I don't know how it is in other countries, but here in the US every time we see a new doctor we have to fill out paperwork with basic identification info and then a medical background overview. It is bad enough that the medical establishments have not found a way to find a way to share this info (and preserve privacy), but they all start off with the the gender question. So just this week...
I had my first appointment with my endo (Yay!). His office is shared with a larger group and they gave me the usual paperwork to fill out. Right after name and age there it was: Sex Male Female
Arggh! Why do they do that? I figured, okay biologically I am still male, so circled that and moved on quickly, trying to put it out of my mind. It was a bad start to the visit. Fortunately my endo did a really good job putting me at ease. I even found myself called back to the examination room before having time to fill out the paperwork. This just doesn't happen in the US medical system. I soon realized it was the endo's way of making his patients comfortable by giving us privacy. (Oh, and I left with the promise of a prescription as soon as he got my blood work. See ticker, below!)
Two days latter I went to get my flu shot. I work for a university and so just stopped by the campus clinic. Since I hadn't been there in ages, more paperwork. And agian, right on top:
Gender Male Female
This one bothered me more. My gender is female, but only a few others know this - and my appearance is male. So with a sick feeling I scribble a quick circle around male and moved on. But then there was another page, and there at the top was a surprise
Gender Male Female Transgender
I just had to circle transgender. I am not out at the school, so maybe I shouldn't have done that. I guess I will find out how well the privacy laws are followed at the school clinic.
But it sure felt good to be able to circle the transgender option. I can't wait to move on to feeling comfortable circling F. Yet, even that required me to 'out' myself. There has go to be an easier way!?
