Should I detransition for future marriage prospects?
I’m 21 but MTF (living as a woman) Indian Muslim, and I’m really confused about my gender long-term and could use honest advice.
I’ve been living full-time as a woman for about 9 months now and I completely pass (i just naturally look very feminine without hormones). In both personal life and at work/professional life.
I have done HRT for 2 months but stopped (i will explain) but I’ve done stuff like laser/IPL hair removal, electrolyis, voice work, etc.
Before I transitioned I always had some dysphoria and a strong desire to be a girl. I never really liked being masculine and kind of only did it out of pressure. Now that I’m living as female, I feel a lot more happier in my life being seen by society as a girl and I honestly prefer it very much. Its much easier for me to make friends now, i made some female friend groups etc. I just feel more authentic compared to forcing myself to be all masculine and nonchalant in the past.
The issue is I’m Muslim and I do want marriage and biological kids in the future (I’ve already banked sperm but doing ivf etc might be a dealbreaker for a future wife hence the reason i stopped hrt to preserve natural fertility if i get married in 6+ years from now). But I’m stuck because:
If I stay as a woman, life feels more fulfilling and authentic to me, but I worry about how realistic marriage would be in a Muslim/rishta context. Because marriage and children are tied to long term fulfillment and eventually whats the point of getting to have my preferred gender at the cost of losing a legacy and a future family?
If I go back to living as a man, I feel like it would be really hard emotionally, SOCIALLY too, because masculine expectations already feel pretty uncomfortable/unnatural and very awful to me after living as female. I’m also only into women, so relationships are complicated either way since i would only be attracting someone bisexual or lesbian and in India goodluck finding someone muslim whose family would accept such a marriage.
So I just feel stuck between:
staying as I am (female social life, and personal life just feels better)
or going back to being male for cultural/family reasons (which feels really hard mentally for me)
I’m not trying to get biased or ideologically based answers (whether its people with transphobic rhetoric or pro trans rhetoric) just real advice from people who’ve dealt with gender + religion + family expectations.
What would you do if you were in my situation? I really dont know how i should live my life going forward? For example do i continue maintaining my female appearence since thats how i am seen socially now or do i have to gradually look more androgynous because i might start looking for marriage in a couple of years?
Even if i do ever go back to living as a man i would be quite effeminate looking because of my natural features + no facial hair body hair from electrolysis/laser and i dont want to build muscle since that will give me more dysphoria. And in india effeminate men are not treated very well so its literally between:
A. Being a feminine looking male whose dysphoric but can atleast get married have a family etc but have a tougher social and professional life
B. Living as a decent looking woman but stuck with no marriage or children prospects but has a better social and professional life
Its such a complicated dillema i really dont know what to do. Please help. I beg Allah every day in my prayers to help me come to a decision but this conflict in my mind is making me go crazy!