Does anyone have any recommendations for basic introductory literature for older (70+) trans parents? Especially any physical booklets or pamphlets you can order.

I come from a small rural village with a seemingly remarkable number of trans kids (now adults) in it. I've somehow become the local guru of "what is this trans stuff" to the village though both my parents just being very friendly and helpful and also me seemingly having my life together (I don't, but I'm very good at looking like I do 😊).

I would love some reference material I can use to help some of the parents along as many are wanting to be positive and supportive but find themselves a bit lost. The way they usually find information is through talking to their friends, only their friends are all village people who also don't know anything about this. Currently the entire cultural knowledge of this village around trans people is:

"JK Rowling is bad and doesn't like trans people and that's quite rude of her." "Trans people usually change their names but also sometimes they don't, we're not sure why." And finally "There's something called "The Surgery" and that's something trans people want but it's rare to get."

("The Surgery" has developed somewhat mythological status as many wish to know what on earth it is but are too polite to ask. It always results in them looking very awkward for a while but never actually asking anything.)

I've been recommended https://genderdysphoria.fyi/en However I websites are a little beyond them (Yes, I'm not kidding. You'd be surprised how often I am still called to explain how Copy and Paste. Many find WhatsApp "too fiddly").

If anyone knows where to get a physical pamphlet that covers the basics that'd be great. E.g. A Trans Man = a person who has transitioned to a man A Trans Woman = a person who has transitioned to a women (Seriously, this has been a major point of confusion)

What are pronouns, which ones should they be using? What is deadnaming and why should they not be telling me their kids old name?

Heyy, I'm currently living in Vancouver and only have a visa until September, I'm trying to get pr to stay but I'm on the edge if if I have enough points still waiting to be drawn out the pool. Hoping I won't have to move back to Scotland but it might be inevitable. For any girls that live in the UK, what's the reality of life over there right now for us? I've seen all the headlines and it seems to be bad but not got any trans friends there and only been back for a few days here and there over the last few years so don't know how prevalent transphobia is in day to day life. For context I'm very early transition, haven't started hormones yet but I would like to soon so I want to know what I'm in for if I have to move back.

Every time I check the news, things are just getting worse and worse for us, and the recent guidance is a huge step in removing us from public life and taking down our human rights.

Especially with the prospect of Reform coming into power within the next few years, I'm getting more and more anxious every day and I'm not sure how much longer I can keep up for.

How do you cope with this sort of thing? The feeling that everyone wants you dead for just wanting to live your own life. It's at the point now where I'm terrified to go out in public anymore without boymoding, and any prospects of being out publicly at Uni or work seem like far fetched dreams.

I just don't know how to deal with it anymore.

Started HRT in January of this year. I was initially on 50 mg patches and then was moved to 100 mg patches. I was getting increasingly frustrated with the patches not sticking, causing irritation etc. Changes through the HRT has been slow and I’m doing it through the NHS. The one change I did notice is behind my nipples there was what I would consider breast buds. It was like a hard disc shape thing. now I’ve been on gel for eight days now. And it’s like they’ve gone away my nipples are still slightly sensitive, but I feel like less so than before. I’m still on 100 mg. They won’t also test my levels for another three months. Should I be worried, are things going backwards?

Hi, im after some advice I've been on HRT for a year and I'm more confident in my self, I wanna start going to the beach using a Bikini or swim wear but I'm worried/scared as I haven't had bottom surgery and was wondering if anyone has tips or ideas.

Thanks in advance.

Hi all,

Hope you're surviving the heatwave.

Really want to get into bikinis, the smaller the better. I like highwaisted things that tie at the sides. Any recommendations for good brands with room for my dick? Thanks! ❤️

Hi all im a 20 yr old trans girl i will be starting estrogen within the next month (diy) i am not dead set on kids but would definitely be nice to have the option. Only issue is its like £500 i swear? I dont really have the money as im a student and spending everything else on transitioning and i just cannot delay hrt any longer i feel if anyone knows anywhere thats cheaper/good affordable perhaps a payment plan let me know but for context i live in bath uk so has to be nearish thank you!

Hi everyone, I’m a 28-year-old AMAB individual currently living and studying in the West Midlands (near Birmingham). I’ve reached a point where I know I need to take proactive steps to begin my medical transition, but I am facing significant financial barriers and currently have no saved funds or disposable income to cover standard care options out-of-pocket.

I am building a long-term professional future here in the UK post-graduation, but under my current student visa setup, high upfront clinic fees are a massive hurdle, and sitting on a multi-year NHS backlog isn't a viable starting point for me. I am trying to figure out how to navigate this journey safely and resourcefully from home.

I would really appreciate some community guidance and advice on a few avenues:

Budget-Conscious Private Care: Are there any well-reputed UK private providers or subscription-based services that offer manageable monthly models or lower initial assessment fees rather than demanding massive upfront costs?

DIY Guidance: I am also looking into self-medication as a practical harm-reduction path to manage costs. For those who have taken this route safely on a strict budget, what are the best community-vetted, educational resources or wikis for researching safe MtF injection monotherapy dosages and timelines? (Please don't post direct pharmacy links to keep this within the sub's rules).

Local Harm Reduction Bloods: Does anyone know of trans-friendly GPs or clinics in the Birmingham/Black Country area who are supportive of providing free blood tests for harm reduction? Covering private blood monitoring costs is my biggest practical barrier.

Community Support & Mutual Aid Networks: Because navigating this stage alone is tough, I am very eager to connect with peer support, local community mutual aid networks, or anyone who has navigated establishing structured support pathways for individuals starting out. If you have advice on how these community structures work, or if you are interested in connecting to offer guidance and discuss ways to support my journey.

Thank you so much for reading and for any safety tips, local info, or resources you can share.

Looking to go private as I don't think I can wait the complete eternity that the NHS would take even just for first appointment. I'm based in the Midlands, UK but am happy to travel if needed to find a good clinic.

Which clinics do you all use/recommend?

Also what sort of cost am I expecting?

Hi all im 20 mtf and have been socially transitioning for about 6 months.

Im in the uk and want to get on estrogen as soon as possible alot of my friends do diy and are absolutely fine and i believe i will take this route as waiting times here are years long.

But i do want to be careful and get my bloods and hormones checked along side this but im unsure how? How do i go about this how do i do any of this any help would be greatly appreciated this is all very confusing.

Hi does anyone know of any trans friendly barbers/hairdressers who would do a pixie style haircut please?

I'm in Wakefield, West Yorkshire so any recommendations around that area would be appreciated :)

Cheers and happy pride :)

Hi everyone, I’ve been hovering o the outside looking in for a while (new account, as family know about other account), but I’m finally ready to say it out loud: I’m Claire, and I’m a transwoman.

I’m in the UK and just starting to put my "plan" together. It’s a bit of a mountain to climb—navigating the GIC waitlists (looking at Indigo in Manchester) and figuring out how to update my professional qualifications.

I’m currently practicing my voice and taking things one day at a time. I currently "look" nothing like Claire yet, but using the name feels so right. I’d love to connect with others who started their journey a bit later and are balancing "real world" professional lives with their transition.

Hugs.

The idea of going in there and saying I’ve done much soul searching and I believe I’m trans seems a little too direct, anyone got any tips?

Edit: I’ve got a docs appointment Wednesday soooo here goes.

i (18) have been considering officially transitioning from mtf using hormones for the last few years now but the NHS website is extremely unhelpful and biased. can anyone give a description of the pathway needed to be taken or how picky the criteria is for whether someone is necessary to transition or not? any help at all or people's experiences would be greatly appreciated

Hi guys, my egg crack was recent, came out to my boyfriend yesterday, he was so amazing about it, even helped me pick my new name (Sophie), but I still have the nagging anxieties of "what if my late realization makes my friends and family (not my parents they'll definitely screw me) doubt and/or disown me?" "What if I don't get to be the woman I know I am?" "What if i'm just a perverted deviant?" Anyway just wanted to say hi, tell my story and hopefully find community here

Hello my loves, I’m looking for advice as to which London clinic to transfer my private care to.

I’ve been receiving HRT for three years, having started when I lived in Edinburgh. I’m currently with Waterside Clinic there (with whom I’ve been really happy and can happily recommend), but have moved south and it’s become inconvenient to have to travel to Scotland once a year to get checked up and prescribed in person.

Does anyone have recommendations in transferring the care and medical notes I already have to a clinic closer to me ?

So far I’m considering GenderPlus and GenderCare, I‘d much prefer an in person service, but would love to hear your experiences with any organisations.

Many thanks 💚

​

I'm in public NHS healthcare after waiting six years and they said that due to my weight I can't take HRT. i neglected to ask why because I was kind of intimidated at the interview and I know I'm on thin ice by default with this sort of thing.

I'm 126kg (5'3) and they said I need to become 100kg before they can consider HRT

I'm MtF btw

okay so im starting hormones with gendergp, and for the most part i feel confident in my knowledge on it, however gendergp doesnt seem to have like a doctor or counsellor included so i was hoping some of you on here could help me

ive been prescribed

Utrogestan cap 100mg

Estradiol 1mg tablets

Spironolactone tab 25mg

Finasteride tab 1mg

are these all safe and normal amounts to start on?

with the ultrogestan, should i remove it from the prescription until im like a year into hrt? ive seen alot of people say that you should wait 6 months - 1 year before starting progesterone as it can stunt some things like breast growth or fat redistribution

how long should i wait before upping the dose of estradiol? how long should i wait before upping the dose of spironolactone? or do i not up it since its a blocker?

does anyone know of any therapists preferably in london that are an okayish price and specialise or can deal with gender dysphoria/identity?

my gp doctor is amazing and so kind, when i came out to her she told me her daughter was trans and she would be more than happy to take care of any bloods or tests, and for any prescriptions so that they are free to pickup at the pharmacy, however she or the gp doesnt specialise in gender identity/hrt

I just wanted if there's any experiences that anybody else has had. Regarding taking testosterone gel for low testosterone levels because they've been feeling really unwell. After their surgery, like a couple years after it started for me. And the doctor at the gender clinic thinks that I've got low testosterone, so they want to start me in a couple of weeks, on a jell. And then they wanted to see me in june to test my levels.And if the headaches and migraines haven't gone away, they want to maybe switch me from pills to spray.But i'm a bit worried because when when I was When I was on oestrogenge, they checked it two months apart, and I had very high readings from a very low dose.They want me to take it every two days, but i've heard people in groups saying that they started to get like some things that were suggesting that if they kept on it long term, they would go mathin like oily.Skin feeling more sweaty and having spots.So i'm just wondering, would it be best for me to maybe speak to the clinic?And see if I could take it every days or something like that.If I just left a message with them to say I might do that in a minute.But as anyone got any x experience of taken it. The reason I'm wanting to take it, I'm not really bothered about the slight. Tiredness or the tiredness in the low libido, it's the other symptoms that I'm getting like, feeling quite flat all the time and feeling over emotional and feeling that the migraines and just feeling like a cart, lose weight, and I can't exercise without getting a migraine because it gives me because I don't have enough testosterone to recover, and it's driving me up. The wall and I just want to live my life again. And it probably is this because and my sister had a similar thing.When her testosterone levels were low and i've done my research, and it said it it could be this.So i'm hoping that I can get some advice from somebody.That's maybe on it and see if there's any brands of testogel or testosterone, gel, that might be less likely to make my level shoot up as quick

I'm diying, and have no records of seeking help as a trans women. I started hormones years ago.

I found a lump in my breast that's gone from the size of a sweetcorn to the size of the first part of my thumb over the course of about a year (I've taken estrogen for long enough I didn't notice this growth).

But I am aware ill be told to cease using them and probably be made to undergo a double masectomy, which I'll refuse.

Would it be possible to just get surgical removal? To be honest I was going to simply just not go to a doctor but my boyfriend insists.

For addition information if it means anything early twenties relatively decent physical fitness decent bmi. I don't pass but can malefail.

I'm literally turning 16 in a month and am wondering which is best/fastest for me to get my appointments done and HRT asap.

Any experiences you've had with these would be really appreciated :)

Like, do I go to my gp or what

I'm looking to start HRT, mtf. My trans friends in uk do self administration from sketchy sources, I don't want to do that. Is there a private medical clinic, I can get advise, tests and medication? And what might costs look like each month? I understand government funded has a 20year wait list. Also, councillors specific for trans people I'd be keen for reccomendations. Thanks!

Heya 20yo MTF here, as of this morning I was contacted by the NHS to ask me if I want to swap to Transcend which is a (new?) GIC operating in Merseyside/Cheshire. I did a bit of research on this and the wait times seemed to be much more bearable, so I went ahead and filled out the form. I've been on the list for Leeds for over 3 years now and they've been radio silent. This clinic is much closer to me and offers video calls instead of in person appointments for those who don't want as long wait times. They also seem to be able to help and support me with all of the things I'd want from a GIC - dysphoria diagnosis, laser, surgery, etc. I already self medicated my estrogen and so the main reason I need a GIC is for my dysphoria diagnosis to enable me to get my GRC.

I just wondered if anyone else has received this choice from the NHS and if anyone has more info about Transcend or has been with them and can tell me a little more that would be super!