I have been on HRT for a little over two months. I am taking sprio and sublingual estradiol.

These treatments have pretty much cured my depression, but otherwise I feel pretty much the same. I kind of expected estrogen to feel actively different most of the time, but so far that doesn't seem to be the case.

However, today I felt my nerves for the first time on HRT, and it felt very different. I get stage fright on occasion. This time wasn't worse or anything, but it felt so very different. Like the nerves were in my body instead of my head.

Has anyone else had similar experiences with performance anxiety before and after HRT? I'd also love to know if are other experiences that feel distinctly different that I can look forward to.

Thx in advance. Love you all <3

A personal take on how I experience gender.

EDIT - more context would have helped as

I'm not trying to propose some simplified mathematical fits all graph here.

I'm struggling, having been out as non binary for about 5 years, with the idea that trans woman might be a better introductory starting point label for me. I understand gender as complex - far more complex than a 2 line graph sketch - but drew the graph to hone in on MY experience with fluidity. I was interested in my strength/clarity of feeling at different points.

Well, it's more or less in the title. I've been on HRT for about 10 months now and I have significantly decreased my alcohol intake since then, didn't drink at all in the first two months. I now have a drink about every two weeks and of course, my tolerance is way down. But I've noticed that while I'm fine drinking wine (and drunk after two glasses, which is fine), beer is absolutely not an option anymore. I just get sick in the stomach after having even just one beer. I've tried lager and Guinness and they've both produced the same effect. It's not really a problem for me, though I would enjoy a pint here and there.

Anyone else here who had the same happen to them? Is there any biological/hormonal/chemical reason for it maybe?

I feel so embarrassed even considering certain things!

I know 'just trying it out' shouldn't be a big deal, but in my mind, it is. Even though I know it shouldn't be.

Can anyone else relate? It's like consciously, yeah it's just a thing. It's not inherently gendered (clothes, makeup whatever) But! I can't help but feel so embarrassed to try some shit

My partner has been extremely supportive thus far and is ready to explore with me, but shit is so embarrassing!

My guess is internalized "feminine is less than masculine" and I'm not sure how to get past it? Anyone else? Please? Advice? Am making sense?

This is a fun, high-energy song that was important to me as an egg, and finds new significance in transition. I didn't realize it was a trans-related song until much later:

Shirley Manson wrote the lyrics based loosely around two novels she had just read, Sarah, which was about a transgender prostitute,[8] and The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, written by author Laura Albert under the pseudonym of JT LeRoy.

"I wanted to write an ode to transgender spirit, inspired by my interactions with this peculiar but emotionally generous creature I knew online as JT"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_Lips

Anyone else have songs that were significant to them as eggs, or are otherwise trans-related?

Updated January 16th, 2025:

Dear VoiceKit Pioneers,

Thank you for your interest in VoiceKit and for being part of this incredible journey. Your enthusiasm and support have meant so much to us as we’ve worked toward creating a tool to help empower you to meet your voice training goals.

After careful consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone the development of VoiceKit. This decision wasn’t made lightly and reflects our deep commitment to delivering a product that meets our Unclockable standards of quality and usefulness.

Unclockable Was Founded on an Idea: We Deserve Quality.

As we evaluated the next stages of development, we realized that achieving the level of excellence you deserve would require more time, focus, and resources than we can currently sustain. Instead of rushing forward, we’ve chosen to take a step back, ensuring we can bring VoiceKit to life in a sustainable way that fulfills its true potential.

A Note for Our Beta Program Participants

For those who joined the beta program by purchasing early access for $1.99: You will receive a full refund. An email will be sent to you within the next three days confirming the refund details. Funds will return to accounts fully within 5 business days. We greatly appreciate your trust and commitment, and we want to honor that by making this process as smooth as possible.

We deeply value your understanding, patience, and grace as we take this time to recalibrate. Should you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m here to listen.

This isn’t goodbye—it’s “not yet.” We can’t wait to welcome you back when the time is right, with a VoiceKit app that’s even better than you imagined.

With gratitude,

Maddie Co-Founder, Unclockable

There is no limit to what you can do, when you keep your appointment with who you are becoming.

cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/17983418

A great video about how cis people should stop playing trans characters especially if the actor is the gender they are transitioning from not to.

geteilt von: https://lemmy.ml/post/24679007

Remember it is important to repeat the messaging to the degree it is amplified to population segments that are the least likely to have heard those already.

Make no concessions regarding the basic facts, the stronger the harder the longer it engages the target.

Remember this is an attack to Reason, to Scientific Inquiry, to Democracy, to the Environment, to Women Rights, and to Racialized People. Surrender no inch to the corporatist fascists.

Gender dysphoria: A concept designated in the DSM-5-TR as clinically significant distress or impairment related to gender incongruence, which may include desire to change primary and/or secondary sex characteristics. Not all transgender or gender diverse people experience gender dysphoria. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria

DSM-5 aims to avoid stigma and ensure clinical care for individuals who see and feel themselves to be a different gender than their assigned gender. It replaces the diagnostic name “gender identity disorder” with “gender dysphoria,” as well as makes other important clarifications in the criteria. It is important to note that gender nonconformity is not in itself a mental disorder. The critical element of gender dysphoria is the presence of clinically significant distress associated with the condition. https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Practice/DSM/APA_DSM-5-Gender-Dysphoria.pdf

Major medical associations agree that gender-affirming care is clinically appropriate for children and adults with gender dysphoria, which, according to the American Psychiatric Association, is psychological distress that may result when a person’s gender identity and sex assigned at birth do not align. Though the care is highly individualized, some children may decide to use reversible puberty suppression therapy. This part of the process may also include hormone therapy that can lead to gender-affirming physical change. Surgical interventions, however, are not typically done on children and many health care providers do not offer them to minors. https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/03/politics/tennessee-gender-affirming-care/index.html

For transgender and gender-diverse youth who have gender dysphoria, delaying puberty might:

• Improve mental well-being.
• Ease depression and anxiety.
• Improve social interactions with others.
• Lower the need for future surgeries.
• Ease thoughts or actions of self-harm. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gender-dysphoria/in-depth/pubertal-blockers/art-20459075

Regardless of the controversy on how and when to administer treatments to trans and nonbinary kids, psychological science is very clear that gender-affirming care helps trans kids, said Singh. “It is unconscionable that politicians would label it as child abuse,” said Edwards-Leeper. A study out of the University of Washington discovered that among 104 trans and nonbinary youths ages 13 to 20, gender-affirming care lowered the odds of moderate to severe depression by 60% and suicidality by 73% (Tordoff, D. M., et al., JAMA Network Open, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2022). Another study, which used data from more than 27,000 people collected by the National Center for Transgender Equality’s 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey (PDF, 2.22MB), showed that transgender youth who began hormone treatment in adolescence had fewer thoughts of suicide, were less likely to experience major mental health disorders, and had fewer problems with substance misuse than those who started hormones in adulthood (Turban, J. L., et al., PLOS ONE, Vol. 17, No. 1., 2022). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/07/advocating-transgender-nonbinary-youths

Defy Sex Binary

Sex, gender, and sexuality are all distinct from one another (although they are often related), and each exists on its own spectrum. Moreover, sex cannot be depicted as a simple, one-dimensional scale. In the world of DSDs, an individual may shift along the spectrum as development brings new biological factors into play. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/sa-visual/visualizing-sex-as-a-spectrum/

Misgendering, harassment not protected speech

The court went to great lengths to stress actual discrimination cases will continue to turn on their specific facts and that ‘gender critical’ speech, including but not limited to speech that misgenders trans and/or non-binary people, will continue to be subject to the laws of the land, including the provisions of the Equality Act. In practical terms, the impact of the decision is limited. In particular, the protected right does not extend to speech constituting harassment or discrimination against trans people. https://criticallegalthinking.com/2021/06/29/not-a-nazi-but-forstater-v-cgd-europe/

Detransition myths

The study, conducted by experts from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, examines reported regret rates for dozens of surgeries as well as major life decisions and compares them to the regret rates for transgender surgeries. It finds that "there is lower regret after [gender-affirming surgery], which is less than 1%, than after many other decisions, both surgical and otherwise." It notes that surgeries such as tubal sterilization, assisted prostatectomy, body contouring, facial rejuvenation, and more all have regret rates more than 10 times as high as gender-affirming surgery. https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/landmark-systematic-review-of-trans

Trans Athletes

As Katrina Karkazis, a senior visiting fellow and expert on testosterone and bioethics at Yale University explains, “Studies of testosterone levels in athletes do not show any clear, consistent relationship between testosterone and athletic performance. Sometimes testosterone is associated with better performance, but other studies show weak links or no links. And yet others show testosterone is associated with worse performance.” The bills’ premises lack scientific validity. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trans-girls-belong-on-girls-sports-teams/

Misc Videos

For the most part of this video Vaush debunks every argument that puberty blockers are an experimental treatment https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/watch?v=HhYruaFZEOI

Vaush The best pro-trans arguments https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/watch?v=sB6YNRn2pQQ

Vaush 2 hours of pro trans arguments https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/watch?v=HhYruaFZEOI

Jon Stewart destroys ignorant GOP lawmaker for criminalizing youth transition https://iv.datura.network/watch?v=NPmjNYt71fk

Abstract

Purpose: Chronic gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) with sublingual estradiol (SLE) has not been studied. We aimed to compare GAHT with SLE only, to combined oral (CO) estradiol and cyproterone acetate, in treatment-naive trans women.

Methods: Twenty-two trans women enrolled into either the CO arm or the SLE-only arm (0.5 mg four times daily) in this 6-month prospective study. Anthropometric and laboratory variables were collected at baseline and 3 and 6 months. At the study beginning and end, body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and bioelectrical impedance, and gender dysphoria, sexual desire, and function were assessed by validated questionnaires.

Results: Subjects in the SLE were older, 26.3±5.8 years versus 20.1±2.3 years, p=0.006. All anthropometric, body composition, and laboratory variables were identical at baseline. Although dysphoria appeared greater, and sexual function lower at baseline in the CO group, this canceled out after age adjustment. Both treatments induced similar biochemical and hormonal changes. Creatinine, hemoglobin and cholesterol decreased significantly, while testosterone was suppressed to the same level in both groups: 3.22 [1.47-5.0] nmol/L in the SLE group and 2.41 [0.55-8.5] nmol/L in the CO, p=0.65. Significant changes in body composition toward a more feminine body were noted in both groups. Dysphoria did not significantly improve in either group, while sexual desire and function decreased at six months in both, p<0.001.

Conclusions: Both treatments achieved similar clinical changes. At this stage, SLE, which repeatedly induces alarming excursions of serum estradiol throughout the day, appears to offer no advantage over the CO approach.

Estradiol monotherapy. Started HRT 3 months ago with 2mg Estradiol oral tablets. Have a doctor appointment in a few days and wanted to ask to double my oral prescription, split up 4mg into 4 doses sublingual every day. Not sure if my Estrogen levels are too high and my doctor will deny my request.

• Pre-HRT Estrogen (TOTAL IA): 181 pg/mL
• Pre-HRT Testosterone (Total IA): 246 ng/dL
• Levels this week Estrogen Total IA: 438 pg/mL
• Levels this week Testosterone Total IA 115 ng/dL

From what I understand I feel like I'm definitely not achieving Testosterone suppression. https://transfemscience.org/ recommends T levels around 10 ng/dL. But having E levels of 400 pg/mL is the right range for E.

Can I convince my doctor to double my dose if my E is already at >400 pg/mL?

Edit 01: I did not take my daily dose until after my blood was drawn. Blood draw was already 24+ hours since last oral dose.

Edit02: Thank you all for your responses. My doctor approved the prescription doubling. My idiot brain realized after the fact that I didn't even need the doubling in the first place (I guess I get to stockpile now). I intended to follow the 0.5mg four times a day protocol shown here https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38130980/ . Really could have just cut my 2mg pills into four pieces.

I get a considerable ammount of ingrown hairs when I shave, with some being quite nasty (very inflamated and sensitive, laser is out of reach for now, I was considering waxing and epilation but still a out of reach now, I mostly want a way to help prevent ingrown hairs from appearing in the first place or making them go away faster

cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/17883633

Title really says it all, warning for mentions of 'crossdressing' etc and disliking labels.

I'd like some advice on jewelry I can wear out and about when I'm presenting as a man. Preferably something that wouldn't get too many looks on a 40 year old.

Simple gold or silver chains are an obvious choice. Bead mala bracelets too.

Hai! I'm new-ish here. I've known for a bit I'm trans, but barely started anything substantial really. I'm easing into it, but I've had this thing stuck in my mind recently.

Whats something relatively small or cheap/easy that helps make you feel girl? I have a few loungey clothes and stuff and been working on body hair removal but I'm looking for something... Else? I'm not sure what. Just thought this could be a good place for ideas or advice.

I'm just looking for new easy ideas that might help me feel more 'at home'? Idk I wanna be a comfy chill relaxed girl.

Firstly, I don't mean any harm by this post and if you think any of this is wrong please let me know. This post is based of my own research, but not necessarily my own experience, as I haven't done all of these, YMMV.

Contents

• Gaining/Losing Fat
• Gaining Muscle
  • Strength Training
  • Cardio
• Artificial
  • Clothing
  • Hip Pads
  • BBL

Gaining/Losing Fat

There's no problem with simply gaining some bodyweight especially if you're underweight or gain within the 'healthy' range of BMI. In that case you might instead see some benefit from losing fat for a smaller waist to ass ratio. But do keep in mind that if you are currently not on Estrogen/T-blockers, gaining weight might add them to the wrong places, or places you might not want like your gut/ or arms. Estrogen also makes you gain weight, but this usually does this to the butt and legs, which makes gaining weight when estrogen more reliable, but even if you're not on it you might have some good results without being on E depending on your genetics.

Gaining Muscle

Whilst this might not be something you initially think can make you more fem, it does work. I recommend some form of Resistance Training(Weights, Calisthenics). Personally I like Weights due to simplicity of structure, but you can and will gain muscle with both. If you're AMAB consider risks of training your upper body since androgen receptors there are more dense and you can more easily gain upper body mass. For unrelated reasons(testosterone being anabolic(muscle promoting) you can also more easily put on muscle if you're not on hormones. If you are on hormones, then you still can gain muscle but less than if you weren't.

In regards to specific workouts I can only speak from my own experience. My personal preference is for training with weights. If you're looking for something simple and full body, then Allpro's routine is pretty good. You can also check reddits /r/fitness for their recommendations. If you want to do just legs, then you can check out /r/strongcurves. Personally I prefer the fewer workouts from Allpro, so I just don't do the upper body but following the same progression scheme, and I added in a more leg work(Hip Thrust + Hip Abduction machine). Exercising takes time, but it is a sure fire way to increase the size of your butt/thighs. On a side note cardio is incredibly healthy for you to do and great for burning calories, but too much will make you have slower leg gains relative to just strength training. If you go from sedentary to cycling/running/any cardio you will still gain leg muscle. RP Strength is a great resource for info on this.

Other

I would like to preface this by saying that I have no experience from the below two, hip pads or BBl, and that these are just a couple of things that came up in my research.

Firstly are hip pads, you can buy these, or make your own, They work. BBL is a surgery where they take out fat from somewhere else (usually your midsection) and then re-implant it into your butt and thighs. I found the Mamaswole video on this to be informative

The easiest and fastest way is with clothing, you can make you legs seem wider by E.g. wearing baggy joggers, or skirts which flare out at the waist, or jeans which start high and are loose at the hips, or with flared bottom accentuating legs. ICKY has some great videos on this.

TLDR: Workout, Clothes are your friend, and other options exist if you want even more.

That was it, the extent of my knowledge. Since I don't have reddit I'm okay with this being cross posted there for more eyes on lemmy. Any other tips are appreciated!

So today I'm getting chest dysphoia really bad, and I feel sad and upset. I'm hoping I can get on HRT soon but I know it'll be a long time, especially since I just came out. So I wanted to ask, how does everyone here who hasn't started HRT yet cope with chest dysphoria? Is there something I can do to maybe feel better, even just temporarily?

Yes I included beard and mustache stubble on purpose. I like my little fuzzy bits of beard and mustache and I plan to keep them even as I transition and become more feminine, though I'll likely always present and act more masc since that's what I like.

My only real source of dysphoria at the moment is towards my flat chest and the fact I lack any breasts, it makes me sad and I hope I can get on Estrogen soon so I can begin to change that.

I've been closeted for years now. It's not safe for me to be/express who I really am, and I have no idea if or when I'll ever be able to develop into an actual person. I intend to survive anyway, if only for the hope that I might somehow, someday make existence a little more bearable for others.

I find that I'm a bit more motivated to keep going when I've watched/read/listened to stuff that reminds me why I even try. Stuff that's beautiful and/or believes that it's worth it. Stuff that reminds me that I'm not the only one to do this, that I'm connected to everyone who came before and will come after, and that we're not alone.

What helped you survive what you went through? What helps you now?

Can be anything really, as long as it's something I can get my hands on via the internet. Preferably stuff without too much of a time investment (neurodivergence means I effectively have very little productive time), but honestly, I just want to hear from you.

I feel like the world has placed an challenge on my shoulders I cannot and will not overcome, from a young age I’ve been considered unattractive, people treated me as if I wasn’t human, people used to use tissue paper to hand me things, make faces at me and treat me as if I was sick. On top of this I have abused by my father, when I was 14 I realized I was a women and thought hrt would fix me if I just held out long enough to start it, unfortunately after 3 years hrt, a year on injections many elements of myself are horrible, the only difference is I get the same treatment mixed in with transphobia, i feel like the only reasonable conclusion I can come to is death. I’m sorry I feel like the world wanted me to prove you don’t have to be attractive to be trans. Unfortunately that weight has proved way to much, I’m sorry to my friends I know they tried and tried, but I know normal people can only do much. I’m sorry to society, I know my life was supposed be some learning lessons but fuck I’m a human bein

I currently need something like that but there is no equivalent I've found on here (Lemmy)

"OutFront has worked with people from 20 states, including states like Texas and Missouri, along the Interstate 35 corridor and southeast states Florida, Tennessee and Georgia, Rohn said.

Minnesota’s relatively strong job market and economy are a draw for those seeking access to care"

Due to confounding factors, I can only say this is probably a good statement for those arriving with some savings, or had the time to find a job before the move. I have not had this level of luck myself, but this is the first city I've ever lived in where I have felt a desire to set down roots.*

"A November attack on two trans women at a light rail station in downtown Minneapolis, with cheers from onlookers, deterred a few people Charley spoke with who had been considering a move to Minnesota. He said it was hard on many members of the Twin Cities Transplant group. 

“To me, (bystanders cheering) was the most devastating part,” Charley said.

A place to call home

Housing is a considerable obstacle for many transplants — the housing crisis in the Twin Cities affects everybody, but the absence of a dedicated LGBTQ+ shelter is a risk for anyone relocating without guaranteed access to housing, Charley said. 

“And you can’t sleep in your car,” Charley said. “I talked to a transplant last year who was talking about doing anything to get out of Texas and mentioned in February living in a car.”

Charley said the “Catch-22” of finding a job without a local address is another challenge because employers might eliminate out-of-state applicants. To secure an apartment, one needs a job and proof of income, he said."

I don't know for sure if I am the actual person this interviewee said they had spoken to, but I may be since every description fits, and am willing to share and answer and questions you may have down in the comments.

To start off with what was mentioned in the article:

• There actually are dedicated services for unhoused younger transpeople (the oldest age that is included by any of the groups is 25).

• I have been living in my vehicle at various areas around the MN metro since bailing on Texas becoming a decent place July 4th weekend 2023 (more detail im the comments)

• I have had 0 interactions with anyone here that made me feel LESS safe due to my identity or presentation. And after learning some terrifying lessons on some things to not do, I haven't had any interactions at all overnight with the exception of 1 police check up every 1-2 months for the last year...(notes and qualifying stuff in comments)

If you are wondering If Minneapolis, or Minnesota overall, is worth the move, then I would say yes to anyone with a well laid plan and a small savings for comfort.

And you're saftey is at risk because you live in the worst areas, I can say 1.5 years of car life in MN has without a doubt been way better for my mental, physical, and spiritual help than 1.5 years back in texas under even a million dollar roof(frankly because I'd be hanging from it one way or another long before the year mark)

I've been 10months on HRT so maybe it's still too early to tell but I genuinely believe I won't pass unless I get FFS, my face was quite masculine before HRT and I think it's not possible to change some stuff without surgical intervention. I have a prominent brow ridge, my jaw is square and my chin is cleft. No matter how hard I try with makeup, voice, eyebrows and hair, I still get sir'd once people see my face. Sorrowfully without much hesitation. It makes me feel terribly illegitimate to call myself a woman when I look like this.

My dysphoria has lowered a lot since starting though and I actually feel alive for once in my life. But maybe it would be better identifying as a femboy until I can get FFS...

Hii,

I am a freshly cracked mtf egg.

TLDR at end

My parents are raging transphobes. Like the level of crazy where both are anti vax, one is flat earther, and I've had arguments with them where they claim that there are a lot of people out there who identify as a helicopter and people who identify as something they weren't born as should be in mental asylums.

My youngest sibling won't be an adult until 15 months from now and still lives in their house. I don't know what my parents will do once I'm out, but I doubt it will be supportive and I'm sure it would ruin my sibling's life. They're immigrants who hold citizenship in another country, so leaving the US ("which infected me with the woke mind virus") with my youngest sibling is quite possible. Which is why I want to pass in boymode until they graduate high school (may 2026) and can get out.

My question is, when do I start HRT and at what dose? Do I start low dose at x months before I want to be out? Do I start regular dose y months before I want to be out? I plan to move to a blue State in a few months, so I would be living in a different State for the last few months before my youngest sibling gets out. So I can make excuses and not go home and just need to pass over video call after about feb 2026.

omg, that was so so long. Feel like I had to get some of that off my chest. Thanks for reading!!!

Additional info to consider:

• My weight is about 25% of the way from the lowest normal BMI to the highest normal BMI.
• My natural voice is already androngenous and I've been called m'am on the phone many times, so any vocal changes will likely fly under the radar.
• My hair is receding, idk if starting a low dose earlier instead of an avg dose later would help me keep more of it?
• I would be 23 for most of 2025. I heard the body can keep developing until 25, so does that mean I need to start earlier to make more of that last stage of development go in a fem way instead of a masc way? Or does it not really make a difference?

TLDR: trying to pass in person for ~12 more months and pass over video call for ~18. Heard something (maybe myth?) that it would be better to start earlier since I'm still in my low 20s. When do I start and low dose or normal dose?