I would be very interested to hear what young transgender folk are experiencing in terms of Endocrinology. For the people in my generation and almost as old, some of us experience almost no breast growth, even post SRS. For me, breast growth has been rather generous, and I suspect that is due to variations in genetics ???
I just read a story about a young woman in Austrailia who has persuaded the authorities that only she and her Doctor need to be involved in her life and not the Judge.
It is my impression that mostly MtF girls, who are not yet pubescent get no hormone blockers until they do start puberty, and then no Estrogen until around 16 or so. In my own mind, I think this needs to change, because I knew when I was about 5, and I have a young nephew that appears to have "manifested" also. I hear people that know nothing about this say that nothing should be done until 18 or 20 years old and to me that is far too old.
Thoughts?
Comments
Possible problem in dosing too young...
I watch the TLC program I AM JAZZ. This season she's been seeing doctors about confirmation surgery. She started blockers before puberty and I believe hormones about 14? Her problem is her male bits did not grow and are too small to use for SRS. This is a very real issue.
Boys will be girls... if they're lucky!
Jennifer Sue
Intersex Issues?
I've watched Jazz and she seems utterly feminine. I've heard of sections of intestines being used to construct a neo Vagina, but do not know of the follow through conversation. I just wish that there was a way to hold the history of a T person almost completely confidential, but it just never seems to work.
I'm also wondering if there is a way to influence the blood chemistry of a pre-pubescent patient, of course assuming that it could be proven that she actually does know her own mind.
For me, I strongly believe that the close support of family is very important.
PUBERTY BLOCKERS BEFORE
puberty are not needed, not is HRT, all children develop at the same schedule basically, and until puberty, there is little need, other than treating GD.
as to those like Jazz with lack of tissue, there is a method using colon tissue, but there are a few unpleasant effects, at least for a period. there is a new procedure, i read about before seeing it on her show, that uses peretinial tissue, the skin of the "bag" that surrounds the pile of organs in our abdomen. advantages are that it regenerates faster than just about any tissue in the body, it creates a "secretion" that will act as a lubricant, and none of the "issues" of using colon tissue with has the same benefit of lubrication. the only external tissue needed for this is scrotal, and of course the penal tip for creation of a functioning clitoris. penal shaft etc have NO issue with this procedure, solving the issue of "micro penis" that Jazz has. and likely most other early blocked children will have
this procedure and the doctor who created it (i still think he adapted it, it was used in china for rebuilding deformed vaginas) like a lot of things, i guess its all how you look at it. so far it is STILL in the early stages with only a few dozen performed, but as far as i have read, its pretty much successful so far, no major issues, no major dissatisfaction like a lot of surgeries have happened, and their clinic is the only one who does it.
not sure what the law/procedures are down in OZ but in most places unless someone is fighting it, the courts have little to say, it is purely by the parents, therapists, and MD's, well and the child of course.
link to the article about the new procedure https://www.wired.com/story/a-patient-gets-the-new-transgend...
Teresa L.
Transgender Treatment at Boston Children's Hospital
I used to follow the experimental program at Boston Children's Hospital, but today I see that the last video is 4 years old. I thought that they were very progressive. It is mildly angering to me that some people are still saying that children should wait until around 18, because at that age, passing as a woman is much more difficult. I speak only of MtF folk because I don't know much about FtM.
It's been a long time, and I had hoped that MtF children could be identified with much more certainty before puberty and they could be given things that would make their blood chemistry much more closely match that of a genetic female and not just in hormones.
Perhaps in the far distant future, should we have one, I would hope that these issues could be identified in the womb and altered there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtkJlqTCPNU
just to be clear
I am NOT advocating making them wait. i think the the WPATH protocols have their place and that parents have certain rights, unless a doctor or therapist think their actions are not in the best interest of the child, then the courts need to be involved.
i was merely stating the fact about HRT and blocker usage. the fact too many of our detractors/haters/enemies always go on about "children" getting sex change treatment, when its no such thing is bad enough. the issues with early starters like Jazz, etc are new, and are being addressed. so far the only issue i have heard of is the one Jazz faces, no other long term issues so far at least.
when there is NO physical proof, it can be very hard to certify someone is trans. if they are intersex, or one of the other various genetic conditions that can cause GD, or a DES child/descendant its at least scientifically provable (not sure of the DES if there is physical proof but the circumstantial is very telling, up to 4 generations of gender dysphoric kids)
Teresa L.
Waiting makes sense to me
My grandson was adamant form around age five that he was supposed to be a girl and hated his penis. Naturally this was of great interest to me and his parents. They are both accepting of my crossdressing and were supportive of his desires. Somewhere around eleven or twelve years he decided he was not a girl after all and abandoned any interest in transitioning. What I'm trying to say is things can change and we need to wait before making permanent changes.