so are you a woman with out the operation

[stephaniec]

On the social side, it's how we perceive ourselves and how we choose to present ourselves.

On the biological side of the question, in how we perceive ourselves, most of this is in our heads, quite literally, but there are no easy or cheap tests for it, short of a post-mortem on the brain.

What is known about most MTFs is that they have brain structure differences from other males. The differences in brain structure almost always closely resemble the structures in females.

Back in the dark ages of gender identity diagnosis, a doctor at Johns Hopkins (whose name escapes me at the moment) stated that we are born as blank slates and we learn our gender roles so all that matters is how you raise a child. This was put to the test in the infamous "John/Joan" case, where a male with a badly botched circumcision was surgically altered to be a girl and raised as a girl. This, of course failed, and by the age of 14 the child was prepared to commit suicide. Attempts were made to help the child and later as an adult, but as I recall the individual in question ultimately took his own life in his 30s.

Dr. Milton Diamond never believed this theory so he eventually followed up on the "John/Joan" case and discovered that it did not work out the way the theory said it should. And, it turns out, it didn't work out in many other cases as well. Further, Dr. Diamond has stated (in interviews) that scientists have subsequently forced transsexual behavior on animal species by raising the testosterone levels on female fetuses in the womb (and vice versa on male fetuses). In every case, despite being biologically of one sex, these animals would adopt the behaviors of the other sex.

This has led to extensive studies that show that transgender people, going both ways, MTF and FTM, have significant brain structure differences from others of the same biological sex. Since our sense of self is within the brain, we quite literally have female brains in male bodies or male brains in female bodies.

Some of the recent hormonal research is summarized here, in this presentation to the AMA in 2011. It's a long viewing, over an hour, but I highly recommend it.

Here is one image of just one brain region that is different in MTFs.



The image above is the central nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTc), in the thalamus. Note that heterosexual and homosexual males have nearly identical brain structures in that region. Note that biological females have very different structures in that region from those of the males. And finally note that MTF transsexuals have brain structures that are very close to the female's and nothing at all like the biological male's neurological structures.

So no, you are not just "gay".   And yes, being transsexual is a real medical condition for which there is treatment that works for those who suffer most. That treatment is HRT and transitioning to live in the gender with which you identify.

Reference from my blog: Biological differences in MTFs and cisgender males

I think basically this is saying your genetically a female with some defects which can be mostly fixed . I know from my childhood and beyond this is so obviously true. I don't think there are any other possible explanations for what I've gone through since birth. I been tormented by my brain trying to conform to its reality . I know now that I have breasts I feel so much more aligned to my true nature. The exact  same feeling for every slight change I feel and see happening with my body. It's a physical realignment  to what your genetic make up is.

[Allyda]

I think basically this is saying your genetically a female with some defects which can be mostly fixed . I know from my childhood and beyond this is so obviously true. I don't think there are any other possible explanations for what I've gone through since birth. I been tormented by my brain trying to conform to its reality . I know now that I have breasts I feel so much more aligned to my true nature. The exact  same feeling for every slight change I feel and see happening with my body. It's a physical realignment  to what your genetic make up is.

I loved the way you put that Stephanie: "It's a physical realignment to what your genetic makeup is." Also I watched the video presentation and I found it very enlightning especially the comparisons of MTF brains to cis female brains. While I haven't been on hrt long enough yet to see any real big changes -I know it takes time, but the video made me even more excited for those changes to come. Also I'm glad the AMA is trying to do something about coverage for our necessary surgeries. I thank you for your post. It has made me feel, well, more like a normal woman.

[stephaniec]

I loved the way you put that Stephanie: "It's a physical realignment to what your genetic makeup is." Also I watched the video presentation and I found it very enlightning especially the comparisons of MTF brains to cis female brains. While I haven't been on hrt long enough yet to see any real big changes -I know it takes time, but the video made me even more excited for those changes to come. Also I'm glad the AMA is trying to do something about coverage for our necessary surgeries. I thank you for your post. It has made me feel, well, more like a normal woman.

Yea it definitely has done that for me too.All that stress I dealt with between the mental and physical maybe that's why.

[Jenna Stannis]

If you need an operation to be a woman, then you're not a woman.

I like it. It's opening a can of worms, but I like it. Have you ever read "What Is It Like To Be A Bat?" by Thomas Nagel?

[Allyda]

Yea it definitely has done that for me too.All that stress I dealt with between the mental and physical maybe that's why.

Mee too, me too.

[Allyda]

I like it. It's opening a can of worms, but I like it. Have you ever read "What Is It Like To Be A Bat?" by Thomas Nagel?

No, never heard of that one.

Hey y'all, I took a crappy cell phone pic tonight of nme all natural in the mirror. I'll post it in the appropriate section once I upload it to my computer. This way you'll have some idea of who your talking to, lol!!

[Jenna Stannis]

No, never heard of that one.

Hey y'all, I took a crappy cell phone pic tonight of nme all natural in the mirror. I'll post it in the appropriate section once I upload it to my computer. This way you'll have some idea of who your talking to, lol!!

[Allyda]

I meant I never heard of "What Is It Like To Be a Bat."

[Jenna Stannis]

I meant I never heard of "What Is It Like To Be a Bat."

OK, thanks, FA.

[stephaniec]

OK, thanks, FA.

the article in pdf online. half way through it it's about a bat. Or the consciousness of an electron circling a proton or some thing, not sure.

[Jenna Stannis]

the article in pdf online. half way through it it's about a bat. Or the consciousness of an electron circling a proton or some thing, not sure.

In a nutshell, Nagel attempts to refute the reductionist approach to consciousness, claiming that it is something more than the sum of its parts. It's a subtle and complex argument. I don't agree with it, but it does initiate discussion about such things as qualia and whether it's possible for us to experience another person's subjective experiences. So, when I say that I feel female, what is it that I'm actually claiming and is it possible? 

[stephaniec]

In a nutshell, Nagel attempts to refute the reductionist approach to consciousness, claiming that it is something more than the sum of its parts. It's a subtle and complex argument. I don't agree with it, but it does initiate discussion about such things as qualia and whether it's possible for us to experience another person's subjective experiences. So, when I say that I feel female, what is it that I'm actually claiming and is it possible?

I don't know, is pure conscious dual in nature or is it pure unity where it is irrelevant  to argue a male female perspective.

[Allyda]

I don't just "feel" female I know I'm female. If I can find it I'll check it out though. Some of these insights are interesting whether I beleive them or not.

[TinaMadisonWhite]

I'm scheduled for SRS/GCS surgery in early March.  I'm very excited about it.  But I am neither getting the surgery to "reassign" me as a woman nor to "confirm" that I am a woman.   I am a woman already.

Some cis-women, faced with radical mastectomies, experience a similar heartache:  will I still feel like a woman without my breasts?  Of course, they are still women!

But whether they FEEL that way is a very personal decision.  Many consider reconstructive surgery a high priority.  Others don't.  Bravo to both groups!

I think that this is an intensely personal decision.  Whatever outcome makes you feel happiest about yourself as a person is the right one!  Either way, you're a woman.  Whatever you end up with, enjoy!

[amber1964]

Its all just names. Call it vaginaplasty. My friend had a mastectomy. Made her miserable and self conscious. So she had implants done and she felt a lot better. Other women wear forms and some just dont care. No difference, how you feel about certain parts of your body is intensely personal.

I used to care about why I feel the way I do. But at some point it just stopped being interesting. Im just me and thats how it is.

[stephaniec]

my brain has always told me I'm female so I just go with my brain, I can't live with out a brain, so its got my vote

[Carrie Liz]

Adding another two cents into here... IMO, if you don't feel like a woman without the operation, you're probably not going to feel like one with it either.

[Sarah Rose]

I'm more concerned about the legal side....
I could live with or without SRS (as long as I can start HRT)... but if I need SRS to get my 'F' on my ID.. then that's what I'll do.

[amber1964]

I am happy to say, where I live, no surgery is required to get a new birth certificate and all new ID. None, which is how it should be.

Sometimes people will ask, how much do you think I need to do? My answer is always the same. Do the least possible to give yourself personal peace of mind. Driving surgery by requiring it to change gender markers on ID is like forced sterilization. It is evil.

[Jenna Stannis]

Adding another two cents into here... IMO, if you don't feel like a woman without the operation, you're probably not going to feel like one with it either.

But doesn't that beg the question of why someone who doesn't feel female would want go ahead with GRS -- what would be their motivation?