This story is from the comments listed below, summarised by AI.
Authenticity Assessment: Not Suspicious
Based on the provided comments, this account appears authentic. The user shares detailed, personal medical and emotional experiences (e.g., specific surgeries, hormone regimens, conversations with family) that are consistent with a genuine detransitioner/desister narrative. The tone is supportive and nuanced, showing a range of emotions from frustration to hope, which is common in this community. No obvious red flags for a bot or inauthentic account are present.
About me
I started transitioning to male as a teenager because I felt disconnected from my female body and thought it was the answer. After seven years on testosterone and surgeries, I realized I was still unhappy and that my issues were much deeper than gender. I decided to detransition about six months ago, and while I'm still not completely happy, I feel healthier and more in control now. I'm dealing with the permanent changes from my transition, like infertility and facial hair, and I'm trying to change my name legally. My biggest lesson is that changing my body wasn't a solution for the self-hatred I felt inside.
My detransition story
My whole journey with this started when I was a teenager. I never liked myself and always felt disconnected from my body. That feeling was really strong, and when I learned about transitioning, it seemed like the answer. I thought if I could change my body to look male, that disconnection would finally go away.
I started taking testosterone when I was 19 and stayed on it for seven years. I also had top surgery to remove my breasts, which I had always hated, and later a full hysterectomy where my ovaries were removed too. At the time, I was convinced this was what I needed to be happy. My parents supported me through it all because they could see how much I was struggling and wanted me to be okay.
But after years of living as male, I realized I still wasn't happy. The feeling of disconnection was still there; I just had a different body to feel disconnected from. I started to understand that my problem wasn't really about gender, but something deeper, like body dysmorphia. I was too young when I made those permanent decisions, and I couldn't keep living a life I didn't want based on choices I made as a teen.
About six months ago, I decided to detransition. I stopped testosterone and started taking artificial estrogen instead. It's been a process. My body has changed a lot; it's remarkable how it can heal. Even when I wear masculine clothes now, nobody questions that I'm a woman. I'm dealing with hair removal from the testosterone—I've been doing professional laser treatments for over six months and still have some hair to get rid of. I also have to be careful with minoxidil for my hair, because my doctor said if I quit it suddenly, my hair could fall out.
I'm still not happy and I still struggle with body dysmorphia, but I feel way more in control of my body now. I feel healthier. I had a really hard conversation with my parents, where I thanked them for their support during my transition, but explained that it wasn't working for me. They were relieved and have been very supportive of my decision to detransition.
As for my body now, I had top surgery, so I don't have breasts. Most of the time I don't wear anything special under my clothes because I wear loose things. But if I'm in a situation where I have to take my shirt off, I wear a padded bra and have never gotten any comments on it. I'm also trying to change my name legally to a new, third name, but it's very hard where I live. People still use my old "trans name" because the new one isn't legal yet. Sometimes it hurts when people don't even try with the new name, but I'm trying to stick with it. I think maybe I overthink it, since most people don't choose their own names. What I'd really like is to start fresh somewhere where nobody knows my past.
Looking back, I do have regrets about transitioning, especially the surgeries that have left me infertile and with a permanently changed body. My thoughts on gender now are that it's not a simple solution for deeper issues like self-hatred or disconnection. For me, it was a path I needed to walk down to learn that the problem was inside me, not with my body being female.
Here is a timeline of my journey:
| My Age | Event |
|---|---|
| 19 | Started taking testosterone. |
| Around 22 | Had top surgery (removed breasts). |
| Around 24 | Had hysterectomy (removed ovaries). |
| 26 | Stopped testosterone after 7 years and started taking estrogen to detransition. |
| 26 (Present) | Began laser hair removal and started using a new, non-legal name. |
Top Comments by /u/Waterarpeggio:
My doctor said to be very careful when getting off minoxidil. She said if you quit suddenly, there’s a very high chance of it falling off, so just a heads up. I’m in the same situation, I’ll wait a few more months till all the hair grows back in place to see if I can wean off it.
Hello, I was on T for 7 years, had top surgery, hysterectomy (had the ovaries removed)… I also never liked myself and had this feeling of disconnection towards my body. I’ve been detransitioning for 6 months using artificial estrogen, and nobody who looks at me questions if I’m a woman even if I wear masculine clothes. It’s remarkable how the body can heal. I’ll say that I’m still not happy and still experience body dysmorphia, but I feel way more in control of my body and on the changes that I experience, and I’m healthier. No matter what you decide, you aren’t alone and I hope you figure things out. If you need someone to talk feel free to message me.
I also chose a third name and nobody uses it, they just use the trans name. I can’t use the new name yet because it’s very hard to legally change it where I live, but I’m trying. I can relate to you on the cringe on the birth name and being a little bit hurt when people don’t even try with the new name. I’m also not sure if I love the new name, but I’ll stick to it — maybe we overthink it too much, because most people don’t choose their own names. What I would like to do for myself is to start fresh, somewhere people don’t know me so there’s no past feelings there. Sorry I don’t have good advice, but I wanted to let you know you aren’t alone.
IPL is a lot slower and less effective than electrolysis or professional laser. Even the professional laser takes several months to work (it’s been over six months for me and I still have some hair)… If this is something that bothers you and you want to get rid of more quickly, I would go to a professional..
Most of the time I don’t wear anything, I generally wear pretty loose clothes so even if I still had breasts it wouldn’t show much. But if I’m in a situation where I have to take my shirt off for whatever reason, I wear a padded bra. Never got any comments in it. Do what makes you feel well!!
Sometimes putting things I want to say in writing helps me to voice what I’m feeling. When I talked to my parents, I first and foremost thanked them for the support that they gave me - at that time, that’s what I felt I needed from them and nobody would have been able to stop me. But then I went on, on how transition wasn’t working for me, that I wasn’t happy, and that I was too young to keep living a life I didn’t want because of decisions I made as a teen. It’s not an easy conversation, but both of my parents were relieved and more than supportive on my decision to detransition. Be honest, I hope everything goes well for you!!