You really shouldnt take hrt unless you intend to transition,
A, there are medical problems possible, so a doctor is vital.
B, It makes you sterile in roughly 6 months, and the little thingy wont work.... (if you think thats bad i guess)
C, its a big thing

For me, I cant pass as male anymore, I just look like a girl... I suspect with some effort I could pass as male, but it would probably end up with mascara stubble to do it.... and then I'm not sure.

Quote from: omega1251 on September 11, 2009, 05:51:51 AM
Finewine,

Thanks for the reply. I guess I should have given a better introduction; perhaps because of my naivete to this whole matter and a sense of urgency as I escape my early twenties (currently 24) I am considering undergoing HRT just so I can get the "maximum possible benefit" so to speak.

I think going to a therapist is one of my first steps I should take; in reality I am fairly new to all this (just started crossdressing about a year ago with help from my gf) but always knew I had a bias for it since I had crossdressed and felt feminine when I was a young child.

Another piece of commentary that I've heard twice is that HRT is strictly for people who want to transition -- does anyone have opinion on that?

Ive been on HRT for a year and unfortunately yes I can still present as male. Hopefully FFS next month will remedy this

I don't wear make up half of the time, and sometimes I'll go out wearing boy clothes or whatever -- like when I went to the local gay club with my girlfriend. And, no, I can't pass as male. But I can pass as a butch-ish lesbo. I'm weird, I'm normal, average girly most of the time, but sometimes I'll go out looking more butch. I went though a phase with a chelsea hair cut and looked really butch lesbian... I don't think anyone called me a guy even with that hair cut. LOL (Chelsea cut is long bangs in front, and shaved back... I then let it grow out a bit, and spiked the back, shortened the bangs a bit.)

Although the hair cut was fun, I'm now growing it out more and looking more fem... I like to do the soft-butch thing sometimes, and look all Shane like (From the L word). Just 'cause she's hot. I add my own style to it. My GF cut her hair short recently, too. So, she's going shorter and I'm going longer now. LOL

But, yeah, I don't think I can pass as male.

In my head, however, sometimes I think I look boy-ish and all that. The world is different, however, 'cause in reality I don't get any issues -- but my head is completely different. I see things others probably don't see. I don't know *shrugs* I'll go on about how horrible my voice is although no one has ever called me sir on the phone and no one has said that I sounded like a boy. But, in my head, I think my voice is awful.

On that point (sorry, slightly hi-jacking this thread), my gf was wondering who was Trans on my FB and i went through a through and there were a lot of trans ppl that she wouldn't of ever thought was trans. Yet, all of those ppl all has some sort of self-conscious though that they didn't pass, or they look like men in dresses, and so on. And, she's pretty honest about it, and wasn't just pretending.

I also think trans ppl can recognize other trans ppl 'cause we know what to look for. I also think that we beat ourselves up way too much. I know I go through times like that, especially when I'm depressed. A lot of ppl do that. Trans or not, we all find sometime to beat ourselves up and over analyze what we think are flaws. Sometimes, however, we just have to pick ourselves up and keep going and not let our self-beatups rule our lives.

I still pass as male after a year of HRT, but I think it's due to my size, voice, and clothing - my face is pretty androgynous and I'm pretty girly in mannerisms.  I get ma'amed occasionally anyway.

Pass?  I never pass as a girl.

Kristi

After 10 years on HRT.....yes I can pass as male but in a sort of Jon Bon Jovi way!

Not sure you should be starting HRT? I had to live fulltime as a female for 6 months before I could get s script. The idea is to transition into a female, not be a women this morning and a man tonight when its more convenient. Hormones put your body through hell! The changes are serious and you need to be the same about where your going

Having had FFS a few years ago, that would be very unlikely.  But why would I want to?  Interesting question though.

Quote from: ohRikki on October 24, 2009, 07:19:08 PM
Hormones put your body through hell!

ohmm
mine is having a fantastic time, could you please define hell?

Stuff hurts, yeah, but it's good stuff and good hurts 

Quote from: ohRikki on October 24, 2009, 07:19:08 PM
Not sure you should be starting HRT? I had to live fulltime as a female for 6 months before I could get s script. The idea is to transition into a female, not be a women this morning and a man tonight when its more convenient. Hormones put your body through hell! The changes are serious and you need to be the same about where your going

Puts your body through hell?

You know you're meant to be taking estrogen right? not HGH?

Quote from: ohRikki on October 24, 2009, 07:19:08 PM
Not sure you should be starting HRT? I had to live fulltime as a female for 6 months before I could get s script. The idea is to transition into a female, not be a women this morning and a man tonight when its more convenient. Hormones put your body through hell! The changes are serious and you need to be the same about where your going

I wish they were! unfortunitely if most of us are really honest many of us are still struggling to pass as female, so passing as a male would be fairly easy to many. As you say in your post the idea is to transition into a women. But the more experienced we become the more we see the reality and limitations of HRT and surgery.

Not entirely true Naturally Blonde... some yes, but some not .... i think its a fairly even split... HRT can be drastic, or can have nearly no effect. Swings and roundabouts.

Becca, glad the HRT is pleasant for you. I have had extreme mood changes, my heart races and I go for days without being able to sleep. Then I spend days in bed unable to move. My breasts have golfball size knots in them and hurt like crazy. My nipples are so sensitive I can't handle a silk blouse rubbing them. I have been sick to my stomach and had cramps. My entire body is changing, I love my soft skin, smaller facial pores and slower hair growth but for me having my body completely reshape itself has been pure hell at times. Its not something to take lightly. I have grown to a full B-cup in less than a year.

Have you considered seeing a doctor? half of those symptoms seem quite worrying...

Quote from: The None Blonde on October 27, 2009, 04:58:15 AM
Have you considered seeing a doctor? half of those symptoms seem quite worrying...

I agree

Yes, Rikki.  Much of that doesn't sound good at all.  See your doctor very soon and get checked out.  Your heart racing and all that could be signs of bad things happening to you.

We each react differently, but hormones have been a blessing to me.  Other than some breast pain (actually, discomfort more than pain) physically I have felt absolutely the best I have in years.  Psychologically, I feel the best I have ever.

As always, YMMV.

- That annoyingly happy Kate

It sounds like it's definitely a matter of "how-bad-do-I-want-this" for you, and you certainly have my respect for sticking with it. I agree with the doctor sentiment though, that's not right. However don't let them just take you off randomly or automatically blame everything solely on the hormones because it could very well be something that was wrong with you before just starting to get worse.

Quote from: omega1251 on September 11, 2009, 05:32:15 AM
Hi all,

I have been considering going on HRT before it's "too late" so to speak. However, I need to keep up both a male and female appearance and the results I've heard from HRT are mixed. Obvious differences may be simply breast size and fat redistribution which can be remedied if you're trying to pass as male, however, what about facial features?

I guess what I'm saying is, if you don't have make-up on do you still look like a guy?

Thanks all.

It's really easy to live show up as a male, you could wear chest binders if boobs are prominents and with some eyeliner sticks you can create some bearded shadows etc.. but while being a "guy" before I got ma'amed anyhoo

No. My body shape is far too female to hide under anything but an oversized carboard box.

Probably not. Although I don't always pass as female, I am sure I can't really pass as male. The worst was that in-between phase when you look like a weird combo of masculine and feminine, but I'm pretty much past that stage by now. Although I've got very strong and prominent facial features, and seeking FFS, I can still pass and get ma'am'd in person without any makeup.