Gynecologists.

[JohnR]

I would imagine it has to do with "see you're completely normal (physically female) so you can't possibly be trans".  Not nearly as harsh, but my mom was convinced I was bi-polar not trans.  I went to the therapist she chose and she was seriously disappointed to find out I was just depressed and as the therapist put it "who wouldn't be in that situation?" 

Yes, could well be. It just shocked me that a caring mother would wish for her very minor child to be subjected to an internal examination. It could easily be read as a sexual assault. I can't think of any parent I know who would attempt to force a child to be touched up vaginally.

[Sharky]

Some moms go crazy when they realize you'll never be the young women they dreamed of you being. The first time I came out to my mom I was 15. She thought part of the problem was that my boobs were too big. She tried to force me to get a breast reduction. She would even drag me to see surgeons. During one of her tantrums to get me to go she kicked a hole in the bathroom door.

[regan]

Yes, could well be. It just shocked me that a caring mother would wish for her very minor child to be subjected to an internal examination. It could easily be read as a sexual assault. I can't think of any parent I know who would attempt to force a child to be touched up vaginally.

Parents will go to extreme lengths to believe what they want to believe, even if its just in their own minds.  I agree that making the focus of an exam the very thing that's causing your child distress could be at the very least bad parenting, but for most of society if we just tried harder to be our birth gender all of "this" would just go away.  And what better way to prove to your child that they are female then an intrusive exam that in your mind proves it once and for all.

[niamh]

To be honest I think you're too young for an examination, i.e. meaning that female bodied people only really go to have one once they seriously consider having babies. What's the deal with your mum? I remember when I was forced to join the reserve army by my parents and there was a compulsory medical exam that included the doctor feeling my parts down there. It was majorally uncomfortable and embarrassing and I was just a minor at the time. Later when I gave out to my dad as he didn't tell me about the medical his reply was that if I had known I wouldn't have gone.

Seriously, I know how uncomfortable it would be for you so I suggest, especially seeing as their is no pressing medical need, that you just simply do not go. Courage!

[Sean]

I agree with much of what's been said, but I think there is some misinformation in the responses here.

If you are under the 18-21 age bracket, and you are not sexually active, and you have a normal menstrual cycle, then there is absolutely no medical reason to go see a gynecologist or to have a vaginal exam.

However, you *should* get the HPV vaccine, because it can prevent you from ever contracting HPV when you do get older and become sexually active, and that's important, not the least because the HPV virus will increase your risk of cervical cancer (and even it will require you to have at least more frequent exams to monitor in the future - something you surely would like to avoid). A regular doctor should be able to give you this vaccine, you don't need a gynecologist for it.

If you an abnormal cycle that causes you pain, distress, significant bleeding, etc., then you may want to see a gynecologist sooner.

If you ARE sexually active, then you SHOULD be getting regular exams and pap smears, because of the risk of HPV, which can be transmitted from skin to skin contact/bodily fluids, even with the use of condoms,and even women with whom you may be sexually involved could have it and transmit it to you. Most people are NOT symptomatic and many do not know they have HPV.

I agree that at *some* point in the future, you may have to see a gynecologist and learn what those exams are like and what they are screening for, depending on how you approach your transition. But I don't think there is any benefit to having you go now to learn. Most young *women* are extremely scared and uncomfortable about going to the gynecologist, let along young *men.*

[insideontheoutside]

I agree with much of what's been said, but I think there is some misinformation in the responses here.

If you are under the 18-21 age bracket, and you are not sexually active, and you have a normal menstrual cycle, then there is absolutely no medical reason to go see a gynecologist or to have a vaginal exam.

However, you *should* get the HPV vaccine, because it can prevent you from ever contracting HPV when you do get older and become sexually active, and that's important, not the least because the HPV virus will increase your risk of cervical cancer (and even it will require you to have at least more frequent exams to monitor in the future - something you surely would like to avoid). A regular doctor should be able to give you this vaccine, you don't need a gynecologist for it.

If you an abnormal cycle that causes you pain, distress, significant bleeding, etc., then you may want to see a gynecologist sooner.

If you ARE sexually active, then you SHOULD be getting regular exams and pap smears, because of the risk of HPV, which can be transmitted from skin to skin contact/bodily fluids, even with the use of condoms,and even women with whom you may be sexually involved could have it and transmit it to you. Most people are NOT symptomatic and many do not know they have HPV.

I agree that at *some* point in the future, you may have to see a gynecologist and learn what those exams are like and what they are screening for, depending on how you approach your transition. But I don't think there is any benefit to having you go now to learn. Most young *women* are extremely scared and uncomfortable about going to the gynecologist, let along young *men.*

There are some issues with the HPV vaccine. I believe it was one of the head researchers who came out with the information that it should not be given to anyone under the age of 18 because of the raised potential for very serious side effects (actually I did dig up one link on this: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/report-lead-researcher-for-hpv-vaccine-questions-its-safety/). Of course the drug companies make $$$ off of anything like this (and they also spend millions on just the marketing campaigns - and who are the campaigns targeted to most? Teens under 18 and parents.) It's also not a 100% prevention method ... so no, it won't prevent you from EVER contracting that. There are over 100 types of HPV out there, the vaccine does not protect against all of them.

If you're not sexually active and things are functioning normally there really is no medical reason to go in.

[ilanthefirst]

Regarding the HPV vaccine, it can be administered by a general practitioner if you and your mom and your doctor think it would be beneficial (and you haven't already gotten it due to local laws that can require it for middle/high school enrollment).  It doesn't have anything to do with seeing a gynecologist.

[Aegir]

I know it's really scary but you really should have it looked at. Whether it's defected or not, it's a part of your body, and if something bad happens there it can really (not allowed) your life up.

And I really need to take my own advice on this one.

[Sean]

There are some issues with the HPV vaccine. I believe it was one of the head researchers who came out with the information that it should not be given to anyone under the age of 18 because of the raised potential for very serious side effects (actually I did dig up one link on this: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/report-lead-researcher-for-hpv-vaccine-questions-its-safety/). Of course the drug companies make $$$ off of anything like this (and they also spend millions on just the marketing campaigns - and who are the campaigns targeted to most? Teens under 18 and parents.) It's also not a 100% prevention method ... so no, it won't prevent you from EVER contracting that. There are over 100 types of HPV out there, the vaccine does not protect against all of them.

The website you quoted includes dubious medical information, including continued promotion of the vaccine/autism link that has been disproved time and time again.

I'm not the biggest supporter of a drug-pushing big pharma culture, but I am inherently skeptical of information presenting by an organization that is promoting blatant scientific falsehoods.

I will look further into the claim about the HPV vaccine. As of now, I'm unaware of any legitimate medical organizations and practitioners who have come out against it.

[insideontheoutside]

The website you quoted includes dubious medical information, including continued promotion of the vaccine/autism link that has been disproved time and time again.

I'm not the biggest supporter of a drug-pushing big pharma culture, but I am inherently skeptical of information presenting by an organization that is promoting blatant scientific falsehoods.

I will look further into the claim about the HPV vaccine. As of now, I'm unaware of any legitimate medical organizations and practitioners who have come out against it.

When that story first broke I do believe it was the researcher cited that was cautionary about it. It wasn't until thousands of serious side effect reports were logged that the whole thing kind of got brushed under the rug and moved over to more "sensational" and one-sided sites. Meanwhile, the drug companies are naturally going to say it's safe. What you should do some research into are how drugs are put on to the market in the U.S. (the process, the timelines, and the marketing). They're now marketing the HPV vaccine to teenage boys. Great way to sell more vaccines.

I used to believe drug companies and the FDA had our best interests in mind, until one of my best friends got a job as a drug rep with Pfzier. THAT was an eye-opener to say the least. So yeah, I have a total different viewpoint on the claims and safety of some of these drugs.

[GnomeKid]

My mom is going to make me. >> Eventually (meaning probably in the next year or so.) She says I'm female and I have to go.

If you go on T they will generally eventually make you go do such things to make sure you haven't messed anything up with the T I guess....
my doctor that I get my T from [not therapist, I do not go to a therapist of any sort] prescribed me anxiety meds for such an occasion this summer.  It still didn't turn out too well, but the meds helped anyway.