Ok...so...wifey dear Cynthia Lee has been trying to convince me to post this here. Tricky thing about that...that requires me to TALK about my overies with someone other than her. *hem* (waves "hi honey!!")

So...before I ever started T my cycle was...like...not. I'd been diagnosed with PCOS and shrugged off by my OB. (who...didn't do much testing...just heard I wasn't cycling and applied the label. So...whatever.) I mention that because I wasn't too shocked when I started T seven months ago and my cycle hasn't been seen nor heard of since before I started T.

So there's the back story. Seven months on T, no period. Now...suddenly...my overies hurt. On and off they'll cramp, feel sensative...and then it goes away. It actually hurt bad enough last night to wake me up.

Does T have any effects on the overies that I should be concerned with? I want to make sure that my whole body is healthy....of course. So I am not against getting a pap (though who the helll WANTS one?!) I'm up to date on all my medical stuff...I'm just wondering why they'd start cramping now. Can the body THINK it's cycling without actually doing the physical bleeding and whatnot. I mean...with all the T in my system I doubt I've got much lining to shed. I shouldn't have much estrogen either. Not last I checked.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance guys.

If your previous doc shrugged you off after diagnosing PCOS that's a really crap doctor (also if they made that diagnosis after just hearing your symptoms and not doing an ultrasound or any other tests). If you're having any pain or anything else go to a different doc. PCOS can potentially have some serious side effects in and of itself. Not sure what T's effect on it could do.

T DOES effect ovaries. Idk how, so im not much help, but I do know that T does something to them. My Endo made a really strong point to definitely look into getting a hysto+ as soon as I could because T causes complications or something. I didnt really listen to much to him but I do know he said it will effect them.

I had problems with one of the ovaries hurting (sharp pinching feeling) when I had a large cyst on it.  They did an ultrasound, that's how the cyst was found; that's also how they found out the lining of my uterus was really thick, I was having the same problem you were before T.  The doctor thinks I need to get a D&C done (the progesterone pills didn't help) to get rid of the lining; I just want a hysterectomy.

T does affect the ovaries and has been responsible for cases of ovarian cancer in transmen. An oophorectomy is usually advised for us to prevent that.

Don't hang around hoping it will just go away, get it checked out.



As an aside here, not aimed at  phx_rising or anyone else in particular, doing the classic (and if this causes offence I can live with it) fairly common trans bull->-bleeped-<- of "oh I just can't bear to be touched/examined/whatever down there because it acknowledges I was born with female parts." makes people idiots and it doesn't prove a damn thing. Our lives are more important than that fakey "look, this proves I'm trans because I don't like my bits" meme. If there's something wrong with it, get it looked at.

Quote from: JohnR on September 21, 2010, 02:54:02 AM
As an aside here, not aimed at  phx_rising or anyone else in particular, doing the classic (and if this causes offence I can live with it) fairly common trans bull->-bleeped-<- of "oh I just can't bear to be touched/examined/whatever down there because it acknowledges I was born with female parts." makes people idiots and it doesn't prove a damn thing. Our lives are more important than that fakey "look, this proves I'm trans because I don't like my bits" meme. If there's something wrong with it, get it looked at.

Well said, Its better to be uncomfortable for a couple minutes then regret it the rest of your life.

Quote from: JohnR on September 21, 2010, 02:54:02 AM
T does affect the ovaries and has been responsible for cases of ovarian cancer in transmen. An oophorectomy is usually advised for us to prevent that.

Don't hang around hoping it will just go away, get it checked out.



As an aside here, not aimed at  phx_rising or anyone else in particular, doing the classic (and if this causes offence I can live with it) fairly common trans bull->-bleeped-<- of "oh I just can't bear to be touched/examined/whatever down there because it acknowledges I was born with female parts." makes people idiots and it doesn't prove a damn thing. Our lives are more important than that fakey "look, this proves I'm trans because I don't like my bits" meme. If there's something wrong with it, get it looked at.

I know you have a vaild point but there are many of us who crumble into tears to have some one look at or touch our genitals.

Quote from: JohnR on September 21, 2010, 02:54:02 AM
T does affect the ovaries and has been responsible for cases of ovarian cancer in transmen. An oophorectomy is usually advised for us to prevent that.

Don't hang around hoping it will just go away, get it checked out.



As an aside here, not aimed at  phx_rising or anyone else in particular, doing the classic (and if this causes offence I can live with it) fairly common trans bull->-bleeped-<- of "oh I just can't bear to be touched/examined/whatever down there because it acknowledges I was born with female parts." makes people idiots and it doesn't prove a damn thing. Our lives are more important than that fakey "look, this proves I'm trans because I don't like my bits" meme. If there's something wrong with it, get it looked at.

This isn't helpful. Dismissing people's concerns doesn't make them go away.

(in my case my issues with doctors likely have more to do with social anxiety and excessive touch/pain sensitivity than with genital dysphoria, since I have just as much trouble going to the dentist as the gynecologist. But I think there are people with serious dysphoria-related issues with OBGYNs, and telling them to "stop faking" isn't helpful.)

Quote from: kyril on September 21, 2010, 09:21:22 AM
This isn't helpful. Dismissing people's concerns doesn't make them go away.

(in my case my issues with doctors likely have more to do with social anxiety and excessive touch/pain sensitivity than with genital dysphoria, since I have just as much trouble going to the dentist as the gynecologist. But I think there are people with serious dysphoria-related issues with OBGYNs, and telling them to "stop faking" isn't helpful.)

Then don't go. Of course it is unhelpful to tell people to get checked out if there is something wrong    There comes a point where indulging all the dysphoric crap has to be overcome and practicality takes over.

Don't tell me either that I dismissed people's concerns, I didn't. You choose to read it however you want. What's better, cooing over people and telling them "there there, don't force yourself to go if it makes you feel bad" or encouraging them to be realistic?

Gynaecological cancers kill. Better a live transman who managed to grow a metaphorical set than a dead one who couldn't bear to be touched.

Quote from: cynthialee on September 21, 2010, 09:04:22 AM
I know you have a vaild point but there are many of us who crumble into tears to have some one look at or touch our genitals.

I don't enjoy it either but my desire to live is stronger.

Quote from: JohnR on September 21, 2010, 09:30:55 AM
Then don't go. Of course it is unhelpful to tell people to get checked out if there is something wrong    There comes a point where indulging all the dysphoric crap has to be overcome and practicality takes over.

Don't tell me either that I dismissed people's concerns, I didn't. You choose to read it however you want. What's better, cooing over people and telling them "there there, don't force yourself to go if it makes you feel bad" or encouraging them to be realistic?

Gynaecological cancers kill. Better a live transman who managed to grow a metaphorical set than a dead one who couldn't bear to be touched.

You absolutely did dismiss people's concerns:

Quotefairly common trans bull->-bleeped-<-

Quotethat fakey...meme

If "bull->-bleeped-<-" and "fakey" aren't dismissive, I don't know what is.

I fundamentally agree that we do need to suck it up and see doctors when necessary. But your approach is unhelpful and counterproductive. There are helpful and productive ways to give the same advice - ways that acknowledge people's concerns as valid and give concrete suggestions for how to deal with or minimize them. I'm sure you're bright enough to come up with some. if, that is, you actually care about people's health and not just about making yourself feel liek a bigger man by belittling people.

Quote from: kyril on September 21, 2010, 09:21:22 AM
This isn't helpful. Dismissing people's concerns doesn't make them go away.

(in my case my issues with doctors likely have more to do with social anxiety and excessive touch/pain sensitivity than with genital dysphoria, since I have just as much trouble going to the dentist as the gynecologist. But I think there are people with serious dysphoria-related issues with OBGYNs, and telling them to "stop faking" isn't helpful.)

I think what he meant by saying that, is we are uncomfortable obviously with going to see a OBGYN, which i believe you would agree. But it is also more important to get yourself checked then to leave it alone. He may have sounded a insensitive and a little extreme, but what he said about getting check is still valid. Your fears and concerns are very real, but your health is more important.

Quote from: kyril on September 21, 2010, 09:54:44 AM
You absolutely did dismiss people's concerns:If "bull->-bleeped-<-" and "fakey" aren't dismissive, I don't know what is.

I fundamentally agree that we do need to suck it up and see doctors when necessary. But your approach is unhelpful and counterproductive. There are helpful and productive ways to give the same advice - ways that acknowledge people's concerns as valid and give concrete suggestions for how to deal with or minimize them. I'm sure you're bright enough to come up with some. if, that is, you actually care about people's health and not just about making yourself feel liek a bigger man by belittling people.

+100

Quote from: kyril on September 21, 2010, 09:54:44 AM
You absolutely did dismiss people's concerns:If "bull->-bleeped-<-" and "fakey" aren't dismissive, I don't know what is.

I fundamentally agree that we do need to suck it up and see doctors when necessary. But your approach is unhelpful and counterproductive. There are helpful and productive ways to give the same advice - ways that acknowledge people's concerns as valid and give concrete suggestions for how to deal with or minimize them. I'm sure you're bright enough to come up with some. if, that is, you actually care about people's health and not just about making yourself feel liek a bigger man by belittling people.

I'm not really sure why there was the need for that but I'm more than willing to explain myself.

Very few of us would actually enjoy getting our genitals, ovaries, prostates, wombs checked out, whether we are mtf or ftm.

I have no doubt that some people suffer horribly having to allow themselves to be examined, just as some people have a crippling fear of needles and some pass out at the sight of blood.

I did not say that everyone who has that level of fear is jumping on the meme wagon. That is your interpretation.

You've been around long enough to see how some of the younger kids are on message boards (please note some not all). A lot of the trouble lies with the way the system works, with us having to convince the medical community that we really are trans. I've chatted to some youngsters who admit they over exaggerate their natural reluctance to be examined because they think it makes them sound more convincing to doctors.

I really am sorry Kyril that you have chosen to see my comment as some sort of personal dig at you, it wasn't.  It wasn't meant as a dig against anyone, just trying to get over to some people that their lives and health are worth a damn sight more than proving any point that they are trans.

One thing I have seen over the last week is that I don't fit in here at Susan's. This isn't a swan off into the night post but I know that I'm not prepared to be accused constantly because I'm not a member of the nurturing group.

We all need to calm down a bit.

Getting your genitals examined is uncomfortable for everyone, Gender Identity issues or not.  Sometimes, just like anyone, we have to break down and be honest with our doctor and let them do their job.

Doesn't mean we have to like it, just survive it.

Sarah L.

I already have an appt with my GP tomorrow (Wed 9-22) and I do plan on bringing this issue up. Not looking forward to it...as my GP has gotten kinda weird about gyn issues since coming out as trans. *sigh* And before you suggest a different GP...no can do. He's the only guy in my area that deals with another health issue I have. Thankfully he does have another dr who often comes with him on rounds who ISN'T as put off by my identity and my genitals.

I know my dr's gotten weird about it because I was concerned about a potential vag infection and instead of actually checking...he just gave me an antibiotic that would cover bladder infection or vag infection. Nice. On the one hand...I was releived to not have to undress and whatnot...but I was a little  about why he wouldn't just check.

Hmmmm crap. Bottom surgery wasn't on my "to do list" at all....may become necisarry. Guess it's worth looking into...for sure. Thanks for the advice guys.

My T was holding relatively steady around 800s but shot up to 1026...and I'm not doing anything crazy or special...I'm just applying daily dose of testim gel as perscribed! That's what this appt was originally planned for. To discuss what's going on with my T levels.

A D&C to clear out excess lining? Wow. Frightening....here's hoping that's not required for my situation.....

Quote from: Kvall on September 20, 2010, 11:18:08 PM
Well, it could be a lot of things, but I wanted to respond to this part to note that if you are still ovulating, T will cause the lining of the uterus to build up in much the same way as estrogen does. Progesterone causes it to shed, and you are unlikely to have much of that hormone. Thus it could be building up without you knowing it because it's not shedding. (This may be oversimplified, but it's the explanation my doc gave.) It's possible that your T dose hasn't been high enough to shut off your ovaries (or is too high and is aromatizing, etc. etc., lots of possibilities). Or it could be a completely different problem. Get it checked out by your doctor. As much as we'd like to, we can't help you much over the internet.

So since T shuts off our ovaries it's not too unhealthy that we're not having periods, right? Or is the lining of the uterus still building up?

@phx_rising - is there any way you can go to a gyn and still go to this guy for the other health issue? Seriously if he's prescribing stuff without even checking you out or running tests then he's a hack in that department. There are so freakin many gyn issues too that sometimes the first diagnosis isn't even right. It's a really complex system, ruled by hormones and if you're taking additional hormones of course it's going to effect it in certain ways. I'd find a way to see someone else and maybe try to find someone who's even dealt with trans issues and knows what effects extra hormones can cause. Anyway, I hope your appointment works out well.

Also, I didn't take what @JohnR said to be super un-supportive. Plenty of guys say stuff like that to get other guys to actually get their butts to the doctor. Hell my friend the other day said something like, "stop with the bull->-bleeped-<- man - you know when you're 40 you have to go get a prostate check. If you don't you're an f---ing idiot" Of course they're both bio guys, but you know what I'm saying? Guys do that sort of ->-bleeped-<- all the time. Now I'm not saying that anyone with nurturing emotions is not "male enough" or anything of the sort. I'm just saying that's how conversations go down sometimes. Personally, I can go either way. If I have a friend that I know well then I might say something like that. If I don't know them that well, then I say something that can't be construed as something else. Either way, getting into a debate about that isn't helping the thread or @phx_rising I just wanted to point that out.

We all have to deal with health issues and it is important to do so early on. If things are caught early it's always better. And as people have already said in here, no one (well maybe unless you have a weird fetish!) likes to go to the doctor and be "exposed". It's just something we all need to do to stay as healthy as possible. Ignoring problems is something so many guys do (trans and bio). Hell there's whole marketing campaigns targeted just to men to get them to go to the doctor about stuff!

Quote from: Kvall on September 22, 2010, 01:20:24 AM
T is supposed to shut off the ovaries, but doesn't always do this as faithfully as we might hope. For the second part I'm not a doctor so I'm not totally sure, but I don't think it builds up as long as ovulation is not occurring. I think you would have spotting if it built up long enough without shedding.

I just found this:

"If a trans man chooses not to have a hysto/oopho procedure, he should continue to have regular Pap smears (to screen for cervical cancer) and should seek out the care of a doctor if he experiences any irregular vaginal bleeding (including spotting), cramping, or pain. It is not uncommon for trans men who are pre-hysterectomy to experience a buildup of endometrial tissue, especially during the first few years of testosterone therapy. Endometrial tissue is normally shed during menstruation, but since this process is usually stopped a few months into testosterone therapy, additional tissue may continue to build up and may eventually begin to shed in the form of spotting. Because irregular bleeding can be a sign of cancer (though this is often not the case), trans men who experience any bleeding/spotting should see a doctor who will perform tests to determine the cause of the spotting. These tests may include an endometrial biopsy and/or an ultrasound. The doctor may advise a short course of progesterone to cause the uterus to shed the excess endometrial tissue-- this is much like inducing a period. While this may be unpleasant, it should be understood as a preventative measure, since the unusual buildup of endometrial tissue has been linked to endometrial cancer."

I've been on T for 5.5 months and I've just started worrying about my uterus. I'm not feeling pain but thought of my uterus lining building up makes me want to vomit. I know there are some trans guys who've been on T for years and haven't had a hysto and I'd be curious to know their experience.

Quote from: phx_rising on September 21, 2010, 06:04:57 PM
I already have an appt with my GP tomorrow (Wed 9-22) and I do plan on bringing this issue up. Not looking forward to it...as my GP has gotten kinda weird about gyn issues since coming out as trans. *sigh* And before you suggest a different GP...no can do. He's the only guy in my area that deals with another health issue I have. Thankfully he does have another dr who often comes with him on rounds who ISN'T as put off by my identity and my genitals.

I know my dr's gotten weird about it because I was concerned about a potential vag infection and instead of actually checking...he just gave me an antibiotic that would cover bladder infection or vag infection. Nice. On the one hand...I was releived to not have to undress and whatnot...but I was a little  about why he wouldn't just check.

Hmmmm crap. Bottom surgery wasn't on my "to do list" at all....may become necisarry. Guess it's worth looking into...for sure. Thanks for the advice guys.

My T was holding relatively steady around 800s but shot up to 1026...and I'm not doing anything crazy or special...I'm just applying daily dose of testim gel as perscribed! That's what this appt was originally planned for. To discuss what's going on with my T levels.

A D&C to clear out excess lining? Wow. Frightening....here's hoping that's not required for my situation.....

good luck. it will be over fast.