How do you handle M/F questions for medical issues?

[MsDazzler]

I have been on hormones for 2 months now and am under a doctor's care who is aware of my trans status - hell, she was the one who got me started on hormones, heh.

I am wondering how do you handle answering "M" or "F" for the purposes of medical issues that are dependent on your biological sex - one being obviously prostate screening where you would have to disclose your true biological sex- to unknowing medical pracitioners?

One thing I am wondering about is breast cancer screening - would you tell the doctor the "truth"? do they even ask if you are female or trans for that purpose prior to the screening?

Another example would be emergency visits where the amount of blood liters transferred are dependent on whether you are male or female.

Or would hormones change your body sufficiently that your body is essentially the same as a biological female except for the obvious (genitalia, prostate) that you can take various medical screenings and/or medication intended for males or females respectively without having to divulge your trans status?

[stldrmgrl]

I was in the hospital not too long ago.  I told every assistant/nurse/doctor who saw me from the beginning I was trans.  I didn't feel any reason to complicate my "stay" any further than it already was.

[Felix]

I tend to tell medical providers I'm trans. I'm paying out of pocket for my vision care, though, so I'm just male to my optometrists and ophthalmologist. But lol I'm obviously not passing with them, judging by the way they hesitate before pronouns. Whatever. They address me by my chosen name and don't ask too many questions.

[MsDazzler]

I was in the hospital not too long ago.  I told every assistant/nurse/doctor who saw me from the beginning I was trans.  I didn't feel any reason to complicate my "stay" any further than it already was.

that is what i am wondering - once they know you are trans, do they approach your medical care as if you were biologically male? (I dont mean as in attitudes or pronoun references, but as in allowing for biological differences in males and females influencing type of medical care you receive)

[stldrmgrl]

that is what i am wondering - once they know you are trans, do they approach your medical care as if you were biologically male? (I dont mean as in attitudes or pronoun references, but as in allowing for biological differences in males and females influencing type of medical care you receive)

I don't know, I just let them do their thing after I told them 

But I mean, I only had an EKG, X-Ray, CT Scan and blood analysis done.  I'm not sure about anything more pertinent to one's sex/gender.

Regardless, I am biologically male so, that would not be an incorrect approach.

[Felix]

I was in the hospital last month for an exploded ovarian cyst (and some related issues). I told them I was male and they went along with that for about 5 seconds.

[apple pie]

I think when it comes to medical issues, especially those that specifically involve sex differences, one needs to be more pragmatic and flexible. Biological males and biological females have different medical needs. Many of them don't change just because you've transitioned to another gender.

Nevertheless, quite a few nurses I've come across here told me that they actually have seen many transsexual people (by the way, that does sort of imply there are many invisible transsexuals around doesn't it?), and know the sensitivities of being put in the correct ward or using pronouns.

[Felix]

I think when it comes to medical issues, especially those that specifically involve sex differences, one needs to be more pragmatic and flexible. Biological males and biological females have different medical needs. Many of them don't change just because you've transitioned to another gender.

Nevertheless, quite a few nurses I've come across here told me that they actually have seen many transsexual people (by the way, that does sort of imply there are many invisible transsexuals around doesn't it?), and know the sensitivities of being put in the correct ward or using pronouns.

Ya I should mention that I live in a city with a lot of trans people, and I caught absolutely no surprise or disrespect from the medical staff. Them not giving lip service to my preferred gender was them being all business and efficiently dealing with a decidedly female problem. I think once my legal name change goes through it might be a little bit different, but probably still not much when dealing with my reproductive organs.

[MsDazzler]

Yeah....

Do we still need to screen for breast cancer?

[annette]

that is what i am wondering - once they know you are trans, do they approach your medical care as if you were biologically male? (I dont mean as in attitudes or pronoun references, but as in allowing for biological differences in males and females influencing type of medical care you receive)

I'm a health careworker and I can assure you that we will give the care one needs, no matter what gender one is.
There are some problems who can appear more often with Tgirls, for example, thrombosis or lungembolism by mtf due to E, but the same can happen with cisgirls who are using birthcontrol pills.
The treatment will be the same.

[lilacwoman]

UK health service computer program has so many popups that medics are quite often too busy working the computer and chasing the cursor all over the screen to realise some questions don't apply so if an inappropriate question comes up I just say transsexuals don't have/don't need that/I do need this looking at etc.

[eli77]

I disclose if it's necessary. But I don't like it. And I don't find everyone respectful.

I'm going for dental surgery in January. I'm not disclosing to the surgeon or his staff because it's entirely irrelevant.

[Mahsa Tezani]

I think when it comes to medical issues, especially those that specifically involve sex differences, one needs to be more pragmatic and flexible. Biological males and biological females have different medical needs. Many of them don't change just because you've transitioned to another gender.

Do transsexual females still have prostates?

But about nurses. I think anyone who has studied human anatomy(namely skeletal structure) can spot a transsexual if they work in the medical field.

[kelly_aus]

Do transsexual females still have prostates?

But about nurses. I think anyone who has studied human anatomy(namely skeletal structure) can spot a transsexual if they work in the medical field.

Yes, trans females still have a prostate.. It will shrink due to the effects of HRT, but it doesn't just go away..

[eli77]

But about nurses. I think anyone who has studied human anatomy(namely skeletal structure) can spot a transsexual if they work in the medical field.

I would have thought that too, but they wouldn't ask the questions that they do if they knew I was trans.

[MsDazzler]

But about nurses. I think anyone who has studied human anatomy(namely skeletal structure) can spot a transsexual if they work in the medical field.

Not true - many times ER workers have rushed to the scene to treat transgender victims and to their shock find out their biological sex. There was one incident in DC where this transgender woman died because the ER workers  were shocked to find out her biological sex then either stood around mocking her genitala or refused to touch her while she was unconscioucs.

[Kelly J. P.]

 I had a nurse bring up the suggestion of a pap smear not too long ago. I giggled a little, and then disclosed my trans status. He was just fine about it... we had a good conversation, and he learned a bit. When I can help it, I will disclose my trans status in a situation where someone needs to know. Men and women are different, and trans individuals are different still, so in many medical scenarios, letting the staff know about that aspect of you would be important.

For cases where male/female/trans differences don't apply, however, I would not be very likely do disclose.

[Mahsa Tezani]

Not true - many times ER workers have rushed to the scene to treat transgender victims and to their shock find out their biological sex. There was one incident in DC where this transgender woman died because the ER workers  were shocked to find out her biological sex then either stood around mocking her genitala or refused to touch her while she was unconscioucs.

Thats hella scandalous.

Then just damn my anatomy studies. I will burn my text book tonight...along with my ex boyfriends jock strap tonight. He won't be using that on the SPIKES ANYMORE!

(sorry, was attempting to unleaven the situation)

[Anatta]

Yeah....

Do we still need to screen for breast cancer?

Kia Ora Ms Daz,

I have a mammogram every two years, my doctor organised it, in NZ, it's free for women fifty and over...So yes we/trans-women do need to have mammograms...

* BTW the screeners are [from what I gather] not aware of my trans-status and I have no need to divulge my past to them...
Metta Zenda

[MsDazzler]

Thats hella scandalous.

Then just damn my anatomy studies. I will burn my text book tonight...along with my ex boyfriends jock strap tonight. He won't be using that on the SPIKES ANYMORE!

(sorry, was attempting to unleaven the situation)

Yeah... I am a little nervous about what happens to me if I should end up in an emergency or something and I am unconscious. I pray that whoever find me would be sympathetic to transgender people.