Sex Affirmation Treatment
The medical protocol accepted and applied in Australia for the treatment of adolescents with transsexualism is the internationally accepted and adopted treatment guidelines of The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) called Standards of Care for Gender Identity Disorders which reflects the protocol established by the Dutch clinicians, Professor Doctors P.T. Cohen-Kettenis and H. Delemarre-van de Waal at the VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Noted proponents of this treatment protocol are Dr Norman Spack and Professor Milton Diamond of the United States of America as well as Australian experts such as Professors Louise Newman and Garry Warne.
The treatment consists of a first diagnostic phase or stage of treatment, commencing in early puberty at approximately Tanner Stage 2 of physical puberty, during which physical puberty is postponed using hormonal medication called GnRH agonists with supporting counselling and ongoing observation ("Phase One Treatment"). A second phase or stage of treatment, commencing after the ultimate diagnosis is completed at about mid adolescence (or by about 16 years of age) during which period Phase 1 Treatment (including psychological support) is continued and other hormonal medication is administered for the purpose of inducing the development of age appropriate secondary sexual characteristics consistent with the treated adolescent's affirmed sex ("Phase 2 Treatment"); collectively ("medical treatment for adolescent transsexualism").
In adulthood, the young person will be free to proceed with surgery to construct genitalia whose appearance and function (to the extent medical science permits) is in accord with their affirmed sex.
This internationally accepted treatment protocol for transsexualism has been overwhelming successful - with a negligible mistake or regret rate - considerably less that considered acceptable for most medical treatments.
If a child does experience the condition of transsexualism, then the affects of untreated puberty - including experiencing the further alienating sexual development of young person's body that is utterly at odds with the young person's affirmed innate sex - will be utterly devastating and will critically degrade the rest of the young person's life.
In these circumstances, the administration of Phase 1 Treatment (including the GnRH agonists as a well as psychosocial support for the experience of difference and ongoing assessment) is the most humane and conservative approach to adopt in the treatment of young ones who experience transsexualism.
http://www.truecolours.org.au/index.htmlI have placed this post here, if admin or mods so wish, move to appropiate section, Thanks - D
