Am I too young to take T

[x-icecubes-x]

Say if I wanted to take T, . If my parents were willing to go through with it would I be allowed? And other than giving you more hair, and making your voice deeper what does T actually do to you?

[Silver]

They'd likely put you on hormone blockers until you're 16. So, since puberty starts later you'd end up taller. Then you'd go through a male puberty. End result- We would be jealous. You'd go through your teen life as a normal male, sans penis. You'd be tall, no boobs to chop off, no girly hips, all that. I'd say go for it if you're sure and your parents will let you.

Female puberty is a horrible experience in itself. Plus you end up less masculine, although I'd say the worst is the process itself. Trust me, if you haven't yet, you never want to have a period, never mind one every month until you get on T. They're painful, and rather distressing. Male socialization would also be a plus.

[Aussie Jay]

There are stories of kids telling their parents how they feel and stopping female puberty before it goes ahead. To then be prescribed T and go through a male puberty only. I think it's possible...
There was a story on 20/20 about Jeremy go to http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3078716&page=1 that is the letter he wrote to his parents but the story is there somewhere - have a look worth a read I reckon...
As for what does T do –
shuts down your ovaries eventually so you wont be able to reproduce, basically all those organs atrophy and become useless sort of lay dormant in your body
you become susceptible to medical issues similar to that of men your age but still are susceptible to things like breast cancer and dependant on hysto or not ovarian and other cancers down there
it changes the fat distribution to more of a male pattern
you can lose your hair
your muscles become more dense
the angle of your jaw can change to look more masculine
you become broader etc and
your 'clitoris' (I hate calling it that) will enlarge and look and behave like a small penis
you will also experience emotional changes - it becomes harder to cry and express emotions for most guys and there are others too...
It doesn't just give you more hair and a deep voice mate. It does affect you physiologically. Google is your friend or try wiki – full of information if you want specifics.

[Myself]

actually if you don't grow breasts or lack estrogen your risk of breast cancer is just the same as men.
It might be the same with ovaries but I am not sure.

Thing is, estrogen is what causes cell division in the breast and cell division is what can trigger cancer.
It is known that the more estrogen, the higher the risk.

Also, if you don't grow breasts, you have less breast tissue (just like a man), the less breast tissue again the less breast cancer risk.. so what Jay said about being at breast cancer risk is just wrong, especially if you stop breast formation.

[Teknoir]

It might be the same with ovaries but I am not sure.

As far as I've read, there either hasn't been a decently sized study sample available to test this against, or there aren't enough transmen with their kit left inact to bother. So nobody has any idea how T effects the cancer risk for the "downstairs equipment".

I infer it's assumed to be higher, 'cause generally the doctors want a guy on T to have a hysto within 5 years.

Also, if you don't grow breasts, you have less breast tissue (just like a man), the less breast tissue again the less breast cancer risk.. so what Jay said about being at breast cancer risk is just wrong, especially if you stop breast formation.

I think Jay was just talking in general. In general being "has been through female puberty, then had top surgery". As far as I know, in that case the risk for the tissue that is left is the same as for women, but overall it's lower 'cause we've got less tissue.

Post-op ultrasounds for cancer screening (when they get to "that age") are something people considering transition should still be aware of, anyway.

Even if puberty blockers are available, they aren't exactly easy or cheap to get. It's safer to assume you can't get them, and base your transition decisions off that. Try to get them, of course - but don't count everything on it.

Don't get me wrong, I think the blockers an awesome breakthrough, and I'd personally be handing 'em out like candy! (Bias much? ). I just don't think most parents, doctors, or society in general have caught up yet.

[Aussie Jay]

I've read similar things reguarding the hysto within 5 years. To me those organs are just a liability. I am not willing to have the required medical checks so the safest thing for my health is to get rid of them.
I was speaking generally Teknoir - I was assuming the OP had grown breast tissue and would have remnants even post op therefore putting them in another category of susceptibility for breast cancer. I never said he would be as susceptible as a woman. EVERYONE has breast tissue and EVERYONE is at risk of breast cancer. Sorry if I was misunderstood.
But hell yeah if the blockers are available - jump at the chance! It's just the possibility of aquiring them are realistically slim and nil... Docs are reluctant to treat people like us so aggresively for fear of law suit - at least over here.

[Teknoir]

I've read similar things reguarding the hysto within 5 years. To me those organs are just a liability. I am not willing to have the required medical checks so the safest thing for my health is to get rid of them.

My thought exactly. I couldn't have said it better myself.

I wonder (given that it's a liability, the cancer risk, we're infertile post-T anyway) if there's some way we can get medicare to cover it. Hmm.... I think I have some research and asking around to do.

Docs are reluctant to treat people like us so aggresively for fear of law suit - at least over here.

It requires a court order - even if the family and doctors agree it's the best things to do.

[Radar]

I wonder (given that it's a liability, the cancer risk, we're infertile post-T anyway) if there's some way we can get medicare to cover it.

Actually, I've heard rumours that some of the health insurance overhaul Obama's trying to get through is more transgender friendly to our surgeries. Like possibly being (some) covered. Could this be BS? Probably. Would the health system and lobbyist allow this to go through? No. But, a man can dream.

[Teknoir]

Actually, I've heard rumours that some of the health insurance overhaul Obama's trying to get through is more transgender friendly to our surgeries. Like possibly being (some) covered. Could this be BS? Probably. Would the health system and lobbyist allow this to go through? No. But, a man can dream.

Different Medicare, same dreams .

Hopefully Obama will make some good changes over there, but I think his intent may be curtailed a bit by "outside interest" (and perhaps his own interest in a continued, fruitful career after he leaves office).

[Aussie Jay]

Aren't we covered if our gender marker is still 'F'?? I'm not sure if I am misunderstanding here but... It would still involve a doctor writing it up as whatever to get if covered - but covered nonetheless no??
Please tell me if I'm way off base... Health care is new to me! I have no idea how it works.

[Teknoir]

I don't have that much of a clue either!

Hell, half the time even those who are supposed to know, don't. Getting definate information is like herding cats.

One would assume we'd have to sneak it in as an F, then get some nice doctors to write post-op letters ("Ooooh he's already had irreversable genital surgery... guess he fills the critera now, eh?"). They'd probably "officially" be doing the hysto on some sort of cancer prevention grounds (....not SRS grounds, anyway).

It's a tough one.... but if there is a loophole as simple as that, I keep thinking that surely they would have closed it?

I'm purely speculating on all of this, of course.

[Radar]

Aren't we covered if our gender marker is still 'F'?? I'm not sure if I am misunderstanding here but... It would still involve a doctor writing it up as whatever to get if covered - but covered nonetheless no??
Please tell me if I'm way off base... Health care is new to me! I have no idea how it works.

In the U.S. top surgery is not covered by insurance so we have to pay the full cost. Some guys have been able to get insurance to pay for it if they meet certain criteria and it's approved. I know one reason is if the moobs are huge and causing back pain. However, if the insurance company thought or found out it was mainly for a FTM procedure they wouldn't pay for it.

Same with a hysterectomy. More guys have been able to get this covered if a gyno can word things just right- like it's for problems, conditions or preventative measures. But, once again, if the insurance company thought or found out it was mainly for a FTM procedure they wouldn't pay for it either. Plus, if your listed as male under your insurance good luck getting a hysterectomy covered.

So, it can be a crapshoot depending on your doctors, the procedure coding done, how much insurance finds out and the paperwork. Insurance is a bitch.

[Elijah3291]

There was a story on 20/20 about Jeremy go to http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3078716&page=1 that is the letter he wrote to his parents but the story is there somewhere - have a look worth a read I reckon...

I must admit.. while this didn't make my cry(because I only cry when I'm mad) but this was very powerful and emotional for me.

[Cowboi]

There is an upcoming event on the Tyra show (Tyra Bank's talk show) that is supposed to be about transsexual children (very young) but I can imagine that some of the questions will be asked/answered about what kind of changes they will undergo as they get older and what their options may be. Perhaps watching it may give you some kind of clue as to what may happen to you since you are younger, plus it may just be nice for your parents to see as it could help them understand and feel less "alone" with it all. Here is the information I was given on it from our local gender alliance.


January 27, 2010
4PM Eastern Time
CW Network
"We're 7 and 8 years old and we know we are transgender"


In my experience with watching shows about the younger kids there tend to be a lot of questions about what happens when they hit puberty, so I wouldn't be surprised if the issue does come up. Plus Tyra has shown herself to be a very positive person towards the trans community so in general it may be a nice episode.

[Shadowlyc]

I'm watching that episode of Tyra online right now. I have to say, it's a really nice episode. And yes, puberty came up. o: They brought in transgender teens to discuss that. There's also people brought in for the questions part. Like Dr. Marci Bowers. o;

[Cowboi]

I'm watching that episode of Tyra online right now. I have to say, it's a really nice episode. And yes, puberty came up. o: They brought in transgender teens to discuss that. There's also people brought in for the questions part. Like Dr. Marci Bowers. o;

I totally spaced it off and forgot to record it on my dvr. I will have to look online too. YouTube?

[Shadowlyc]

Yep. Youtube. I found it on...Megami284's page. It's in five parts and it seems skinny, but you can hear everything clearly.