trans | Coming out at work -OR- How to break the subject of being more than what you appear (Reply)

(cross-posted)

So... as I've said many times in my entries, I'm not one who is transitioning from binary to binary, so I dun tend to talk about transitional topics a lot. What I am curious about, however, is how to broach the subject of being different at work before your physical characteristics make it impossible to hide.

For example: I'm intersexed, and going back on hormones before too long. Hormone therapy makes my breasts grow. I work in a bank, which means well-fitting business attire. My work has me listed as male. I'm not planning on transitioning to being female, but am going on hormones for health reasons and because it's a part of who I am. Breasts that grow more and more noticeable and wearing men's dress shirts and ties is a rather revealing thing. My co-workers, never mind the company I work for, know nothing of my intersexed nature, nor any of my health concerns for that matter. It's never been a real issue in the past few years. But going back on hormones now that I have insurance again, it is likely to become one. And with this being the case, I'm not sure how to bring the subject up to test the waters and even more so, prepare my workplace for the changes that are to come.

I've tried "testing the waters" on many occasions, and usually the topic leads to some conversation amongst the women or just goes nowhere and fizzles out. So I have a 0 reading from my "gender-alternative thermometer." This is becoming increasingly frustrating for me, as I don't know what to do to "come out" to them so that it's not so all of the sudden "Oh my heck, you've got boobs! What are you, anyway?" Does anyone have any advice on this? I fully intend on not letting the midwestern sensibilities of my employer and co-workers keep me from being healthy, never mind being who I am, and I do work with some amazingly great people, but this topic... I'm just not sure what to do.

Suggestions, anyone?