Watson

If I may offer some advice to those who treat/evaluate dysphoric individuals who are considering transition - ask your patients to seriously think on the unchangeable aspects that go beyond desiring to obtain the outward appearance of the opposite sex 1/x

You can get HRT and however many surgeries you desire. You can *look* like and be perceived as the opposite sex. But a woman will never truly experience what it is to be male, and a man will never truly experience what it is to be female. 2/x

I obtained the appearance of a male and "lived as" one for 5 years. But it was all superficial. I'm not male. I'll never remember being a wee boy, go through male puberty, have a real penis, father kids - because while I *look* like a male, HRT/surgery didn't *make* me one 3/x

You will never experience what it is to be the opposite sex beyond simply resembling one, and that is important to stress to those considering transition. I needed to hear this when I was being evaluated at the gender clinic, but I didn't. I think it would have helped me. 4/x