Transition
is a process whereby a person diagnosed with
transsexualism combines medical, social and
legal steps to unify (to the fullest extent
possible) their mind, body and public
presentation.
FTM Australia
understands this process, specifically the
medical component, to be one of confirming or
affirming a person's sex as consistently defined
by them based upon the sexual development of the
brain, and does not denote a "sex
change";
Transition
is an individual process, for which there is no
standard checklist or time limit.
FTM Australia understands that
expediting the process can be harmful to the
individual physically, socially and mentally.
FTMA does not
encourage anyone to undergo transition; yet
understands that most experiences of
transsexualism do necessitate the process,
medical rehabilitation through hormone therapy
and sex affirmation surgery (SAS) may be so
significant as to be life saving for some
individuals.
FTMA is
available to offer information throughout the
medical transition phase, as well as during
associated social and legal
adjustments.
FTMA recommends
that appropriately qualified medical
practitioners experienced in the management of
transsexualism oversee transition.
FTMA advocates
the use of the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care
by medical practitioners when supervising the
health care of people who experience
transsexualism.
Testosterone
therapy at the recommended doses for medical
transition will result in a number of
irreversible changes to the physical body.
People who voluntarily undergo such treatment
are solely responsible for the consequences of
their decisions.
Sex
affirmation surgeries, being procedures that
remove incongruous reproductive organs and/or
alter external genitals, are likewise
irreversible. People who voluntarily undergo
such procedures are solely responsible for the
consequences of their decisions.
In the absence
of a diagnostic test for transsexualism, medical
practitioners must rely to some considerable
extent upon the honest assertions of people
presenting with transsexualism. FTMA encourages
people who seek treatment for transsexualism (or
indeed any condition) to foster a trusting
relationship with their healthcare providers,
rather than deliberately providing "textbook"
responses to diagnostic enquiries (ie. tell
doctors "what they want to hear") in order to
access treatment.
This advice is
given in order that the health needs of people
with or without transsexualism may be managed
most appropriately, and irreversible treatments
might not be regretted.
