How to Go Female to Male (Transgender)

Transgendering from female to male can be a very rewarding process. This is also a long journey and potential complications. As you begin the transition, tell friends and family that you are transgender. You need their support! Then you can transition socially by changing your dress and grooming habits. If you want to be medically transgender, find a doctor you trust to start hormone therapy. It is important to follow your doctor’s advice when applying any treatment. Finally, decide if you want to have sex reassignment surgery.

Table of Contents

Open to everyone that you are transgender

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Think carefully about who and what you are going to say. If you haven’t done this already, plan to come out as transgender. Start by talking to people you trust. They will act as your support system. Choose an appropriate time and place where you can have a private and uninterrupted conversation. ^{[1] X Research Source}

You can say to your sister, “I have something important to tell you. Can you come to my place this Friday night?” Until then, you can say whatever puts you at ease. Saying “I’m transgender because I think I’m a boy” is also a good way to start a conversation.

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Talk to supporters. You don’t have to be open to everyone if you don’t want to. If you just want to reveal it to a friend or relative, that’s okay too. This is your own business, and sharing how is your right. If you have supporters, consider having them around when you tell others. They can be a great source of emotional support!

Before going public, you need to be sure that doing this will not jeopardize your health, safety or living situation. If you worry about this being more or less good, prepare a plan – pack your belongings and get ready to leave. Consider staying with friends or relatives in advance if needed.
Make sure you are completely comfortable with your gender identity before talking to others.

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Search for information about transgender people to prepare to answer the questions. Unfortunately, many people don’t understand what transgender is, and chances are they’ll have a lot to ask you. Take the time to collect a variety of stories about transgender people and the transition process. You can share this information with people who have questions. ^{[2] X Research Source}

There is a lot of useful information online that you can find. You can also reach out to your local LGBT community for resources.

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Give people time to process your information. Hopefully, you will quickly be loved and supported by everyone as soon as you know about it. However, it may take some time for some people to get used to the idea that you are transgender. No problem; Maybe it took you a while to come to terms with this. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

You can say something like, “Thanks for listening to me. I know you have a lot to think about. Can we see each other in a few days?”

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Tim understands the rules in the area before going public at work. In the United States, there is no federal law that protects workers from being fired because of their gender identity or expression, but many states or cities have such laws. If you’re concerned that your gender identity could get you into trouble at work, learn the laws where you live.

If there is no clear protection law, you can seek the advice of an attorney.
If you’re still in school, you should probably talk to an adult before deciding to go public. A favorite teacher or school counselor can help you decide how to behave at school. Hopefully, people will support you, but if you’re being bullied, they’ll be there to protect you. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Find a support system for dealing with emotions. Even if all goes well, deciding to transition can still be a stressful experience. In addition to family and close friends, seek support from other people as well. It can be helpful to ask for advice from people who are transgender. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Look for LGBT support groups in your community.
If you’re in the US, you can also find support from national organizations like The Trevor Project and PFLAG.

Transgender in the social aspect

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Ask people to call you by your preferred pronoun. One of the first steps in your transition is letting people know about your gender identity. Personal pronouns are important in that they indicate what gender you want to be identified with. ^{[6] X Research Source}

When meeting someone you don’t know, you can say “Hi, I’m Thanh. You call me him when you talk about me.”
You can politely correct people who refer to you with inappropriate pronouns. Try saying “Can you call me him or just my name? Thank you very much.”

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Rename if you want. Each person chooses a different way of converting. Remember that you can choose whichever way you want. If you want a different name, you can make a legal or just social name change. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

You can start gradually by simply asking friends and family to call you by your new name at first. Please say “Previously my name was Huong, but now I’ve changed my name to Hung.”

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Change the way you dress and groom to be more masculine if you want. You can also go further in the transition by changing up your appearance. Try a short haircut, for example. You can also start shopping for clothes and shoes at the men’s stores and wear jeans and blazers when you go out for the evening. Remember that the most important thing is to feel comfortable. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Eric A. Samuels, PsyD

Clinical psychologist

Dr. Eric A. Samuels is a clinical psychologist practicing privately in San Francisco and Oakland, California. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the Wright Institute in 2016 and is a member of the American Psychological Association and Gaylesta – Association of Psychotherapists on Gender and Sexual Diversity. Eric specializes in working with men, young people, and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

Eric A. Samuels, PsyD
Clinical psychologist

Consider chest compressions if you have an inferiority complex about your breasts. Many of our female-to-male transgender clients choose to tighten their breasts and wear more masculine clothing. You can also have upper body surgery to change your appearance permanently, but research shows that the majority of people who identify as transgender don’t actually have gender reassignment surgery.

Using hormone therapy for sex reassignment

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Find out what your insurance will cover. Unfortunately, the transgender process is often quite expensive. The actual cost will vary depending on where you live and the doctor treating, but usually it will cost hundreds of millions of dong. The good news is that an increasing number of insurance plans are accepting full or partial payment of transgender costs.

First, you need to talk to your doctor and get an explanation of the treatments and expected costs. Next, check your insurance plan. If you still don’t know what you will be paid when you read the insurance policy, call a counselor to ask.
Both employer-sponsored insurance plans and government health insurance programs are starting to pay more for transgender expenses.

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Make an appointment with an experienced doctor. If the doctor you know doesn’t have experience with transgenderism, find a specialist. They will guide you through the conversion process and answer your queries more effectively. Make an appointment and discuss with your doctor the steps you’d take to transition through medical intervention. Hormone therapy will usually be the first step.

Talk to your doctor about the risks associated with hormone therapy. As a result of hormone therapy, you will have an overall male health status. This means your risk of developing conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure is higher. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Choose the dosage and method that is right for you. Testosterone can be used in 3 ways: orally (pill), using a patch or gel, or by injection. The appropriate method will depend on the health status of each person. Talk to your doctor about each of these options. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor lots of questions. The doctor’s job is to help you! ^{[10] X Research Source}

Oral testosterone is the least effective and is not commonly used. With transdermal hormone therapy, you’ll need to apply a patch or gel every day. If your doctor recommends an injection, you’ll get it once a week or every two weeks.
Dosage can vary considerably. It may take you and your doctor a while to find the right dose.

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Wait for skin changes first. Not long after you start taking testosterone, you’ll see your skin begin to change in how it looks and feels. Pores will be larger, skin will also be thicker and produce more oil. Acne is also not uncommon. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Your touch can also change, and everything feels different when you touch it.

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Track changes in body weight, hair, and voice. You may notice a change in your weight distribution. For example, you will see a decrease in your hips and thighs, while your waistline increases. Overall, you will have increased muscle mass. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Listen for a change in your voice after a few weeks. Testosterone causes the vocal cords to thicken, resulting in a more masculine voice. ^{[13] X Research Source}
Note that your hair will gradually change over time, growing thicker and darker. Body hair will be darker and thicker, and grow faster. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Ask your doctor about changes in your reproductive organs. You may notice that your period becomes less frequent, less frequent, or stops altogether. On the other hand, it is also possible that your periods are heavier and longer for a while. Response to testosterone therapy varies from person to person. ^{[15] X Research Source}

If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor. They can help you determine what is normal.

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Psychotherapy if emotional changes are difficult for you. Make an appointment with a psychologist if you’re struggling to cope with your emotions. Hormone therapy has an effect that’s not that different from puberty. Not only will you experience physical changes, you may also notice emotional swings. Transgendering is a stressful process, even if your hormones aren’t skyrocketing! ^{[16] X Research Source}

During psychotherapy, you may learn helpful coping mechanisms.

Carrying out surgical procedures

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See a therapist for a diagnosis, if necessary. Gender dysphoria is a condition in which a person’s gender identity does not match their innate gender. It’s not a mental illness, so don’t worry your doctor will look that way. Some doctors may require this diagnosis before performing surgery. Psychotherapy isn’t just about getting a diagnosis, but it’s also a helpful way to find strategies to help you cope with the stress of surgery. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Depending on your insurance policy, you may need a doctor’s note to be covered.

Advice

Don’t be pressured to switch in a “typical” fashion. Everyone’s gender transition is different.
It may take you several years to complete the transition. That’s okay too!
Medical and surgical methods can be very expensive. Make a spending plan to cover expenses.
If you don’t have insurance, talk to a financial planner to help you create a payment plan.

Warning

Only work with an experienced doctor you trust.
Follow your doctor’s instructions about hormone therapy and recovering from surgery.

Steps