'Finally, slowly, my body was catching up with my mind.'

For Juliet Jacques, beginning hormone replacement therapy is a vital step towards her goal. But what will it feel like to go through a second puberty?

    * Juliet Jacques
    * guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 12 January 2011 10.59 GMT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jan/12/transgender-health-and-wellbeing

Two months after my second visit to the Gender Identity Clinic, I made an appointment with my GP. Having decided against saving sperm, I was finally arranging my hormone prescription, which the clinic had sent to my surgery.

At least, I assumed they had – I'd seen no confirmation. After a second summer trying to 'pass', struggling with the increased scrutiny that comes with wearing less (especially with the heat ruining my hair and makeup), I was keen to start my hormone replacement therapy, knowing that this would be a vital step towards my goal. The GIC had asked what I anticipated: some facial feminisation, hip growth and breast development, I said, having researched the physical effects on transsexual women (which are similar to those for pubertal cisgender women). The psychological consequences, I said, remained to be seen.