The LGBTQ+ Handbook

Transitioning

Now, most of you don't need to know too much about this topic, as many of you are not transgender. I, myself do not know everything about the topic, as I have not gone through the transitioning. If you have transitioned, please feel free to comment your experience. Check the comments. They probably know more than I do.

However, as I am extremely interested with how technology has improved, I like to learn about how transitioning works. It's actually quite amazing with how it's done nowadays.

It is a long process before you get to go take the actual hormones and the surgery. You first have to go to a psychiatrist, and they have to diagnose you with Gender Dysphoria Disorder. Sounds expensive, and extensive. You can ask them to take hormones to begin transitioning, but in the end it's up to them if they think that that is the best option for you.

Yes, I do realize that sounds terrible, but that's the only way to transition legally, as far as I know.

First you take blockers. It can be estrogen blockers or testosterone blockers, depending on what you want to do. They are two different procedures.

So, if you're transitioning into a male, you would first take estrogen blockers. I believe that they take the form of either shots or pills. After some time-it's different for everyone-you get the testosterone. From what I understand, I believe you get it through some pills. You take these pills at a very small dosage at first.

In the first month or so, you don't notice much. Don't get discouraged. It takes literal years for you to fully transition.

Your breasts become smaller, and your voice begins to deepen. You get voice cracks, just like in male puberty. You are able to gain muscle easier. After a few months of being on testosterone, or T, and when your breasts are significantly smaller, you have the option to get top surgery.

It's expensive. Top surgery is probably the most expensive part in the transitioning process. Does everyone need it? No. Some people are fine without top surgery. It leaves you with some gnarly scars that don't go away for a very long time, sometimes never. But the option is still there.

You get your first facial hair. I highly suggest you shave that facial hair at first, because it will come in splotchy and not attractive at all. Enjoy the feeling of shaving your beginning facial hair.

Now, for the question a lot of you are wondering. Do you get a penis? And the answer is, yes, kind of. It's very small. There are surgeries that you can have to make your penis bigger, but it won't ever get bigger than five inches at the most.

Now, how much does all of this cost? A lot. About 30,000 American dollars, but it all depends on if you get top surgery and where you live, as well as what doctors you have. It is a lot. So only transition if it is the last resort.

Now, for the male to female transitioning.

You will take testosterone blockers in the shape of pills, and maybe shots. You take those for a while. Your mindset changes into a more feminine way.

Then you go on estrogen, in the form of pills. You notice some results. You become more emotional, and your skin becomes softer. You slowly begin to develop breasts. It's a little fat and tenderness at first.

Growing breasts is painful. That's all I'm going to say about that.

You gain wider hips. Your facial hair becomes less.

You can get some hair removal thing, but that is a bit expensive. You need to go in eight times I believe if you're getting rid of facial hair. As for leg hair, everyone has it. That's why women shave, and wax, and do whatever else we do to remove that hair.

Your penis also becomes smaller. It starts to look all kinds of weird. I don't know if you can get a surgery to fix that a little more.

I don't know how much money it costs for this transition, but I can't imagine it to be too different from the other one. Maybe a bit less, so around 10,000 American dollars, roughly.

That's pretty much that process.

If you do transition, you always have to take the testosterone/estrogen, otherwise your body will revert to its former self.

If you are a transgender wanting to transition, I suggest doing a lot of research on everything. Look at the comments of this chapter. Look up transition stories on YouTube. Look everything up. Take a lot of time, and planning, before you make your decision.

You don't have to transition if you don't want to.