Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Topic started by: PurpleWolf on December 07, 2017, 09:59:18 AM

Title: Have you ever been to a gynecologist?
Post by: PurpleWolf on December 07, 2017, 09:59:18 AM

Actually, I've never been to one, luckily,  ;D. Sope... here we go:

1. Did you used to go regularly before transitioning? How often?

2. How did that make you feel? (It's never pleasant, I can guess. But from a guy point of view?) Did it cause you dysphoria? Back in the day, did you know you were a trans guy or not? Did that (knowing or not knowing) affect the ordeal?

3. Do you feel more comfortable with a male or female gyno? (I've learned that women feel much, much more comfy with a female one... Plus I've read nasty articles about how male ones see women there, including this one:
https://forwomenseyesonly.com/2012/09/09/the-other-side-of-the-speculum-a-male-doctors-point-of-view/)

4. Was avoiding that a reason for you to have/consider hysto?

5. Do you still go after transitioning? Why/why not?

6. Have gynecologists respected your gender identity? In what ways?

7. Did you have to go as a part of getting hormones or transitioning?

8. Anything else you wanna share...? Advice? Horror stories? Good stories?

Hope wasn't too triggering to any of you...

Here's a video where Chase discusses this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74GblNjyGGw&t=1716s
EPISODE #55 - GYNECOLOGY APPOINTMENTS

Btw what I've learned is that yearly pelvic exams are not necessary... (just go google)
https://www.google.fi/search?biw=960&bih=448&ei=52IpWq6lLOGS6ASztpKYCQ&q=pelvic+exam+unnecessary&oq=pelvic+exam+unn&gs_l=psy-ab.3.0.0j0i22i30k1l3.1555.2734.0.3693.4.4.0.0.0.0.132.443.1j3.4.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.2.250...0i19k1j0i13i30i19k1j0i13i5i30i19k1j0i8i13i30i19k1.0.oJcXAx1eQXM

Title: Re: Have you ever been to a gynecologist?
Post by: Kylo on December 07, 2017, 11:45:39 AM
No.

I'm aware that pelvic exam and pap tests are for cancer caused almost exclusively by the HPV16/18 (often sexually-transmitted) virus. In other words, a wart-causing virus.

As someone who isn't sexually active and has had a very small number of sexual partners who didn't have this virus or any other STDs, and as someone who tends to keep my own hands away from my gonads and is somewhat obsessive about body cleanliness anyway, I consider myself a minimal-risk type so I don't attend these tests or exams. I've also never had a UTI or anything that might require someone looking at my pipes.

I saw someone once for something unrelated and have no idea they were going to shove their gloved hand up there. So that was fun (and painful) but at least it was quick. I don't recall if this person was a gynecologist or someone more specifically specialist in pregnancy issues. I think the latter. This person happened to be a man, although it was mandatory for there to be a female nurse in the room at the time for legal purposes or something like that. Which from my perspective was no help at all. Man or woman, I didn't want anybody down there, and I didn't particularly want to be there... but it was mandatory in that instance.

At the age of 21 at that point I was extremely dysphoric about episodes of that sort. I refused to go to a family planning clinic at that point to get birth control in case they did the same thing. My level of aversion for it surpassed that of any female I'd known, to the point of actual phobia and risk-taking behavior. Once I was able to get the hormone pills I then took part in even more risk-taking behavior by using them improperly to get rid of periods. None of this was without fairly serious consequences down the line.

I don't intend to go for any pelvic exams unless they hold some other aspect of transition out of my reach on pain of doing it. I can handle the medical examinations these days, but I'm not volunteering for something every year I'm likely not at risk from. They'll stop sending me the letters now.


Title: Re: Have you ever been to a gynecologist?
Post by: SeptagonScars on December 08, 2017, 09:58:00 PM
1. No, I only went twice before my transition, and once after. So three times in total, about 3-6 years apart. I wouldn't call that "regularly" but more like "occasionally".
2. It was uncomfortable but okay. Had very kind, considerate and professional gyno's every time. It caused some dysphoria but knowing it was necessary in one way or another made it much easier to power through. I felt more weird than dysphoric being a trans guy in that chair. Like out of place in my surroundings. Especially in the waiting room though.
3. I've only had female gyno's but always thought I'd probably be more comfortable with a male one. But maybe it wouldn't make any difference at all, I wouldn't know. I think a very small percent of male gyno's are creeps so that hasn't ever worried me.
4. A small reason, so yeah kinda. My main reasons for wanting a hysto is to prevent more bleedings in the future (my periods came back after 3 years on T with stable, good levels and no one could figure out why, so I'm a bit paranoid about that possibly happening again) and cause I want a vaginectomy. Not having to visit the gyno again after hysto is more like a bonus than a reason for me.
5. Yeah once, cause I got my period back and wanted to find out if I possibly had some form of cancer or something that was causing it, but it was nothing they could find and then the periods just stopped by themselves.
6. Yes, I'd say so. They recognised the medical aspects of me transitioning and had nothing bad/unprofessional to say about it. They were cool.
7. Yes, for some reason the therapists that evaluated whether I had "GID" (as it was called back then) or not also needed to know if I was intersex or had any developmental problems from puberty, deformities and stuff like that (and would trust my word on it), so I had to get checked by a gyno as well as take a chromosome test. It was weird to me, but I guess they had their reasons so I just went along with it. I knew I needed to have the diagnosis to get hormones, surgery and my legal gender marker changed in my country.
8. The only thing close to a horror story I had concerning that was that once I somehow managed to forget to tell the gyno that I'm allergic to latex so a few minutes after the examination I had a horrible burning and stinging sensation in my entire crotch outside and inside for somewhere around 5 hours after... Not fun, but I survived.
Title: Re: Have you ever been to a gynecologist?
Post by: PurpleWolf on December 09, 2017, 12:23:06 AM
Quote from: SeptagonScars on December 08, 2017, 09:58:00 PM
1. No, I only went twice before my transition, and once after. So three times in total, about 3-6 years apart. I wouldn't call that "regularly" but more like "occasionally".
2. It was uncomfortable but okay. Had very kind, considerate and professional gyno's every time. It caused some dysphoria but knowing it was necessary in one way or another made it much easier to power through. I felt more weird than dysphoric being a trans guy in that chair. Like out of place in my surroundings. Especially in the waiting room though.
3. I've only had female gyno's but always thought I'd probably be more comfortable with a male one. But maybe it wouldn't make any difference at all, I wouldn't know. I think a very small percent of male gyno's are creeps so that hasn't ever worried me.
4. A small reason, so yeah kinda. My main reasons for wanting a hysto is to prevent more bleedings in the future (my periods came back after 3 years on T with stable, good levels and no one could figure out why, so I'm a bit paranoid about that possibly happening again) and cause I want a vaginectomy. Not having to visit the gyno again after hysto is more like a bonus than a reason for me.
5. Yeah once, cause I got my period back and wanted to find out if I possibly had some form of cancer or something that was causing it, but it was nothing they could find and then the periods just stopped by themselves.
6. Yes, I'd say so. They recognised the medical aspects of me transitioning and had nothing bad/unprofessional to say about it. They were cool.
7. Yes, for some reason the therapists that evaluated whether I had "GID" (as it was called back then) or not also needed to know if I was intersex or had any developmental problems from puberty, deformities and stuff like that (and would trust my word on it), so I had to get checked by a gyno as well as take a chromosome test. It was weird to me, but I guess they had their reasons so I just went along with it. I knew I needed to have the diagnosis to get hormones, surgery and my legal gender marker changed in my country.
8. The only thing close to a horror story I had concerning that was that once I somehow managed to forget to tell the gyno that I'm allergic to latex so a few minutes after the examination I had a horrible burning and stinging sensation in my entire crotch outside and inside for somewhere around 5 hours after... Not fun, but I survived.

Thanks, dude, so much!!! Your answers are just great  ;D! Really appreciate!!!
Title: Re: Have you ever been to a gynecologist?
Post by: SeptagonScars on December 10, 2017, 11:59:39 AM
Quote from: PurpleWolf on December 09, 2017, 12:23:06 AM
Thanks, dude, so much!!! Your answers are just great  ;D! Really appreciate!!!

I'm glad it was appreciated :)
Title: Re: Have you ever been to a gynecologist?
Post by: Corax on December 10, 2017, 01:39:19 PM
1. Did you used to go regularly before transitioning? How often?
No way in hell!
2. How did that make you feel? (It's never pleasant, I can guess. But from a guy point of view?)
Out of place! Like an idiot! Humiliated!
The unbelieving, confused, shocked stares from the chicks when I, a man, actually entered the treatment room and they then knew I wasn't waiting for one of the chicks said everything.
Did it cause you dysphoria? Back in the day, did you know you were a trans guy or not? Did that (knowing or not knowing) affect the ordeal?
Yes it did. Yes I knew I was a man and even though I was pre-T I still passed and was read as a male as well. And it caused a hell lot of confusion and unnecessary arguing with the doctor's receptionists. 
3. Do you feel more comfortable with a male or female gyno?
I don't feel comfortable at a gynaecologist at all; the gender of the doctor can't change this and has no effect on it. The mere fact that it's a gynaecologist and I as a man have to go there is humiliating. The one I went to was a woman though.
4. Was avoiding that a reason for you to have/consider hysto?
No. I already wanted to rip these disgusting organs out of my body that I am not supposed to have in the first place when I haven't even known what a transsexual was and when I first had to get aware of them in that gross, repulsive, destructive manner that caused me severe depression, to hide this disgraceful body away in my room and made me want to throw myself from a bridge every month. I didn't leave the bed and much less the house for those days and missed a lot of schooldays. I couldn't bear it or cope with it at all.
5. Do you still go after transitioning? Why/why not?
I'm not done with my medical transition just yet. As soon as I will have had the hysto I won't set a foot into such a hell house anymore but now that I am on T but still have this loathsome stuff I have to go for check up because T can negatively affect those organs and I rather go there than die.
6. Have gynecologists respected your gender identity? In what ways?
She respected my boundaries and even said that the endocrinologist as well as the insurance company will have to arrange themselves with the information she can provide in her assessment from what she can do with me without messing me up and making me feel more than awful.
7. Did you have to go as a part of getting hormones or transitioning?
Yes, that was the only reason I went there to begin with. A pre-T expert assessment from a gynaecologist is required from the endocrinologist as well as for the insurance companies if you want them to approve you for surgery.
8. Anything else you wanna share...? Advice? Horror stories? Good stories?
No.
Title: Re: Have you ever been to a gynecologist?
Post by: PurpleWolf on December 10, 2017, 02:31:45 PM
Quote from: Corax on December 10, 2017, 01:39:19 PM
1. Did you used to go regularly before transitioning? How often?
No way in hell!
You read my mind!!!

Quote from: Corax on December 10, 2017, 01:39:19 PM
5. Do you still go after transitioning? Why/why not?
I'm not done with my medical transition just yet. As soon as I will have had the hysto I won't set a foot into such a hell house anymore but now that I am on T but still have this loathsome stuff I have to go for check up because T can negatively affect those organs and I rather go there than die.
No >-bleeped-<! And I was afraid of the ultrasound........

Quote from: Corax on December 10, 2017, 01:39:19 PM
7. Did you have to go as a part of getting hormones or transitioning?
Yes, that was the only reason I went there to begin with. A pre-T expert assessment from a gynaecologist is required from the endocrinologist as well as for the insurance companies if you want them to approve you for surgery.
That's what I'm fearing. Coz... Have been luckily able to avoid the ordeal up to this point! Maybe I can somehow go through it - thinking it leads me to T....?

Btw like your 'honest' style,  ;D! Keep going!!!

The gyno might be pretty bad for me.... coz.... I can't even cope with uttering aloud my legal name. (But I'm about to change it FINALLY, though.)
Title: Re: Have you ever been to a gynecologist?
Post by: meatwagon on December 10, 2017, 03:35:59 PM
1. Did you used to go regularly before transitioning? How often?
never went regularly, only been a few times when another doctor saw i hadn't been and "made" me go.

2. How did that make you feel? (It's never pleasant, I can guess. But from a guy point of view?) Did it cause you dysphoria? Back in the day, did you know you were a trans guy or not? Did that (knowing or not knowing) affect the ordeal?
"look at the ceiling and count the tiles..."  i was still figuring out my gender then, but i knew i didn't fully identify as female, which only made it worse being treated and talked to as such while having those parts examined.  humiliating, violating, just awful... but the doctors were always nice and did their best not to make it awkward, which helped.

3. Do you feel more comfortable with a male or female gyno?
didn't matter to me, but i've only ever seen females.

4. Was avoiding that a reason for you to have/consider hysto?
never thought about that much, but it's another point toward making that decision in the future.

5. Do you still go after transitioning? Why/why not?
only recently started T, and i don't plan on going unless somebody says i really have to because it's just too unpleasant.

6. Have gynecologists respected your gender identity? In what ways?
never been relevant

7. Did you have to go as a part of getting hormones or transitioning?
not so far

8. Anything else you wanna share...? Advice? Horror stories? Good stories?
nothing i can think of...  it's more embarrassing than painful, and once it's done it's done, but i still don't even like remembering it.
Title: Re: Have you ever been to a gynecologist?
Post by: Corax on December 10, 2017, 03:40:58 PM
Quote from: PurpleWolf on December 10, 2017, 02:31:45 PM
Maybe I can somehow go through it - thinking it leads me to T....?
I'm certain that you can do it for T too. I think if even I could do it to step forward in my transition with my extreme dysphoria everyone else can make it through this somehow as well ;) 

Quote
Btw like your 'honest' style,  ;D! Keep going!!!
Thanks ;D
Title: Re: Have you ever been to a gynecologist?
Post by: PurpleWolf on December 12, 2017, 11:52:11 AM
Quote from: Corax on December 10, 2017, 03:40:58 PM
I'm certain that you can do it for T too. I think if even I could do it to step forward in my transition with my extreme dysphoria everyone else can make it through this somehow as well ;) 

Forgot to thank you! That did make me feel better. But I still plan to avoid it if in any way I can  ;D! I don't like to do anything that is perceived as 'female' such as stepping into the female locker room for example. Visiting a gyno (or the ultrasound) is a very real reason for me to avoid transitioning altogether....... Maybe illogical, but  :D! On a mental level I think I could cope with it - but actually doing it.....! But thanks, man. I try to remember your words if  I ever have to go through that. HOPE NOT!!!