I got this "binder" recently. I like it better than any one I've had so far (I'd estimate that I've gone through about eight from various brands).

Pros:

-Very breathable, can exercise in it without feeling like death

-Not terrible in hot weather

-Doesn't show under a lot of shirts, though if you have a shirt with a wide neck it'll show, but does look like an undershirt as opposed to a bra since the neck is high.

-Helps with hiding hip fat

-Feels natural. I forget I'm wearing this sometimes. Probably would be fine sleeping in it as well, though it's good practice to take breaks.

Cons:

-If you have a bigger chest this isn't gonna do the best of jobs binding since it's got less compression than a typical binder. It's still not the worst option in that case, but you won't look completely flat. It's worked well for me flatness wise.

-I wouldn't wear this by itself because it doesn't fit like a regular shirt. Definitely looks an undergarment.

-It smells like a McDonald's playground right out of the package. I recommend you add baking soda into the wash to get the smell out faster.

-I suspect this will stretch out the longer I use it. The solution is to dry it on low as opposed to air dry it. It's got cotton in it so it'll shrink.

I recommend you only get it in black or white if your concern is passing. A lot of cis men will wear undershirts (typically in white, sometimes black, but never in nude).

If you're in-between measurements, order a size up. I made the mistake of getting a size down and I wasn't even able to get it over my head. Had to exchange it which took a while.

If you're interested in a binder with flatter coverage I will post a review of the underworks ultimate binder if requested. Underworks is by far my favorite binder brand for many reasons.

I found this to be helpful. I've been having a lot of anxiety around my voice changing so some sort of info on what to expect made me feel better.

Hi, I'm Zeke. I'm 32 and last year I finally came to the conclusion that I am transmasc after years of being unhappy with who I was and how I looked. I've done so much research into it, but I'm still left with questions. First off, I should say that I have opted not to do HRT. HRT has too many health risks that I can't take due to heart related issues that run in my family. It's not worth that risk to me. So I'm trying a different route.

I've decided to go the route of surgery w/ changes to how I dress and how I get my hair cut. I've lost about 18.6lbs out of 25lbs to get my top surgery and so far it has been really good for me health wise and affirming wise. I'm so close to the first step and I can't wait for the positive effects especially since my bust size causes physical discomfort and shortness of breath so it's a two in one benefit. My questions for this one is "Does silicone gel work better than lotion for scars?" and "Are you comfortable being topless for swimming/beach visits?"

Now here's where I most uncomfortable because I've heard of people being negative about it, but I plan to get vocal surgery to deepen my voice. Here's where my questions come in. Has anyone else gotten this surgery? If so, what's it like and what were your experiences with recovery? How different has it made your voice?

I just wonder if others have chosen the surgical route. I don't have anyone or anywhere else to ask these questions so I figured I'd drop them here. Thank you for any answers!

cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/13674539

> Join the Trans Housing Network matrix room > > If you are having issues finding housing as a trans person or would like to help others, consider joining this new matrix chat room. > > Sharing and updoots appreciated.

I have heard a lot of contradictory things on this subject. "It'll happen in six months" or "You have to lose weight and gain it back for it to happen in a reasonable amount of time"

What's the truth about this? What's your experience with it?

Oh beautiful hair on mine legs,

Your presence gives me joy,

Darker and thicker you spread each day,

In order to help me grow into a boy

Hi

With warm weather just around the corner, that means that the dysphoria hoodie must be retired. Any insight on styling and types of clothing that help with achieving a straight figure but won't overheat?

I'd like to grow my hair out more when the T starts to kick in. I've had my hair cut as short as can be without looking like a buzz cut. I generally pass well with this haircut.

Problem is, I'm not passionate about the cut. It's fine I guess but I don't feel attractive or self expressive with it. Definitely would rather pass than have a haircut I love, but there'll come a time where I can experiment more without risking my passing. I've got nice, wavy hair and it seems like it's going to waste being so short.

Any of you fellas have suggestions for long-ish haircuts/styles that are still very masculine? I've always been captivated by 60/70s men's fashion, hair included, but I'm open to other things too.

How do I not eat a shit ton of food every day because of my increased appetite? I feel bloated all of the time nowadays as well. Any advice on this is welcome.

I want to start packing with an STP-type packer, but I have no idea how/where to start. How do you get it to be comfortable, stay in place, and not leak? What type of packer do you use and what are your methods around it? Any recommendations/general advice?

I'm going on a seven day camping trip in a couple of months, and I'm worried about how I'm gonna bind the whole way through. None of the people I'm going with know I'm trans, and I'd rather keep it that way. Still waiting for top surgery...

The trip will consist of a lot of canoeing and hiking. It's a very isolated location with no bathrooms, trash cans, etc. Typically, my preferred method of binding is using transtape, but it only lasts about four days before it starts to come loose and noticable. On the rest days from the tape, I typically use an underworks full tank binder, but those are terrible to do any intense exercise in because it gets sweaty and hard to breathe. I have one traditional binder which I'll use when exercising on off days, but wearing that seven days straight seems like it's not gonna work because of sweat, having to take breaks at night, etc. It's also hard to hide under athletic wear and doesn't do the best job of giving me a flat chest. I have no idea yet if I'm gonna be sharing a tent or not.

Do y'all have any ideas/recommendations for a way to bind stealthily, be able to exercise, and in the middle of nowhere with people for seven days? Also any recs for a (reasonably priced) STP packer to take would be helpful.

Also of note, my chest isn't particularly big. Probably on the smaller side of B if I had to guess.

I'm having problems with the sticky residue that trans tape leaves behind. Any tips on getting rid of it?

I'm a transman who has been on T since 2011. I've recently begun experiencing bleeding despite good T levels. My doctor suggested hysterectomy, but that is not in line with my transition goals. Have any of you gotten an endometrial ablation instead? I've read studies out of medical colleges reporting good results for transmen. It seems like an easy outpatient procedure on paper.

Edit: Spoke with my doctor and she doubled my T. If bleeding doesn't stop within 3 months she's recommending me for the surgery.

Edit 3 months later: Increasing T gel worked

I'm contemplating trying to make my own binders because it seems like everything I can find is either made of materials that are hard on the skin or not very effective for larger chests, and it all tends to cause "monoboob" effect. Also trying to avoid buying more polyester/plastic fibers, which is extremely difficult when you're looking for something specialized.

I feel like binder technology is limited by the number of people who are just binding until they can get top surgery; I am not planning on top surgery at all, myself, so I expect to be binding at least some of the time for the foreseeable future.

Wondering if anyone here has encountered either better options or patterns/DIY guides that I haven't found. Suggestions of either type welcome!

I'm curious about y'all's timelines. Here's some helpful stuff you can include:

-Dose

-Method (gel, injection, etc.)

-What came first and how long it took, what took much longer than expected

-Things that you weren't expecting/weren't told about

-Total time you've been on T

-Medical conditions that may have impacted it such as PCOS

-Tips and tricks

I've been on T for bout a month. 25mg in 1% gel. Wanting to hear from fellow trans people about their wide variety of experiences instead of just relying on standardized articles.

Tell Me Why is a video game created by the same people who made the 2015 game Life Is Strange. It features a brother and sister duo who try to get to the bottom of their mom's death. The brother is a gay trans man, and he's also voiced by a trans man (very rare). His being trans isn't the whole plot of the story, but there are many moments where it is relevant in his journey. It's a good balance of the two. It's a dialogue/cutscene heavy episodic adventure game. If you've played Life Is Strange, the play style is similar.

This video game has a great storyline and is what I consider good representation. Highly recommend playing it.

Why not name yourself zalgo, bringer of the 7th realm (zal for short) or eldrich, menace to the modern age (men for short). Optimus prime would be timus or Tim for short.

If you are a trans man (or enby), remember that T does not prevent pregnancy. While it can reduce fertility, people have and you can still get pregnant while on T. Do not play around with that shit if you don't want to get pregnant.

T IS NOT BIRTH CONTROL.

Hormonal birth control also has the added benefit of ceasing menstruation.

The pill FAQs: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/birth-control/in-depth/birth-control-pill/art-20045136

More methods of birth control: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control

I read that trans men are just as likely as cis women to get pregnant, and way less of them use condoms or birth control. Figured some of y'all need this info. Have SAFER and RESPONSIBLE sex.

Edit: 69 upvotes. Heh.

Vocal passing isn't just about how deep your voice is. There are other aspects to making yourself sound like a dude (or more neutral).

This is the best information I've found on what T might do to your body to date. Most websites don't tell you this stuff, because much of it has been sourced from trans men's anecdotal evidence, but it is useful nonetheless. Highly recommend checking this out.

If there's anything not listed on here, comment down below so we can all benefit from the additional information.

The manga is called "to strip the flesh" and I think it's good trans man rep. The first two chapters are about the trans man, the rest are unrelated short stories.

It's rare to find rep (let alone good rep) about trans men that actually captures a lot of the experience that we go through. Thought y'all would like to read it.

About the link: I encourage you to buy from the author but if you are broke like I am this is a good alternative. I recommend the use of adblock before opening it.

I recently tried out binding tape, specifically transtape. It took some getting used to, but now it is my go-to method as opposed to the classic binder. The most helpful tip that I've found so far is to apply the tape at an angle instead of horizontally across like the instructions say. It does a better job and keeping it flat and is also more comfortable.

The biggest advantage of tape is that it's much easier to exercise freely in it. For years I had been wearing an underworks tank-style binder and never wanted to exercise since I'd always run out of breath. Also, during the hot months binders are less than ideal, as they get sweaty, sticky, and hard to take off. Tape is ideal in that regard.

You can also bind 24/7 until the tape wears out. It is safe to do so given that you applied it properly. It doesn't constrict the ribs like binders do.

There are two main disadvantages so far:

1. The removal process sucks. I am often left with blisters and irritated skin. Not to mention, it is more time-consuming than simply taking off a binder.
2. The cost. Getting TransTape in particular is costly, especially considering the extra fees tacked onto the base price such as shipping and taxes.

That said, what tips and tricks have you found while using tape? Have you tried brands other than TransTape?

I've been on 25mg of 1% gel for about a month. It's astonishing how different it's made me feel. 25mg is not much, and yet it's as if a cloud has lifted from my brain in recent days. A cloud that's been here since my brain was flooded with estrogen during first puberty. Can't wait to see how it'll feel with a higher dosage.

It really seems that there's some truth to the "some brains are wired for estrogen and some for testosterone" theory. What other explanation could there be for this.

Anybody else experienced the same thing?

I'm a transguy who transitioned in the 2000s and have had top surgery. I toured a gym that has a beautiful sauna, steam room, and hot tub that I'd like to join, but clothes are not permitted in any of the above. I'm worried about running into trouble if I go naked.

The gym is like a Jewish YMCA and is adamantly LGBTQ+ friendly and even has reminders in the locker room that the space welcomes everyone. I asked the girl giving the tour about my concerns and she said to just wear a towel if I'm not comfortable, but I'm still a bit uncertain.

Do any of you guys go to nude men-only areas? Any tips?

I'm sure I won't get assaulted because I'm a tough looking guy that most folks wouldn't fuck with, but I don't want to invite trouble.

I plan on bringing this up with my doctor at my next blood work visit, but was curious if anyone had experience with this.

I’ve been having issues with feeling kind of crappy about a day before my shot is due. Getting overheated, tired, irritable, etc. Previously when that happened my dose was bumped up a bit, but my dose is already on the upper end of a typical dose so I’m not sure I want to ask to keep bumping it up.

That said, does anyone have experience with dealing with late shot cycle ickyness by doing a 5 or 6 day shot cycle instead of once a week? I’m wondering if a lower dose more often would help reduce the hormonal drop off or just make it happen more often.

I’ve been on gel before but doing it daily is a huge pain and I’d like to avoid going back on it if I can get these damn shots tweaked right.

Now a disclaimer; I'm not FtM, but non-binary and struggling with vocal dysphoria. I've had voice masculinization therapy on my mind for a long while now, but unfortunately gender-affirming vocal therapy is near-nonexistent in the conservative country I live in. (fuck this place tbh) Therefore, I've been thinking of having sessions online instead, but I've had difficulties finding any practitioners or services. Even the few I have found, were extremely expensive at $120-150 USD per individual session! Needless to say I cannot afford that sort of budget (⁠＠⁠_⁠＠⁠;⁠)

So... any online recommendations where I can get therapy for cheaper than this? Any and all advice is much needed and appreciated.

TW: Chest and surgery

Tl;Dr Has anyone had their nipples pierced after top surgery and can offer insight on issues?

I had top surgery 10 years ago. During the surgery my nipples were completely removed and relocated. My nipples are not very pronounced with only a little bump.

I tried to get nipple piercings at a very reputable piercing shop this week but the piercer advised that the piercing would basically be a surface piercing, and would slowly migrate out over years resulting eventually in my nipples tearing and leaving "gnarly scars".

Have any of you had nipple piercings for multiple years after top surgery? Any issues like he worried about? I'm also debating if it would be worthwhile to get them pierced but set a time limit to remove them after a few years.

Thanks ahead of time.

Heya guys. Do you know anywhere I could get binding tape in Europe. I do know about transtape and been looking to get it, but do you guys know any other brands? I'm not sure about any of the websites that I have seen and hearing about the transtape not being the greatest with some allergies, I was curious do you guys know any good brands :3

Just one more thing to point at when people tell you you'll regret "destroying your beautiful body" or whatever.

Not saying that I want to go full-corpo, but the idea of getting ahead in a career is really appealing to me. I feel stuck in my job I have now because there's not much chance of advancement and the hours are really inconsistent. I've been considering going back to college to pursue something that would allow me to have a stable income. To tell you the truth, I'm jealous of the memes about trans girls being software engineers. I want to be one too. I would definitely make a lot more than I'm making right now. It's also the job my dad has, and I was curious about what it would be like as a career when I was younger. All the layoffs were really what scared me away from it, but I'm not in a much better situation right now. I just don't really know of any trans guys that are in professional positions like that. I don't know if there's a reason for it, or if the guys that do get ahead like that just go stealth.

I'm not at all up to date on what's out there in regards to websites or posts or videos or the like. (Medical gatekeeping put me back in the closet 20ish years ago so I never really collected resources, I was just mostly doing my own thinking on my own.)

So I'm curious what favorite links and resources and stuff you guys have. New "developments" sometimes surprise me (in a good way).

There's no particular FTM related topic I'm looking for...I guess I'm just asking you guys to share your info-hoards. :)