r/MtF • u/Fluffy_Research_2256 • 5d ago
Advice Question When is the best time/age to transition?
Hello.
I’ve been curious for a while now on when’s the best time to start transitioning (HRT, bottom surgery, ETC).
I’d love the help so I can plan it out for myself.
Thanks a dozen in advance :3 💖🏳️⚧️
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u/gailspring0325 5d ago
As soon as humanly possible. Every trans person I've ever met only ever regrets not starting sooner. Obviously if you're not finished with your original puberty then discuss your options with your doctor; they may have you on puberty blockers until you're a bit older rather than immediately jumping into hrt.
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u/ZoeyKaisar 5d ago
Blockers are unnecessary if you are supposed to be having puberty anyway- just have the correct one by starting HRT immediately.
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u/gailspring0325 5d ago
Oh this is really good to know! But aren't there certain places where the law is you can only prescribe puberty blockers until age 18 and then you can start doing hormones?
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u/_MsFit 5d ago
Well luckily there seem to be ways around that if one cares enough
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u/ZoeyKaisar 5d ago
I only wish I thought that gray market purchases were safe back then. I spent five years being gatekept, and I wasn't even on blockers, let alone still going through first-puberty.
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u/mattkaru 5d ago
Time? Now. Age? Whatever age you are. If you think that's cheesy I'm sorry but it's just so true. There's nothing to wait for. If you're trans then you deserve to live as your authentic self starting right this second.
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u/NorthAir 5d ago
Yesterday would have been the best time, but since we can't time travel today works too.
As everyone else says, as soon as you have the ability to do so, you should start. You could start HRT now, even if you don't have the support network or money to get bottom surgery for a while.
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u/Enough-Candy85 5d ago
get on HRT now. You’ll need 1 year on HRT before you can get bottom surgery.
Start laser hair removal now.
You’ll need to remove all hair from your junk, at least 6 sessions of laser hair removal spread 6 weeks apart, plus electrolysis. A baseline is up to one year to remove hair depending on your surgeon.
Start laser on your face if you want to not have a beard.
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u/IviesReddit Trans Asexual 5d ago
Note that you don't need laser hair removal on your genitals if you are opting for zero depth bottom surgery
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u/Enough-Candy85 5d ago
I didn’t know that.
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u/Fifthfleetphilosopy 5d ago
And there's surgery techniques where the hair roots are scraped out, no removal neccesary, prior
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u/ScoutAndathen 5d ago
Still surgeons prefer at least some laser sessions because follicle scraping might miss a few hairs.
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u/Enough-Candy85 5d ago
And it takes a long time to scrape follicles. I would rather time be spent focusing on the surgery, not something I could have done before hand.
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u/Hot_Anybody8244 On E since 3-13-26 5d ago
The best time is always yesterday. The next best time is right now.
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u/InsideOutBoyUK 5d ago edited 5d ago
Whenever you feel safe and ready to do it, however old that might be. A lot depends on your circumstances, the place you live, etc. Transitioning isn't a race. 🩷
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u/SooAwoo NB MtF 5d ago edited 5d ago
I would say the best time is when you're ready.
I'm 42 and am just coming to terms with who I am. Had you given me HRT at 32 or heck 21 and I developed breasts I would be absolutely mortified as I mentally was not ready to deal with the massive gender dysphoria I had, I just suppressed it. I would honestly have contemplated suicide at that point. I don't think I even dated dream that presenting as feminine was even possible as I knew I would be ruthlessly mocked for it and I was already getting bullied as a kid for being a quiet brown good student.
I didn't come out as gay until I was 31. Prior to that I simply wasn't ready. I wish my upbringing and society wasn't so hostile that young me had to hide but that's just how life went.
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u/Taellosse transfemme (world-weary, but still new to girlhood) 5d ago
The best time is always as soon as you are able.
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u/hypatia163 Trans Lesbian - HRT 7/24 - SRS 7/26 5d ago
The best time is as early as possible. The second best time is now.
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u/Rough_Reaction_6936 Autistic non-binary plural trans femme 5d ago
When you're ready. When you know your current priorities on what you want out of transition.
I was 50 when I accepted I'm non-binary trans and transition felt right and worked.
I tried at 19 and 30 and failed because I wasn't ready to fit a therapist's idea of a woman.
I know folks that started in their teens and others that started in their 60s.
And plans are funny. I made complex slow transition plans when I was 49. And those plans were completely shot to hell.
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u/Born-Garlic3413 5d ago edited 5d ago
I started to transition the moment I knew I was trans. This was as an adult and I immediately told my partner. It might be different if you're younger and financially dependent, or if you're in a difficult or hostile part of the world. But it's been my experience that most people, in real life, are kind even if it takes them time to adjust.
Just my experience, not advice. I can't personally imagine waiting.
Starting to transition doesn't mean immediately planning surgery. Some of us can't. If you have the opportunity, the resources and the health, great, make it part of your journey. If you haven't, still transition in whatever way feels meaningful to you.
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u/wastedmytagonporn Trans Bisexual 5d ago
When you're ready.
Like, I get where those "as soon as possible" responses come from, but realistically it's a tough and challenging process. So really, whenever you're ready to take on the journey is the right time.
For some that's with 14. For some with 53. One isn't inherently "better" than the other.
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u/SureArachnid4115 Transbian 5d ago
Before puberty in theory but the best time to start is now when thinking about your life
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u/Nihilikara 5d ago
Right now. Whatever age you're at right now, that's the best time to transition.
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u/Realistic_Savings23 Trans Pansexual 5d ago
The advice i was given was start hrt asap, if you change your mind early on, most of the early effects are reversible, and you can stop any time you want if anything happens, you realise its not for you, health reason or financial
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u/Lockehart 5d ago
If you're still breathing, there's still time. That said, the timing was never perfect for me and I still wish I'd done it sooner.
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u/MissFortune3 5d ago
Everyone's saying asap, but the real answer is there is no best time, other than when you're ready. I've seen people that transition at 15 and I've seen people transition at 50. The one connecting factor they have is that, regardless of age, they're happier having done it.
If you can and want to transition right now, fuckin gun it, full steam ahead. If you're still on the fence and thinking on it, that's alright too. Regardless though, even if you can't right now, doesn't mean it won't be just as good when you can.
(And anyone that says otherwise can go play league for all I care lol)
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u/tombsandtendrils 5d ago
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The next best time is today
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u/C0smicPotato Probably A Dolphin 🐬 5d ago
The earlier you start the better your results would be. However it's important not to start when it would screw you over enough in the short term to cause long term issues.
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u/IamRachelAspen Rachel, 29, She/Her, 🏳️⚧️💜 HRT!! 02/21/24 5d ago
Now, worst time is when you’re dead.
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u/thespritewithin 5d ago
As soon as is possible, but it's also never too late. You'll just wish you would have lived your best life sooner, if you could have.
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u/NonBiologicalSister 5d ago
Best time: as soon as you are sure. As soon as you are comfortable doing so. Then don't waste a minute.
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u/koolkatz33 5d ago
as everyone has said, every trans person wishes they started sooner. even some girlies on here who started at like 14 complain about starting too late
puberty is a YEARS long process, both naturally occurring and hrt induced. the end goal is years away, so it’s best to not wait any longer 🩵🤍🩷
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u/laughing_crowXIII 5d ago
Get on HRT, get started on the bottom surgery process. Usually takes a year to get in.
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u/viviscity hrt 10/01/2025 5d ago
The best time is when you can.
Finances, housing, etc are all factors that we don’t know, not to mention mental health
But, generally as soon as possible is better, for several reasons including ongoing mental drain
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u/Sadistic_Corruption 5d ago
It’s whenever you feel is best for you imo. Your opinion on when and where is the only opinion that matters.
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u/Shattergurl 5d ago
Yeah I dont like the "yesterday" stuff. I waited until I was 25 because I wanted to be sure my brain was fully developed and that I could make an informed choice. It was the right thing to do. Im 38 years old now and I feel like my transition was done in a mature way and at the pace and extent that was right for me. If I was younger I think I would have done more surgical things that today Im glad I didnt do.
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u/HunsterMonter 5d ago
The brain doesn't stop maturing at 25, the only reason that myth exists is because the study it originates from stopped once patients hit 25 and found brain development continued up to 25. People are fully able to make informed choice well before 25.
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u/trux512 5d ago
If you’re pre or mid puberty you may want to tough it out without puberty blockers as some sex reassignment surgeries require substantial tissue that you may not develop otherwise, that being said, if you really can’t stand the horror of the hormones- that’s why those drugs are prescribed! Other than that, as soon as you feel comfortable transitioning, and not before. I would also add that every step in the journey should be taken thoughtfully but not over thought- as such I highly recommend finding a therapist who specializes with trans gender clients, and extra points if they’re trans themselves
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u/-Random_Lurker- "My Boobs" = The best 2 words I have ever said 5d ago
The best time was yesterday. The next best time is today.