there is no such thing as to old. I have been around this group for around 10 years, and there are people who have started older than you with success and some that were younger and failed. Age holds little relation to when you start or don't. The only real way it effects it is that you have more things to change, hormones don't do as much to alter body elements (breast growth, skin texture, so on), and that with age comes certain physiological issues that could present issues (diabetes, heart issues, general aging carp). outside of that it is strictly a social thing for the most part. That has no real relation to age. While I didn't start at 59, I started at 32, so I wasn't exactly a spring chicken so to speak, but for most of us born before about the 2000 timeframe, that is just how it is, odds are social constructs as a kid, young adult and even adult simply didn't allow for us to do anything about it. Now we are left to overcome it later in life. What I will tell you is this. You do need to consider that this path could cause significant issues in your marriage and have other hardships with the career you listed and so on. You have to understand that before you take this on. You have to be willing to lose it potentially is what I am getting at. Some significant others are understanding and cool with it, others aren't. I would like to think your employment wont be an issue, but since I don't know exactly what you mean by "Visible" there could be issues and while you likely wont lose your employment, there could be impact. Things like say political figures, this can potentially hurt their careers depending on those who live and vote, where as someone in say customer service at say a car lot or a marketing/advertising executive may not have any impact. The thing to remember is this, there is no set guidelines on how far you go, how much you have to do, or when you take the next step. It is a path, nothing more and like all paths you can take turns, you can stop and rest, you can even turn back if needed. you have already done some testing and taken some steps behind curtains so to speak, so now the next step would be to do it less hidden. Maybe you start with your wife and see how things go there. living at home behind closed doors as a woman. the choice is yours there. The thing that is most important about this is that "being a woman" has absolutely nothing to do with your clothing, wearing makeup, how your hair is done, how deep or light your voice is, it is entirely 100% about you seeing yourself as a woman. Walking into the bathroom looking in the mirror with no makeup on and being able to see you as a female, as YOU. No amount of makeup, hairdos, clothing, surgeries or anything will ever be able to change how you see yourself truly. You can do all of those things and still walk into the bathroom every morning and see a man looking back through the makeup or whatever. You will need to be able to learn that regardless, you are a woman, regardless of the stubble, regardless of the 5 o clock shadow, regardless of the baby face, or wrinkles, regardless of the freckles, the rosacea, or any other thing you can come up with, you are you whether that is a man or a woman is up to you.

Hello
Stephani,
I also am 59. and like you struggled for many years feeling and wanting to be the woman that I feel inside me. Around 13 years ago my wife finally decided she wanted a divorce. I didn't see it coming. but was happy it happened. we continue to be friends. after this I came out as what I thought was gay/bi. didn't help my true feelings. around 5 years ago I finally had conversations with kids and x-wife. surprisingly they were all ok with it and just want me to be me and happy. I am finally transitioning MTF. on hormone therapy now for 4 four months. and very happy. if you want to talk some time let me know. KAI here.

Stephanie,

I am a trans guy, so don't have a read on all you face in what I think can be a more difficult transition on some levels. But I began the medically supported pieces of transition at age 61, and my health has improved rather than being a real block to medical transition. You have much more complex social concerns than I and I imagine your career is a very important consideration. I waited since I was 4 a transition, but never expected that that was possible. I finally cameto the oinp

Oops, sent part of a message.

I came to the point as a school counselor that I couldn't be honest or supportive to my LGBT students and not disclose that I was transgender. I told my work staff and did a district training, and simultaneously started hrt and the process of meeting with a therapist and coming out to family and others. I was very lucky to have med supporters who took seriously what I was able to tell them about my experience and online research, and they started HRT a month after my first appointment and provided support so I could change my legal name within several months. I went to a hair restoration clinic and arranged for a beard transplant after two months, and that quite immediately (with male clothing and chest binding) gave enough of a cue for strangers to pretty immediately identify me as male without question. It was a huge relief to be identified by others as identify myself. I am a very small person, baby faced, and didn't expect that I would easily be seen as male, but that has not proven correct. I recently had chest reconstruction surgery, and again had nothing but a positive experience. The surgery and recovery were so encouraging. I now am so much less confused, as I see an emerging male body where before there was such an inescapable confusion. I am on an unfortunately long surgery waitlist for genital surgery, but very thankful that such surgery is an option. There are multiple possibilities for genital reconstruction for trans men, and I did decide at my age to compromise and go with a procedure that has slightly lower likelihood of some specific postsurgical complications. In order to "buy" that piece of safety and convenience I had to make peace with some reduced sexual function.

All in all, after a scarey unsure launch into all these changes I have arrived at a point in less than two years where I feel so glad every day just being myself.

I think you are very wise to reach out to other trans women and keep asking their experience in social and physical transitioning. Get online and get a copy of the WPATH standards so you know what you need to know about hoops you need to go through for approval for medical transitions. Therapy is required, and this counselor may be a very helpful person as you need to process concerns about your family relationships and career as well as considering what pieces of transition you want and need.

This can be a wonderful opportunity to take better care of yourself, and a good therapist can potentially be a great help as you decide how best to express yourinternalreality moreopenly.

You can do this. There are plenty of sisterson line who will have great advice. The best to you in this path you are undertaking.

Liam