'I was a boy.. then a girl.. now I want to be a boy again': Agony of of teen who

[Shana A]

By Grace Macaskill

'I was a boy.. then a girl.. now I want to be a boy again': Agony of of teen who is Britain's youngest sex-swap patient
28 Oct 2012 00:00

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/britains-youngest-sex-swap-patient-wants-1403321

Teenager Ria Cooper has spent the last year having hormone injections to turn her from a boy into a girl.

Formerly named Brad, she has ­already developed breasts, dresses in glamorous outfits, wears her hair in a feminine bob and has dated several young men.

At 18, she is Britain's youngest sex-swap patient.

Yet despite thousands of pounds worth of NHS treatment, as well as psychiatric and doctors' assessments, Ria has now decided she wants to go back to being a BOY.

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Britain's youngest sex change patient wants to go BACK to being a boy

By Keith Kendrick, Oct 29, 2012

http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2012/10/29/britains-youngest-transgender-sex-change-patient-wants-to-go-back-to-being-a-boy/

Britain's youngest sex-swap patient has decided she want to go back to being a boy – because she experiences too many mood swings as a girl.

Ria Cooper, 18, from Hull, has had thousands of pounds worth of NHS treatment involving hormonal injections to turn her from a boy into a girl.

But the hormones affected her so badly that she attempted suicide twice. Ria, formerly known as Brad, lives her life as a female.

She has developed breasts, wears her hair in a feminine bob and has dated several young men. But now she questions whether she was too young to be allowed to swap sexes in the first place.

[tekla]

Great.  There was a reason for the original RLE, perhaps this was it.

[Ave]

Wow, this might be really bad for the pre puberty transitioners :/

[Snowpaw]

Yeah stories like this really help our cause >_< Why don't people realize things like this are permanent. You don't just get to flip flop. Even HRT changes...

Or like a commenter asked there, was she paid for this...?

[Ave]

I don't think the person is denying they are trans, just that there life will be easier detransitioning.

[MaidofOrleans]

There is a reason we have a drinking age of 21 in the US. The prefrontal cortex, the portion of the brain used to make decisions and choose based on consequences, does not fully develop until a persons early to mid 20s.

This is why most teenagers do really really stupid things without thinking them through. Yes there is a point in being very cautious with young trans people.

From reading the article it sounds like she is attempting to change back to gain acceptance, I have a feeling if she changes back the dysphoria will return full force and she will be caught again in between a rock and a hard place. Societies pressures and their clash with our minds truly are the bane of trans people.

[Beth Andrea]

Yes, she's wanting to de-trans because her mom has rejected her, and her dad says she is "an embarrassment." No wonder she gets suicidal...

*hugs* to her, and raspberries to her parents.

[spacial]

One trashy tabloid publishes a story. It's repeated by some net site, aimed at the parent market.

As one of the comments makes clear, the most that would have been spent is a couple of k

This person was never too young. But they may have been unsuitable. Always assuming the story is not just another load of British Journalist hoey!

[Joelene9]

  There are a lot of things involved with Ria's life to judge here.  However, she has the same complaints of a normal teenaged girl going through the adjustments of puberty.  Transitioning while still a child is a new process that will need study.  The ones that underwent a puberty blocking regimen then transitioned with hormones are as a large majority are doing well with their chosen gender.  However, it will take 20 years to get an inkling of what these patients feel about themselves over the long term. 
  I, at first did not approve of transitioning as a child because I seen some change their mind and still are doing well with their decisions.  With more attentive therapists in this field that are more available now has changed my mind on this.  Some going as far as to treat only the "over the top" GID child patients for transitioning.  This data from these trials will help to treat other children in the future. 

  Joelene

[spacial]

I used to think as you describe Joelene.

While, along with the majority, I remain opposed to SRS for children, I see no reason why they cannot express themselves in any way they wish.

But this story just doesn't quite ring true.

I cannot accept that any NHS GP, trust or institution would give such profound treatment to someone, under 18, as this person must have been, without good family stability.

[Just Kate]

It isn't an easy thing, transitioning, at any age, but to do so very young and without the full acceptance of those closest to you and without the formative experiences that toughen you up, I can imagine how difficult this must be for her.  I cannot say detransitioning is the best thing for her to do permanently, but she can certainly wait to transition for a time she is more prepared.

I had similar fears when I transitioned (I was her age) and the idea that I'd never be able to find a partner who accepted me as wholly female was a GREAT source of sadness and frustration for me.

[Ave]

For anyone who wants to watch the documentary following Ria, here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xbwSKGvllIQ#at=165

[Isabelle]

I was just about to mention that their was a doco about this guy. He struck me as having more issues than only his gender. (refering to him as him as that is what he seems to want)

[Ave]

I was just about to mention that their was a doco about this guy. He struck me as having more issues than only his gender. (refering to him as him as that is what he seems to want)

I think so too, but I feel like a lot of people are taking this as if he (using the same rule) either lied or just flip flopped on his gender. Honestly, that doesn't seem to be the case, he's at a point in his life where he just doesn't have family support and I don't imagine he has much legit income to stabilize him.

[spacial]

Sadly, the video is blocked in the UK.

But the problem with these claims is that the treatment apparently started at 15. Not that the family support has disappeared.

In the UK, such treatment just wouldn't happen without family support.

If the treatment did really start at 15 and the family support was subsequently withdrawn then the question arises, why?

The whole article is written to sensationalise the situation.


Yet despite thousands of pounds worth of NHS treatment, as well as psychiatric and doctors' assessments,

This is simply playing to the crowd with claims of all that money, which could have been spent elsewhere, wasted on this confused teenager.

She was referred to a psychologist at Hull Royal Infirmary and later to the Gender Identity Clinic in London, where specialists agreed she was a woman trapped in a man's body.

Never happened. they would have said that this patient has a persistant belief they live in the wrong gender.

Aged 17, Ria started hormone ­injections, making her the youngest ever patient in the UK to receive such treatment. But the controversial ­decision has devastated her life.

Untrue. Not the youngest patient by a long way. The treatment would have been started to see how well they responded. As it happens, the blocking of the testosterone led to depression in this case. Clearly,  their belief in being transgender were incorrect. Nothing more.

Except now, a news paper opportunity has arisen. Incidently, I can assure anyone, this person has absolutely zero chance of joining the forces.

Last night child psychologist Karen Sherr, formerly of Great Ormond Street Hospital, said: "It's absolutely ­ludicrous for young kids to make such huge,

The operative being, formerly. Note, no indication this Miss Sherr has a post anywhere else.

Basically, some boy, gay, likes to dress effeminately. Takes an opportunity to make some cash by selling an unverifiable story to a TV film maker. Starts HRT at 17, gets a bit depressed after a few months. No problem there. HRT is not for everyone. Now making a few more bucks by selling part two to a newspaper.

[Medusa]

For anyone who wants to watch the documentary following Ria, here:
...

Are all today teenage girl so [some offensive and ugly word here]  ?
I had similar feeling when looking at "A Girl Like Me"
They are all so naughty. 

I'm not so old (born at 86), but it is huge change from my childhood, maybe it is because I'm from different society and culture, and always was at nerd side of kids but still.

[spacial]

This issue was discussed on a morning chat show here in the UK. The Wright Stuff. Knowing the problems of seeing these things overseas, I might try to record the audio of that section and post in here for any interested. The visual is just people sitting and chatting.

But, given that this is now several day this has been in the news, I hope this isn't some precursor for a change in policy by our glorious most benevolent, all wise Government.

[sandrauk]

Interviewed here as well  Ria Cooper gender reassingment interview on This Morning. Seems like a bit of a media junkie. I can't believe that he would be approved for treatment stating views like "I didn't like gay men so I wanted to attract straight men"

Still, when you come from Hull ( I was born there so I'm allowed)

[tekla]

caveat emptor,  oh wait, that's our system (such as it is)

[spacial]

The Wright Stuff discussion is in our private section under the same title.