Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Topic started by: Sad Girl on January 14, 2012, 07:45:25 AM

Title: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Sad Girl on January 14, 2012, 07:45:25 AM
I'm just wondering, having chosen to make your body function in a 'reverse way' assigned by nature, will it bring some backlash by the end? Cos it's like you're going against nature.

Undergoing MAJOR ALTERATIONS as SRS, other stuffs as HRT which are generally irreversible after months and even makes you sterile and your body doesn't generate hormones normally as it should once you suddenly decided to detransition after a long time, will this threaten your lifespan?

Breast or FFS I don't think it might affect, however I'm curious what about HRT & SRS, will this in any ways diminish your lifespan generally? Do trans generally do not live long? I never saw a trans woman of 80-90 years old.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: annette on January 14, 2012, 08:13:22 AM
Quote from: Happy Girl on January 14, 2012, 07:45:25 AM
Do trans generally do not live long? I never saw a trans woman of 80-90 years old.

I don't think that's very strange.
The first operations ( when surgeons knew what they are doing ) took place in the sixties (Cassablanca Morroco, dr Burou)
You are talking about people from the twenties and thirties.
Well, I'm 58 and usings hormones for about 33 years, srs 28 years ago, still healthy and functionally and hoping to have the same fun in life for the next 58 years.

Annette
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Beth Andrea on January 14, 2012, 08:46:00 AM
QuoteI never saw a trans woman of 80-90 years old.

There aren't that many trans people around to begin with even today, and back then, there were even fewer who went that route. But, no one would know, because "stealth" was the rule, not the exception.

Without having any evidence, I'd say that yes, we probably do have a shorter lifespan...but remember, the "average" (in the US, for white people) is in the mid-70's, not 80-90 years old.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: madwoman_in_the_attic on January 14, 2012, 09:53:13 AM
Also anecdotal, but I belong to a trans-friendly church in which there are MANY trans people in their 70s (probably more who are stealth, but I'm referring to people who are open with me about their past) who are healthy and happy.

Being connected to social networks - doing stuff in the community (political, religious, social, sports) - helps people live longer and more healthy lives, as does having a pet. Let's try to use that stuff in our favour ...

My trans woman partner finds church unbearably creepy (translation: if God is all-powerful why do so many of us get the wrong bodies for our brains/souls? - she has a point there) but she does have a pet and she plays a sport. And regardless of what data comes in she says she'd rather live a shorter life as her authentic self.

(Not to mention that she had come to the point where if she couldn't be authentic the only other option was suicide, which is SUPER life shortening. I'm grateful to the awesome list of suicide hotline resources here, and Susan's own thoughts: https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,306.msg1380.html#msg1380 (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,306.msg1380.html#msg1380) )

Maddie (SO)
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Bishounen on January 14, 2012, 10:12:26 AM
If anything, Post-ops rather live longer, if approaching the topic strictly from a biological point of view and ruling out any Psychological state, as the Metabolism in a Post-op is lowered, which is also the reason that females statistically speaking lives for a few years longer than males.

It is also a fact, that castrated bio-males lives longer than both females and males, probably because they have lower Metabolism than both of them, and also avoids some age-deseases as a result of the Castraton.

However, Castrated males also run a greater risk to develop some other conditions, such as Osteoporosis, for example.

Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Sad Girl on January 14, 2012, 11:19:53 AM
Quote from: annette on January 14, 2012, 08:13:22 AM
I don't think that's very strange.
The first operations ( when surgeons knew what they are doing ) took place in the sixties (Cassablanca Morroco, dr Burou)
You are talking about people from the twenties and thirties.
Well, I'm 58 and usings hormones for about 33 years, srs 28 years ago, still healthy and functionally and hoping to have the same fun in life for the next 58 years.

Annette

Oh thanks God, you give me hope!  :laugh:
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: KillBelle on January 14, 2012, 12:54:06 PM
I am 24 and post op..it terrifies me that i won't be able to live my life completely and fully before i die. The worst thought is that i can never go back even if i want to, that i will be living off of Premarin for the rest of my life, the thought is just sad and depressing. So yes if it has to end early, i hope i have lived a complete life.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Bishounen on January 14, 2012, 01:00:35 PM
Quote from: KillBelle on January 14, 2012, 12:54:06 PM
I am 24 and post op..it terrifies me that i won't be able to live my life completely and fully before i die. The worst thought is that i can never go back even if i want to, that i will be living off of Premarin for the rest of my life, the thought is just sad and depressing. So yes if it has to end early, i hope i have lived a complete life.

Ofcourse you are able to go back if you would really want to, even as a Post-op, however, from what I have learned about you from your posts, being a woman is what is right for you, so don't despair. :)

Everyone, or atleast most, probably have some type of shortcomming in their life or some tragedy in their backpack, and yet life goes on and can yet be fullfilling and full of wonder.:)
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Anatta on January 14, 2012, 01:25:15 PM
Kia Ora

::) It's not so much about the quantity[how long one will live]-it's about the quality[how one chooses to live it]! One can spend time 'worrying' about the future or one can enjoy where they are right 'NOW'=Enjoy the present moment !

Metta Zenda :)   
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Sad Girl on January 14, 2012, 02:18:19 PM
Quote from: KillBelle on January 14, 2012, 12:54:06 PM
I am 24 and post op..it terrifies me that i won't be able to live my life completely and fully before i die. The worst thought is that i can never go back even if i want to, that i will be living off of Premarin for the rest of my life, the thought is just sad and depressing. So yes if it has to end early, i hope i have lived a complete life.

Sweetie you can't continue using Premarin crossing your 30's. It's TOO dangerous for the LIVER and POWERFUL for post-ops. It's good only for PRE-OPS, that too for young ones. After your 30's you need to shift to Injections or Patches. Even now you can shift to Estradiol Valerate which is SAFER and MILDER over the liver. Talk to your endo about this.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: LifeInNeon on January 14, 2012, 03:42:49 PM
There's one in my local support group who is well into her 80's.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Kreuzfidel on January 14, 2012, 07:53:56 PM
I am not aware of extensive studies which focus on post-op/long-term HRT patients and their respective life expectancies.  Many of the clinical essays I've read concerning HRT (testosterone supplementation) state that the effects of long-term usage are mostly unknown - I would assume that the same is true for oestrogen supplementation HRT.  I have read that, for FTMs, there is a suggested life-span reduction of around 6 years, but that is more likely due to lifestyle, diet and other medical conditions which can be linked to the effects of androgens such as cardiovascular disease.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Kelly J. P. on January 15, 2012, 12:26:14 AM
 A decreased life-span doesn't matter. I doubt that this is true; we probably live as long as anyone else, that is, but even if we didn't, living a shorter life and transitioning is better than a longer one without. No contest, really...

Being reliant on manufactured goods is a bit of a problem, though - or it would be when the zombie apocalypse comes.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: madwoman_in_the_attic on January 15, 2012, 01:41:37 AM
Hello Kelly J.P. - Just wanted to say that I too worry about the zombie apocalypse.

That's one reason I am supporting moving my partner's surgery up to THIS year. Before the lights get turned out in all the hospitals, let's get this DONE.

Hugs from

Maddie (well my name IS "madwoman")
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: A on January 15, 2012, 09:51:18 AM
If anything, HRT might slightly reduce life span... Theoretically, there's slightly more strain on the liver, so it should have more chances of failing before other people's.

Apart from that, since HRT has some rare but life-threatening side effects in some cases, like any potentially risky treatment, it probably reduces life span out of probability.

However, unless you factor in the extremely low risk of dying of anesthesia reaction/bleeding/infection because of a failed SRS, there is absolutely no way that a post-op can be at more of a risk than a pre-op.

And in any case, I really doubt the life span is ever reduced by any truly significant amount.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Amazon D on January 15, 2012, 10:43:42 AM
I had FFS so for me i gave up HRT after 2 yrs post op that was 12 yrs ago.. my Dr she says i am healthy
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: A on January 15, 2012, 11:32:53 PM
Without either male or female hormones in your body, health problems are likely to show up with time.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Bishounen on January 16, 2012, 09:18:58 AM
Quote from: Amazon D on January 15, 2012, 10:43:42 AM
I had FFS so for me i gave up HRT after 2 yrs post op that was 12 yrs ago.. my Dr she says i am healthy

You are not alone in going that route of transition. Many transitioners, especially in Thailand, just stuff Silicone in the breasts and have SRS and then are happy without any HRT whatsoever.

However, just as A said, this comes with overhanging risks for developing some bad health conditions, such as Osteoporosis, being perhaps the foremost of those risks.

On the other hand, studies of Eunuchs in Modern times that did not take any HRT of either kind, was noted to statistically live longer than both Cis-males and Cis-females with a naural Hormone production.
So ironically, being a castrated Bio-male and not taking any Hormonal replacement at all, comes with as big risks as benefits.


In either case, it would be good if you do a regular check-up on your Skeletal status, now and then.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: KillBelle on January 17, 2012, 12:08:18 PM
If you stop HRT post-op...won't it bring back male features? If I am correct...your body still produces testosterone through the adrenal glands...
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Bishounen on January 17, 2012, 12:41:56 PM
Quote from: KillBelle on January 17, 2012, 12:08:18 PM
If you stop HRT post-op...won't it bring back male features? If I am correct...your body still produces testosterone through the adrenal glands...
Not if you have removed you Testes, no. The Production from the Adrenal Glands are very small and not enough to masculinize the body.
In fact, it even feminize the body further in a biological male, despite the production from the Adrenal Glands and even if no Estrogen is even taken.

Features such as breasts and some curves, may, however, loose some fat, but the body itself will never masculinize again.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Steffi on January 17, 2012, 12:53:34 PM
"DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?"

- only if they lie to a straight guy about their status   ;)
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: KillBelle on January 18, 2012, 11:50:40 AM
thank you for the clarification bisho
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: King Malachite on February 15, 2012, 05:05:58 AM
I can't speak for everyone but I personally think that the life span is dependant on various factors just as any cisperson.  Not to mention for post-ops I would imagine some of the dysphoria stress would go away making them a bit more healthy or even the cases where for some people transitioning is a life or death situation. 

Who do you think will have the longer life span?  A post-op trans who exercises and eats well and take care of their bodies or a biological cisperson who is always at high stress, morbidly obese, constantly smokes, drinks, and do drugs etc. on a daily basis?
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: spacial on February 15, 2012, 07:41:18 AM
Quote from: Happy Girl on January 14, 2012, 07:45:25 AM
I never saw a trans woman of 80-90 years old.

Perhaps because you've never met one who told you. It isn't really any of your concern, after all.

I've worked in Nursing homes for the elderly. I can't recall if any were that old. Not common to be honest, but that's to be expected, given our situation isn't either.

One I recall who needed assistance from nurses with dilation. I never did it. it was always a female. I do remember, there was no fuss what-so-ever.

Though if you have the opportunity, would you really want to live till 90 like this?

If it wasn't for my wife, I'd have gone long ago.

(A pre- everything)
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Bishounen on February 15, 2012, 10:31:21 AM
While not a Post-op, the famed Virginia Prince lived to the age of 96.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.advocate.com%2FuploadedImages%2Fadvocate%2Feditorial%2Fadvocate_daily_news%2Fprincex390.jpg&hash=84bb02b62bf1d5bff400a72e6bfc59938da5eb5a)
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Kitty_Babe on February 26, 2012, 11:30:37 AM
meh I think surely this is an old myth to be honest. I fully expect many of you will live into your 70s :) I have heard this long ago about having shorter life spans, all I can say to that is "rubbish" I really think it depends on your life styles, and how well you eat, and look after your body in general.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Shantel on February 26, 2012, 12:24:21 PM
Oh please! I'll be a very youngish looking and fit seventy next year and though I know I could get run over by a truck en-route to my mailbox tomorrow I come from a pretty good gene pool on both sides of the family. Everyone lived into their 100's except my dad and his brother who were both in their mid-nineties, probably because they both drank and smoked and my mom was the youngest at 89, she never exercised a day in her life and liked to eat.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Gretchen on February 26, 2012, 12:42:36 PM
I'm not sure about the surgeries and the hrt causing a shorter life span for myself. I do know all the drug abuse, alcohol abuse, cigerrettes, and the hurling my body into solid objects were in no way helping to live any longer oh and lets not forget that bucket of red meat that I used to eat every week. Well come to think of it the only way I got out of all that abusive behavior was to start hrt and have surgery. So in conlcusion I will live longer because of hrt and srs.
Title: Re: DO TRANS(SPECIALLY POST-OP) HAVE LESSER LIFE SPAN?
Post by: Shantel on February 26, 2012, 08:31:00 PM
Quote from: Gretchen on February 26, 2012, 12:42:36 PM
I'm not sure about the surgeries and the hrt causing a shorter life span for myself. I do know all the drug abuse, alcohol abuse, cigerrettes, and the hurling my body into solid objects were in no way helping to live any longer oh and lets not forget that bucket of red meat that I used to eat every week. Well come to think of it the only way I got out of all that abusive behavior was to start hrt and have surgery. So in conlcusion I will live longer because of hrt and srs.
Sounds like you are on a much more positive track, it can only benefit you in the long run in keeping with the saying below!