Bathroom Issues

[Moira Arista]

The hardest thing I've found in my Transition MtF is using the bathroom in public.  I carry a purse and dress in leggings and sometimes dresses. I find it so hard to use them. I had a Oh S@#t moment a few months ago when went in to mens room at a store. I was in the stall and had just completed my transaction when a man came in. I froze. What should I do I thought, Stay here or run for it. I have bathroom anxiety now. 

[Jani]

If you are dressed and presenting as a women you need to be in the ladies room. 

 

[Lexi C]

yeah Jani on point. Unless its a gender bathroom or unisex then I say . F It..when you got to go you go to go..CAN I GET AMEM!!

[Ellora]

AMEM!!

[Susan R]

@Alex C  a big hallelujah to that!?

[Lexi C]

haha..you girls rock

[Timber Wolf]

You could always look for a single stall family restroom.

 

Lots of love,

Timber Wolf ?

[Ellora]

9 hours ago, Jani said:

If you are dressed and presenting as a women you need to be in the ladies room. 

 

This ^^^

 

9 hours ago, Mahaney said:

a few months ago when went in to mens room at a store. I was in the stall and had just completed my transaction when a man came in. I froze.

f I was in a dressed as a woman I would never go into a men’s restroom. That could be dangerous. If you have been dressing as a woman in public, and haven’t had any issues, then I would use a women’s restroom or unisex restroom. 

If you do use a men’s restroom in a dress, be extra cautious.

[BrandiBri]

I agree that you should use the ladies room if in a dress. I remember my first time using the ladies room. I was not dressing full time but had gone to my therapist in a dress. After I left, I realized that I needed to pee and went to a retail store. Imagine my horror when there was not a family room! It was a no brainer, I used the ladies room. No problems, except that I freaked when I came out of the stall and there was a woman washing her hands. She turned, smiled and said "hi". I panicked and mumbled hi back and almost ran out! Really blew that one.

[Leo]

If you are using the ladies room in a dress, please remember to pee sitting down, and wash your hands afterwards like other women do.  Smile, make eye contact, and be on your way.  It's quite noticeable when someone enters a stall and stands to pee, no matter how they are dressed. 

 

[VickySGV]

Wherever you go, and I agree with the "dress code" above, have someone else with you if you can. 

 

I belonged to a "beginners group" at a CD dressing business, and even though almost all of us Passed by the time we went out in groups, you did partners for the RR trip and that made things easier.

 

One lighthearted experience I did have was in a restaurant where I did not have an escort.  I had been headed toward a Men's room unintentionally and a man going in pointed me over to the Women's room almost afraid I was intentionally going into it.  I opened the door to the Women's room and nearly jumped back in shock as a woman came right at me on the way out.  A second later I realized it was a mirror on the wall in front of me and I was the woman. 

[KymmieL]

Thankfully I have yet to have this problem. Most of the time I am dressed more feminine is when I go to the VA. At the VA they have adopted the policy that you can use the restroom of the gender you are claiming. doesn't matter how you present.

 

Kymmie

[Moira Arista]

23 hours ago, Timber Wolf said:

You could always look for a single stall family restroom.

 

Lots of love,

Timber Wolf ?

That's the problem, lots of public places don't have family bathrooms yet.

[Maid In Bedlam]

Mens room???? Thats a strange and and dark place only told of in grimm fairytales and Horror storys.

 

Ohh i do miss being able to pee standing up. Such distant memories. (Scubb that. I dont miss it one bit ?)

 

Now back to the task in hand. If you walk like a woman and talk like a woman then you use the ladies. Quite simples. My advise is dont use the mens if your going to PRESENT as female. Or what is socially accepted as female anyway.  Honestly its a very private thing in the ladies. all stalls. unless you have to que which you do from time to time.

 

 

17 hours ago, Leo said:

If you are using the ladies room in a dress, please remember to pee sitting down, and wash your hands afterwards like other women do.  Smile, make eye contact, and be on your way.  It's quite noticeable when someone enters a stall and stands to pee, no matter how they are dressed. 

 

 Leo has a handle on it.

[Moira Arista]

I remember the last time I stood at a Urinal in a men's room. This was at the beginning of my transition 5 years ago. I was thinking what an awful place it was. I realized that I was standing in a puddle of man pee. Ewwww I thought, and spread my legs wide to go either side of dead center. It was stalls after that.

[Josie Beth]

I’m never thrilled about using any public bathrooms. Often times I try to make sure that I don’t have to use them and luckily my timing is usually good enough that I can safely use the one at home. Then there’s the embarrassing moment when you are on the phone and not paying attention and you are thinking of a different floor plan... walking into the wrong door is horrifying.