I understand that. Just for your knowledge, I am basing my comments on what 3-4 transmen have said on a trans message board I frequent.

I will PM you a link to the FTM section of that site that has a Testosterone forum, specifically. That would be a good place to ask your question.

I don't recall stopping it for chest surgery and I'm looking at doing a hysto for the possibility of lowering how often I take shots. (I range on fear of needles from ok to near catatonic some times -- it's weird since I self-inject). My general GP recommended me to a gyno for a hysto who believes that having that done will help with me reducing t shots since there will no longer be a fight between hormones. I'll probably be exploring this in 2015 along with possible further bottom surgery.

Oopster

I had a complete hysterectomy when I was in my 20's. For years I did not take any hormone replacement. When I went to an endocrinologist to talk about transitioning he informed me I needed to be on some sort of hormone because my body was not producing any hormones which was affecting my health and bone density. He said because my body was not producing any hormone I either need to take estrogen or testosterone. Since I have been on testosterone for 3 years my energy level has risen and I am never sick.

My suggestion is to talk to your doctor before making a decision.

Rufus

Any of y'all know where I can get a good binder, nothing super expensive, I am big chested and need another binder. I have 2x right now but its not enough compression on top.

Any idea or suggestions?

JDeere, you will find more information on products for FTMs if you look at this thread: http://www.butchfemmeplanet.com/foru...read.php?t=608 rather than looking through this one.

If you read the OP, this thread is supposed to be for general questions from non-trans people. I know that trans guys have also come in here and asked questions of other trans guys recently, but I think you will get more answers from transmen if you make a new thread, or use an existing one. The title of this thread is actually a "carry over" from another site, so I think a lot of old transguy members pass by it unless they want to answer non-trans people's questions.

With that said, let me see if I can help.


There are two binders that I would say are by far and away the most popular binders, due to how well they work, but also lower cost than other quality binders. They are made by Underworks and have been around for many years (you may already know about them):

http://www.f2mbinders.com/product/pr...ank/360?cid=61

The above is what most people call the "997".



http://www.f2mbinders.com/product/pr...der/355?cid=61

This above most call the Tri Top.



Typically you hear of heavier guys preferring the full length one because if they get the tri top the compression causes their stomach to push out more.

The only other company that I have consistently heard people like is lesloveboat.com They are more expensive though, but a lot of people find them more comfortable.

I used the Tri Top for many years, prior to top surgery.

What brand(s) are you using right now?


______________
"The Trans Zone" isn't used often, so I would love if it became more active.

Glad you came in because it seems like most of the transguys that come to BFP and post in this Zone are members who have been around for many years. it is good to get new blood (testosterone infused or not! :D)

Oh crap my bad! I didn't think to read the OP but now I know!

I am wearing an underworks style 473, I actually won it in an online contest. I think I might need to switch to the 997, no tri top for me cuz I got the bulge going!

Thanks again for the help, I am going to look into getting a 997 and see if that works.

Here is another up and coming binder. I would say outside of Underworks, it is the only brand I have seen a significant number of transguys say works for them. It has only been out for the last 4 months or so.

http://www.gc2b.co/#!store/c205c/collections/all/1

This one looks like something more up my alley, Thanks again!

I've debated for the last hour, whether I wanted to post my ramblings here or not. I tend to be a private sorta lady, but my need to understand has overwhelmed me so, here I be.

1. This isn't a medical question, more an emotional one directed at the Males partaking in this thread.

2. Where as my ex partner isn't here to add his two cents, I have nothing ill to say. He was a dynamite butch befor his transition, and now is just an incredible guy after.

For the most part, I have tossed around the idea of dropping the status label of lesbian these days, and just referring to myself as femme. Why you wonder, I'm blubbering about this here? Because randomly 5 years ago, my long term butch girlfriend stated she wanted to become a man and transition. I was shocked, angry, sad and various other things. Bottom line, I supported her right up till he was born.

Surgeries, hormones, and varies other things rocked us apart, but I remained diligent. I loved this persons soul. At this stage, I considered us a hetro couple. Something, I'd never thought I'd say, do or be. But, I did.

Things smoothed after the initial year, and then the confession came. " I can't date a lesbian, you like women. " I said yes, that's a fact, but I also love you, and you are male.

To no avail he dumped me, to date straight women.

Yet, here I see many Ftm's surrounding themselves with all sorts of labels.

So, all this rambling aside...

Have any of you males that transitioned ever felt your current (or at the time partner) looked at you as being anything but whom you are now?

Hi, Being M-T-F i never had a coming out with family etc. At age 14 the family Dr told my parents i may have a condition known then as 'Gender Identity Disorder' or Harry Benjamin's Condition, I also have Klinefelters Syndrome Or xxy47 so I was very different as a Boy, if you aw pics of me before HRT i appear neither Male or Femail.
I left home at 15 (Ran Away) ended up in the military where i became heavily involved in Physical Training and Extreme Sport. After leaving the Military due to a Sexual Assault and Bastardization i went to a Psych who said i had a sexuality disorder and gave me a course of anti-psychs and ECT.
I was screwed up and went to Sydney and worked in a Bakery in the heart of Sydney's GAY Area 'Oxford St', my boss asked me once if i was gay, but i said no, im a Girl, he was a kind man and i saw a counselor which he paid for, she told me i had Gender Dysphoria.
I didn't Transition till a lot later for fear of losing my family, which happened anyway, i'm lived for a while as a femme womyn, but I'm more into the beach and fitness and also found attitudes in the Trans* Community stifling, im happiest in jeans and a tee riding my bike. I didn't have major issues with hormones and my body developed very quickly, with my dr and endo allowing me some personal freedom and responsibility with my hormone level doses.
I feel because i never identified as a Male, just lived that role my Transition is kind of unusual compared to most ive met, my voice is in the femail range, i have no Adams apple or manly features to worry about mainly, due to being xxy.
So thats my little life story, Take Care.

I read your post with a lot of interest. I am not sure I can be of much help. I am married to an FTM but I identify as lesbian and as femme. I have kept this identity all through his transition. He has been supportive of that. We have been together 8 years and married 5 years in October.

I have been with him through the whole transition. We talked a lot before, during and after his hormones and all his surgeries. I have to admit I was afraid of losing my id as lesbian and femme. As you probably experienced, it is a weird "head trip" when it comes to labels and identity. I wondered if I would lose my identity as he transitioned.

Everyday I am perceived as a hetero married woman, an identity set I never thought would ever apply to me. In my mind I am lesbian, femme, queer. My husband who formerly identified as an old school butch now Ids as male and hetero.

A couple of years ago I came across an article by an FTM who said it was highly disrespectful and insulting for the partners of FTMs to continue to id as lesbian. As soon as I read this I asked my husband if he found it insulting that I identified as lesbian and would he prefer I id as straight? He said something along the lines of "hell no, what difference does it make to me how you id." So that was that. I have asked him the same question a couple of times since and I get the same answer.

I guess it really depends on the person. Some guys will be opposed to you holding on to your lesbian identity and some, like my husband do not see it as a problem or a threat or insult to his identity.

Personally, I do not think we should be required to change how we id. I still love my husband and he knows that. I loved him as a butch I love him as a man. He is still the same person, same personality, same sense of humor, same habits, he has always had.

When I read that article a few years ago I was surprised that this idea was out there that holding on to our lesbian id was something negative or hurtful. I am sad that some people think that. FOr me, I have come to realize how all these labels are really sort of meaningless. I sometimes think that I id as lesbian because I am just comfortable with that. It is an id I have had for over 25 years. I am just used to it. That is how I view myself even though the world now perceives me as a hetero married woman. Which still blows my mind :)

No, I haven't seen it, but the way the plot summary is written makes it sound rather dramatic and like the FTM person was living in the 1970's.

There were a number of quality, competent gender confirmation surgeons in the U.S. by 2004. No reason for a "cross country search". <eye roll>. A one minute google search would have brought up the surgeons.

Experimental procedure? A procedure that was perhaps trying to be improved, but the two main genital procedures for men have been around forever. And the "current surgery options are flawed?". I wonder why they are still doing them, then. Sure they are getting better and better, but give me a break!

Sorry, but the way the plot summary is written presents the person as a freak and like he should be with a traveling freak show from the 1800's due to his "life long obsession" to "be a biological man" (which a natal female never becomes, by the way), as if he is the only person out there who feels they were born into the wrong body.

Very insulting.

Too insulting to watch.

ETA: I found out he went to Peter Raphael who "invented" the centurion, which is just a variation of the not new metoidioplasty. He started doing it in 2002, so Rene's surgery was not done earlier than that.

Sorry, Miss Scarlett, my frustration isn't meant for you. It is for showtime and their "synopsis" and no doubt presentation of the film. Right now the media needs to see trans people for what we are. Normal people who have some gender variance of differing levels. We don't need to be seen as oddities.

Ditto what Dapper said. My guess is it is full of judgments about what a "proper" penis is, and likely took on the opinions of this one transman in regard to his choices. If anyone's spent any time in active online forums for FtM's and surgery (both top and bottom), they are replete with versions of "my (existing or planned) cock/chest is better than yours". Heck, I even wonder if this guy is someone in particular who proclaimed in many places that he (unlike others) had spent many years in search of the best option and he alone had the answer because of his extensive research.

Perhaps not entirely fair since I haven't seen it, neither do I plan to. The synopsis is plenty for me, thank you!

Hi,I thought I would just throw in my experience,I live in Newtown Sydney,in the heart of queer central,I came out in 77,I transitioned 8 yrs ago,for me I identify as queer,I do see queer in a political context,and before transition,I never Identified as butch,I id'ed as dyke,I have always been attracted to feminine women,but have no attraction to heterosexual women,I'm more into queer femme,than I guess the lesbian ID,but an ID certainly would not get in my way if an attraction existed,I find a similar history background important,being a queer activist before and after transition.

I stayed single my first 5 yrs in order for my new self to evolve,I needed the freedom to be self indulgent and work through who I will become,without dumping it on someone else,like most I shed my past,lost all family and a few of my old lesbian friends,but have landed in the queer community in Sydney,I find I am much calmer after transition,and have no depression anymore,so my relationships seem to be less dramatic and more dynamic,for me I believe I will evolve all my life and I will always have my core feminist politics.

I dont know if I have helped or raved on myself.

On binders I used underworks,they were cheap and did the job.

On hormones,I enjoy Testosterone,I have just had a hysto,but being into exercise and fitness T builds muscle and sex drive,so the thought of going off T,would enact my gender dysphoria.but I know guys here who go off and on,I do think bone density may be an issue,maybe more for older guys.But really everyone's journey is different,for me going back,is something that is not an option for me,we are all on Reandron in Sydney,mainly coz we can use the andrology unit in the public hosp in Sydney,Reandron is slow release so there are no troughs,and our shots are every 3 mths,which is great,plus they do our bloods so our levels are consistent,Sustanon did not work for me.
cheers V

Yes, I was assuming that this was all about Showtime sensationalizing it all, but perhaps the man himself added to that. As I was researching the movie, I came upon an article(?), about his level of misogyny/sexism as a person. So, that is interesting...maybe he assisted in Showtime going down that path. I appreciate you adding your perspective!

Have any of you gentleman dated a bisexual woman? One that sleeps with both men and women but is monogamous when in a relationship? If so, how did it go?

By men I mean CIS gendered males.

No. I have dated women who have been with cis males in the past, but no women that have identified as bisexual.

I have not dated since I started transitioning. My preference would still be to date a femme. At this point, a femme who is attracted to trans men.

Yes. Yes. From great dates to three year long relationships, I have dated several bisexual women. They went well in several different areas, I have no regrets.

Thank you Dapper and Liam for your feedback!

Me and my Lady haven't had much issues with her sexuality but I think she gets a tad confused about me being trans and what it all entails, trying to educate someone who loves you is kinda hard, IMO.

Would she be willing to read something on it?

This book gives a pretty good overview and is pretty cheap on Amazon:
https://play.google.com/store/books/...AE3g&gclsrc=ds

The other thing to get across to her is that gender is fluid for a lot of trans people. Not everyone is binary, male or female. So, you have to learn about your specific trans partner, trans friend, etc.

Has she always only dated cis females? How does she identify?

She might be willing to read and she has only dated CIS males and CIS females and she ID's as bisexual. I am the first trans person she has ever come across or dated.

I think her being attracted to both genders would be a good thing in your case (you describe yourself as transmasculine human) Anyway, it makes sense to me that perhaps she could be completely fulfilled sexually/emotionally , but only she knows that. I mean she is with you, right? So, she must be attracted to you!

Unless she tells you she needs to be able to relate to both sexes intimately in order to be fulfilled, I don't see why you would concern yourself with her being able to be monogamous.

Yes good point on the being attracted to me part and the other stuff she knows as well.

She knows I won't be with any men sexually, etc. But she has been saying things about her wanting me to participate in certain sexual deals that include other women and cis males, which I do not like one bit and have told her this.

Ok, well, that my friend is something completely different. Her desire to include others has nothing to do with being bisexual. It is just a person desiring to bring others into the bedroom. You need to find out what that is about for her.

The best advice I can give you is to never compromise yourself. If having sex with other people or agreeing to your partner having sex with other people, is not a fit for you, this may not be the relationship for you. Agreeing to something that isn't a fit for you could only be damaging to you and to the relationship.

I would suggest that you start a new thread in the SEX BDSM KINK forum here.

I think that is the best place to get other's views, thoughts, advice, and experience on bringing people into the bedroom.

Good luck.

Well she ID's as bisexual so that is why I was asking the guys but I went off in a rant, sorry. But yeah I might have to go to those threads but I am not one to share or bring others into the bedroom to just "spice things up" and she has mainly said these things when we are both drunk out of our brains, so I truly don't know how to take it.

Thanks for the input y'all.

/bump

Started T 125mg IM every other week for gender dysphoria. When have folks on this thread started to notice results?

Know it's a small dose, but the doc who has a clinical interest in treating trans folk doesn't seem willing to increase the T. When I asked her, she claimed to be uncomfortable increasing the dose due to the fact that I smoke cigarettes. Does this sound like an excuse to anyone?

Any advice would be helpful expect changing docs. She the only one in a 50 mile radius whose clinical interest is in transgender services.

Change would be very slow at .125mg. It is never a recommended starting dose. Ask her where she is getting that dose from? Assuming she is an Endocrinologist, suggest she follow the guidelines set by the Endocrine Society. Assuming she isn't an endocrinologist, tell her she should follow the Endocrine Guidelines, anyway.

But, yes, you are not supposed to be on testosterone if you smoke. But, then again, we don't give natal males testosterone blockers because they smoke, do we? I suspect you doctor is just uncomfortable prescribing hormones.

For whatever reason, she is agreeable to it. If she is going to prescribe the treatment, she needs to get some training on the proper care of the transgender patient. Personally, I would print out the Endocrine guidelines and bring them to her. 'Course that may piss her off, lol.

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/articl...0/jc.2009-0345


http://www.bumc.bu.edu/endo/clinics/...ne/guidelines/

Sounds like you have a good doctor to me.

I take 40mg once a week. Not everyone is the same. Not everyone achieves the same results, in the same amount of time.

I believe your doctor is following the correct protocol.

Liam, he forgot to put the . in front of the .125ml

.5ml is the most common dose. Most often people are even started at that dose.

.25 (50mg) is seen as a half dose within the trans medical community. There are people within that range, I hear you saying that you take 40mg, which is a tiny bit less.

But, .125ml? No, that is not a starting dose according to Endocrine guidelines. There is no way he is up to even low male T levels on that dose.

This doctor needs to at least be up front with him and tell him why she wants him on a dose that is not indicated for cross sex hormone treatment for the female to male transition. He needs to know if she even knows the guidelines.

cathexis, do you still have your ovaries?

Additional note to Liam: I do know that people are on different doses and it is a person's T levels that matter (I assume your 40mg keeps you in average male ranges), but .125ml is not protocol for dosing. That is all I was saying.

Yes, I'm sorry guys. Made a error in writing the dose down. The dose the doc ordered is 25 mg (or 0.125 ml) IM every 2 weeks. I think it's a low dose and confused why. Asked her if she would increase it, but would not for the reasons above.

Had told her that I was genderqueer, and that a higher level of T improved me body and mind. She diagnosed me with "gender dysphoria," and ordered T at this dose. I am concerned and confused. Anyone with any ideas why?

Just wondering why you are not on a patch?? I hear that is the usual modem of delivery..I am not current on this subject but would like to understand too.

All I know, is that my doctor was relieved that I was not a smoker, and would have been hesitant to even prescribe testosterone for me, if I were.

cathexis, did you see a gender therapist prior to your decision to seek out testosterone?

One is because you're a smoker, second could be the doctor either has no clue what she is doing or is not an endocrinologist.

The patch is unusual in the U.S. It is most often used by cis males for low testosterone. In fact, I have never even heard of a trans man on the patch and I am on a number of trans social media group and work in trans healthcare.
Subcutaneous injection is becoming the preferred method, but intramuscular injections is still the most common, in the U.S. The gel is also popular in the U.S., but expensive. Testosterone pellets are common in the U.K. There is also injections that are done once very 3 months, also more common in the U.K.

Dapper, I had my ovaries removed in 1980. Aware that this effects the T dose.

kittygrrl and Liam, cannot use patches or most probably the gels due to skin allergies. Tried to quit smoking with nicotine patches and blistered under the patch. The second one caused shortness of breath. They say my reaction due to my latex allergy that I've had for years. Got the allergy as an RN starting in 1987 when they used powdered latex gloves. Worked ICU so we used them for most patient contacts. The allergy developed to causing shortness of breath each shift. When they did the allergy testing, I had an anaphylatic reaction.

These latex allergies are very common with us older nurses which is why hospitals changed to nitrile or vinyl. Healthcare workers and patients were developing latex allergies from repeated use.

Did not see a gender therapist; however, I did see a regular therapist then a psychiatrist. We don't have good medical resources where I live. Also, I had been on testosterone with my ERT.

Had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and told that I would probably benefit from T. It was suggested that I consider using injectable T.