I need info.

[aalynn88]

Hi, I'm Lynn. I've crossdressed my entire adult life but just recently started going out as a female pretty much full time (except when I go to work). Anyhow, I've been enjoying it so much, I would like to find out more BASIC info on SRS. So many questions! I've read that guys like me are not good candidates for it because I dress up because its a "turn-on" for me and once you start Hormone therapy you lose male libido and wish you hadn't started in the first place. So my question for now is (and forgive me, it may sound stupid) if I just wanna keep my male libido and be a man in a womans body, why don't they let guys get the surgery without taking hormones first? What would happen to my sex-drive if I could get my vagina without taking hormones? I just know I would much rather have a vagina.

[Tracy - new dresser]

well i know very little about transitioning etc etc but from what your describing im sorry to say, seems like it would be impossible.

i really do have no idea though lol, just research and research and youll prob have to start by seeing a psychologist who specialises in gender

anyway good luck and welcome to the forums


Tracy
xox

[Stephanie-L]

To at least start to answer some of your questions Lynn, let me first recommend you see a therapist, as Tracy said, try to find a gender specialist. There are several in the area. You need to sort out who you are and what you want before you do anything permanent to your body. Are you a transsexual? I don't know. Some did start out like you, dressing more for the fun of it, possibly for a sexual thrill, until they figured out what was really going on in their brain. Others have known from a very young age that the body and mind did not match. And for many, probably a mix of both. As to your questions about hormones, yes, they may reduce your libido, but a good endocrinologist can help with that, the balance between estrogen and testosterone is delicate. As far as surgery goes, the rules regarding that are there for good reasons, both medical and psychological. Hormones cause both physical and mental changes, in fact the mental changes for me have been far more profound.

There are lots of good websites with info to give you the basics, unfortunately when you search you also get a lot of porn to sort through. One good site with a huge amount of info that is fairly well arranged is
http://www.tsroadmap.com/index.html

If you would like to contact me directly I can give you a bit of advice about some of the services and therapists available in the area (I live in Fort Worth). I wish you much luck on this journey..............Stephanie

[arbon]

Okay, wow, you want to be a man in a womans body? Just a hunch your probably going have a hard time finding a surgeon if you are not a woman.

[Sandra1746]

Not trying to be sarcastic but testes and a vagina seem likely to interfere with each other; it's really one or the other (we will ignore the ethics of the surgeon here). A "true" hermaphrodite is a VERY rare physical condition.

OTOH, from my experience I can attest that Estradiol does reduce male libido, of course at age 66 it was already pretty low. An orchiectomy or anti-androgens will reduce libido regardless of age. Performance aids like Viagra or injectables are a different issue.

HOWEVER, you MUST see a reputable medical professional to have a consultation / evaluation and decide, in your own mind, whether you want to transition or not (and how far you will go).

Above all be safe,
Sandra1746

[Michelle.M]

OK, Lynn, I don't want to be a total buzzkill but there is so much to be inferred from your post that I really don't know where to begin.

But I'll begin here. It's your first post and you come with guns blazing and asking questions that you might have had answered if you had made your first post in the Introductions and Re-Introductions forum and just taken the time to get acquainted and read as many of the similar posts regarding this topic as you can find. Don't be surprised if people quickly label you as a troll. Just sayin'.

I would like to find out more BASIC info on SRS. So many questions!

Have you read anything on the internet anywhere about transgender issues, the typical indicators that a person with gender dysphoria (those are the folks who are potential candidates for GRS) and the requirements for GRS as recommended by WPATH?

And if you're getting ready to ask "What's WPATH?" then I know the answer to my question is "No".

There's so much readily available information and it's only a mouse-click away.

I've read that guys like me are not good candidates for it because I dress up because its a "turn-on" for me

Do you think that you might find a different answer here? The likelihood is practically nil.

and once you start Hormone therapy you lose male libido and wish you hadn't started in the first place.

Some transwomen regret that, but speaking for myself (and I'm sure others will chime in soon) losing my male libido - and replacing it with something more like a female sex drive - was not only NOT regrettable but eagerly sought after.

I've crossdressed my entire adult life but just recently started going out as a female pretty much full time (except when I go to work).

Um, yeah. That's not "pretty much full time". That's called part-time. Not a bad place to start, but it is what it is.

. . . [if] I just wanna keep my male libido and be a man in a womans body

OK, now I'm confused. Just what the heck do you really want? Do you even know what you want? Do you want to transition or do you just want to play extreme dress-up?

So my question for now is . . . why don't they let guys get the surgery without taking hormones first?

"Guys" who get PARTIAL surgery (ie: breast augmentation) with little or no hormone use are commonly referred to as ********. You know, the same ones you see in porn movies and making themselves available for "companionship" on Craigslist?

Is that your goal? If so, that's your choice and I do not make it a habit to question others' choices, but this may not be the site for you to find thoughtful answers to those questions.

As for getting GRS without following WPATH protocols, good luck. Sure, there are people who do it, but the few people I know who've taken that path generally spent many more years trying to make it happen than they would have had they gone about it the right way.

[aalynn88]

First off, thank you for your input. You are right. I have not done enough research. Thats one reason why I thought I could get answers here. I'm not really good with words and not sure if I even got my question right BUT, I just made the decision to go see a therapist about it. Thanks!

[max]

"Guys" who get PARTIAL surgery (ie: breast augmentation) with little or no hormone use are commonly referred to as ********. You know, the same ones you see in porn movies and making themselves available for "companionship" on Craigslist?

Do you find this manifestation of their gender identity illegitimate? It seems so considering you immediately paint the whole group with the "sex worker" brush.

[max]

I LOVE this reply!! How do you make the blue boxes around what someone has typed and comment on it?? When I hit post quick reply, like I just did, does it post my comment right under yours? Because on my page, it goes to the top.

Hit the reply with quote button on the post you want to quote and it will put the quote in the box.

[aalynn88]

Hit the reply with quote button on the post you want to quote and it will put the quote in the box.

Bi-George I think I've got it. Thanks!!

If you pay for the trip to Thailand, you might as well have it done here, proabably still cheeper. Although since your brother is there could be another reason to visit.

Yes, the trip will be at least a few thousand but I would LOVE to see him again, plus, I would be able to stay in the ladyboy capitol of the world for a while. Also, he speaks the language and can show me around!

[Michelle.M]

Do you find this manifestation of their gender identity illegitimate?

It IS a legitimate expression, but of what would depend on the person.

Consider this - within the TG spectrum we have crossdressers, drag queens and kings and transsexuals (IS and genderqueer have an overlap in this classification, but I'm keeping this TG-specific for brevity and to honor the distinctions of being IS or queer). And yes, as a gender-variant person this also includes ********.

Crossdressers do so for a variety of reasons, as we discuss frequently on this site. Drag queens are all about performance, and if there are any queens or kings using this site it's not apparent to me. Either way, they're not TS.

Now, among transsexuals we have pre-op, post-op and non-op, and every TS takes the measures that are appropriate to effect her or his transition. HRT - maybe. FFS - possibly. GRS? Depends on the extent of gender transition one desires or can afford. But one thing they all have in common, and that is to leave the gender they were raised as in the past and embark on a new life in a way they themselves define it. That's transition.

Shall we consider a ******* to be simply a non-op transsexual? I think not, and the difference is what is the desired end state. When someone tells me they want to keep male sexual function (and often, male privilege as well) by retaining body parts and avoiding HRT or anything else that aids an actual transition then this is not a person who desires anything permanent or lasting in terms of a transition.

I thus draw one of two conclusions - this person is a ******* or simply very confused regarding where they want to go. But being ******* as an expression of gender identity is simply not the same as being TS. So, I don't question anyone's legitimacy, but I do question where they see themselves fitting into the rainbow.

It seems so considering you immediately paint the whole group with the "sex worker" brush.

Maybe I'm slow but I don't see how questioning someone's expression of gender identity (which I have not done) leads to my assuming that the person is automatically a sex worker. But as I have stated here I do not equate non-op TS with *******. They're simply not the same thing. And I certainly can't claim to be any sort of expert on this topic, but I will say this - every single ******* I have met either works in porn or is a sex worker. Your experience may be different.

[ReineD]

Michelle, I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said and admire the objectivity with which you said it.

But I think you missed a category? There are individuals within the spectrum who would like a blended body but who do not have sexual motives. There are people whose sense of gender is fluid, while they live in a world that only accepts either the male or the female sex. They are forced to define themselves as either male or female, while their inherent gender ID is bigender (or maybe even genderless ?). I refer to the two-spirit concept, the birth males who feel that the angularity and hairiness of the male body is ugly, who prefer soft curves, but who have no wish (or no need?) for invasive surgery. These people have a sense of personal aesthetics that is different than people like you and me, who fall decidedly on one side of the gender binary.

I'm not convinced that every person who comes into this section of the forum asking about how to feminize their body a little bit (softer curves through slight breast growth and rounder hips) get a sexual thrill out of having a softer body. But since we all live in a binary-sex world, this is difficult to comprehend.

Another consideration is that maybe, to the people I've just described, the "feminine male" concept is a stepping stone in terms of peeling back the onion layers towards eventually realizing a fully female identity, just as many homosexuals first identify as bisexual in their youths before eventually realizing they have a same-sex attraction. While others, are always bisexual ... or bigender.

A note on the two-spirit concept: I read an interesting explanation recently. In Western culture, we see gender as a straight line with male on one side and female on the other, with perhaps a sliding scale in between the two. Admittedly, most people fit inside this paradigm. But, the cultures in which two-spirits are accepted see gender as a circle, with no beginning nor end to either gender.

[kimdl93]

If you want to spring for surgery in Thailand, I doubt that anyone will stop you. However, you won't be physically male afterwards, and won't have male hormones and sex drive. Without female hormones, you would not develop feminine traits associated with them either. N But more importantly, SRS is major, life changing surgery that be contemplated by someone who clearly needs to become female. if you just want too look female, but want to remain male, save yourself some time, physical trauma, lots of money and unforeseen side effects or complications and buy some good breast forms and shapers.

[aalynn88]

I have a brother that lives in Thailand and he tells me guys come there all the time and get breast implants for $500.00. Of course im not sure if this is true, however, I definately want implants. I'm just afraid i may have to find another way to make a living before I get them because right now, I'm a self-employed tile-setter and I may not get as much business if they see a guy with breast wanting to do their tile work. I know its gonna take a lot of time to figure all this out but it will be nice to talk to others on this site about their experiences and how they got to where they wanna be.

[Catherine Hopkins]

I have a brother that lives in Thailand and he tells me guys come there all the time and get breast implants for $500.00.

Anything is possible with a backstreet surgeon but you'd get pretty much what you paid for.

The reputable Thai surgeons (Suporn and Chettawut spring to mind as the only two I'd trust myself, and only Suporn for the actual SRS) wouldn't touch you without psychiatric referrals and would cost thousands more than your brother quotes.

[arbon]

I'm just confused, are you wanting to do all this because the idea is sexually exciting? If you like all the turn on the just keep dressing and fantasizing there is not reason to consider anything else.

[Michelle.M]

I have a brother that lives in Thailand and he tells me guys come there all the time and get breast implants for $500.00..

Crikey, can you even comprehend the ramifications of that? Yes, surgery prices in Thailand are much lower than those in the US, but $500 for BA is roughly one-tenth of what it is here. Does that even make sense? That's back alley cheap even by Thai standards! Would you really lie down on the operating table of some hack who's that cheap?

Of course im not sure if this is true, however, I definately want implants.

You know, this really is starting to sound worse than it did in your original post. You really have no idea what you're saying, do you?

Do you, or do you not wish to transition? Sounds to me like you're all about vagina worship, boob envy and extreme crossdressing.

I know its gonna take a lot of time to figure all this out but it will be nice to talk to others on this site about their experiences and how they got to where they wanna be.

As far as I can see there is practically nobody here in the Transsexual forum who wants to be where you think you want to be. If you derive any information from anyone here about our experiences it will have no bearing whatsoever on the path you seem to want to take.

I'm sorry, but I doubt anyone here can help you unless we're giving you a lift to your first therapist appointment, which you desperately need. Now.

[aalynn88]

Again, I apologize. As it said in my original post, my question may sound stupid. Im brand new to this site. By the way, i took your advice and started again from the beginning with introductions. I also just came out of the closet a couple of months ago and Im just excited about all this. So please forgive me. There is no need to be mean to me.

[Catherine Hopkins]

Again, I apologize. As it said in my original post, my question may sound stupid. Im brand new to this site. By the way, i took your advice and started again from the beginning with introductions. I also just came out of the closet a couple of months ago and Im just excited about all this. So please forgive me. There is no need to be mean to me.

Aalynn. It sounds to me like you're in what we call the pink fog. The euphoria that comes with realising you can be more feminine.

You need to slow down, think about your own goals and then start some serious research.

Taking hormones, and especially testosterone blockers will kill the male libido - but so will SRS or an orchiectomy as the primary source of libido is testosterone and any and all of those methods will kill off the main suppliers of testosterone so planning on SRS without hormones will just mean it happens suddenly and irrevocably. Probably better and safer to try testosterone blockers FIRST so see if you actually MISS the libido. Many say they will and cannot imagine not having erections but come the time they're gone, many don't miss them.

Men think with their erections. Losing them allows a new clarity of thought as to where you want to go, long term.

[Miranda-E]

It seems that you are more interested in hiding the fact that you're a man and assuming a safe/accepted role than becoming a woman. I think you really need to examine what direction that libido leans and come to terms with that before rushing to SRS.

[Ceri Anne]

I have a brother that lives in Thailand and he tells me guys come there all the time and get breast implants for $500.00. Of course im not sure if this is true, however, I definately want implants. I'm just afraid i may have to find another way to make a living before I get them because right now, I'm a self-employed tile-setter and I may not get as much business if they see a guy with breast wanting to do their tile work. I know its gonna take a lot of time to figure all this out but it will be nice to talk to others on this site about their experiences and how they got to where they wanna be.

If you pay for the trip to Thailand, you might as well have it done here, proabably still cheeper. Although since your brother is there could be another reason to visit.

[Angela Campbell]

It may be time to talk to a professional therapist and get the information you want. It is difficult to separate what you may want from what you need, and learning the realities can be a good place to start. Some of the things you are talking about are permanent and care should be taken to know as much as possible before doing anything that could be a problem later on. Slow it down, Do what you can that is not un doable, and start some real research with a professional.

[Badtranny]

I love this thread and I hope a decent dialogue gets started because I think a LOT of CD's would be interested in this exact course of action. Of course there is a fundamental problem with being a "man" with a vagina and that is the testicles, or rather lack of the testicles. Once the berries get plucked you will need to undergo some form of HRT in order to remain healthy. I suppose 'T' instead of 'E' is possible, but let's all sit for a moment and ponder that possibility.

Lovely.

[LeaP]

Once the berries get plucked you will need to undergo some form of HRT in order to remain healthy. I suppose 'T' instead of 'E' is possible, but let's all sit for a moment and ponder that possibility.

Hmmm - I think that would make one a "bad tranny."

[TeresaL]

..and once you start Hormone therapy you lose male libido and wish you hadn't started in the first place.

Losing your libido is not all you'll lose. HRT will cease and desist the desire to cross dress. I don't know for how long, but I'm starting the third month without dressing as a female to go out. Of course, I won't get dressed just to stay at home. I can dawdle, and do my chores around the house in drab.

But tomorrow, as an experiment, I will FORCE myself to dress, go into town, run errands, and have lunch dressed in my preferred gender style of clothing. It just seems like a lot of trouble, putting on makeup and don my women's jeans, sweater, and coat - when I could just slide into drab and go. But I'm planning for it ahead of time just because it is more of a chore than thrill. My SO has to go to work during the day, but I'm letting her know that tomorrow is my girls day out.

My hopes are that I will regain the pleasure, joy, and warmth I once enjoyed when wearing women's clothes, smelling like a woman, conversing with men and women I meet on my way, and all the other things I have enjoyed. And like you, I've done it quite frequently. But right now? It's just a dream. I have to wait and see what my day will be like.