This story is from the comments listed below, summarised by AI.
Authenticity Assessment: Not Suspicious
Based on the provided comments, the account "WSB_Messiah" does not present clear, serious red flags of being a bot or an inauthentic detransitioner/desister.
The user demonstrates:
- Personalized, empathetic support: Comments are tailored to individual users' situations, offering specific medical and psychological advice.
- Consistent, detailed medical knowledge: The user provides complex endocrinological information, uses correct terminology, and gives practical advice (e.g., specific drug names, lab tests) that is consistent over time. This suggests a genuine personal interest or experience.
- Passionate advocacy: The tone is strongly critical of quick medicalization and aligns with the known anger and passion within the detrans community regarding harm and stigma.
While the depth of medical knowledge could be researched, its consistent and practical application suggests an authentic, knowledgeable individual rather than a bot copying information. There is no evidence contradicting their claimed status as a desister/detransitioner.
About me
My journey started as a teenager when I felt deep discomfort with my developing female body, influenced by online communities. I transitioned to male for years, but I began to question if my real issues were trauma and self-hatred, not my sex. I stopped testosterone after realizing the medical path was too quick and that I needed more time to understand myself. Now, I see myself as just a human being, focusing on my health after stepping away from a trans identity. I don't regret the journey, but I wish I had tried therapy first, as the permanent changes are a reminder to live my truest life without medical intervention.
My detransition story
My whole journey with gender started when I was a teenager. I was deeply uncomfortable with my body during puberty, especially developing breasts. I hated them and felt like they didn't belong on me. Looking back, I think a lot of this came from a place of low self-esteem and depression. I spent a lot of time online, and I was definitely influenced by the communities I found there. It felt like an escape from how I felt in my own skin.
I started identifying as non-binary first, and then later, as a trans man. I thought transitioning was the only way to fix the deep discomfort I felt. I was on testosterone for several years. The physical changes happened really fast. I remember my voice starting to drop and feeling a tingling in my throat, knowing it was a permanent change. I experienced male pattern baldness and was always worried about the long-term health effects, like the strain on my heart and my reproductive system. I knew that being on testosterone long-term could lead to needing a hysterectomy.
After a few years, I started to question everything. I realized that my reasons for transitioning were complicated and maybe not what I needed. I had a lot of time to think, and I began to understand that my issues were more about trauma and hating my body, rather than being born in the wrong one. I decided to stop taking testosterone. I was scared about being a "hassle" to my family and friends by detransitioning, but I found that almost everyone was just relieved and supportive. They wanted me to be happy and healthy.
I don't regret my journey because it led me to where I am now, but I do have regrets about the permanent changes, like my voice and my hair. I wish I had taken more time and tried different kinds of therapy before making such big decisions. I believe that for many people, these feelings can be temporary or worked through with a good therapist if given enough time. I think the medical system is too quick to offer hormones and surgery without exploring other options first.
Now, I see gender differently. I believe I'm just a human being with a unique experience that lets me understand both male and female perspectives. We only have one life, and the goal is to live your truest life, whatever that looks like. For me, that meant stepping away from a trans identity. My main focus now is on my health and living a good life. I benefited greatly from taking a step back and giving myself time to figure things out without medical intervention.
| Age | Event |
|---|---|
| 14 | Started feeling intense discomfort with my body during puberty, hated my breasts. |
| 16 | Began identifying as non-binary, heavily influenced by online communities. |
| 18 | Started identifying as a trans man and began taking testosterone. |
| 21 | Noticed permanent voice changes and male pattern baldness. Began seriously questioning my transition. |
| 22 | Stopped taking testosterone. |
| 23 | Socially detransitioned, found support from family and friends. |
Top Comments by /u/WSB_Messiah:
I tell this to everyone scared of being a “hassle” by detransitioning. Almost everyone in your life will be relieved. They will silently think “Thank God it’s over”.
Your family sounds like they love you dearly and want what is best for you. Do what you believe is best for your happiness and mental health. Don’t let “the hassle” stop you from living your life how you want. We’ve only got one shot at this, don’t waste any time not being your best self.
You deserve a good life. Don’t be scared to live it.
The only successful outcome anyone on this forum will tell you is an outcome that results in the best possible version of yourself. You need to do what makes you happy and fulfilled. We’ve only got one life here. We’re just a support group for detransitioners. There’s no “winning”.
If you decide to live your life as a woman, we’re here for you. If you decide to live it a man, we’re here for you too.
I'll leave the psychology aspect to other commenters, but from a pharmacological perspective all exogenous testosterone is indeed a "steroid". You will experience the same side effects of male pattern baldness, skewed lipid panel, cardiovascular risks, and deleterious effects to your reproductive system.
Hey, you’re not screwed and you’re almost certainly not infertile. You’ve only been on HRT for 2 years and you started at the very end of puberty or even potentially after puberty.
Go see an endocrinologist or a urologist. They’ll test your hormones and potentially put you on hCG or Clomid, but most likely will just have you wait it out. You will recover and you will be able to produce your own natural testosterone and you will be able to have kids. If you’re in the US you can get your own hormones checked at a quest or Labcorp without a prescription. Get a hormone panel and check your testosterone, estrogen, LH, and FSH. You can also get a sperm test at Walgreens or CVS.
Absolute worst case you can go on TRT with hCG/hMG and maintain fertility. We’re pretty advanced in this area now and there is a lot of help out there for you. You’re still young and have an entire life to live!
Permanent effects from test happen SUPER QUICK. Just talk to the great people on this forum. Be absolutely sure this is the route you want before going further. That throat tingling is your voice getting deeper and it may never go back.
You’re valid no matter what route you choose, but just make sure you are aware of the effects of taking male hormones.
Here is the correction:
“After the article “Reduction in Mental Health Treatment Utilization Among Transgender Individuals After Gender-Affirming Surgeries: A Total Population Study” by Richard Bränström, Ph.D., and John E. Pachankis, Ph.D. (doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19010080), was published online on October 4, 2019, some letters containing questions on the statistical methodology employed in the study led the Journal to seek statistical consultations. The results of these consultations were presented to the study authors, who concurred with many of the points raised. Upon request, the authors reanalyzed the data to compare outcomes between individuals diagnosed with gender incongruence who had received gender-affirming surgical treatments and those diagnosed with gender incongruence who had not. While this comparison was performed retrospectively and was not part of the original research question given that several other factors may differ between the groups, the results demonstrated no advantage of surgery in relation to subsequent mood or anxiety disorder-related health care visits or prescriptions or hospitalizations following suicide attempts in that comparison. Given that the study used neither a prospective cohort design nor a randomized controlled trial design, the conclusion that “the longitudinal association between gender-affirming surgery and lower use of mental health treatment lends support to the decision to provide gender-affirming surgeries to transgender individuals who seek them” is too strong. Finally, although the percentage of individuals with a gender incongruence diagnosis who had received gender-affirming surgical treatments during the follow-up period is correctly reported in Table 3 (37.9%), the text incorrectly refers to this percentage as 48%. The article was reposted on August 1, 2020, correcting this percentage and including an addendum referencing the postpublication discussion captured in the Letters to the Editor section of the August 2020 issue of the Journal (1).
Time is the most important factor. So frequently these feelings are temporary or can be worked out with a therapist given enough time. So many patients are put on hormones after 1-2 visits. If a patient wants informed consent, let them go to an informed consent clinic. If they’re seeing a therapist give the patient time to see if the therapy works! Try more than one non-hormonal therapy before recommending hormones or surgery.
Negative health effects from testosterone is a huge reason in addition to the ones you mentioned. After several years it will more than likely require a hysterectomy, then male pattern baldness, elevated blood pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy, skewed lipid panel are other reasons people may desist from a medical perspective.
I hear what you're saying, but male endocrinology is a bit more complicated than that. In men, we don't produce estrogen directly, we convert testosterone into estrogen via "aromatization". So if your body isn't producing testosterone, you won't have any estrogen either. Now remember, estrogen is neuro-protective and cardio-protective. You need healthy levels of hormones for proper brain, heart, and sexual function. You're at risk for a very unhealthy lipid profile and degenerative diseases if you're not producing these hormones correctly.
It's not as simple as looking or feeling masculine, these hormones play a crucial role in your overall health and well-being. Please see a doctor.
This probably isn’t true. Many people have regrown their hair. Give it time and maintain healthy scalp and hair care. Continue to look into treating your alopecia, but the absence of exogenous testosterone should definitely slow/stop/reverse your hair care.
Post over in r/tressless as well. You’ll find positive experiences.