How long can you hide the effects of HRT?

[Launa]

Hi all, I was trying to check other threads to see if this has been asked before or not.

My question is if you want to go on HRT how long can you hide it from everyone before folks you know figure something is up? I know there will be the obvious physical change in the boobs that you will have to contend with. Maybe that can be done by hiding it with a bra to flatten things out a bit? Is there a way to wear a bra and still wear a T-shirt and keep it sort of hidden? And lets say you can hide the moobs via a bra then what about the other changes that take place such as skin, voice, weight distribution after what length of time would folks generally start to clue in?

Launa

[celeste26]

The real question is if you are on HRT why would you want to hide its effects? HRT is for people who seriously desire transitioning so if you're still hiding then maybe HRT should not be taken. It should not be done as an experiment, (just to find out.) The good grade silicone breast forms are far cheaper and can be removed when you get tired of them. There are irreversible changes that occur when on HRT it is not something to play around with.

Well the full effects of the HRT wont be there on day one, more like 4-5 years before the changes stop. HRT has no effect on your voice.

[Jorja]

Well it depends, Launa. We are all different and we all react different to HRT. Some have fantastic results and some have very little results. For the average person, they could get away with about about a year before the changes would be hard to hide.

[Launa]

The real question is if you are on HRT why would you want to hide its effects?

I probably phrased the question wrong. Its not that I would be trying to hide the effects but hypothetically say you plan on staying at a job for a year or two that wouldn't be accepting before you made another move in your life. Or you're 1/2 way out in your life taking them but haven't told some family members that live far away. You get called to a funeral and it isn't the time to break the news to the elderly folk or you will start transitioning at home but not yet at certain business events, public speaking events.

I'm thinking its like jumping in the boat if you think your ready, start the engine and figure things out when your on the ocean VS doing all the check lists ahead of time, telling everybody you're going to do it and then starting the engine and go. I know the latter is the better way to do it.

I thought they changed your voice slightly though.
I also know that they are not to be experimented with.

[PretzelGirl]

Celeste, I asked the same question when I made my transition plan. I was working on the letter for HRT and wrote a plan out of coming out to people, transitioning at work, etc. One of my biggest worries was if the breast growth would show before I went full time at work. So a very valid question. My answer turned out to be that it wouldn't show at work 7 months after going full time.

Launa, it is tough to tell as we all change differently. You may have so much change in the face, that it will make others look at you and wonder what is different. It may be breast growth. It may be nothing. Make a plan that fits you and go with it. You can wear compression t-shirts or loose garments to help some things. The face is much tougher. Ultimately, it is all a bit of a roll of the dice.

[Kris Avery]

I agree with the general consensus.

I am having a few bumps in the road after 5 months.

But.. It's not really about physical things brought about by HRT - at least not yet.
...the small town is still reeling from the darn Yankee who got pierced ears last fall.
"You're not from here..are you? (In a thick southern accent)"
Even family was not accepting of this single change...roll eyes.

Add to this the longer curly hair....it's causing people to stop my wife in public and ask...WTH.
Of course, they don't have the balls to ask the rude Yankee directly.

That said, I have responded really really well on HRT probably based on stored fat cells from heavier days. I am doing labs every month and adjusting meds monthly.

BTW, Real deal breast growth is not male moobs both in look or in feel.
I used to weigh 360 on a 5'7" frame...been there done that.
I'm now at 190 and haven't lost a pound on HRT.

I have already been deemed unacceptable to go topless or even with only a t-shirt...even at home.

Mowing the bumpy yard on the riding mower REQUIRES my bra..that's not a cosmetic thing either.

Best of luck.

[MonicaJean]

As I enter my 8th month HRT, can't hide B cups any longer. Sure I could afford to lose weight, but still compression shirts aren't cutting it much any longer. My face is softer and noticeably younger. I was bald but i haven't cut my hair in 5 months

[VanTG]

On my 3rd week and nothing yet, actually kinda disappointed I'm not feeling anything yet.

[Karen62]

Launa, there are a myriad of factors involved that make your own response to HRT a personal thing that really can't be generalized -- at least not accurately. You have your age, the dosage levels, which forms of meds you take, your genetics (do large breasts run in the XX side of your family?), metabolic response to the meds, your diet, your level of physical activity (a marathon runner vs. a couch potato), etc.

I am like Wendy in that I lost 65 lbs. before starting HRT. At my maximum weight, I had a good A cup in one of the bras I used to wear (with a band-extender, of course!). Just before I started HRT, so much body fat had been reduced that I was then board-flat -- no more moobs. HRT reawoke those fat cells in my bust line and I am basically back at my heavy weight bust size but without nearly as much belly (10 inches gone). But that's it. Now I'm only into HRT since March 5, so I really didn't expect much early on, even that much, but it is there now. The hyper tenderness of the nipple area, however, is a seriously real thing. Bump into something, or heaven forbid, aggressively and absent-mindedly scratching an errant nipple itch (and they do itch as well) and it hurts like hell!

I am facing the same questions as well in wondering when I'll have to deal with this publicly at work (can no longer hide it), so in a way I am not in any rush for big changes (yet), but I am not going to run and hide this, either. I love the feeling of liberation I now feel in that I can finally start living as the real me.

Karen

[Angela Campbell]

After about 6 months I was being called ma'am on occasion while presenting as male. Not because of boobs, but overall appearance.

Also, don't fool yourself, if you wear a bra it will be noticed 9 out of 10 times. They are pretty obvious.

[karenpayneoregon]

For me the changes where gradual over a ten month period at which time I placed my old driver license next to the new one and thought, wow, they are so different and others things were pointed out to me by family and friends. Breast growth was acceptable but nothing huge in that area which is what I expected as the largest breast in the immediate family was a C cup which I have now is a decent size B cup.

[Jennifer-GWN]

Laura;

As they so often say ymmv. For me I've told that in male mode I've been much more noticeable than I had thought. This according to my ex last evening. I've no been doing anything like binding for example. I do known and probably similar to Karen's comment that due to losing a considerable amount of weight my belly is now not the most prominate feature in the front let's say. So I may not be that large but they there and I need to be mindful particularly at work which happily is a rare event and likely the next site visit might end up being the last in male mode.
I do know that the girls need their support so bra it is now daily.

Cheers... Jennifer

[susan jackson]

The real question is if you are on HRT why would you want to hide its effects? HRT is for people who seriously desire transitioning so if you're still hiding then maybe HRT should not be taken. It should not be done as an experiment, (just to find out.)

From my point of view...although I am not yet on any kind of hormone treatment, I am hoping to have them prescribed at my next specialist appointment in a few months. In my current job (pub landlord/lady), it could be quite dangerous if people realised I was changing my gender, so I think the OP's question is valid - personally, I would need to know how long I would have before I potentially had to look to change my job

[Krisi]

I can't help you with your HRT question, but I will say that it will be close to impossible to hide a bra under a T shirt. You might get by with it under a patterned shirt with a fairly heavy cloth but only for a while. At some point, someone will hug you or pat you on the back and feel the bra. Or just see the outline under your shirt.

There are medical conditions and medicines that cause males to develop small "female" breasts. You might be able to pass your breasts off as a medical condition (actually the truth).

But as Celeste posted, if you are on HRT for a serious reason, why hide them?

[I Am Paula]

Everybody has their own coming out plan, and timetable. I think you have to factor in a LOT of wiggle room.

[JohnH]

I guess my question is, "Why would you want to go on M2F HRT if you wanted to hide the effects?".

I have been on HRT for about 3 1/2 years, have D cup breasts, and still live as a man in society. I do get frequently ma'amed until I start speaking with my deep masculine voice. Nobody has taken me to task for my appearance except for my dear wife. I do look much younger than my age of almost 63 years.

HRT makes me feel a lot more in harmony with myself.

So based on my experience my opinion is: Don't sweat it hiding the effects of HRT.

John

[STACY B]

Give me about 6 months to a Year and I will let you know,,lol,,,

[MonicaJean]

The real question is if you are on HRT why would you want to hide its effects?

I’m in the minority as I started HRT right away, physical transition to happen later. The mental relief was unparalleled and welcome. For me, it’s all mental changes and preparation going forward with the part-time transition happening soon.

Given family and work concerns, fully or even partially tranistioning up front simply wasn’t an option for me.

[Sammy777]

My question is if you want to go on HRT how long can you hide it from everyone before folks you know figure something is up?

what about the other changes that take place such as skin, voice, weight distribution after what length of time would folks generally start to clue in?

I thought they changed your voice slightly though.

Skin: while your skin may get softer and or thinner, it is not something the average person will notice.

Weight distribution: Unless you are a teenager - Do not expect much in this area.
Your hips aren't going to magically grow wider, nor will you wake up one day with a JLo ass, lol. sorry.

Breasts: Breast growth and development (in a natal female pubescent girl) take 3 to 5 years. So you have time.

Body hair: depends on person, but most notice some overall thinning out of total body hair.
But again this is something that takes years and is mostly only noticeable to you.

Hairline/Balding - Regrowth: Again, some experience some regrowth of hair, improved hairline, MPB receding.
Again, things that will most likely takes years and only be noticeable to you.

Facial hair/beard: Sorry, but HRT doesn't really help here either. Only real options are Laser/Electrolysis.

Voice: Sorry, but MTF's are shit out of luck on that one. Your voice will NOT change in the least.
[However, for FTM's on T, their vocal cords will lengthen, giving them a deeper more male range voice.]

*Mileage may vary, consult your owners manual, no user serviceable parts inside, this post has a cash value of 1/32 of one cent.

PS: I am not saying HRT doesn't have effects, but they vary with age/genetics.
Also: [Aside from surgeries] Most of your outward look comes from within.
Laser for facial hair, trimming down the brows, shaving/waxing bodyhair, growing hair out, losing weight.
All of which can be done before or after starting HRT and/or coming out.

On my 3rd week and nothing yet, actually kinda disappointed I'm not feeling anything yet.

Van - 3 weeks is nothing, just a mere drop in the bucket.

[Michelle.M]

The real question is if you are on HRT why would you want to hide its effects?

For many reasons, one being that if one is living between genders in advance of going RLE then a certain amount of discretion may be necessary until it's time to pull that trigger. In my case, I began HRT about 9 months before I left the Army, and at the time revealing myself would have gotten me discharged. Sure, I was leaving anyway, but I needed that last few months to save some money and prepare for my entrance to RLE.

Hiding effects of HRT became somewhat more difficult when I started breast development. Thankfully, Army fatigues are roomy enough to hide in.

The answer to the original question - it depends. Some effects are easier to hide than others. Eventually you won't hide anything, and if you don't have a plan to reveal yourself by then then your body will help you make that decision anyway.

[Paulette]

Sammy 777 is spot on in her assessment of the process. So many factors come into play such has genetics of the female members of your family and what development of breast tissue they enjoyed (or hated), age will also play a part. Once you develop enough breast tissue and can pass the pencil test (Ann Lander's advice on when a young girl should receive her first bra) a bra becomes just another piece of clothing that you need to put on before your outer clothing. Take your time and enjoy the small painful moments when you re-learn your personal space requirements. Rome was not built in a day nor will your breast pot out after the second pill or shot that you take.

[JohnH]

Voice: Sorry, but MTF's are shit out of luck on that one. Your voice will NOT change in the least.
[However, for FTM's on T, their vocal cords will lengthen, giving them a deeper more male range voice.]

I am living proof of how MTF's voices do not change or get higher. My singing voice is basso profundo. So there is the odd effect in my church choir of someone (myself) looking very much like a genetic woman singing in the deep bass range, while the other genetic males having traditional masculine appearances, have higher voices.

It will be a challenge for me to develop a feminine voice given the pitch of my root voice. I still want to maintain my masculine voice so I can sing in the deep bass register.

John

[Megan G]

Launa,

I have been on HRT for 18 months and hiding up to 12-14 months Was fairly easy as long as I did not go topless..lol. Now once I started laser hair removal the effects on my face were more noticeable. Still no one asked but I received a few odd stares from people that have known me since I was 1year old. That was 2-3 months ago..

Now that I am out to people my changing appearance made sense to them. They did not like it but had an explaination.

As always YMMV but there are some on here that have gone longer with no problems.

Like Michelle1 I started HRT way before I intended on beginning my transition to buy me some time, I needed the mental relief badly...

Megan

[Kaitlyn Michele]

There really is no way to know..that's the issue

i personally had very little physical change except little nubs and softer skin until i had srs...then all of sudden the fat moved, the boobs grew..etc...
i was in the midst of significant weight loss so that may have impacted things..

it has zero impact on voice..


one more thing...in my experience people don't "go there" ...they think you are losing or gaining weight, they think you are sick, they think you are gay....but they don't see your soft skin and think you are a woman in transition...
but you can't control that and all it takes is one person at work to make your life tricky...

You have to be strategic and consider risks and rewards...you need your job so don't take any chances until you have to..being eager and "needing" to start HRT are different things and you have to consider your own circumstance and decide what's right..
in this case you have to accept that you can't control the actual physical outcome and you can't control if somebody makes your life difficult..

put this into the perspective of transition is the rest of your life. what can you now to make it the best chance of success in the future..what can you do now that would hurt or risk your chance of success..

[phylis anne]

Very good thread by all contributors,
although I am not currently on hrt or transitioning I do dress as to blend androgonous?? but I do have as ennifer at hometold me "moobs" but these are noticeable and since the wife has been away for a bit I have been earing a bra and currently fill the most part of an "a" cup but with real loose work shirts not real noticeable unless you are looking for it and if anyone does say anything bra or moobs wise my reply is dr's orders I am 60 so the appearance is somewhat explainable I am curious as I work more at losing the bubba tummy if my moobs will dissappear ,as I have heard of some that get back in shape but still have their little or not so little friends as I mentioned further back liking to blend and not stand out I would prefer a small chest well good luck wiht your journey
hugs phylis