genderaffirming.ai 

low self-esteem Detransition Stories & Timelines

Browse through 1462 unique detransition stories and timelines of people who haved shared their experiences in the /r/detrans subreddit, which is the largest open collection of detransition stories and experiences on the internet!

These stories have been summarised with the help of AI.
On Reddit, people often share their experiences across multiple comments or posts. To make this information more accessible, our AI gathers all of those scattered pieces into a single, easy-to-read summary and timeline. All system prompts are noted on the prompts page.

Only users who have shared enough to put together a full story and timeline are included. Users that have posted less than five comments or their comments that received less than three upvotes are disregarded. Posts are not yet included in the dataset.

Every user has been analysed for signs of bot generated or inauthentic content. Any account that does not appear to be a genuine de-transitioner is flagged 'suspicious'. These accounts will be manually reviewed and removed from the detrans.ai dataset if they are found to be inauthentic. Accounts that have made fewer than five comments have been ommitted from analysis.
Age Distribution
Detransition Pathways
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Showing 20 of 1462 users

/u/furbysaysburnthings

1142 comments • Posting since 4/30/2019
Transitioned at 25 -> Detransitioned at 33

I started transitioning to male at 25 to escape feeling like a failed woman and the pain from my past. I was on testosterone for over seven years, but I eventually realized I was using it as a coping mechanism, not because I was truly a man. Moving away from my affirming social circle gave me the perspective to see I was living a lie and dissociating from myself. I've been detransitioning for a year now, working to reverse the physical changes, which is difficult and scary. I now accept that I am female and am trying to build an identity for myself outside of gender entirely.

female
low self-esteem
took hormones
regrets transitioning
escapism
trauma
influenced online
influenced by friends
now infertile
body dysmorphia
retransition
puberty discomfort
benefited from psychedelic drugs
autistic

/u/portaux

1092 comments • Posting since 8/24/2019
Transitioned at 21 -> Desisted at 23

I always felt different from other girls and wanted to be treated with respect, which led me to believe I was a boy. I became deeply depressed and nearly took testosterone, convinced it was my only escape from misogyny. After years of questioning, I realized I didn't want to be a man; I just hated the sexist stereotypes forced on women. I never medically transitioned, and I now see myself as a masculine woman who loves herself as she is. My journey taught me that you don't need to change your body to be your authentic self.

female
low self-esteem
hated breasts
regrets transitioning
depression
influenced online
puberty discomfort
started as non-binary
anxiety
only transitioned socially

/u/cagedbunny83

440 comments • Posting since 7/2/2021
Transitioned at 16 -> Desisted at 19

I was a sensitive boy who felt different and dreaded becoming a man, so I transitioned to female as a teenager. I lived as a woman for a few years but was exhausted by the constant fear of being seen as a fraud. I detransitioned at 19 by simply deciding to see myself as a feminine man, and a huge weight was immediately lifted. I realized my problem wasn't being male, but the pressure to be masculine, and I now live happily as an effeminate gay man. I express myself freely in a way that feels right for me, knowing that my style has nothing to do with my sex.

male
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
hated breasts
regrets transitioning
escapism
influenced online
homosexual
puberty discomfort
started as non-binary
anxiety
only transitioned socially
sexuality changed
took puberty blockers

/u/UniquelyDefined

414 comments • Posting since 5/20/2022
Transitioned at 25 -> Detransitioned at 26

I started identifying as non-binary at 25, thinking it was the answer to my deep discomfort and depression. I was convinced to try hormones, but just one month of estrogen caused permanent, painful breast growth and other changes. I realized I had made a terrible mistake based on internal issues, not because I was born the wrong sex. Now, I’m focused on healing and have learned my problems were from trauma and other conditions, not my body. I’m waiting for surgery to fix the damage and am finally learning to just be myself.

male
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
porn problem
hated breasts
took hormones
regrets transitioning
trauma
autogynephilia (agp)
depression
influenced online
influenced by friends
serious health complications
body dysmorphia
retransition
puberty discomfort
started as non-binary
anxiety
benefited from non-affirming therapy
autistic
ocd

/u/spamcentral

393 comments • Posting since 6/18/2022
Transitioned at 21 -> Detransitioned at 23

I was a tomboy from the start and felt punished when puberty hit and my body changed. After years of being misgendered, I identified as non-binary, but that just left me feeling isolated and confused. Losing a lot of weight helped me see my natural masculine frame, and I realized my real issues were trauma and society's narrow expectations for women. I stopped identifying as non-binary and now accept myself as a gender non-conforming woman in a happy relationship. My journey taught me that true peace comes from healing the root causes of pain, not from changing your body.

female
low self-esteem
hated breasts
regrets transitioning
trauma
depression
influenced online
body dysmorphia
retransition
puberty discomfort
started as non-binary
had religious background
heterosexual

/u/Luck_Unlucky

352 comments • Posting since 1/1/2021
Transitioned at 18 -> Desisted at 40

I felt like a boy trapped in a girl's body from the time I was a toddler, a feeling that intensified with trauma I experienced. I socially transitioned to live as a man in my 40s and for a while, it felt like the answer. I eventually realized my desire to be male was a coping mechanism tied to my past and internalized shame about being female. Through therapy, I learned to accept my body and understand that my masculine interests don't make me less of a woman. I'm now at peace, living as a masculine woman, and finally free from the depression that haunted me for decades.

female
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
hated breasts
regrets transitioning
escapism
trauma
depression
homosexual
puberty discomfort
started as non-binary
only transitioned socially
sexuality changed
bisexual

/u/cranberry_snacks

337 comments • Posting since 12/7/2021

I'm a man who, from a very young age, overwhelmingly identified with women and felt a deep disconnect from my own body. I nearly started hormone therapy because I believed becoming a woman was the only way to be happy. But I stopped because I felt changing my body was just an escape from a deeper lack of self-love. Through years of therapy and self-reflection, I realized my "female self" was a part of me I needed to accept, not become. Now I'm at peace, learning to love myself as a man with a female sense of self, and my dysphoria has faded.

male
low self-esteem
regrets transitioning
trauma
depression

/u/novaskyd

333 comments • Posting since 10/21/2019
Transitioned at 17 -> Desisted at 22

I started identifying as a trans man in my late teens because I was a lonely, anxious kid who didn't fit in with other girls. I lived as a man for four years and even got a prescription for testosterone, but using the gel never felt right and made me hesitate. What really changed things was realizing I could still enjoy feminine things and that there's no single way to be a woman. Now, I'm comfortable living as a female; I'm married with kids and see my body for what it can do, not just how it looks. Looking back, I believe my anxiety and social pressures played a big role, and I'm grateful I found my way through it without medical intervention.

female
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
took hormones
regrets transitioning
depression
influenced online
body dysmorphia
retransition
homosexual
puberty discomfort
started as non-binary
anxiety
only transitioned socially
autistic
ocd
had religious background

/u/Sorry-not-Sorry-666

292 comments • Posting since 10/14/2022
Transitioned at 9

From a very young age, I felt a deep discomfort with being a girl and desperately wished I was a boy. I thought transitioning was the answer, but I realized it was just an aesthetic change that couldn't actually make me male. I discovered my dysphoria was really rooted in internalized sexism and a rejection of sexist gender roles forced on me. Now, I am at peace as a masculine woman, having learned to accept my female body. My main regret is the years I spent hating myself because of a harmful ideology.

female
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
regrets transitioning
depression
influenced online
homosexual
puberty discomfort
started as non-binary
only transitioned socially
autistic

/u/wetfart41968

258 comments • Posting since 6/7/2022
Transitioned at 14 -> Detransitioned at 22

I started wanting to transition after learning about it online as a kid, feeling like a complete alien around other girls. My journey was driven by trauma, strict gender roles, and a deep desire to escape being female after an assault. I took testosterone for over two years and lived as a man, but it didn't fix my anxiety or self-esteem. I stopped because I realized I needed to address my root issues in therapy, not change my body. Now I'm learning to accept myself as a woman with a unique history, even with the permanent changes from testosterone.

female
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
took hormones
regrets transitioning
trauma
autogynephilia (agp)
depression
influenced online
serious health complications
body dysmorphia
retransition
anxiety
benefited from non-affirming therapy
benefited from psychedelic drugs
had religious background

/u/wispo-wills

255 comments • Posting since 7/11/2020
Transitioned at 16 -> Detransitioned at 19

I started identifying as male at 16 after discovering the concept online, and I was quickly prescribed testosterone. I lived as a guy for a year and a half, but it felt like an exhausting performance that left me isolated. I realized my real issue was internalized misogyny and a deep discomfort with feminine stereotypes, not a need to be male. I stopped hormones at 19 and began the difficult process of accepting my female body, which was permanently changed by testosterone. Now, at 26, I have found peace by rejecting rigid gender roles and embracing my own unique womanhood.

female
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
took hormones
regrets transitioning
depression
influenced online

/u/LostSoul1911

250 comments • Posting since 8/19/2020
Transitioned at 14 -> Detransitioned at 18

My journey started with childhood trauma that made me feel unsafe in my body as a woman. I transitioned to male at 16, thinking it was the answer, but I was never truly happy and my mental health got worse. After top surgery, I realized I was just trying to escape being sexualized and finally detransitioned. I now have to live with permanent changes like a deeper voice and no breasts, which I deeply regret. I'm finally healing, embracing being a woman again, and rebuilding my life.

female
low self-esteem
took hormones
regrets transitioning
trauma
depression
influenced online
got top surgery
now infertile

/u/feed_me_see_more

247 comments • Posting since 3/2/2024
Transitioned at 19 -> Detransitioned at 27

I started identifying as a trans man at 19, hoping it would solve my deep unhappiness and body image issues. I was on testosterone for seven years, which caused serious health problems and made me feel like I was living a lonely lie. I stopped in 2022 when my body couldn't take it anymore, and seeing a friend breastfeed made me realize I was robbing myself of my womanhood. Now, I'm learning to live authentically as a woman with a body permanently changed by the hormones. I deeply regret the damage done and believe my pain was exploited by a medical system that should have protected me.

female
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
took hormones
regrets transitioning
serious health complications
now infertile
retransition

/u/Ryncage

229 comments • Posting since 11/3/2019
Transitioned at 16 -> Detransitioned at 20

I started as a teenager who was deeply uncomfortable with my body and found the idea of being trans online. I was convinced that medically transitioning was the answer, but testosterone didn't fix my underlying self-hatred and depression. I realized I was using it to escape my real problems instead of facing them. Now, I am detransitioning and working on self-acceptance as a female. I regret the permanent changes and wish I had been encouraged to explore the reasons for my unhappiness first.

female
low self-esteem
took hormones
regrets transitioning
escapism
depression
influenced online
serious health complications
puberty discomfort
anxiety

/u/Lucretia123

228 comments • Posting since 4/9/2019
Transitioned at 17 -> Detransitioned at 20

I'm a female who started transitioning after a sexual assault made me feel disconnected from my body. I thought becoming a man would let me escape my pain, so I took testosterone and had surgery. I now realize my discomfort was from trauma, not my true self, and I regret the permanent changes. I've stopped hormones and am focusing on healing through therapy and outdoor activities. I'm learning to accept my body as it is and move forward.

female
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
hated breasts
took hormones
regrets transitioning
escapism
trauma
depression
influenced online
got top surgery
serious health complications
now infertile
retransition
homosexual
puberty discomfort
started as non-binary
anxiety
benefited from non-affirming therapy
suspicious account

/u/verytiredcatto

227 comments • Posting since 9/27/2022
Transitioned at 25 -> Detransitioned at 31

I started identifying as a trans woman at 25 after discovering the concept online, and I began taking hormones. For six years, I lived as a woman, but I eventually realized I was trying to escape my underlying issues like low self-worth and past trauma. A major turning point was when I developed a crush on a woman and realized I wanted to be her boyfriend, not her girlfriend, which made me question everything. I stopped hormones and have since found a sense of peace by accepting myself as a male. Now, I'm focused on moving forward as a more whole person, comfortable being a feminine man without needing to change my body.

male
low self-esteem
took hormones
regrets transitioning
trauma
got top surgery
benefited from psychedelic drugs

/u/spare_eye

218 comments • Posting since 12/18/2021
Transitioned at 20 -> Detransitioned at 21

I felt out of place as a girl from a young age and later thought I was a trans man because my feelings matched descriptions of gender dysphoria. I realized that what I truly admired were masculine traits that women could also have, and seeing strong female role models changed everything. As I got older, the intense need to change my body faded, and I found peace through nature and exercise. I now see my female body as a strong, functional tool rather than something that defines my personality. I'm relieved I didn't transition and am finally comfortable just being a woman who doesn't fit the stereotype.

female
low self-esteem
hated breasts
took hormones
regrets transitioning
depression
influenced online
puberty discomfort
started as non-binary
anxiety

/u/mountain-flowers

211 comments • Posting since 3/18/2023
Transitioned at 21 -> Detransitioned at 24

I started transitioning at 21 because I felt I didn't fit in as a straight girl and thought becoming male would fix my discomfort with my body. I lived as a man for over three years and had top surgery, which I initially loved. I eventually realized I missed womanhood and felt deep grief over losing my ability to breastfeed, which is my biggest regret. I stopped testosterone at 24 and have since embraced my femininity and my desire for a traditional life. I'm now engaged to a wonderful man and am finally at peace with myself as a woman.

female
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
hated breasts
took hormones
regrets transitioning
depression
influenced by friends
got top surgery
now infertile
retransition
puberty discomfort
started as non-binary
anxiety
benefited from psychedelic drugs
autistic
eating disorder
heterosexual

/u/neitherdreams

208 comments • Posting since 12/10/2023

I grew up in a strict home where being a girl felt like a punishment, which made me want to disappear. I tried to escape by creating a genderless persona online and cutting my hair, but it was really about safety, not identity. I never medically transitioned, and I'm grateful for that now because it gave me time to heal. Through therapy and moving out, I slowly realized my discomfort came from trauma, not from being female. I'm now learning to accept myself as a woman, and I'm focused on the harm caused by pushing medical solutions on vulnerable young people.

female
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
hated breasts
regrets transitioning
trauma
depression
influenced online
body dysmorphia
retransition
homosexual
puberty discomfort
anxiety
only transitioned socially
autistic
eating disorder
ocd
had religious background

/u/Sonderosity

205 comments • Posting since 12/1/2020
Transitioned at 20 -> Detransitioned at 28

I started transitioning in my early twenties, believing testosterone was the answer to my deep unhappiness and depression. For several years, I felt more confident, but I eventually realized I was using it as a workaround for trauma and self-hatred instead of healing. I stopped hormones a couple of years ago, and the process was physically and emotionally difficult. I'm now living as a woman again and dealing with permanent changes like a deeper voice. My journey taught me that true peace comes from self-acceptance, not from changing my body.

female
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
took hormones
regrets transitioning
escapism
trauma
depression
started as non-binary
doesn't regret transitioning
benefited from non-affirming therapy
eating disorder
had religious background
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