This story is from the comments listed below, summarised by AI.
Authenticity Assessment: Not Suspicious
Based on the provided comments, this account appears to be authentic.
There are no serious red flags suggesting it is a bot or an inauthentic user. The comments contain highly specific, personal, and medically detailed anecdotes about a 15-year testosterone regimen, DIY hair removal, and mastectomy that are consistent with a genuine detransition experience. The emotional tone, including hesitation about telling a doctor and embarrassment, aligns with the expected passion and stigma discussed in the prompt.
About me
I was born female and felt a deep discomfort with my body and the expectations that came with it. I lived as a man for 15 years after taking testosterone and having top surgery. I stopped my medication a year ago, realizing my struggle was with my body and society's rigid roles, not with being female. Now I'm privately dealing with permanent changes like heavy facial and body hair. I'm trying to find peace with myself, without any labels, though I deeply regret the irreversible steps I took.
My detransition story
My whole journey with transition and now detransition has been a long and confusing one, rooted in not feeling right in my own skin. I was born female, and from a young age, I felt a deep discomfort with being viewed that way, especially during puberty. It all just felt so off. When I first started looking into transition, the world was very binary. You had to prove to a therapist that you were either very masculine or very feminine to get approval for medical steps. I knew I didn't feel right as a woman, so with some prodding from a therapist, I made the natural progression at the time to think I must then be a man. I believed I would just "get used to it" eventually.
I was on testosterone for 15 years, taking a 200mg injection every two weeks. I had top surgery, a double incision mastectomy, because I hated my breasts. Binding was a huge part of my life before that; I could wear binders for days at a time even though they were hardly comfortable. It sucked, but it was doable.
I stopped taking testosterone cold turkey about a year ago. I didn't taper off; I just stopped. I didn't experience any withdrawal, which was a relief. I haven't even told my doctor I've done this yet; you all in this community are the only people I've discussed my detransition with so far. It's going to be terribly embarrassing to tell my doctor, and I'm not sure how to approach it.
Now, I'm dealing with the physical aftermath of my transition. The hair growth from testosterone is a big issue for me. I have what I call wooly mammoth legs and arms. I'm starting IPL, which is like at-home laser hair removal, because I can't afford professional electrolysis or laser. I'm starting on my legs since they're covered up, and if it works, I'll move on to my face and neck. I also shave my face with a safety razor, which caused a lot of nicks at first. I'm very worried about hair loss on my head now that I'm off testosterone and looking into minoxidil pills with my doctor, though she doesn't know why I'm really asking.
Looking back, I think my initial feelings were more about a deep-seated discomfort with my body and the social role of a woman, rather than a true male identity. I don't think I ever was a man. I regret that the process was so binary and that I felt pushed into a full medical transition. I don't regret exploring my identity, but I deeply regret the permanent changes, especially the top surgery and the facial hair. I'm now trying to find a way to be comfortable just as myself, without any labels.
| Age | Date (Approximate) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Late Teens | Early 2000s | Began feeling intense discomfort with female puberty and social role. |
| 18 | ~2007 | Saw a therapist and was pushed toward a binary male identity. Started testosterone (200mg IM every 2 weeks). |
| 19 | ~2008 | Had top surgery (double incision mastectomy). |
| 33 | Late 2022 | Stopped testosterone cold turkey after 15 years of use. |
| 33 | Late 2022 | Began IPL home laser treatment for body hair removal. Started shaving face regularly. |
| 34 | 2023 | Currently detransitioning privately, dealing with permanent changes like facial hair and surgical results. |
Top Comments by /u/Duqu88:
It's a lot like laser hair removal but you do it yourself at your convenience. It's WAY cheaper (I bought mine on Amazon for $80-something snd it has 5 stars...there are others from brands you're more likely to see in the beauty section of a store but they're way more expensive and the one I bought had thousands of 5 star reviews, so I think in this case cheaper is just as good! I'll dig up my order for the item I bought gimme a couple of mins...
Because all of it just feels so...OFF for the lack of a better term. When I first "transitioned" everything was very binary. You had to prove to a therapist (to get your "letter") that you were either very masculine or very feminine (depending on which direction obviously) there was no "NB"/in between "option". I knew I didn't feel right in my own skin being viewed as female. So I made the (then, natural) progression (with a little prodding from a therapist) that Imust then be male and I would just "get used to it".
Ugh I'm not... doing the "word" thing so well this evening .
I'm just starting IPL (basically @ home laser hair removal) and am starting with areas less obvious since I'm not sure how well it'll work (legs since they are all covered up for the cool weather - I have wooly mammoth legs and arms ugh) but if it works well enough I will probably have a go at my face and neck. I can't afford electrolysis (though I do know it's the golden standard) and would struggle to afford laser hair removal so I'm trying this out. Thanks to a member here that opened up the world of IPL!
I didn't taper. Just stopped. No withdrawal for me. I was on 200mg IM every 2 weeks for 15 years, and had zero issue with discontinuing. I also may not have told my Dr I'm doing this ATM either...you lot are the only ones I've discussed detrans stuff with so far.
It's a little sensitive but it's managed being shaved with safety razor (many nicks initially lol) so if say it's decent given how long I've been shaving...
I could wear binders (which are hardly comfortable) for days at a time - that sucked but it was doable. So I think I'd be ok.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/84ewnv575q57h0k/2022-12-04%2016.11.19.jpg?dl=0
Does that work? I'll ask my Dr a about the minoxidil pill!! She doesn't know I'm detransitioning (in fact, no one does outside of this group) but she knows I'm super sensitive about the hair loss. Ty!
ETA I had a double incision mastectomy
Lane
Maybe? I have friends / relatives that are doctors and maybe my "I have a friend who was wondering" line would work? But it would add extra embarrassment when I actually do "come out" as detrans for sure. But will be terrible regardless. I don't know of any way to ask A doctor without insurance being involved for their time, and without an appointment. Hmm. Will ponder. Thanks!