You might tell your sister, “I have something important I’d like to talk to you about. Can you come over Friday evening?” Then you can say whatever makes you comfortable. “I’m transgender and I identify as a male,” might be a good place to start.

Before you come out, make sure that doing so won’t endanger your health, safety, or living situation. If you think there might be a problem, have a safety plan in place. That means having a bag with some essentials packed and ready to go. Plan ahead to stay at a friend or family member’s house, if necessary. Make sure that you are completely comfortable with your own identity before discussing it with others.

You can search online for helpful information. You could also reach out to a local LGBT center and ask them for good resources.

You can say something like, “Thanks for listening. I know this is a lot to process. Maybe we can get together in a couple of days after you’ve had time to think?”

If there are not explicit protections in place, you might want to contact a lawyer for some advice. If you are still in school, you might want to talk to an adult before you decide to come out. A favorite teacher or the school counselor can help you decide how open you want to be at school. Hopefully, everyone will be supportive. But if you are bullied, these people will be ready to support you. [4] X Research source

Look for LGBT support groups in your community. You can also find support from national organizations like The Trevor Project and PFLAG.

When you meet a new person, you can say, “Hi! I’m Taylor, and I’d love it if you could use he/him when you’re referring to me. ” You can gently correct people who use incorrect pronouns when referring to you. Try saying, “Can you please either use he/him pronouns or just use my name? Thanks so much. ”

You can start slowly by just asking friends and family to call you by your new name. You can say, “I know you know me as Sara, but I’m going by Sam now. ”

First, talk to your doctor and get an explanation of expected treatments and costs. Next, examine your insurance plan. If you can’t tell from reading your policy what is covered, call and speak to a representative. Both employer-based plans and Medicare and state marketplace plans are starting to cover more of the costs of transitioning.

Talk to your doctor about risks associated with hormone therapy. As a result of hormone therapy, your overall health profile will be that of a male. That may mean you are at greater risk for conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure. [9] X Research source

Oral testosterone is the least effective, so it’s not as commonly used. If you use transdermal therapy, you will be using a skin patch or gel each day. If your doctor recommends injections, you’ll typically get a shot either once a week or every 2 weeks. Doses vary greatly. It might take some time for you and your doctor to figure out what’s right for you.

Your sense of touch might also change, and things might “feel” different when you touch them.

Listen for changes in your voice after a few weeks. The testosterone will cause your vocal cords to thicken, which will result in a more traditionally male-sounding voice. [13] X Research source Expect your hair to change slowly over time, and get thicker and darker. The hair on your body will start to become darker and thicker. It will also grow at a faster rate. [14] X Research source

If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor. They can help you figure out what’s normal for you.

In therapy, you can learn various coping mechanisms that may be useful.

Depending on your insurance coverage, you might also need a diagnosis in order for any of your procedures to be covered.

If you don’t have insurance, you still have options. You can ask if your doctor or hospital does payment plans. You can also consider taking out a personal loan to help you afford surgery.

You’ll need to rest for the first few days after surgery. Follow your doctor’s guidelines about lifting and movement. Most people can return to work within 7-9 days after surgery.

Many have experienced positive results from a hysterectomy. Just remember that this is a very personal choice, so just do what feels right for you.

Phalloplasty comes with traditional risks associated with any surgery, such as wound infection. Make sure to see your surgeon as instructed for follow-up care.