I generally enjoy the Mythbuster's TV show... And, I don't know about any of you, but I know I've wondered about some of the things I've read in stories about transitions, hormones and the like. Some of them are repeated over and over in story after story. Other things, I see only now and again.

The other day, I had an experience that reminded me of one of those "staples" of many M2F stories, and it got me thinking... So, I decided to expound upon a number of these myths, and while I won't go to their level of rigor in testing the myths, I will speak to them from my own personal experience.

This is NOT my typical "road" blog... This is more of a retrospective where I compare some of the fiction staples to my actual experiences... And, before anyone gets upset, more often than not, there HAS been a basis in fact of many of them, even if I didn't recognize it at first... So, I'll "sorta" use the Mythbuster's grading scale and well, we may as well dive in.

1) Showers - they can really stimulate growing (or grown) boobs.
At first, I was going. No way... I took showers and nothing... Turns out, it was my old fashioned shower head. My first shower with one of those new "high power" heads. Let me tell you, I jumped. No - it wasn't sexually stimulating, but oh, yeah, the girls told me about it. And, the clincher - back before HRT, I never noticed much difference in shower head affects. So, only partially busted, at least for me. Yes, it can be stimulating, but not in any sexual way. It's possible it affects someone else that way, but there certainly IS more sensitivity.

2) Towels - must pat dry, as they are painful
This is another one I figured HAD to be an "urban legend". The way the stories went - a new girl was warned to always pat themselves dry. There was no need to pat myself dry. But, this is the one that got me thinking last week - I was in a different hotel than I normally stay in. And, rather than soft - the hotel's towels were prickly and stiff (no fabric softener in the dryer???)... Now, it felt good on my dry back (lotion would have been better, but I couldn't reach there and didn't have anyone handy to do the job)... But, when I got near the girls; nope, I was NOT going to rub them with THAT towel... Pat dry it was - for the week - but not over the entire body - just the sensitive areas. I talked to my wife about it, and she said "Yeah, that's why I buy expensive towels. They absorb more water, and they don't hurt when you dry off." So, this one is mostly confirmed.

3) Skin softens
In a lot of fiction I read it seemed the protagonist's skin got softer really fast. Thinking back to my years of HRT, I can say the "fast" bit was wrong for me, but after a few years there's no question my skin IS softer - some areas (inside elbow, for example) almost as soft as the proverbial baby's behind. So, in the words of Mythbusters - "confirmed".

4) Development speed - You have significant growth in 6 months.
Seems like so many stories have people having significant growth really fast - in some, it's a matter of weeks. What did I have after a month? Good question... I actually made notes when I noticed things changing. At the one month point, I was no longer able to say "I THINK" when saying there was something going on. There was definitely a bud - very small. By six months? significant is NOT the term I would use... More like sunny side up eggs (a term used in one story I read). And, my growth has continued. By a year the girls were definitely small "A" cup... and seemed to have leveled off. Something I did notice is that the girls did not grow smoothly. They grew in spurts (the most significant changes seemed to occur when my HRT dose was adjusted (usually down - yes, reduction in my estroidal seemed to result in an increase in cup size... Go figure). Now - four years later, I'm a "C", but my doc is convinced they're still gradually growing. (They can stop now, if they like... I do NOT need DD+!!!) So, I'd say that while this one is BUSTED, it's true with a longer time frame.

5) After you develop, you can't hide it.
If you consider a "C" cup developed, then I can simply say this one is "Busted"... None of those I've worked with - who now know - had a clue. Most of the others who kno me also appear to have no clue. The exception, if you don't take a small effort to hide them, yeah, some will notice (Note to self - a tight polo shirt - with none of the buttons buttoned - and a contrasting bra... Makes it difficult to miss... Not impossible, just difficult.) So, I'd say this one is BUSTED, unless you don't watch your subconscious that is trying to "out" you...

6) High heels are really hard to walk in And you need to work up.
This, like the next one depends. I never had ANY trouble with heels in the 2 to 2 1/2 inch range from the first day I wore them. On the other hand, I know several girls that can't manage in less than an inch (TGirl or other). So, this one is in the middle.

7) High heels are trivial to walk in
For me, as I said, no problem up to about 3 inches. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to adjust my stride when I tried on some luscious blue satin pumps with 5 inch heels. (My older daughter was going "No way you're already walking in those!") But, after a bit, I could still walk - but I was beginning to feel it in my lower legs. I suspect I'd have issues after a few hours. And, my wife would never consider heels that high... Her response "I'd break my ankles." So, this one I'd say is sorta busted.

8) Women's clothing fits so easily
This is another one that has a mixed answer. I've found that some things do fit easily (shoes) but others, I have to be careful. My arms are a wee bit longer than is normal in females that developed all their life that way. Not a lot, but some. Another difference is the broader shoulders... And male pattern belly... Add them together and blouses become a challenge - not impossible, but a challenge. Slacks - tight ones... Don't work for me, as the growth gets in the way... But most others work fairly well and fit better than the men's pants I've worn over the years unless they have a high waist. (That male belly causes trouble there, but "below the waistline" hits mine quite nicely. So, I'd say busted, but fixable.

9) Hair style - it's easy to have one that simply switches back and forth between guy and girl
This is a fiction. You can have a more "neutral" style that you can dress up or hide, but not anything extremely masculine or feminine and hope to switch between the two. Best I've been able to come up with is long hair (shoulder blade length) held in a pony tail (scrunchies are best to avoid breaking hair - for me - but they do look more feminine). I can wear it down or in a high tail and look more feminine or pulled back in a low tail and all I get is "Sir"... Busted, but only if you're looking for an extreme style.

10) You can't sleep on your stomach after you develop
This is totally busted. My sinuses won't let me spend much time on my back, so I switch between sides and occasionally my stomach. That said, I've found sleeping at a 45 degree angle with a pillow to prop - or spooned - is the easiest thing. This was even while the girls were actively growing. I've heard tails otherwise, maybe those girls have more growth than I do. (My older daughter can't, but she has a "G" cup.)

11) Developing a feminine voice is automatic/easy
Umm. Not for me. I used to be able to manage a really good Darth Vader imitation "Luke, I am your mother"... But, that doesn't really fit with my goals. That said - I can't do it any more (well, not any good). My voice appears to have actually climbed a "little" Probably just settling in to a little higher pitch in my natural range. I've never managed to get ma'am'd on the phone *sighs* But, have done okay when out- en-fem... But, it's not been easy and I know I have a LONG way to go (and not much time left). so, this one I think can be called BUSTED. Oh, there are probably a few of us out there who have naturally higher pitch voices and can do it fairly easily - perhaps they have better ears than I...I dunno. (I do know that some of us do develop REALLY NICE voices!

12) Long fingernails are easy to get used to.
Totally busted... You have to learn how to get dressed again; Learn to type; To pick things up... The works. If you don't learn gradually as the finger nails grow, you have problems! I can watch my wife & daughters go through this! The time I tried with false nails (for a few hours)... It struck home.

13) You get massive mood swings on hrt
This didn't happen to me. My family and I did notice - after I'd been on injected HRT for about six months, I got a bit moody in the days before my shots. I also had minor mood swings, but nothing crazy (like what my teen daughter went through). And, the swings were associated with hormone level in the blood - not just being on HRT. Also - as time has gone one - and my body become accustomed to the right hormones running around, even these have eased... (Sorta like what we see as our daughters grow up and come to terms with their hormones. Amazing, huh.) I was on oral HRT for a while before switching over, and there were no noticeable mood swings there - the hormone level was kept at a steady level. So, I'd say the "massive" part is busted, but if you drop massive - it's confirmed conditionally, depending on the form of HRT you're using.

14) You find it easier (almost compulsory) to cry at things that never used to affect you
This took a while for me... But it DID (and has) happened. I have to be vigilent in guy mode to make sure it doesn't happen there, but I cry in movies. I cry when happy,etc. So, confirmed - but it takes a while it's NOT right away.

15) You automatically gain a good fashion sense
Busted... I don't know how many tgirls I've seen who seem to not be able to put an attractive outfit together. Color sense is part of it, but also recognizing what styles fit your body type. I do fine on color sense, and can recognize when something works for me once I put it on... But, on the rack? I don't know until I try it. That said, I did better color matching years ago than many, and was dragged on many a shopping trip, to say yes / no... LOL (Funny, not had so many trips recently - certainly not for me.) So, yes, busted. If you don't have one before, transition doesn't magically give you one. (That said, it IS something that can be learned!)

16) Other women automatically accept you and include you in conversation like any other
This one is mixed. Mostly, I'd say not really, but every now and again, the conversation can go indirections where a guy would not go - and a girl wouldn't go with a guy. I recall chatting with one of my daughter’s friends, my daughter and her boy friend and some how cup size came up... Turns out the girl and I both wear 38C so, at her instigation "high Five"... And off we were talking about bras and such... My daughter joined in... And a minute later, her boyfriend was embarrassed and walked off... The three of us laughed. That was a case where I felt "included" but other times, I know it's not happened. So, I think it's more we can be "accidentally" included and participate and are accepted then. But, it doesn't occur to most other women to discuss those things with us... Perhaps they assume we're not interested. I dunno... So, I'd say conditionally busted.

17) You automatically desire and know how to "shop"
This, like the color sense, is one of those things that if you don't have before, you don't have after. And, since you're not necessarily "included" when the girls go shopping, you may not have an opportunity to learn.

18) If not already, Chocolate becomes critical
I used to enjoy Chocolate, but I could do without and it didn't bug me... Since HRT started - at least a year into it... There've been times I've CRAVED chocolate! (Yes, I'd even grab a hand full of chocolate chips to feed the beast.) So, from personal experience, I'd say "confirmed".

19) Transition and you become beautiful
I can't speak from personal experience, but I don't see how. Perhaps, if you're young enough when you transition and have the natural genetics to support it (Like the Canadian T-Girl competing to be Miss Canada for the Miss Universe competition she's a lovely 23 yr old!). I don't believe anyone would try to claim I'll be beautiful following transition. The best I can hope for is to pass, and in the right lighting conditions maybe a bit more. (How many 50 yr old ladies are "beautiful" if they weren't beautiful before?) So, for most of us, I think the "beautiful" thing is busted, but it is possible to become not just passable, but even a bit attractive (with a surgeon's help). So, if you drop beautiful and just say become a woman, yes, that's very possible.

20) Transition and the world becomes better (all problems solved).
Somehow I don't think so. I've yet to find anyone who never had any problem after transition. Some times the problems change? (Okay, many times). This is another I don't YET have personal experience with. But, I can't see any existing problems (except with our vision of self) going away with transition.

I'm sure many/most of you that read this have other bits they've read that are more or less true based on personal experience. Feel free to share.

As always, comments, questions, etc. are welcome.

Thanks for reading.
Annette