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Transgender specialist – friend or foe?
This week I had the occasion to speak to a allied health care worker who specializes in transgender health.
She stated that she could understand ‘’the attraction of Thailand’’. For years she has watched young people with underdeveloped penises go to Melbourne (for the inversion technique), with the inevitable result – a small vagina.
This same specialist allied health care worker could not state her knowledge of the different techniques used in SRS. Apparently could not understand that a small penis will result in a small vagina, that the technique used in Thailand would improve the chances of a T girl have vaginal sex.
Has it never occurred to biological women who specialise in transgender health that perhaps a T girl would also like to experience vaginal sex as they do?
One Doctor I know, who specializes in transgender health, knowingly sends people with small penises to Melbourne for surgery knowing what the results will probably be.
In my case she did not even examine me before sending me to Melbourne. The result for this poor unfortunate could have been a small vagina that would never have been satisfactory.
This same Doctor even stated to me not to explore the internet as it did not pertain to Australia, let alone Queensland.
The lack of information that some transgender specialist have, or their sense that Monash is the best option for their clients’ needs to be changed.
Let’s face, it is sex reassignment surgery , it is about becoming a woman. Most woman I know like vaginal sex, why deprive a T girl of the same experience?
Biological women who specialise in transgender health have a duty of care to understand and explore the SRS options with their clients before they make a life changing experience. Thailand is a viable option for some T girls – even the only option if they want the average woman’s experience of a normal sex life.
One of the most important Questions a biological woman who specializes in transgender health could ask a client is, “what’s your aspirations in transitioning, what do you expect of it?”
I thank God I ignored the biological woman who treated me as it would have led to a huge disappointment.
But to hear a biological female specialist this week after years of specializing in transgender health reveal her lack of knowledge was a shock.
Yes, jump through the hoops, but research your options because our female transgender specialists do not seem to know what’s available. They do not seem equate a small penis with a small vagina if their client uses the penile inversion technique for SRS.
And if the leaders of your support group whose only experience is Monash, and who do not understand the differences either – don’t rely on them for information. -
5 Replies
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Hi,
I was not going to bother answering . though i will , the ? what if you dont have your male bits or are intersex like i am what the hell then .
my advise go to Phuket Thailand Dr Sanguan will do for one what others cant or wont do. no matter if theres nothing to work with , you do have a body so skin graft simple, gee what next.
Seems to me some know bugger all about what they should, time they were told,
…noeleena…
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I belong to the AIS group, so you can imagine what my surgeon had to work with. So yes it is better for us to go to Thailand. I went to Dr Suporn and I am so glad I did. The surgeons in Melbourne had very little to offer me.
Cheers,
Erika
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Hi Erika,
I have been shopping around for a GRS Surgeon for a couple of months now and I have come to the conclusion that nobody really seems to have a clue. Most of my “research”has turned up very biased opinions, (if somebody had a good result their Surgeon is the greatest and can walk on water, if a bad result the Surgeon is a butcher and run in the other direction), or gossip which is usually very wrong.
Is it because the options, even in Thailand, are very limited. You would think that given the number of Surgeon in the world there would be some way of rating their strengths and weaknesses. Susans.org has done this for a number of Surgeons and there are some other sites as well. But even they are of limited help I feel. So unfortunately I am not surprised at the result from the “health care worker”, very disappointing but not surprised.
Jen
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Dear Erika,
I am not in the least surprised at the lack of knowledge and basic understanding of those who are deemed the experts in the field of transgender care and well being.
The only people who do know, who do really care and do understand in my humble opinion and experience is us. Nobody else – period, over and out.
I long to be proved wrong but fear I will never be.
Jan.
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Transgender health: the important role of GPs
I heard this on the ABC/RN and found it very interesting
Heading to your local GP can be a confronting experience, particularly when you have to disclose personal information about yourself, often incredibly private things.
For transgender and gender diverse people, the GP plays a very important role, but for some GPs, it’s a responsibility they feel unprepared for.http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/transgender-health/4214968
Moderator
Quote:This documentary has already been mentioned on TgR back in August last year when it was first broadcast.
http://forum.tgr.net.au/cms/forum/F408/4735-735The Producer was Gina McKeon who many of us met when she filmed TransFormal 2012
