The physical transition from male to female, or to trans female, is an individual and unique process. There is no "right" or "wrong" way of physical transition. Some trans women choose to undergo Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS), while others are content with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Transition, whatever it is called, is a long, expensive and risky process to achieve profitable results! Be patient and surround yourself with supportive friends and family members.
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Part 1 of 5: Transition Preparation
Step 1. Reflect on the decision to transition
Accepting that you are a transgender person, a person whose gender does not match at birth, is different from committing to life as a transsexual, a person who has changed or is trying to change their gender through medical discovery and treatment. Transition is an unrepeatable, risky, time-consuming and costly process. Keep a daily journal. Discuss the process with a trusted close friend or member of a community.
If your area or city doesn't have a local trans community, join an online community
Step 2. Do your research
Read and learn as much as you can about the transition process. Arm yourself with the benefits, risks, and costs of going through the transition process. Research the differences in procedures, prepare to fight discrimination, and calculate the amount of money needed to complete your transition. You can collect resources from many places and in a variety of ways. Search the internet for information -use keywords like "LGBTQ", "male to female", or "transgender". Find books and journals at your local library -look for the subject in the library catalog. Members of your community may also have quality advice. Use them as resources!
Each transition is unique, specific to each individual. You may not need additional hair removal therapy or you may have breast implants first after receiving Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Even if you don't want to go through all the medical procedures, it's important to learn the whole process. Your knowledge will help in making decisions
Step 3. Show yourself to people who support you
Determining if, when, where and how to appear before family and friends can be stressful! Like transitions, revealing oneself is unique to the individual. Your method of exiting must be spot on! If you feel more comfortable meeting one-on-one, say so in person; if you choose to tell everyone at once, gather close friends and family together. There's no need to tell everyone you know. Be honest with those close to you. Share your story. Ask for their support. Give them space and time to digest this news.
Step 4. Try to find other LGBT+ friends
Expanding your network in the LGBT+ community can really support you. LGBT+ friends can give advice and opinions in a straightforward manner, which cisgender people may not understand. Expand the circle and look for people who have experienced similar things.
Step 5. Start talking to your insurance company and save money
The transition process is very expensive. Some insurance covers some of the costs, but never completely. Ask your insurance company if they cover the cost of therapy, HRT, hair removal, breast implants, or vaginal surgery? If you don't have insurance or your insurance doesn't cover the cost of treatments and procedures, don't panic! Work with a friend who understands finances to create a budget and prepare a savings plan. Once you have a financial budget, start setting aside money for unexpected expenses.
- On average, a vaginal surgery costs $ 20,000.00 or about 268 million rupiah. The price of laser hair removal varies from $ 25.00 to $ 150.00 or about 335 thousand - 2,010 million rupiah per hour. Hormone Replacement Therapy costs between $5.00 and $85.00 or about 67 thousand - 1,139 million per month – this treatment is continued for the rest of your life.
- The length of the transition process is often determined by your financial situation.
Step 6. Start exercising and practice your feminine voice
Before undergoing HRT, start practicing. It's hard to lose weight when hormone production is on the rise! Start practicing your voice. Experiment to find pitch, pitch, and resonance. Practice switching chest voices to head voices – in other words, speak in a high pitched voice, or a “Minnie Mouse” voice. Once you get the hang of it, move on to more difficult voice exercises, such as deliberately working the muscles that work around your vocal cords and Adam's apple.
Place two fingers under your Adam's apple and raise it to raise your voice. Over time, your muscles will pull your Adam's apple up
Part 2 of 5: Consulting a Therapist
Step 1. Find a qualified therapist
According to the HBGDIA WPATH service standard, you will need to see a gender therapist before receiving hormones or undergoing any surgery. Ask your friends for a therapist recommendation in the trans community. Browse the internet to find therapists who have experience working with members of the community. Trust a therapist who puts you at ease.
- Ask other clients about the rates, practices, education, and acceptance rate of your prospective therapist.
- Ask your potential therapist lots of questions. Investigate her interest in gender therapy and how many of her clients accept recommendations regarding HRT and surgery.
- If your therapist isn't a good fit, feel free to replace him with a new counselor!
Step 2. Get a diagnosis
During a series of sessions, the therapist will assess your individual situation to provide a diagnosis. After confirming that you are constantly experiencing symptoms such as aversion to genitalia, a desire to have sex signs removed, and/or the belief that your gender does not match your actual gender, the therapist will diagnose you with Gender Dysphoria (Gender Dysphoria)..
- You will have these symptoms for at least 6 months.
- Be honest with the therapist and yourself.
- Gender dysphoria doesn't mean you're diseased or a failure; this means that you are not content to live a life of the assigned sex. Your doctor will record this so they have the authority to give you the pills, therapy, and/or surgery you want or need.
- Gender dysphoria does not mean a sad mood. If you feel depressed or anxious, talk to a therapist. You may also benefit from treatment for it.
Step 3. Develop a treatment plan
After diagnosing you have gender dysphoria, the therapist will provide treatment options. The goal is not to change your feelings but to help overcome them and relieve suffering. In addition to follow-up care, the therapist may recommend that you undergo HRT, which will be administered and supervised by a GP or endocrinologist.
If you haven't gone through puberty yet, a therapist can prescribe a puberty blocker
Step 4. Fulfill your gender social role transition
If you express a desire to have Sex Change Surgery, SRS, fulfill your social gender role transition before the therapist approves the medical procedure. In this transitional stage, you will be living with your new gender identity for a year or two. You will experience life as a woman. You will dress up, go to the office, attend family events, exercise, and shop as a woman. After going through various events, the therapist will help you determine if SRS is the right decision for you.
During this process, stick to hormone pills, get rid of unwanted facial or body hair, and find your feminine voice
Part 3 of 5: Undergoing Non-Surgical Treatment
Step 1. Receive Hormone Replacement Therapy
The goal of HRT is to make you more comfortable with your body. Hormones will change your body to match your gender identity. As a man transitions into a woman, an endocrinologist or general practitioner will provide a diet with the hormone estrogen. You must receive HRT consistently. Once started, HRT should be continued continuously, even after you have had sex reassignment surgery (SRS). HRT can change your body drastically and in some people, is a good treatment for people with Gender Dysphoria. However, HRT does not change the size of your hand or the height of your voice. Your testicles will shrink but not disappear. Therefore, some people may seek other forms of treatment to get the desired results.
- Recognize the risks of HRT. Be aware of muscle loss and fat sharing. Hormones can cause some liver damage if not monitored by a doctor. NEVER try to self-medicate.
- Always take the hormone with the lowest effective dose. Taking too high a dose will slow down the transition process.
- Your doctor or endocrinologist should monitor HRT. Schedule regular checkups!
Step 2. Remove your fur
Laser hair removal is painful and expensive! The treatment also takes a very long time. Begin the hair removal process as soon as possible. It can take anywhere from 100 to 400 hours to get rid of a beard permanently! You can also remove hair from your hands, chest, and feet. If you are going to undergo the SRS process, the hair around the scrotum must be removed.
Step 3. Begin voice change therapy. You can change the height of your voice, but not with THP
Work with a speech language pathologist (Speech Language Pathologist) to find the right pitch, resonance, and inclination of a woman's voice. A voice coach can help change the speed and pitch of your voice. They can also help add feminine words and sayings to your vocabulary, such as “bless you”, “like”, “sweet”, and “dear”.
- If you don't intend to consult a specialist, find helpful resources online! There are CDs and DVDs available for purchase to guide you through a variety of exercises. There are even free apps and videos online!
- Changing your voice takes patience and practice. The process can take anywhere from 6 months to 1 year.
Part 4 of 5: Undergoing Surgical Treatment
Step 1. Consider thyroid cartilage reduction surgery
Reducing the size of your Adam's apple is a simple, outpatient operation. This procedure is commonly called a “Trach Shave” which reduces the appearance of masculine features through the removal of cartilage.
Step 2. Consider breast implants
HRT will increase breast size naturally. Most trans women will have a size A. If you want to increase your bust size, consider getting implants. The implant will update the size, shape, and appearance of your breasts.
Be aware that breast implants are a risky procedure, and can be toxic if they leak. Once you do, it's not wise to get rid of them permanently: your breasts will look ugly. Make sure you are absolutely sure before doing it
Step 3. Consider Feminine Face Surgery
This surgery combines several procedures to reduce masculine features to feminine features. You can choose to reduce your sharp chin or wide nose. Change the hairline or the shape of the lips. By reducing masculine features make it easier for you to be recognized as a woman. The plastic surgeon will work with you to achieve the perfect and beautiful feminine appearance..
During the operation process, reducing the Adam's apple size is common
Step 4. Consider vaginal surgery
During the procedure, the surgeon will attempt to transform the tissue of the penis and scrotum into the vagina, clitoris, and labia. After the procedure, your genitals will look feminine. You can have sexual intercourse and reach orgasm. This operation is irreversible.
Part 5 of 5: Solve Legal Matters
Step 1. Select and change your name
Choose a name that reflects your personality as a woman. Changing the name takes time and patience. First, apply for a change of your name with the archives division of the district court. On the specified date, you will appear before the judge with complete documents. If all your documents are valid, the judge will order to change your name officially. After succeeding in court, purchase original copies of court order documents. You will need it for legal documents during the name change process.
- Each country may have different processes and documents.
- Start this process early!
Step 2. Prepare for your job transition
Research your company's policies for hiring transgender and transsexual men and women. Before completing your transition, inform your supervisor and HR representative about the changes in your life. If you have a problem, first consult an anti-discrimination attorney or a member of the trans community. Finally, you have to decide if the fight is worth fighting for!
Step 3. Protect yourself from discrimination
Arm yourself with resources available to members of the LGBTQ community, especially trans women. Familiarize yourself with local help centers and support communities. If you experience discrimination of any kind, seek help from a close friend, family member, or activist. Stay strong and allow your supporters to accompany you through this situation.
Tips
- It's never too late to make the transition. Even if you've entered adulthood, you can make the transition and look great!
- There will be a period of swelling in your nipples and breasts, the level of pain for each person is different, make sure you eat regularly and don't go on a diet so that the dose of the drug works effectively.
Warning
- Do not stop taking THP unless medically directed, starting and stopping can result in damage to your endocrine system.
- If you must self-medicate (not recommended, but some transgender people may not be able to do so due to cost constraints), do thorough research.
