ABSTRACT
A real-life experience is the experience of living in a new gender role, and is very likely to last the remainder of the patient's days. Although the terms 'real-life test' and 'real life experience' are sometimes used as synonyms it would be fairer to say that for patients who want surgery, particularly genital surgery, a defined first part of a real life experience might constitute a test, while the rest will not. The real life experience should be considered to have started on the day the patient was last in their biological gender role, for whatever reason. Some patients fiercely maintain that they do not care what others think of them, and that their own conviction of their gender is what matters. The 'real-life test' is thus a period in which the patient is required successfully to live in the chosen gender role.
