How old were you

[Elizabeth 66]

I was wondering, i am 43 now, and looking to start a change, by starting to wear female clothes at home, this is a big step for me, although in the past i have stolen an hour of two in my ex-wife's or when younger in my sisters clothes. I am also going to rid my body of excess hair.

My question is to you, how old were you? not when you realised that you were uncomfortable in your male body, but when you started to do something about it?

[Kimmy55]

I would guess around 13 or 14.I would dress as often as I could.Then it kinda waned for a few years but then came back with a vengence.

[GypsyKaren]

I didn't begin my transition until I was 53 and I had my SRS the next year. I always knew, but life has a funny way of bouncing you around, especially when you have kids. I think the bottom line for anyone is you do it when you feel ready and comfortable doing it, there's no rule book or time clock to follow.

Karen :g1:

[carolinoakland]

49, I have a friend who just started six months ago, and she's the happiest she's ever been in all her 64 years. There is no time limit on happiness. Carol

[EnglishRose]

34. (I'm 34 now). I decided I had to go to a therapist a few months ago, because I finally realized all this went way beyond dressing.

[Elizabeth 66]

34. (I'm 34 now). I decided I had to go to a therapist a few months ago, because I finally realized all this went way beyond dressing.


I am presuming from your profile you are in England, and you say you have been seeing a therapist, did you get that on the NHS and if so how did you go about it, and how long did you wait, i hope you don't mind me asking.

[EnglishRose]

I am presuming from your profile you are in England, and you say you have been seeing a therapist, did you get that on the NHS and if so how did you go about it, and how long did you wait, i hope you don't mind me asking.

Actually, I'm English, but I moved to the States some years ago. I'm thankful to have insurance that provides for this here.

[Sharon]

I was always "uncomfortable" in my body, but I didn't proceed with HT and transitioning until I was 51.

[Frances]

I knew I was a girl at four or five, but did not start transitionning until I was 41. Waiting this long is the biggest regret of my life.

[Gizmo, Debbie]

Th wanting to do girly started at an early age, dunno when? but i "came out" to mum and dad about 12 years ago. Friends and family followed 3-4 years ago. Just in the last year/year and i little bit have i gonne full time with the girly stuff....ok not full time but 99% of the time.

[natasha]

Knew something was different about me for a long long time but never had a realistic opportunity to do anything about it until 41, now almost 46.

[StaceyJane]

I first talked to a therapist 10 years ago. I had one session and chicken out and never went back. I was 34 then.
The first time I really did anything was a little over a year ago when I started laser treatments on my arms. I was 43 then.

[Teri Jean]

58 and have been transitioning for 6 months.

[thatgirl]

i didnt start transtiting till i was 20 just growing my hair out and shaving, and 3 month later started laser hair removal, i didnt start hormone till a month after i turn 23(im 23 now). i feel much happier now.

[pamela_a]

I always felt "wrong" but it wasn't until I was 51 that I started seeing a therapist. Now at the ripe old age of 52 I've transitioned and I'm living full time as the woman I am.

[Karen564]

I didn't take any serious actions on my life long condition until after my separation from marriage at the age of 44..that's when I sought help from my 1st therapist & started HRT soon after that..now I'm 49, and went 24/7 about 8 months ago.. Which was the very best thing I ever did and was long overdue..

PS, just to make it clear, I was very uncomfortable with male male body since I was about 7 years old..but learned to deal with it..

[~Emma D~]

I knew who I was in my early teens, first going out dressed as girl when I was 13.
At the age of 17 I came out to my parents, but that didn't go well at all, to say the least.

Anyway, I'm 49 now and still have a long way to go to be me, but I am getting there slowly but surely.

[Faith_G]

Well, I remember praying that God would let me wake up as a girl when I was 7.

I began to take steps towards transitioning at age 36, a whole 4 months ago.

[Schatten Lupus]

All I know is I was very young when I realized I was different. When I knew that I should be a girl, probably in my early teens maybe. I'm shooting for 24 or 25 when I begin HRT.

[luvSophia]

Well, I remember praying that God would let me wake up as a girl when I was 7.
That was 12 for me. And then I realized that God helps those who help themselves and didn't get to do my part of it until I was 52.

[Aubrey Green]

14 when I started wearing a bra as often as I could. had to watch out for brothers ( oldest used me and younger for punching bags) because we all shared a room.

[Jenny Chen]

I would guess around 13 or 14.I would dress as often as I could.Then it kinda waned for a few years but then came back with a vengence.

Same though i started as early as 8 stop at 10 started again when i was 13 stop again at 14, by the time the next one i started hrt:P

[Melissa A.]

I first knew when I was 3 or 4, and I now remember it like it was yesterday. I didnt begin taking steps to transition until about 48. I'm 50 now. I think this is typical for many in my generation. I'm gratified to see many beginning the journey at a younger age, and happy that the world is changing for us all, a little at a time.

Hugs,

Melissa:)

[Veronica_Jean]

Hi,

I just started transition last year and I will be 55 in August.
My first recollection of being different was about age 9.

Veronica

[noeleena]

Hi.
Knew i was different at age 10 , what that ment i had no idear , at 50 came out as a woman , 57 h r t , 59 s r s & b a , at 62 just a woman ,

...noeleena...

[thechic]

Iv known that im been different for ever,started hair removal stuff about 1 year ago, wearing small amounts of markup about 3 years ago, went to see the therapist for the first time in my life on Friday. Im 39

[TransgenderKidd]

18.
I'm 18 now, so these last few months definitely have been interesting; a bit after my 18th birthday in August I decided to do whatever it takes to start HRT. Fast forward a few months onto March and I'm finally doing it :] April 15th marks one month doing it.

[DizzyRose]

I was 16 when I 'came out' to my family, and almost immediately started dressing and full-time acting female. My mother and sister actually took me shopping to get some feminine clothing and make-up and stuff. I'm 21 now, and have just started taking hormones a couple months ago (I didn't think I needed them before now.. kinda regret that decision).

[Nicola2876]

I'm 37 now. I saw a therapist about six or seven months ago and a psychologist about four weeks ago.

[crystalann]

At the age of 5 I started having feelings of being female. I started cross-dressing from then. I didn't begin my transition until I was 42:D

[Carole Cross]

I actually dressed in my siter's clothes when I was 3, but was only conciuos that I was 'different' to the other boys when I was 5. I then used to try on my sisters clothes in private. In my teens I was able to dress a few times on my early morning newspaper delivery round and it was at this time I knew I wanted to transition.
I had planned to see my GP at 16, but a few weeks before I was coaght dressed and this was enough to destroy my confidence and I decided to live as a guy, trying to supress my feelings. I couldn't supress them for long but managd to stop dressing for 7 years before the urge became too great and I bought myself a couple of outfits to dress in at home. The problem was, by this time, I was in a long term relationship and covered in body hair which my GF loved but I began to hate as my desire to transition grew to a point where it was affecting my relationship and eventually we split. We did try again a couple of times but it ended the same way as before.

By this time I was 40 and after my cousin died I decided I had to transition and started to get rid of my body hair. I January 2009 I went to see my GP, told him I was born in the wrong body and started the long process of transotioning on the NHS.

At present I am into my 3rd week of RLE but have still 2 and a half months to go until my first visit to the GIC in London after which I will probably have to wait another six months for my second visit. At some point next year I should be prescribed hormones, hopefully soon after my second visit.

[Ze]

I feel like I'm finally starting just now. Currently 22.

[Kieron Andrew]

Started doing something about gender reassignment, in 2008 i was 30

[NiCo]

Long LONG story short- I knew from the age of 6 when I discovered I had different parts to my younger brother…a horrible time for me. Realisation hit at 11 years old and I drowned myself in drugs. I got off them just before my 16th birthday and decided I had to sort my life out or I was going to die. At Xmas time after I turned 16 I went to the GP about being referred over to a specialist clinic who dealt with what I was going through which was unfortunately in Sunderland [and was a f* joke]. For years I waited, heard nothing, annoyed the GP every fortnight and then finally in July 2008 [after 4 years!!] I moved away and got on another waiting list in Sheffield where I was finally taken seriously but not enough. I was told the waiting list was three years. I was devastated. I went private. No job, nothing. I spent every penny on my appointments [between £100-£225 per half hour appointments- sick I know]. I starved and went without basic luxuries from February 2009- June 2009 and then finally got on T. I then transferred over to the NHS in July 2009, I had put myself on the Glasgow GIC waiting list in September 2009 and waited a month for my first appointment, and after my first appointment in October 2009 I moved to Glasgow in November 2009. Had my hysto 5th April 2010 and my only regrets is being left this long. I wish they had done what I wanted them to do when I was 16. They are now paying with my wrath. I am now getting what I want at super speed. It’s about time. I was going to sue them for millions. Funny how they listen now. I’m currently one consultation appointment away from my chest surgery. I have been quoted a 4-5 week wait. Finally. Get my GRC in August. Game over. Thank god. *wipes sweat from brow* phew!

[sherri52]

probably not until I was about 24 and even then it was hidden

[Stephanie Anne]

34 when I really took myself seriously. It wasn't until this year that I accepted who I am and what I need to do about it.

I am 36 now

[Rianna Humble]

I was wondering, I am 43 now, and looking to start a change, by starting to wear female clothes at home, this is a big step for me, although in the past I have stolen an hour of two in my ex-wife's or when younger in my sisters clothes. I am also going to rid my body of excess hair.

Go for it girl! You won't regret it.


My question is to you, how old were you? not when you realised that you were uncomfortable in your male body, but when you started to do something about it?

I have posted several times that I wasted more years than you've been alive. That all changed about 15 months ago when I was 53 and could no longer fight it.

This week I have taken the first steps towards transition by seeing a GP and talking to HR. I don't know yet how long the timetable will be, but I know that I couldn't go back.

Compared to me you're still a spring chicken, don't worry about the past that you cannot change, but seize the opportunity to be happy now.

[Jennifer in CO]

I got on the swim team in high school when I was a sophomore (1973) so I could hide a totally shaved body. I was the top school swimmer but couldn't compete in the "official" meets because I was doing various "performance enhancing" drugs (so I could breath/live as an asthmatic). Kept my nails long since I was in photography - excuse was (and I was shown/taught this by a senior girl) you could use long fingernails to hold a negative without touching it with your fingers. Wasn't a good excuse for my past shoulder length hair tho...caught crap from family and teachers for it. But at 16 I was 5'8 and just at 110 pounds. With my hair naturally curly and long, from almost any angle I looked like a girl...except in the chest dept. I prayed every night I'd wake up with boobs. Those didn't come till I was 22...

Jenn

[MJ]

43 for me, i have known since i was like 5 years old.

[christinek]

I was 9 years old when I asked my mom if I could dress up as a girl for halloween and did it.

I knew before that and followed thru. I came out to the wife just after our 15th wedding anniversary. That was 2 years ago and all is great on the home front.

I turn 39 on 20 May 2010

[silkyness]

Probably 8 or 9. I started wearing back then. I'm 19 now. I'd love to start transitioning.

[Pattie O]

Started to crossdress at age 5-6 and then became more serious in my teens.Stopped for various periods but now in my 40s I feel more and more attracted to dressing fully when possible and would love to be able to go out.Almost full body waxing and loving it but still too closetted and would love to be more open.Looking forward to being more able to dress as I get older?
I have a suitcase full of clothes and Im determined not to purge.I just wanna be me!!:daydreaming::battingeyelashes::o:doh:

[jennaj]

I always wanted to transition, but I didn't think it was possible until I turned 32. The I decided that I could do it, so I started hair removal and therapy and haven't look back.

[Empress Lainie]

I knew I was different even in 2nd grade, had no clue how or why.

At 72 I discovered thanks to my liberator that I was truly a woman in the wrong body. I began living as a woman the next day.

It cost me my 20yr teaching job and contact with my ex who was still a friend and lover.

I only wish I had known earlier how I was different.