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It takes serious guts to make a life-changing decision like Riley Middlemore - formerly Becca - has.

It takes those guts all over again to talk so freely and openly about what he's been through. But Riley, 19, is determined to make a difference, dispel some myths and set an example to others going through the same issues.

Riley realised at about 12 years old that he wasn't comfortable with body nature had given him. And over the past year he has started to realise his wish of a physical transformation.

His breasts have recently been removed, and he has a testosterone jab every few weeks. And he wants to talk about it so more and more people can understand what he, and people like him, are going through.

So Riley, a support worker, has filmed various parts of the process so far and has spoken openly with Gloucestershire Live about his journey.

How did you know you were in the wrong body?

Riley said: “When I was about 12-years-old I started to research why I felt like I did and I came across articles on Google that made sense and that I was trans.

(Image: Kim Horton and Riley Middlemore)

“I eventually told my mum who was so cool with it all and said to me that if I wanted to live life as a boy then that was fine with her.

“I started to go to the children's’s clinic in London to talk to the professionals there about how I was feeling and they gave me advice on how to grow in confidence living as a man where I lived. They heavily supported that I work and as me."

What sort of reaction do you get?

“At first it was a bit difficult for people to adjust to calling me Riley and for a few months I would still answer to Becca but that is a name that I chose for me from such a young age that I quickly adjusted," he said.

“Saying that I knew that it would take people a while to come to terms with my decision. Some trans people get stressed with people not calling them by their right name but that to me causes unnecessary stress.”

However Riley has been faced with negative comments from those who do not seem to understand what it means to be transgender.

What does concern Riley is people’s negative reaction on occasion to him.

Riley said: “I am mis-gendered by people that I know. What I mean by that is that people will sometimes call me a girl when they know me as it will throw me or they try to upset me, but that is narrow minded.

“It does upset me but to a point they have a point but they are wrong. I have the mind of a male but born in the female body. Unless you are trans you will not understand it but it is not something to try and use against someone

“If people genuinely mistake me for being a girl then I do not make a thing of it either. However before people starting trying to use that to hurt someone maybe they need to think.”

What does the process involve?

(Image: Kim Horton and Riley Middlemore)

Riley said: “After my visits to the children’s clinic stopped I then was transferred to the Laurels Clinic which deal with adults that are trans. I had an initial assessment to make sure that I was still wanting the same treatment in the future and then I was told not long afterwards that I could have testosterone.”

Riley started getting the testosterone injections in April this year and he now has the jab every six weeks.

Riley said: “The injection really hurts but it has meant that I have been going through a lot of physical changes now. I have started shaving and I love it. My shoulders are broader and my voice has changed now."

Recently, Riley underwent an operation to have his breasts removed.

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“I had the operation to have my boobs removed and when I woke up and when I wake up now its a relief," he said.

“Even when I used to wear my binder, at night when you have to take it off they were there as a constant reminder that I was physically a girl still. Now I’ve had the operation it is a huge relief.

(Image: Kim Horton and Riley Middlemore)

“Having the operation though it was a worry. Not having the tissue removed but being put to sleep and if I am honest if my nipples would take as they are cut off and then the wounds are sewn up on the double mastectomy and the nipples sewn back on to my chest.

“To be honest the surgeon said that I could have false ones made but I could not bear the thought of my nipples being thrown in the bin.”

Riley was made aware that his nipples may not take to the skin when they are sewn back on as the tissue may not live enough to take.

He said: “I had to have drains in after the operation and they hurt and they were there to take the excess fluid off after the operation. They hurt but to be honest I was up and about walking quite soon after I got back up onto the ward.

“When mum saw me she said it seemed so natural to see me flat chested as it was me. Now I feel brilliant. No more binders to strap it all away or any under boob poking out. I have my binder now for sentimental reasons as it is something that almost kept me safe and got me through each day.”

(Image: Kim Horton and Riley Middlemore)

What's next?

There will be another operation in the future. That will be a very invasive process that means that Riley will be off work for up to eight weeks. So not only does he need to mentally prepare for the process but financially too.

Riley said: "I will have to have a full hysterectomy to start with. The next phase will be the phalloplasty. This means that they will construct me a penis. They can make it out of my arm, leg or stomach. Then they sculpt the penis so it looks like a penis.

"Then the final stage will be having a pump so it can erect or deflate.

"It will be a time before that procedure is done as I will have to make sure that I have enough money saved to be able to take time off work and be financially secure.

"It's not a race, it will get done."