I went to my intake session at my new Therapist's yesterday. I basically told her about myself and how I thought I had GID, and after going through a profile, she pretty much diagnosed me. But she hadn't really heard of a gay transman before, and she also told me that I couldn't get yet because of risks for cancer in my internal vagina part things. She also told me to stay off the internet, because there was a lot of biased information on there too.
I'm going back to see her in like 2 weeks. o.o
Edited for personal info.
That's BS about the cancer - sure, there MAY be a risk after prolonged HRT, but unless you've not Experienced puberty yet, that is a load. I do understand the wariness about the Internet bit, though - but I also think it can be a valuable research tool if you're cautious. Also online support is as close as a lot of guys will ever get to talking to another transperson.
She should do the readings .... the University of Minnesota does lots of research .... they start kids on hormone blockers at 12 and hormones at 16 ... there are a lot of kids in my community on hormone blockers and hormones. I also worked in a group home in California who had trans youth and we had them on hormones.
What she says doesn't add up....she's never heard of a gay transman and she said you couldn't start T yet? Like Robert said there are young children who do take the hormone blocker and teens who are on hormomes (I'm so jealous) . There may be some biases on the internet but there can be a lot of truths too. It's not like most libraries will have the information you need. I would tell to look up a gay transman online but she would probably think it's just a biased too.
Edited--Bradd's personal info.
Huh. My therapist told me it was a shame I didn't find her earlier, or she would have recommended me to start hormones in my teens. She also laughed when I told her about my confusing teen years with the whole being trans and liking guys. Has she been a gender therapist long? Seems like something that she would have already known about.
Yeah, that sounds a little odd. I don't understand why your cancer risk would be any lower if you waited.
Edited for Bradd's personal info.
She also said that I shouldn't be binding or packing at my age, and that I would have to want bottom surgery. I dunno, she sounds kind of scetchy to me, but she is the only actual gender therapist in the area.
Wow............
Not all transmen want bottom surgery. Many are perfectly fine with what they have prefer not to have to go under the knife. I don't see anything wrong with binding (except for the health concerns) and packing at your age.
Honestly I would suggest to find another therapist....you shouldn't have to educate your therapist. You can always find a therapist who will do your sessions completely online via Skype. I would look into it.
Quote from: Bradd on January 20, 2012, 06:59:12 PMShe also said that I shouldn't be binding or packing at my age, and that I would have to want bottom surgery. I dunno, she sounds kind of scetchy to me, but she is the only actual gender therapist in the area.
When I was researching trans stuff back in the mid-nineties, I was encountering all sorts of literature with the kinds of biases you're talking about. You couldn't transition if you were molested. You couldn't transition if you didn't want bottom surgery. You couldn't transition if you were into men because there was no such thing as a gay trans man.
I didn't know it at the time, but this info was
already becoming outdated. And that was nearly twenty years ago. Sounds like your therapist doesn't keep up with the times. You might ask her why you have to want bottom surgery and whether she has an actual problem with your being gay.
I'm gay, and a rather large percentage of the guys on Susan's are gay. And I have at least two close friends who have no intention of getting bottom surgery. I haven't done a poll lately.
P.S. Folks, please be careful with personal info. PM me if you're not sure what I'm talking about.