I am new to this system.  A bit of history about me, and my desire:  When I was a teenager, I use to watch the GI Joe cartoon, and saw an episode that changed people to animals, or animal hybrids.  I thought that that would be neat if it were possible to make a man a woman.  I then fantasized, often, of becoming a woman and getting pregnant, and such.  Later I discovered that this was impossible with the current technology.  I still would fantasize about becoming a woman, but enjoyed playing with the women I dated.  I am now in my 40's and married, still fantasizing about having the form of a woman, but retaining my penis, and it's functionality.  My wife doesn't mind my crossdressing, in the bedroom, but I want to look the part, and do it more.  I do not look the part, aside from the overweight man boobs, which I like, but don't like the gut, which I am working to be rid of.

I've done some internet poking around, and have found some places that say some herbs help, but then other places say they don't, and this is seems to be a place that will have real information that can help.

How should I progress to look more feminine, and retain my functionality, and where should I go?  I live near Indianaplois Indiana.

Hi

Welcome to Susan's    Great to have you here - looking forward to seeing you around the forum.

Herbs make pretty much no difference and can actually be dangerous if used incorrectly - just because they're natural doesn't mean they can't cause harm. Generally estrogens will lessen your testosterone and while you might not lose all penis functionality there's a good chance of losing some. When it comes to hormones we can't really pick and chose the changes we want, even more so with herbs.

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Cheers

Grace

I struggled a lot trying to find ways of getting things done without hormones due to valuing my privacy to the point of paranoia back then (all changed now - ta da).

Diet, exercise, clothes, toiletries etc can do a lot but for me it still just wasn't enough.

Herbs I read through everything I could find on the net which when I'm in research mode can easily be several hundred pages a day. Pros and cons, claims of working, research papers, test results, side effects etc it was exhausting as most research is but in the end there was no promise of results but plenty threats of some rather dire consequences particularly at high doses.

As far as I know herbs can be fun to play with and safe enough in small amounts but they wont really make a dent if feminisation is your goal.

In the US it looks easy enough to get real HRT legitimately via informed consent.
UK slightly trickier but c'est la vie.

Anything more still means you need a therapist to progress but should be plenty more about that elsewhere.

What is HRT?

Thanks you for the response.  I will look around for a therapist who is understanding of this for further consideration.

Here are a few resources that could help with self acceptance:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,208438.msg1847638.html#msg1847638


Basically its possible with hrt = hormone replacement therapy thinks shrink and libido stops for a few months....
but its also possible o's become more "feminine" later, being more drawn out and spread over the body...

with high enough levels of estrogen its possible a female libido appears ...

A fine tuning might be possible with anti androgens, so a certain level of testo remains... still in the female range... it may also help with a female libido ...


hugs

I am having difficulties finding an affordable therapist.  What is the average price?    Some seem a bit high just to meet, and talk.  Can someone recommend someone in the Indianapolis /Lafeyette Indiana area?

You could have a look here:

http://www.networktherapy.com/directory/find_therapist.asp

and if its connected for example with depressions it might be covered ...

or you might ask at a lgbt center or plannedparenthood for a referral ...

and you might look here:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,187135.0.html


hugs

HRT = hormone replacement therapy

I thought I saw elsewhere that someone was getting Hormone Therapy from the VA.  My VA said it was not done through them.  Has anyone had experience with VA Hormone Therapy?  Is it only offered in some locations?

Sorry but most of my info is UK so not sure what VA is.

But pretty sure you can get hormones without psych tests in US just using the magic words "Informed Consent".

Counselling can be fun though but if money is tight you can skip it for a bit.

Quote from: Jerrica on May 07, 2016, 07:57:30 PM
Sorry but most of my info is UK so not sure what VA is.

But pretty sure you can get hormones without psych tests in US just using the magic words "Informed Consent".

Counselling can be fun though but if money is tight you can skip it for a bit.

Short for Department of Veterans Affairs.  Services for those who served in the US Military and their families.  Has several services available.

Ah I see.

Sounds promising if they have any alternate routes like correcting a hormonal imbalance.

Well, they don't make it easy to find.  They do perform Hormone therapy for transgender service members, they do not do gender reassignment surgery, electrolysis, or FFS.  That still is at cost to those who are after it.  There are a limited amount of facilities that have the ability to perform this function as only some facilities have the required doctrines available to them.

A mental health screening is required before hormone therapy can start. 

I don't know if it is helpful to anyone else, but at least it is available.

Have my first meeting on the first.  Hopefully things will go well.

Quote from: lordvalantis on May 13, 2016, 09:10:54 PM
Have my first meeting on the first.  Hopefully things will go well.

Wish you luck 


hugs

Had my first appointment today.  My therapist is new to the system, but has been working with Transgendered people for several years.  She pushed me forward in the system, and skipped 2 steps for me to see her directly today, I was supposed to talk to a Case Worker, and one other person before going to her.  Pretty much covered basic mental health questions today, but she is very friendly, and helpful.  I like her.  Have my next appointment in 2 weeks.  She seems genuinely interested in helping.

Hi

I started hormones and then took T blockers and love the new me. GCS in a few months time.

The old me was similar to where you are now, be careful. Once you start it is hard to stop.

Take care

Jools x

Okay, had two appointments now.  She said I am depressed but ruled out Gender Dysphoria.  Why then do I still feel like I should be female?

I don't know and that is a question you will have to ask her. But there is something that may have thrown her off. In your initial post, you mentioned retaining your penis. If you made that statement to her, that would fit the definition of non binary and unfortunately many therapist haven't had much experience or understanding of the non binary. If you are not familiar with it, you should brush up on it before your next appointment. The non binary is transgender and may require much the same treatment that transsexualism requires but the definition is much more fluid. You should look at our WIKI as a starting point.

Quote from: Dena on June 27, 2016, 06:52:37 PM
I don't know and that is a question you will have to ask her. But there is something that may have thrown her off. In your initial post, you mentioned retaining your penis. If you made that statement to her, that would fit the definition of non binary and unfortunately many therapist haven't had much experience or understanding of the non binary. If you are not familiar with it, you should brush up on it before your next appointment. The non binary is transgender and may require much the same treatment that transsexualism requires but the definition is much more fluid. You should look at our WIKI as a starting point.

Thanks for that Wiki.  Read through it, and just as a guess, it is because I fully function socially and at work as a male.  My feelings in the matter....don't matter, at least from the Dysphoria context.  It doesn't matter that I want breasts, like to wear women's clothing, and want a more feminine figure.  Nor does my predilection of playing exclusively female characters in my video games, or past fantasies.

Maybe it is just to early for her to diagnose it?  As most of that has only been lightly covered so far, she has been focusing on my relationship and work difficulties.  But then why rule it out?


Sorry, it is kind of making me angry for her response.