Detransitioner Interview: Regretting Bottom Surgery, Exposing Big Pharma, & Trans Activist Hate 

As a biologist, one of the most distressing things to me, was when I found out that hormone therapy does not try to imitate the normal hormonal cycles. No estrogen cycle, no progesterone, no fsh or lh. This is not making men female like in physiology, it's turning men into something that never evolved or existed. There's no way that our genetics can handle that long term.

Also I was scheduled this summer to get bottom surgery and I watched your shape-shifter detransitioner video and I almost immediately decided against it. You might have saved my life and I have to say thank you SO much.

I can’t imagine the head fuck you just go through when you wake up post op and then gradually realise the surgery was a mistake. That must really tear someone apart 💔

Im 15 my dysphoria has gotten horrible since the start of highschool since my physical differences between males has become more apparent thank you blaire for allowing these voices to be heard it really helps me understand that i am young and even if i feel now hormone are a great choice for me i should wait and get multiple different views to make my choice

IF THIS DOESNT SHOW how unethical Doctors and the pharmaceutical industry CAN BE , then nothing will .

i was very much a tom boy as a kid, i didn’t “feel” feminine until i got highschool/college. i feel like no one lets girls be tom boys anymore.

"People who haven't transitioned but consider themselves trans are the ones who speak the loudest/on behalf of everyone else." So true.

Transitioning is very glorified on the internet. I remember watching many trans RU-vidrs living their best lives after transition. Before discovering Blaire I had thought everyone is happy with their transition, and I remember searching about detransitioners and it was very rare to find any of them, it was definitely very odd. I appreciate you Blaire. Thank you.

Richie is so worried of “rambling” and easily digressing, yet his explanation of the levels of estrogens in old age and their link to Alzheimer’s was for me one of the most interesting part of the interview!

It's sad how detransitioners are discounted because they don't fit the narrative. Even if you are a detransitioner, you are still part of that community. If a community can't learn, then it's in trouble.

How can anyone say this is hateful? It’s someone’s life experience. There is no prejudice, just the things they have gone through.

He has SO much emotional and traditional mental intelligence. Just wow. I am in awe of him. You’re brave and we appreciate you speaking up. I’m just so sorry you had to go through this, but you’re a damn beautiful human being and your struggle has made you the amazing human you are today ❤

Rotchie should stop apologizing for talking so much. We're all here because we want to hear his story, and he's saying some incredibly interesting things

This guy needs to be a therapist. He is so intelligent and you can feel he really cares. I absolutely respect him. Thank you for being real!

I loved the way Blair put it. When she said that even though she's an adult who's been transitioning for 7 years, that even SHE is still learning things she didn't know, so how can a minor, a CHILD, make that kind of decision? That was so spot on children are far, FAR less experienced in life, under developed mentally and physically so they should not be making this decision so young! My heart goes out to this young man and any other person who regretted getting bottom sergury, I can't begin to imagine how this must feel...

This detrans story hit me harder than all the others. He just seems so grounded but the consequences are so extreme. I feel so much sympathy for him :( he reminds me a lot of people I meet in sobriety who have been through major shit. But we can move on from our mistakes, he can't. And he had professionals who should be helping him. Ugh! It's so terrible.

This is very very concerning. I can’t believe we live in a time where people actually advocate doing this to children.

Hormones or lack of hormones leads to early onset dementia. I just learned this. I had a hysterectomy 18 years ago after my son was born due to medical issues. They never told me how important our body parts are to our brains. Especially when it comes to hormones. You can’t just switch it up.

Blaire’s face throughout this interview looks like she is very emotionally affected by this. It’s really admirable she takes the time for these hard conversations, coming from her perspective it’s so important. Much love to both of these humans ❤

What an ABSOLUTELY INTELLIGENT and kind and well spoken man. Bless him for trying to help others .

This is heartbreaking! In 10 years we are going to see an explosion of this with parents to blame.

We, women avoid using hormone therapy during menopause because doctors tell us how truly harmful it is. Too bad doctors working with gender patients aren’t as honest. They withhold the info from their patients.

I'm so grateful that I was born in the 1970's instead of the 2000's because I was a very effeminate little boy who would get in trouble for putting on girls' clothes. If I had born in the 2000's, myself and my parents would have been told I was trans and I would have gone through a similar hell as this. Thank you for telling your painful story, Ritchie. And thank you for suing. They won't listen to any of us, but they might listen to people like you.

Im a detransitioner myself, and I am so thankful that I lived in Florida where it was harder to get put on HRT or get surgeries. I started my detransition some 8 years ago now.

Should be mandatory to watch this before transitioning and having bottom surgery.

in a MUCH smaller scale, when I had my lasik surgery (eye surgery to correct severe myopia), no one told me that the number one side effect of the surgery was dry eyes. Now, a year later, I am 100% dependant on three different types of eyedrops, and will probably be forever. No one informed me of this. It honestly feels like a betrayal, and I can't even comprehend the scale of suffering both transitioners and detransitioners go through because doctors just don't fucking explain things.

I love Ritchie. I could listen to him for hours. Smart, articulate, and a very sweet soul. I hate what was done to him, but I'm so glad he's chosen to speak out about it and try to help as many people as he can. I wish him the best in life, I truly do.

Just over 5 mins in and he says something just like Jazz Jennings has recently said: (not quoted)' Why do I always have to put a positive spin on transitioning?' Just wow! I work in pediatrics healthcare and I feel that a lot more therapy needs done before making these lifetime decisons. I mean kids still can't get tattoos for crying out loud but we can start supressing their natural hormonal developments?? Just wow!

What a corner we’ve backed ourselves in to. History will recognize and appreciate ppl like Blair, I feel.

as a detransitioner myself, thank you for giving people like me a platform to speak

I am a 52 year old woman goring through menopause and my hormones are unbalanced, and I’m going through hell! I cannot fathom to imagine the misery of a body chemically manipulated to performed other than it was originally designed to do. You are brave souls.

I'm a massage therapist studying the endocrine system (in charge of hormones) right now and this man is spitting facts! 🔥

Blaire looks absolutely heartbroken. She’s so incredibly empathetic. How can anyone say she’s hateful. This channel is single handedly saving our generation.

This is absolutely devastating. To think people want to silence these voices and traumatic stories is reprehensible.

My nurse grandmother who is now 84 years old always told me that there is no such thing as an easy or simple surgery. There are always risks to even minor surgery. She would always say this in the context of conversations about plastic surgery and warned me that it wasn’t a good idea. I cannot believe we do this to people except for in drastic scenarios with lots of therapy and it should still be a last resort. Uhhhgg…sad…

I once had a pro-trans person online tell me that, according to "studies", when people have gender reassignment surgery a certain percentage of them experience increased sexual pleasure and performance. Yet whenever I hear first hand accounts from transgender people like yourself and your guest who speak the ugly truth of it all, they say that it destroys their sex drive and/or makes the act of sex very difficult if not impossible. I asked them to explain this and they stopped responding.

The most painful to me is the glamour of it all, imagine peeing yourself, being in constant pain - and still feeling like you have to make your appearance look more female with the wig and the makeup before you go out. This has become an allegory for fixing whats on the outside and locking away the inner problems in shame

I feel for this young man so much as his life will never be 'normal', he is such a lovely open person ,I hope he finds someone to help him. The fact he described himself as a eunuch really made me cry for him

As a 66 year old woman who had a complete hysterectomy with a total of 4 procedures done at that time... bladder sling, rectal as well as vaginal prolapse repairs along with the removal of uterus and ovaries... AND... having complications afterwards, I can't even FATHOM choosing as a young adult to go through such trauma. I've had residual effects for the past 10 years including the loss of sensation and pain, not only during intercourse but just in everyday life. My (once active) sex life has been set aside for years now, despite my emotional desire. I have nightmares from all of this. All this to say, please don't ever think that such invasive surgery is a walk in the park. My heart goes out to the young people 💔 😢

Richie has more allies and friends for being honest than he realises. Kudos to both of you.

I just want to say that as a conservative, Christian woman who has been very minimally exposed to the trans world, I really appreciate you sharing your story. I have so much compassion for you. Thank you for sharing your experience. Thank you for standing up for children. I’m so sorry you went through this but you are doing the best thing you can do by sharing your story and warning people. My heart goes out to you and for all those who are hurting and going through this.

Hormones are important for a healthy body. Menopausal women know this. We really need to talk to and listen to our female elders and not treat them with scorn. Lack of estrogen causes weak bones, mood imbalance(women get more aggravated with less estrogen), hot flushes and brain chemistry changes. Dementia is the icing on the cake here. Introducing it to the male body is not a great idea. Testosterone ravages the female body and causes vaginal astrophy and possible sterilisation. Dr's must layout the consequences of this and people need to know what they are signing up for. Kids should not be given hormones. They need to be an adult to make these decisions.

Blaire mentioned in her earlier interview with Shapeshifter that upon hearing these horror stories, she is incredibly relieved she didn’t have bottom surgery. I don’t blame her. It’s probable a significant amount of those trans-women - men who have been castrated are suffering terribly in silence - both physically and psychologically.

Blaire’s face says it all at 23:00 This conversation is so hard and it’s so sad Blaire’s literally in tears and she’s not alone.

I’m a plain ol’ cis female, struggling with early menopause in my early 40’s. I’ve never appreciated so much how sensitive our bodies are to hormones, and I never knew how much they affect every part of our physiology and mental health until I experienced the effects of it myself. Seeing doctors hand out hormones like it’s no big deal to adults, not to mention kids!!!, is absolutely shocking to me now that I know firsthand how much we are affected by even slight variations in different hormone levels. To put out the message that we can just “pause” puberty, or later reverse the changes made by using hormones for a while, is completely insane. Doctors take an oath to do no harm and messing with the hormones of physically healthy children or adults is blatantly harmful.

I'm a straight woman- so no dog in the fight- but I recognize the invaluable importance of this conversation. What you are doing is so important and I'm confident you are saving lives. Trans people and parents need access to this vital information ❤

All the teens starting their transitioning journey should see stories like this. They are not getting complete picture of decisions they are taking now that are permanent.

Texas just passed a law not allowing under 18 , thank goodness. So sad how many lives have been devastated. Both adults and children. Thanks for bringing truth and awareness.

I'm 67, F, retired, new nothing of transgender issues, spent last 5 years educating myself. I'm still learning. Ritchie, I'm sorry you are now compromised in your sex life and sex drive. That must be very hard for you. I send you my best wishes for your journey forward.

And it’s not just a surgery. They become a patient for life! 💰💰💰

As someone who had surgery down there for non transition reasons, the recovery was so brutal and took months to resolve. I was also mentally traumatized.

At last a video showing two people talking and listening to each other about this madness. Showing honesty and care and courage to speak the truth. Keep going.

It broke my heart when he said that if he goes on testosterone and gets a libido back, he'll want to kill himself. Extremely sad I really feel for this guy

Isn't this the definition of a cult? shunning people for talking about things they will expose issues, forcing people to act/say/accept things that they DON'T agree with..etc...

What. The. Hell. This is horrible. What a nightmare. How is our society allowing this??? The people who are pushing this and hiding all of this need to be held accountable. What. Monsters.

Whenever I hear about males having penile inversion I literally shiver. I feel so bad for them. It sounds like a terrible surgery 😮.

It’s absolutely horrifying what Vanderbilt has been doing here in Nashville to children regarding transitions! And the fact that they lie about it too.

I'm so glad that Blaire has made this project podcast. Blaire if it wasn't for you in 2015 to 2016 finding you I would have been on hormones and have gotten the surgery by now. It is thanks to you that I worked out my actual problems instead of covering it up with a very dangerous infectious bandaid. You are truly an advocate and an icon for the real transcommunity and not whatever this is right now. Which to me looks a lot like coerced sterilization of the mentally ill.

Massive respect to Blaire and Richie for the crucial work they're doing here.

I love Ritchie. He’s so well informed and has a very calming way of speaking. My heart breaks for him, they are just mutilating these poor people and then casting them aside.

I say it all the time. Detransitioner stories are IMPORTANT. They NEED to be told, they need to be heard, and they need to be considered, ESPECIALLY by people who are trans or think they might be trans. If anything they help us to consider aspects and positions and angles we may not have thought about before and either change our minds or further confirm how we feel. NO ONE's opinion is more important than anyone else's, and while I understand the frustration people feel at hearing 'what about the detransitioners?' when they're moving forward with their own transition, how it feels like one's existence, feelings, and decisions are being undermined by it, it's still VERY important to think about. Changing one's mind shouldn't be condemned, just as not changing one's mind shouldn't be condemned. It's SO hard to find balanced information about bottom surgeries for both transwomen and transmen. How often complications arise, what those complications are, how they affect one's life. It's encouraged for people to not ask about it because it's so personal, and yes, it is personal, but it's also something that needs more light shone on it. There's so much information being withheld on top of so much that isn't even known, and we're not told that it isn't even known, it's just glossed over, if mentioned at all. There is so little information out there about what happens with transitioning. What the results of certain procedures are. What the long-term effects of things can be. We're pretty much expected to do our own research and learn everything on our own if not just go with whatever little information doctors deign to give us, often because they aren't informed themselves. Hell, the last doctor involved in my transition wasn't even researched in it! And she admitted it! And people are going forward with transitioning in this dearth of information? OF COURSE we're going to have more detransitioners! Detransitioners aren't saying people shouldn't transition. They're talking about their own experiences and what they weren't told, didn't think about, and were lied to about. What they didn't consider. The decisions they made that they found were wrong for them. The things that others should think about before their own transition in order to avoid the mistakes that were made. Thank you Ritchie for speaking out, and thank you Blaire for having him on. I hope we can hear MORE detransitioner stories in the future, and ultimately have LESS of them forced to exist. Not to mention ALL of them are no longer demonised.

My heart is just breaking for Ritchie. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being open about this. I hope it helps others.

Blaire, I love how you interview people. You sit back and let them talk. So many interviewers want to talk more than the person their interviewing and that takes so much away from learning about them. Thank you!

The weight gain after bottom surgery and the inability to keep it off reminded me of Jazz Jennings and how much her family has been belittling and bullying her about her weight gain post op. Her family used her for monetary gain and fame and now that she’s struggling due to her circumstances the very ones they exploited she’s been knocked off the pedestal they put her on for so long and treated as a problem. It’s so sad to see. I hope she gets far away from them off reality tv and heals.

First time I've ever heard about the early onset dementia thing. It is amazing how much of the dangers of this they hide, what happened to the medical community? My grandmother just passed 2 weeks ago following a battle w Alzheimers and as her primary caretaker I assure u it is absolute hell that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, for this not to be explained to patients is just infuriating to me.

My heart breaks for Ritchie. I feel the medical community is using vulnerable people as guinea pigs to experiment with, the risks be damned.

My heart is breaking for this young man and everyone who has been fooled into thinking medical transitioning would "fix" them when they were never broken to begin with. I'm happy transitioning has helped Blaire but it's a rarity and not the norm. Too many people are pushed to believe they are trans just because they feel uncomfortable in their bodies. EVERYONE FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE IN THEIR BODIES, ESPECIALLY TEENAGERS. Give it a while and see if you are REALLY trans. Things change so quickly when puberty hits. Let things settle down THEN make an informed decision. It's irreversible! I am sending all of my love and hugs to you both. I have been fighting bladder cancer for over a decade and I CANNOT imagine how ANGRY I'd be if I was encouraged to mutilate myself down there for no reason. The pain is inexplicable.

“Estrogen increases melatonin” that explains why I feel exhausted 24/7 every time I have been pregnant. I had never even thought about that before.

I have a bladder condition and had a botched surgery to treat it. The chronic pain has been devastating to my life. Please, please be careful with surgery options.

As an older woman, it's sad to see young people have issues with their bodies. Youth is when one should enjoy his body.

Bottom surgery is one of the worst ideas. It's not necessary, it's high maintenance, and it's honestly gross - and the mutilation is heartbreaking.

This sounds like a HORRIBLE NIGHTMARE. I'm so sorry you went through this....

Wow, I hope Ritchie gets everything in his life figured out physically and mentally. He has had such a tragic life and is such a kind soul.

I feel for this kid. You just want to give him a hug. He's literally been tortured. Prayers for you.

So glad you found him. He’s got such a good story to tell

Thank you so much for giving detransitioners a platform, Blaire. It is a terrifying thing for people to come out and say that they have made a mistake, especially one as serious as this. I think trans people are "supposed" to hate detrans because they are terrified that they will grow to regret their decisions too. There are things that I regret that are permanent - some of my tattoos for an example. I am so glad that there are compassionate people like you. You are an amazing woman, Blaire 😊

As a trans woman we love our detransitioners and their stories are just as valid as ours.

We’re hearing so many stories about the medical community mistreating and abandoning trans and de trans human beings. I’m furious. The medical community needs to take some responsibility for their behavior.

This is exactly why we need to advocate more for mental health rather than transitioning. Transition should be the LAST option. Both of you are so brave for addressing this.

I feel terrible for this person and Blaire we can really see how this interview effected you. I really hope our medical community starts doing much better for these people.

There is a similar situation in the deaf community… When the cochlear implant came along which could actually allow a lifelong deaf person to hear in certain situations… The deaf people were anti-cochlear implants… That blew me away… They would say things like, what’s wrong with being deaf? Why would a deaf organization discourage or encourage someone to hear again? The reason is they are possessive of their community and want you to stay deaf… I see this similar to somebody that transitions and then detransitions… it’s as if they are traitors to the community… I thought transgender people pushed the idea of being whatever you want to be? I guess you can’t change your mind ?

Thanks for interviewing Ritchie, Blaire. This one was hard, but I appreciate you platforming him. 💜

As a cis woman new to your platform, thank you. This shit is wild. I am doing a deep dive and it is so horrific i have to shy away sometimes. So grateful youre making all yalls voices heard.

It’s crazy because they have been talking about bottom surgery for at least 2 decades saying it’s so easy and works so well. They used to say “you can keep all your penis nerves, of we’ll use sensitive skin so you’ll still have such a groovy sex life!” I never trusted that, and hearing people’s stories now it’s crazy! How could they take $$$ from people and give them a surgery that is so problematic?

The world has gone MAD!...Everything is upside down...The medical risks alone... Thankyou to this young chap who is bravely and honestly walking everyone through his journey and the repercussions. LOVE YOURSELVES AS GOD MADE YOU...

He makes me so glad I detransitioned. I haven’t had a chance to make a video on it yet but I really appreciate seeing more and more mtftm detransitioners speaking out

Blair watching you hold back tears was heart wrenching! I’m sure on some level, even if you don’t regret your transition, you resonate with this young man and know what he is going through.

Ritchie is amazing!!!! He has been through hell at the hands of “doctors” who don’t care. I am not trans, I am an older female who made some bad choices in my twenties. Actually, I should not blame myself and Ritchie should not blame himself. The fact of the matter is we were lied to. We were not given INFORMED CONSENT. I read this book called INFORMED CONSENT after my surgery. I don’t know the author but I will look it up. I think every single person should be required to read this book before ANY surgery. Some of these doctors are ruining people’s lives. It’s an ongoing tragedy. Thanks to both of you for speaking out. You may very well have saved someone’s life!!!! 💕

I had a radical hysterectomy before the age of 30. A provider convinced me that my uterus and ovaries were the cause of my sudden and prolonged cycle issues. It turns out my thyroid was the culprit. My T3, T4, and TSH levels were in disarray. I amputated a part of me that I cannot get back. I immediately went straight into menopause and all the symptoms that come with it. I have been on unmanaged HRT since my surgery, and I was never warned about the side effects. I learned more in the first few minutes of this interview than from any provider.

We hear you. We are listening. Your story matters.

I’m a “Cis Woman” and I was using hormonal contraception pills for over a decade, i believe that what I was taking can’t even be compared to a hormonal treatment for transitioning. But anyway I was tired all the time, had almost no libido and my mental health was in the garbage. I have a sequence of failed relationships because of hormones. I’m off of it for about a year and my life changed! I can only imagine for a born men to go through all of that. I’m sad that people don’t talk about this more. *sorry about my English, I’m still learning*

This is sad. It reminds me of the 8 years that my child had a terminal illness and we were harassed to death about getting a "transplant." It's like, "can you just treat my child's illness?" No, it has to be constant harrassment from the first year she was diagnosed till the last year. And they don't even acknowledge the fact that lung transplants don't last very long so if you get one in first year you are going to die in 0-2 years, as opposed to lasting a decade + without one. But no, they have to harass you and harass you, so you feel like you can't even see a doctor or receive medical treatment. Then you have to play along and pretend to be interested just so you can continue to receive treatment. The worst part is you are so desperately trying to receive treatment and new treatments for the illness and all they ever want to talk about is transplant. I feel like my child could have gone on so much longer if not for this harassment which boxes you in and makes a person not want to do it anymore + if they would have just even TRIED to treat her illness. But there is big money in transplant. As far as the transgender stuff, true story-- every teenager hates their body, feels awkward, is having an identity crisis, and so much more. These doctors that are doing this to children should be criminally prosecuted. How is it different than Hitler sterilizing people?

Single strait female here. My heart breaks hearing the pain you experience. I thank you for taking your time to spread the truth. Bless you both and anyone else out there seeing this.

I’m a retired nurse, I can’t believe the doctor told you that you’re going to feel the best you’ve ever felt being on that much estrogen as a biological male!🙈 That makes absolutely no sense to me and it should never have been said to you. A biological male is not going to feel well being put on estrogen hormone replacement therapy. I know what men go through when they naturally don’t produce an adequate amount of testosterone. It’s awful and causes all kinds of problems in a biological male. Adding estrogen to a biological male will drop their testosterone levels and They feel like absolute garbage. Adding estrogen side effects on top of that and you’re going to be a mess!! 😞

Ritchie is very charismatic. Super magnetising. Would like this very articulate person on their own programme.

Seems like a very emotionally taxing interview for Blaire. An important conversation either way

This interview really made me feel emotional and I can relate with SO much of the lack of research and medical help when it comes to detransitioners. I have Endometriosis and it’s almost impossible to find medical help. Everything he talked about from the no man’s land to the not being able to find a doctor, to feeling alone and lost. I’m going to have this condition for the rest of my life and the excruciating pain I’ve been in every single day for the last 4 months has been just exhausting. I pray that we can both find doctors and medical help that will hopefully treat our issues.

Poor Blair. You can tell this story is breaking her up. She's the bad person but can feel the pain of others while the radicals have zero compassion for those in their community who are suffering.

My heart breaks for the pain and suffering you've been through. I'm so sorry you're going thru this

Ritchie is so intelligent, and explained everything so well.