Our stovetop is having issues and I’d had a similar thought, so I’m hanging out to hear people’s reckons on this too!

This is correct - clot risk is quite low until you reach 40 or so, so it’s basically down to preference until then. Patches definitely have that lower risk, but lots of people don’t like them or feel anxious checking they’re still on, so pills can be a good option for them.

Important to remember pathways and medications are different all over the world, so what’s available might vary depending on where you live.

I think it’s less to do with the traits themselves and more to do with the person and how they’re perceived. As other people have said - people get more of a significant impact from role models they can identify with or look like them. There’s so much room for role models of all types, but if we’re thinking about masculinity specifically, so many young men and boys only have masculine folk in their lives who, for example, don’t share their emotions - and this pattern affirms the idea that it’s not ‘manly’ to be vulnerable.

More people who express themselves in a ‘masculine’ way modeling these positive traits show other people with similar identities and expressions that it’s possible (and good) for them to do it, too.

This is great advice! I also think there’s a huge difference in being stealth by choice and stealth by necessity. Making an active choice in this can be great for your wellbeing - the difference between feeling empowered to do this and being required to do it.

I’d recommend being open to letting trusted people in - one of the biggest struggles of going stealth is the isolation and worry about being outed, and having even one person you can share about this with will make the world of difference.

Congratulations! I’m so pleased for you!