06:05 AM
Within months of starting HRT and laser hair removal, I couldn't pass any longer as male (I also had long hair and androgynous features). Had I not done any hair removal, I think I could have passed as male for longer.

Looks like the 'mones like YOU! Mebbe your bod sucked them up like they'd been missing for some reason
Was the laser that effective?

Quote from: MeghanMe on April 13, 2016, 11:13:12 AM
I'm at four months; I'm growing my hair out, and three sessions into laser beard removal, but otherwise people are still surprised when I come out to them.

Sorry, but do you mean when you reveal you were born male, or when you tell them you're female? Not sure what you're coming out to

At 5 months, cannot pass in "T"shirt , boobs way stand out.
In a jumper, they are now visible and nips are prominent.

I'm getting very close.
My shirts are maxed out in size.
I have super puffy areola, AWESOME!!!

Quote from: Deborah on April 13, 2016, 07:12:53 AM
You could go forever around people you know if you wanted to.  It's all in how you dress and present yourself.  If a random stranger genders you opposite of what you desire . . . it doesn't matter.

This has been my game plan so far.  I have been on HRT eight months.  I have shoulder-length hair that I keep in a ponytail. My ears are double-pierced, and I wear small studs in my ears.  I have almost no facial hair, since I have been doing laser/electrolysis for a year and-a-half. 

My only problem is that my breasts are becoming quite noticeable.  I work at a DoD facility, and the dress is casual. I usually wear a polo shirt and cargo pants. I thought about wearing a sports bra under my shirt, but that may even be harder to explain if someone notices. Right now I just have big man boobs.

So far I don't think anyone suspects anything, lol. For all I know, there could be whispers. In a way, I don't care. It could actually make it easier when I finally come out as trans.

~Terri

I started presenting female full time five months before starting HRT. I was passing maybe 70% of the time (either that or I lived in an extremely supportive community).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I made it three months before I had to come out at work; six months before I categorically could not pass as male even to strangers. Realistically, I'd say I had hit the point where I had trouble hiding it ("male fail") by around that 3-4 month mark. I too had waist-length hair and had already done laser, though.  Maybe with a buzz cut and a beard I could have stretched it a little longer.

So far going five months strong mostly undetected.
However I'm certain I'm running out of time before male fail occurs.
I know for certain a few people are suspicious.
But being the free spirited type I can play off any accusation.
My face and skin texture has changed substantially however. I think my saving grace is the shadow of hair on my upper lip since I haven't done any hair removal from my face.
I might have two more months or so at best.