genderaffirming.ai 

serious health complications Detransition Stories & Timelines

Browse through 558 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 558 users

/u/DetransIS

1304 comments • Posting since 7/27/2019
Transitioned at 15 -> Detransitioned at 17

I was born with an intersex condition and felt like a freak because my body developed differently from other girls. I was manipulated into believing I was a boy and started testosterone as a teenager. The hormones and surgeries caused permanent health problems and changed my body in ways I can't reverse. I stopped years ago, but I now live with deep regret and a body that doesn't feel like mine. I was failed by everyone who should have helped me love myself as the woman I am.

female
internalised homophobia
took hormones
regrets transitioning
trauma
serious health complications
homosexual
intersex

/u/Takeshold

1008 comments • Posting since 1/17/2020

I started testosterone as an adult because I struggled with being a masculine woman and thought becoming a man was the answer. For years, I lived as male and saw how much easier life was for men, but I felt a deep loneliness and lost my connection to other women. I realized my pain came from internalized homophobia and that transitioning didn't solve my problems, while also introducing health risks my doctors never warned me about. Detransitioning was frightening, but I found acceptance in women's communities and learned to manage my dysphoria without changing my body. Now I'm a happier butch lesbian, living as a woman on my own terms and accepting the permanent changes from testosterone.

female
internalised homophobia
took hormones
regrets transitioning
serious health complications
homosexual

/u/xnyvbb

527 comments • Posting since 5/2/2020
Transitioned at 19 -> Detransitioned at 20

I was a girl who felt uncomfortable with my body and thought I was supposed to be a boy, influenced by online communities and a past relationship. My transition, including testosterone and surgery, was traumatic and triggered severe health issues, leaving me with permanent changes. I realized my feelings were rooted in trauma, autism, and OCD, not in being male. I am now focused on accepting my female body and healing from my past. I deeply regret my choices and am undergoing expensive procedures to try and feel like myself again.

female
internalised homophobia
hated breasts
took hormones
regrets transitioning
escapism
trauma
depression
influenced online
influenced by friends
got top surgery
serious health complications
now infertile
body dysmorphia
retransition
puberty discomfort
benefited from psychedelic drugs
sexuality changed
autistic
ocd

/u/Hedera_Thorn

469 comments • Posting since 4/11/2024
Transitioned at 16

I was a feminine boy who started my transition as a teenager because I was bullied and wanted to escape becoming a man after a traumatic experience. I had surgery and lived as female for years, but it never fixed my deeper problems with trauma and internalized homophobia. I now deeply regret it, as the surgeries left me with permanent pain and infertility. I've come to understand my dysphoria was never about being the wrong sex. I'm now in my 30s, finding peace by accepting reality and sharing my story to help others.

male
internalised homophobia
took hormones
regrets transitioning
escapism
trauma
autogynephilia (agp)
depression
got bottom surgery
serious health complications
now infertile
homosexual
ocd

/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/IsntthatNeet

360 comments • Posting since 11/25/2022
Detransitioned at 26

I was born male and felt a deep, constant discomfort with my body from a young age. When puberty hit, that feeling became unbearable, and I started transitioning in my late teens, which gave me hope and saved my life for several years. Eventually, I realized that medical transition couldn't change my fundamental biology, and I became fixated on its limitations. I detransitioned because living as a male seemed simpler than chasing an unattainable ideal, even though my dysphoria never went away. Now, I live as a man, managing the same old pain but without the hope that transition once offered.

male
took hormones
regrets transitioning
serious health complications
now infertile
body dysmorphia
puberty discomfort

/u/Ok_Bullfrog_8491

345 comments • Posting since 5/16/2024
Transitioned at 10 -> Detransitioned at 21

I started hating my female body as a teenager and developed anorexia to stop my periods and look androgynous. I broke several bones at 21 because my eating disorder had given me osteoporosis, which was my wake-up call. During my recovery, I found weightlifting and began to appreciate my body for its strength instead of how it looked. I was later diagnosed with autism, which helped me understand my social struggles weren't because I was meant to be male. I am now a healthy, happy woman and I want to help others avoid the same suffering I went through.

female
hated breasts
depression
serious health complications
now infertile
body dysmorphia
puberty discomfort
autistic
eating disorder

/u/trialeterror

321 comments • Posting since 1/18/2019
Transitioned at 16 -> Detransitioned at 27

I wanted to be a boy from a very young age and started medically transitioning in my mid-twenties. I took testosterone and had top surgery, but I realized it could never make me truly male. I detransitioned because I accepted I am female and that my dysphoria came from trauma and unhealthy thought patterns. While surgery relieved some distress, I now live with chronic pain and some regrets. I'm finally at peace focusing on what my body can do, rather than what it is.

female
hated breasts
took hormones
regrets transitioning
escapism
trauma
depression
got top surgery
serious health complications
puberty discomfort
anxiety

/u/mofu_mofu

267 comments • Posting since 8/5/2019
Transitioned at 13 -> Detransitioned at 21

I was a tomboy who felt uncomfortable in my body and transitioned to male for nearly a decade, thinking it would fix my deep-seated issues from trauma and internalized homophobia. I took testosterone and lived as a man, but I eventually realized I was chasing an impossible ideal and that my true problem was not accepting myself as a female. After detransitioning, I lost friends and had to accept permanent changes to my voice and body from the hormones. I now live as a butch lesbian and have found peace, understanding that my dysphoria was rooted in trauma, not identity. I’ve learned that womanhood isn’t about stereotypes and that transition isn’t the right solution for everyone.

female
internalised homophobia
took hormones
regrets transitioning
trauma
serious health complications
now infertile
homosexual
puberty discomfort
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/L82Desist

251 comments • Posting since 5/11/2024
Transitioned at 22 -> Detransitioned at 45

I was a tomboy who started fantasizing about being a boy as a child, which I now understand was a way to cope with trauma and internalized misogyny. I transitioned in my twenties, lived as a man for over twenty years, and had surgeries, but the dysphoria never went away and I felt like a lonely fraud. In my mid-forties, therapy helped me see that my desire to be male was a coping mechanism to escape the trauma of being female. I detransitioned seven years ago, and while I deeply regret the permanent changes to my body, my gender dysphoria is now completely gone. I have finally found peace by accepting my female body and rejecting the harmful ideas I once believed.

female
took hormones
regrets transitioning
trauma
got bottom surgery
got top surgery
serious health complications
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/oldtomboy

238 comments • Posting since 7/23/2022

I never fit in with other girls, so I thought becoming a man was the answer. I started testosterone and had top surgery, and for a while, I loved the changes and the social acceptance. But I eventually realized I would never be male and developed serious health issues from the hormones. I stopped testosterone and have been learning to accept myself as a female. I'm now focusing on my health and finding peace as a masculine woman.

female
internalised homophobia
hated breasts
took hormones
regrets transitioning
influenced online
got top surgery
serious health complications
now infertile
body dysmorphia
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/Weird-Experience-123

226 comments • Posting since 6/20/2022

I was born female and transitioned to live as a man in my early twenties after experiencing trauma and feeling disconnected from my body. I took testosterone for nine years and had surgery to remove my breasts, a decision I deeply regret. I now see my dysphoria was a symptom of my pain, and I was failed by a medical system that didn't help me explore my trauma. I've stopped hormones and am learning to live as a woman again, though my flat chest is a permanent reminder of that time. My journey has taught me that you don't need to change your body to have an identity, and I am now focused on healing and self-acceptance.

female
took hormones
regrets transitioning
trauma
got top surgery
serious health complications

/u/hobbittoisengard

211 comments • Posting since 5/2/2019
Transitioned at 20 -> Detransitioned at 27

I was a lonely young woman who started testosterone at 20 after a psychiatrist linked my dislike of dresses and painful periods to being trans. For nearly seven years, the hormones caused severe health issues and mental distress, completely alienating me from the body I once loved. I finally realized I was just a woman who didn't fit a stereotype, not a man, and I stopped in 2019. I am now left with permanent changes like baldness and a deep voice that I grieve every day. My regret is profound, and I believe my underlying trauma and loneliness were never properly addressed.

female
took hormones
regrets transitioning
trauma
depression
influenced online
serious health complications
now infertile
anxiety
heterosexual

/u/OnceBitten8240

207 comments • Posting since 12/25/2022
Detransitioned at 27

I was born female and transitioned to male in my twenties to escape severe body discomfort. Testosterone caused serious health problems, which forced me to stop and finally question the ideology I had believed. I now see that my dysphoria was a mental health issue, worsened by internalized homophobia and trauma. I am learning to accept my female body through therapy, though the dysphoria still comes and goes. I am a woman, and I am working to live in peace with the irreversible changes and find my strength again.

female
internalised homophobia
hated breasts
took hormones
regrets transitioning
trauma
depression
got top surgery
serious health complications
now infertile
body dysmorphia
retransition
homosexual
puberty discomfort
anxiety
sexuality changed

/u/drink-fast

200 comments • Posting since 2/12/2022
Transitioned at 12 -> Detransitioned at 19

I knew I was a boy from a very young age and started testosterone as a teenager. I stopped after realizing my transition was driven by trauma, autism, and a rejection of being female, not by being truly male. The hormones caused me serious health problems and intense mood swings, so I quit for good. Now, my voice is permanently deep and I'm often mistaken for a man, which makes it hard to connect with other women. I'm trying to find peace by accepting myself as a masculine woman and healing from my past.

female
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
hated breasts
took hormones
regrets transitioning
escapism
trauma
autogynephilia (agp)
depression
influenced online
got top surgery
serious health complications
body dysmorphia
retransition
homosexual
puberty discomfort
anxiety
benefited from psychedelic drugs
autistic

/u/HeavenlyMelody91

191 comments • Posting since 1/3/2019
Transitioned at 15 -> Detransitioned at 17

I was a teenage tomboy who felt pressured by a therapist and online friends into believing I was a boy because I didn't fit feminine stereotypes. I took testosterone, and the physical changes like a deeper voice and facial hair immediately felt wrong and foreign to my body. I was told to push through the doubt, but I eventually stopped and had to undergo painful and expensive procedures to reverse some of the damage. I now understand my discomfort wasn't with being female, but with how society treats women, and I deeply regret ever transitioning. Today, I live as a masculine woman, managing the permanent changes with a lot of regret.

female
low self-esteem
internalised homophobia
hated breasts
took hormones
regrets transitioning
trauma
depression
influenced online
influenced by friends
serious health complications
now infertile
body dysmorphia
retransition
homosexual
puberty discomfort
started as non-binary
anxiety
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