I'm late 30s, about four years on T and have recently been having intermittent itching. Had a clean STI panel this month, I wear cotton boxers, I don't think it's a yeast infection. Is this an early sign of atrophy? If I use estrogen cream for this, will it reverse any of my bottom growth?

Hello all!

I've been on/off T for about 8 years now, and I'm mostly seeing changes I like. However, as a bigger fella who's stayed big (gotten bigger since starting, even), I've retained the fat on my cheeks.

My cheeks make my face look very round and boyish, which as I'm approaching 30, is not really the look I'm going for.

My question is-- If you've lost weight since transitioning, have you seen any fat loss in your cheeks? I still have hope for my giant lovehandles as I start my diet + exercise journey anew, but I've never heard anything about the face. I'm considering FMS and the buccal fat removal would be a huge game changer, but I don't wanna sink at least 10k into that if I can just do it myself through sheer willpower.

Any insight is appreciated!

And of course, all the love to my other fat dudes!

Hey crew!

I'm 42 and will (hopefully) be starting on T later this month. I would love to hear from folks who started HRT in their mid thirties to mid/late forties.

Some specific questions are:

- Did you experience a "second puberty" and was it as intense as the first time around?

-Did you notice a change in body odor? And if so, how did you manage it?

-Did anything surprise you or catch you off guard within the first couple of months?

-If you could give one piece of advice to another late bloomer, what would it be?

Anything you're willing to share about your experience, or advice, would be much appreciated!

Today is the first day that I feel like the man I'm supposed to be . I got dressed, I tied a tie today, I put on my work clothes and ahhhhhhh. I finally feel like me. I am A MAN , I AM THEE MAN 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾✌🏾✌🏾☮️

Hey lads, I might be traveling internationally soon and wanted to know if anyone here, who’s not white and might be a target of the current attacks performed by the hailing weather (if you catch my drift,) has had any issues traveling internationally. I don’t assuming going out would be an issue but coming back might be?

Please share your experience or send me a DM.

What’s your skin care routine? Sounds bad but I never had one before. Just had dryish skin and used moisturizer when I needed it.

Now I’m 8 months in on T and I’m breaking out like crazy. I never had pimples in highschool, but now at 45 I’m a spotty bear! Also my face feels rougher, and more lines are showing. What should I be doing here? The usual moisturizer isn’t even working.

Thanks

TW mention of miscarriage, pregnancy, transphobia

Hey everyone. I figured people here would understand better as I've seen many parents post here. Given the age it makes sense.

Alright, long story short - my sister and I were raised progressively for the most part. Our father has always been conservative. We used to be close - we thought we were both queer and would help each other through it. Anyway, she met a guy nearing 30 when she was 18, a guy I worked with at a bookstore. The more I spoke against the relationship the more I (and my mother) were told to just "let her be happy". My sister left home at 19. She's heavily involved in a church - they paid for her wedding as well as her current one-year nursery school teacher certification. I'm talking creepy mega-church stuff. She's now 26 and pregnant. My father informed me yesterday.

When I asked my father how they planned on affording the child, he said "Don't worry, her husband's parents make in the seven figures". Then I pointed out that said parents were nearing 70 and wouldn't be here forever.

Earlier that morning I'd been experiencing a breakthrough bleed. Nothing bad, considering my PCOS/PMDD/Endometriosis, I've gotten it treated to the best of my abilities. I didn't know how I felt after except that I didn't want to get involved - but my body suddenly acting strange. I doubled over from uterine/ovarian pain, and was suddenly bleeding more than I had since I was about 6 months on T. I felt the way I did when I had a miscarriage at 24, and because I dealt with the miscarriage myself, no one believed me when I said I'd miscarried. I only found out I was pregnant when I was miscarrying. At the time I was in an incredibly deep depression and it didn't click. I have processed through the trauma of the loss, but now the trauma of being pregnant, remembering how much I hated it, is eating at me a little. I felt that alien sensation again. In fact, I told my partner that I'd rather have a chest-burster than fall pregnant. Always felt that way.

But what hurts most is that about a year ago, I came out as trans to my dad. My mom knew already because she's the only supportive family member. The entire extended family made it about themselves. I overheard my father on a call with my aunt - they're all "grieving me" as if they actually cared when I was presenting as a woman. When I had a chaser stalker when working at a mall, everyone said I had to deal with the consequences of my choice to start T.

Now can someone please tell me how a trans guy going on T, becoming more responsible and calm than ever in life, is something so "sad" to these MAGA types? But when a 26-year-old with no job and a husband who works as a manager in retail gets pregnant, everyone thinks it's a miracle. They spoke as if HRT would turn me into a monster. They used to flinch around me on purpose - until they realised I'm calm now.

I'm not sure what I'm grieving, or what all of my frustrations are. I wasn't invited to my sister's shotgun wedding either (thankfully). So I'm far removed from her in many ways and I do not see the same person. It's like looking at the physical manifestation of Maralago. She said her inspiration for having a baby was...Erika Kirk. I just can't...Jesus Christ. See what I mean!? We're not even American!

Now the kicker: My cousin who sexually assaulted me as a very young child is expecting his first child in March. Please let it not be a girl. He and his wife were both infertile but now IVF worked, so now I know a child molester is having a child. And I was given both pieces of information at once from my father.

Anyway, what to do? I have a supportive partner and my best friend used to be friends with my sister too (and said friend is also trans) so they've been helping. But I can't get rid of this nagging feeling. I feel dread and I'm too afraid to think about what exactly it is. Even if someone's advice is about reframing the situation, I'd really appreciate it. I also fear for that baby's future in what is basically a cult.

Edit: Thank you for everyone in the comments so far. I get stuck in my own head often and it really helps to hear strangers say things I needed to hear. Love to you all.

I never thought i would make it past 20. But here I am, almost two decades after that milestone and with a little piece of my heart walking around and starting school. I thought I would lose my family but I've gained several. I'm glad I stuck around.

Hello reddit, 35 yr old trans guy here. My pre-op appointment for top surgery is tomorrow. It still doesn't feel real. I truly never thought I'd be able to get any kind of surgery. Procedure is scheduled for the 10th. I don't really have any one to talk to about it. It's just me and my wife who is a cis woman. Haven't told my family about it, we don't really talk much. Just wanted somewhere to say it I guess. Thanks, have a nice day. 🙂

Not so much a vent, just looking for advice.

I’m 37 and am planning on telling my parents about transitioning in the next couple months. I am not anticipating that it will go well based on how all other parts of my queer identity have caused some level of friction. My plan is to tell them then give space to let them sort out their feelings and so I’m not at the front end of their immediate (and often hurtful) reactions.

Any book recommendations on what it means to be trans, how to support trans people, anything positive about being trans, experiences from the pov of the parent? Most of the books I see are for parents of young/teen children which is fine but I want to avoid being seen as a child or making them think they have any control/input in this.

Also, any advice or ideas on how to tell them is welcome. My idea as of now is to tell them and the give them a letter I wrote with some books they can read to answer any of their immediate questions or fears.

My expectations for how this will be received are very low and, unfortunately, I am preparing for the potential loss of the relationship.

Sitting here with my first bottle of oral minoxidil and finasteride combo for hair loss. I’ve been staring at it but afraid to take it.

I’ve used topical (fin/min combo) for several months but read it may not work as well (no side effects for me).

I’m nervous about breast regrowth and all sorts of things. How many of you take it? How many of you had side effects? Do you take any other meds or have other medical conditions? How long have you taken it, and has it worked for regrowth at all? I’m mostly hoping to keep what I have left but I wouldn’t complain if my hair thickened up a bit.

Does anyone do low or half doses? 😅

Basically the title.

(Not sure if I chose the right flair for this-)

I have no idea if it totally messed with my results??

I tried to find information and research but wasn't having luck with this.

I've been on T for over 6 years now (will be 7 soon).

I was 23 when I started T. Always had my levels checked and they're good, within where they need to be and where I'm comfortable, so I know my dosage is good.

And i know genetics play a role in this, but all the men in my family are hairy and can grow full facial hair- and I'm talking the full, burly beard, mustache, sideburns- everything.

For context: I had been on T for 4 years, until I got thrown into menopause unintentionally. At this time I already had a complete hysterectomy done- no original hormones at all.

I was moving across the country, several different states. I had an appointment set up with a new clinic in the new state I was moving to get my T prescription re-filled, as I only had about 2 weeks worth left on me by the time my move happened.

Something happened- a booking glitch, never figured out what, but my appointment wasn't booked properly and by the time I had already moved up there, they told me they were booked out for 3 months until I could get in. My old doctor unfortunately couldn't issue me a renewal since I had already moved, and even if I popped back into the state for it- i wouldn't recieve it.

So I was SOL and without any hormones at all, and immediately experienced menopause, which was not enjoyable- my mental health tanked and so did my mood. I had to wait almost 4 months until I could get in and get my hormones again, so I was without any hormones that entire time, straight thru.

Now back to my dilemma:

I don't have much body hair and my facial hair is the equivalent to little, prepubecent hairs on my chin/under my jawline.

I've tried minoxidil oil/topical- didn't see results with that. Switched to an oral form and unfortunately wasn't able to use it long enough to SEE if it'd work, as it gave me massive migraines.

So now I'm just back to praying and finding other alternatives.

I have no idea if I'll grow body hair, let alone if my facial hair will actually grow in more, or if I'm just shit out of luck.

I don't mind waiting more, but god- I'd feel so disappointed and devastated if I don't get any facial hair or body growth in the next couple of years, or at least when I finally hit 10 years on T.

I try not to compare myself, but I'm honestly really envious and jealous of these other guys only on T for a year or 2 and have the body and facial hair I want.

Obviously not everyone gets super lucky within the first year or 2 to get facial/body hair, but even then I've seen plenty of guys that achieved this at year 5. And here I am. I just feel SO BEHIND everyone else since I'm creeping up on year 7: hairless and still baby-faced.

I don't know if anyone has closely experienced what I have? Or other guys who have already fully gone through menopause and have been able to grow facial hair/beards, body hair?

Please tell me I still have something to look forward to, cause I really, really am dreading living the rest of my life just looking...like this. 😔

Thank you for reading my essay lol.

Help, please.

Sun was so bright I couldn't see my phone, so I have like four photos of my chin from various angles

It's wild to like the person I see in the mirror. Have a career I love. And be so loved. 🥰

I never imagined making it past 25, and when 30 hit, the idea of 40 was so terribly far away. The future then only looked like giving up and settling. Of being, in so many ways, the person everyone else needed me to be.

But now I'm here. I did the big scaries. And it's beautiful.

Hi all! I started gel today, taking 1% 4 pumps. My question - it says to put on a shirt only after it "dries." It's been about an hour and it's still sticky, but not wet. Is that as "dry" as it gets? Or is the stickiness supposed to go away? Luckily I work from home right now so not wearing a shirt doesn't hurt anything, but I'm wondering what exactly "dry" is supposed to be. Because once it gets to winter it'll be too cold to be shirtless for long, lol.

Also oh my god, I'm doing this! I went back and forth about a half hour just holding the bottle this morning like, "Wow, can I really do this? Is it... *allowed*? I guess... yeah. I guess it is. I don't really need permission. I'm a grown-ass adult. But oh my god, I'm doing this? I'm doing this!"

Then about 5 minutes after I put it on, I got a call back from a plastic surgeon's office to answer a top surgery inquiry form I filled out a month ago. I thought my form had just gotten lost or whatever and was originally going to call them when I had time to ask my questions. But that they happened to call right after I used testosterone for the first time felt more than coincidental and like an affirmative sign. I'll take it!

Thrift store checkout person said my beard was looking crisp 😄

lol ft my twin 😂

Hope you are all good, nice to meet you all.

Don’t be sad about losing your hair. Just rock a skullet and you’ll be golden!

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