This story is from the comments listed below, summarised by AI.
Authenticity Assessment: Not Suspicious
Based on the provided comments, the account appears authentic. There are no serious red flags suggesting it is a bot or a fake persona.
The comments display a consistent, detailed, and nuanced personal history of being on testosterone (T) for three years and the physical/emotional changes experienced after stopping. The user shares specific, non-clichéd details (e.g., weight fluctuations, hair growth patterns related to menstrual cycle, voice training) that are consistent with a real lived experience. The emotional tone—ranging from supportive advice to personal struggles with fertility and self-image—is complex and appropriate for the context of the subreddit. The mention of a religious reason for detransitioning adds a layer of personal motivation that is not a common talking point for inauthentic accounts.
About me
I started testosterone at 18 because I felt completely out of place in my female body as a teenager. I stopped three years later after a powerful religious experience that changed my entire perspective. I regret not realizing my issues were more about puberty than my sex, and I worry the hormones may have affected my fertility. My body changed back in some ways, but my voice and facial hair are permanently different. I've learned to accept myself as a woman who has been through this and now carries her history with confidence.
My detransition story
My whole journey with transition and detransition was a long and complicated one, and it was deeply tied to my faith. I started taking testosterone when I was 18 years old and was on it for three years. I’ve been off it for three years now. I never had any surgeries.
A lot of my initial discomfort came from just being a teenager. I hated going through female puberty; I hated my breasts and my curves and just felt completely out of place in my body. I had a lot of anxiety and low self-esteem. Looking back, I think a lot of this was normal teenage awkwardness that got magnified into something bigger. I found a lot of my identity and community online, which definitely influenced my decision to start transitioning.
My reason for stopping was entirely religious. I had what I can only describe as a radical, life-changing moment with God. It was so powerful that I stopped taking testosterone cold turkey and haven't looked back since. My entire perspective on gender changed. I don't really see myself as anything other than a woman now, a woman who has been through a very specific kind of experience. I believe I was made female for a reason, and my journey led me back to that truth.
I do have some regrets about transitioning. I regret not understanding that my issues were more about puberty and self-acceptance than actually being born the wrong sex. I regret the permanent changes, especially the fact that I’ve had two miscarriages and I don’t know if I can have children now. I know the first one was because I was on testosterone at the time, but the damage might be lasting. I don't know for sure if I'm infertile, that's something I need to see an OBGYN about when I'm ready to have children.
My body has changed a lot since stopping hormones. Some things went back to how they were before, but a lot of things are permanently different. My breast size came back, but they’re not what they were. My hips are fuller but not the same. My menstrual cycle took a full six months to come back and another year or two to become truly regular. Now, I have a regular ovulation and menstruation cycle, which I’ve learned to recognize again.
My mood changed drastically. On testosterone, I felt very stoic and blunt, like I only had one emotion. Now, I experience a full range of moods and emotions again, which feels much more like me.
Permanently, I lost a lot of body hair, but I’m still quite hairy for a woman. My facial hair never went away; it’s exactly the same and I’m looking into laser removal. My voice is still slightly deeper, but I can pass as feminine. I had to train my voice myself after stopping T; it was very masculine for the first six months but has gotten higher with time and effort. My face is slimmer and my brow bone is thicker because I was still in a growth spurt at 18. My shoulders are broader, my hands are bigger, and my feet are longer. I also lost weight and have been stuck at 115 lbs, unable to gain more.
I’ve learned to accept my more masculine features, like my defined jaw and broad stance. I see them as my best attributes now. I’m fortunate that no one suspects my past unless I tell them. People just see me as a slender woman with a somewhat deep voice. It took time, but I’ve learned to love myself and carry my history with confidence.
| Age | Event |
|---|---|
| 18 | Started taking testosterone. |
| 21 | Stopped testosterone cold turkey after a religious experience. |
| 21 | Menstrual cycle returned after 6 months. |
| 23 | Menstrual cycle became fully regular. |
| 23 | Present day, still off testosterone for 3 years. |
Top Comments by /u/sailorwannabe98:
I was on HRT for roughly 3 years also, 3 years off now. From what it feels like, my body has developed a regular cycle now. First year my cycle was irregular. Second year, little more regular. Third year, from what signals my body gives me, I have a regular ovulation and menstruation cycle now, with very few differences every month in cycle length. I've been ovulating regularly for roughly 8 months based on what signals my body gives. I havent been taking ovulation tests so I cant say for 100% certainty, but I have relearned what rhythm my body follows now. I have posted in here about questioning my fertility, so I cant say what my actual eggs are like, I've never been tested for that. When the time comes for me to have children, that is something I will be bringing up with an OBGYN. I hope this can help you.
Side note, I went off cold turkey. /////I AM NOT A DOCTOR SO TAKE THIS NEXT BIT OF ADVICE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT PLEASE.///// If you are thinking about going on birth control, I would suggest holding off for at least the first year. Let your body's hormones regulate before you introduce more.
I was on it for 3 years, 2 years off now.
What's still the same -Lost a lot of body hair, but what remains is still super dark, still super hairy for a female -Voice is still slightly deeper, but can pass as feminine -Facial hair hasn't changed, gonna look into laser -Face is still significantly slimmer. I started taking it at 18 in the middle of a growth spurt, so my brow bone is thicker than most women's -Shoulders are still slightly broader, but still feminine -Was 130 lbs when I started, been stuck at 115 for years, dont see myself gaining anymore for the foreseeable future -Feet are longer, hands are bigger
What went back -Breast size bounced back, but nowhere near what they were before -Hips are fuller, but still not the same -Hair has been regrowing. My hair is still very thin, but my hairline is feminine again -Mentrual took 6 months to become regular again -Mood is not one, stoic emotion anymore, I experience way more moods and emotions. Test made me very blunt and unfeeling
I'm fortunate enough that noone is suspecting of the life I lived before, unless I choose to disclose that part of my life. People just assume I'm a slender woman with a deep voice.
Only way to find out if you are is if you go to a doctor. I've had two miscarriages. I know the first one was because I was taking t at that time, second I have a few theories as to why. I'm not sure if theres anyone in this group that has tried to conceive and had issues. I've posted about this but so far, no one was able to tell me other than to see my doctor.
Lots of things in this. First, voice. I didnt go to a speech therapist, but I had to train my voice after going off T. It was very masculine sounding for 6 months. Second, about looking masculine off t. I have no idea what your height is, but there are plenty of beautiful women who have very masculine feature with what you're talking about. Broad shoulders, sharp face, and even incredibly tall. You will fall into your own style and find what works for you. If you have short hair, it will take time to grow out. Unfortunately with almost everyone, there is an awkward phase with growing out your hair. You will be tempted to just cut it all off again, dont do that. Stick it through. I still have a lot of masculine features. My face, particularly my jaw and chin, are very defined. I have a very broad stance now. I used to be insecure about it, but I learned how to "wear it" with confidence and I see it as my best attributes now. You'll learn to love yourself with time.
For me, my destransition was entirely for religious reasons. Had a radical moment with God and havent looked back. I'm not sure if you are a amab or afab, but I noticed my voice has gotten higher naturally the longer I've been off t. Mostly by forcing my voice higher, but my vocal chords do feel "thinner"? I cant describe it, but there isnt much strain as when i first got off t. I never had any surgeries, I was only on hormones for 3 years, so I'm sorry I cant relate to being post op. That is a difficult thing to carry, and I hope you one day find healing from it, no matter what it looks like.
I was on T for 3 years, off 3 years now. My facial hair is the exact same. Almost all of my body hair has thinned out, but my facial hair hasn't one bit. It grows depending on my cycle, so when I'm close to my period, itll grow faster. I'm looking into laser for my face and stomach cuz that's the only "problem" areas on me.