[GoneGirl]

I'll say it again. GD is not caused by gender variance as determined at birth. It is caused by being deprived of a means to express one's innate gender identity. Once that restriction is removed, the dysphoria disappears. That is why most bio-females with a strong male gender identity do not suffer from gender dysphoria. In our society they are given ample opportunity to express their male gender identities, by the way they act, dress, and pursue traditional male professions. How many members here who have found a way to express their inner woman are still dysphoric? I submit that dysphoria only exists to the extent that his/her expression is still limited, or he/she has not yet fully found self-acceptance.

Gender dysphoria and transgender identity are not interchangeable conditions.

Clara

Clara,

In my case, my GD is not resolved by expressing myself as female. It goes away when I'm on PM. That leads me to believe that my issues are hormonal and chemical in nature. In fact, I have no problem expressing as male when I'm on PM (the cross dressing stops and the desires to be and become more feminine go away altogether).

I'm on day 17 of my PM break. I expect the GD to start returning strongly in the next week or so...

Misty

Misty, I understand your point. There is often a hormonal dimension to finding relief from GD. I, too, found relief from GD when I took PM, due to PM's ability to act as an AA, reducing my testosterone level. Testosterone can cause GD in someone with a significant female gender identity. Early misguided attempts to address MtF GD symptoms by increasing T typically failed, while lowering T caused the GD to recede.

In addition, the estrogen receptors in one's brain are activated by the miroestrol from PM. The female brain portion is now able to function and express itself in various, but not necessarily obvious ways.

When behaviors like masturbation, pornography fascination, crossdressing, etc. disappear when T is lowered, it usually means that these behaviors were substituting or compensating for denied feminine expression of one form or another, but are no longer needed.

In my case, before PM, my crossdressing was fetishistic in nature and used to enhance sex arousal. On PM it is not that at all. It has become purely an expression of my feminine identity in conformance with cultural norms.

Misty, my thought is that on PM your female gender identity does not require presenting as female or feminizing yourself in any way. You may find, however, that there are other ways that your inner woman expresses herself which may be very subtle, and not that subject to condemnation by others.

Keep in mind that the most powerful force depriving you of a means to express your feminine identity derives from with you. PM helps, but you still have to accept the way you are deep within your conscious and subconscious mind.

Clara