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We have had
members who say they were never told this
by any medical practitioners. So we are
stressing it -- Medical treatment will
never 'change you into a
man'.
Treatment will
only masculinise your body.
Some people have
fully medically transitioned and
discovered, much to their regret, that
medical treatment didn't change them 'into
a man'.
This process of
transition is called Sex
Affirmation for that
reason - you AFFIRM the sex you know
yourself to be already.
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There is a basic journey through Sex
Affirmation Treatment called 'Transition'.
Making a 'plan of action' for yourself can give
yourself a sense of moving forward and cover the
main things to think about.
In reality, the main things to consider are
usually done in a slightly different order
depending on the individual, but the general
process is as follows.
Research, Research, Research
Research is essential. This website is only
one resource. There are books; local support
groups; the
Standards of Care (SoC); make friends with
other guys who have transitioned; and email
discussion groups (OzGuys
is one such group); join
FTMA and get
our newsletter 4x a year.
The internet offers a really easy way to find
this kind of information. You need to keep in mind
that just because something is online, doesn't
mean it's true (What
to believe online - external link).
Use the internet for research and make an effort
to meet people face to face rather than just
through the computer monitor. Keep it real.
Be wary of rushing into thinking you have
transsexualism and need treatment. You
might be transgendered and medical treatment
could be the very last thing you want. So
research, research, research. And keep an open
mind.
Many people have misconceptions about transition
at the beginning. Counselling (and more research)
can help you check out the realities of transition,
and ideas on handling the good and not-so-good
aspects. You will take some blows to your self
esteem as you transition. Plan for healthy ways to
deal with these times. If you're religious, you
might need to work out how your spirituality and
religion fit in with this process.
Telling your family and friends
Everyone has some kind of challenge with this.
Think carefully about when and how to tell people
about what's happening for you. For young men who
still live at home or are financially dependent on
their parents, planned this with care. For older
men, it's important to do this early on with your
family and loved ones.
If you're in a serious relationship, your
partner should be the first one to talk things over
with. Let your partner know what you're thinking
about. Be honest. You will change physically and
emotionally with treatment so she (or he!) has to
be part of the process. Despite the fear of losing
your partner, it's detrimental to keep something
like this from them, since it will affect their
lives almost as much as yours.
Transitioning on the job (Employment)
Decide early on if you will transition at your
workplace or not. Transitioning
on the job is possible and common. Some men
change jobs after all their legal and financial
records have been changed. The key is to maintain
enough income to cover your costs. Transition can
be expensive for some people. Health insurance can
be useful, although transsexualism might be
considered to be a pre-existing condition and you
usually need to be in the health fund for 12 months
before claiming costs. Have a realistic financial
plan in place for the surgeries you need.
[see above: Research, research,
research]
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General Practitioner (your family doctor)
Finding a GP (general practitioner) you
like and trust is really important in the larger
scheme of things. A doctor doesn't need to know all
about treatment or even have any other patients who
have transitioned. The best GP is the doctor who is
willing to learn.
We have a
list of educated GPs that others in your shoes
have seen, so please contact us, if you want this
information.
Your GP is basically your partner in taking care
of your health. A good GP will case manage your
health with you. A good GP will be your medical
advocate and your guide to finding caring
professionals who take you seriously and moniter
your health with you. You'll need your GP to
write you referrals to any specialists you see,
such an endocrinologist or surgeon. Your GP can
moniter your general health through blood tests as
well as provide caring constructive feedback if you
need a bit of mental or emotional help.
[see GPs:
Valuable Allies]
Focus on what's most important to you.
Hormone Treatment
Most of the
effects of testosterone treatment are welcomed:
cesation of menstruation; redistribution of body
fat and increased of body and facial hair. Hormones
won't transform you overnight. Testosterone is a
cumulative drug - so it takes time. Think about
your reproductive options prior to starting
hormones. Testosterone can render you permanently
sterile over time.
Like any other man, testosterone
comes with risks. So be sure you learn all you
can about this form of treatment.
Surgical Proceedures
Surgery is never one procedure. The vast
majority of men undergo chest
reconstructive surgery. Most need at least one
revision after the initial reconstruction. Many men
undergo removal of the female reproductive organs
at some point.
Genital
reconstructive surgeries for men are costly in
terms of finances, health, time and energy.
Depending on the individual men's physical health,
it can be risky to impossible. The vast majority of
men live normal male lives without undergoing these
procedures and in Australia both Medicare and
state/federal legislation understands the risks
associated with these procedures and do not require
them for male legal recognition.
Legal Solutions
If your first name isn't suitable or desirable,
you'll be wanting to change your name. In Australia
it is possible to legally change your name whenever
you want to. Your local Births,
Deaths and Marriages office can help you with
this.
Once you have the name change certificate you
can immediately start correcting your name on all
your paperwork such as bank account, credit card,
bills, Medicare, driver's license etc. This simple
procedure can be a big boost to your self esteem in
the early days of transition.
Feel confident changing your name to the one you
want to use after transition. If you're thinking of
using initials or an gender-neutral name for a
period of time at the beginning, it will save you
time and money to change your name to the name you
plan to use for life. It will send a clear,
positive message to those around you.
Some people already have a name they use, while
others find it more difficult to find a name they
like. If your parents are supportive (or want to be
supportive) ask them what boy names they considered
prior to your birth. Sometimes there are names
carried through families that boys in that family
take on.
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Getting Started
