Treating transsexual kids: wait for, then delay puberty to treat
September 17, 2009 | 1:33 pm
-- Melissa Healy
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/09/transsexual-kids-wait-for-then-delay-puberty-to-treat.html (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/09/transsexual-kids-wait-for-then-delay-puberty-to-treat.html)
The nation's oldest and largest organization of endocrinologists has recommended that physicians treating children with gender identity disorder intervene to delay puberty at its first signs and wait until a child is at least 16 before offering hormonal therapy that would begin his or her gender transition.
In a new clinical practice guideline unveiled today, the Endocrine Society tackled some of the most ethically sensitive decisions endocrinologists face in the treatment of those who are born of one gender, but identify themselves strongly with the opposite gender. Indeed, the society urges that its physicians rely on a mental health professional to render a diagnosis of transsexualism, which is termed gender identity disorder in the psychiatric profession's current diagnostic manual.
Treating transsexual kids: wait for, then delay puberty to treat
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/09/transsexual-kids-wait-for-then-delay-puberty-to-treat.html (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/09/transsexual-kids-wait-for-then-delay-puberty-to-treat.html)
9/17/09
The nation's oldest and largest organization of endocrinologists has recommended that physicians treating children with gender identity disorder intervene to delay puberty at its first signs and wait until a child is at least 16 before offering hormonal therapy that would begin his or her gender transition.
In a new clinical practice guideline unveiled today, the Endocrine Society tackled some of the most ethically sensitive decisions endocrinologists face in the treatment of those who are born of one gender, but identify themselves strongly with the opposite gender. Indeed, the society urges that its physicians rely on a mental health professional to render a diagnosis of transsexualism, which is termed gender identity disorder in the psychiatric profession's current diagnostic manual.
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also: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090918/ARTICLE/909181041/-1/NEWSSITEMAP (http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090918/ARTICLE/909181041/-1/NEWSSITEMAP)
Well, it's still a 'disorder', you still need a mental health professional to be "certain" and we're still "confused". And it was listed in a section of the LA Times that is described as "ODDITIES, MUSINGS AND NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF HEALTH". I hope they didn't see this an an oddity. But we are making some strides. And it seems people are beginning to listen.
The transgender community has advocated for changes in the psychiatry's approach to the diagnosis of gender identity disorder, which is now being revisited in drafting sessions for the profession's diagnostic manual. Among the transgender community's concerns: that current definitions of Gender Identity Disorder lump the diagnosis under "paraphilias," contribute to stigmatization, and fail to support the goals of gender transition and access to surgical and hormonal therapies in treatment of GID.