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""Like
other people afflicted with
disorders in this process of sex
differentiation, transsexual
people need to be medically
rehabilitated so that they can
live acceptable lives as men or
women."
—
Prof.
Louis Gooren,1999
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Medical treatment for men identified
female at birth usually involves
both hormone treatment and surgery.
Hormones are the single most effective
treatment (Gooren, 1999; Asscheman &
Gooren, 1992; Meyer et al., 1986). Once an
individual has started hormone treatment,
within approx. 12 months or less, a number
of visible, irreversible male secondary
sexual characteristics develop.
The most commonly sought after surgical
procdure is chest reconstructive surgery
(HBIGDA, Soc 6, 2001). The is not unlike
mastectomy, yet fundamentally different in
a number of ways from the routine
mastectomy procedure.
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Conclusion —
For men with transsexualism, achieving
a sense of harmony between his own inner
sense of self and his external physical
appearance is available. This
rehabilitation is available by treatment
under medical supervision and takes place
within a social, legal and medical
context.
For other men, when surgery is not an
option, usually due to health issues,
their inner conflict may need to be
resolved in some other manner that offers
a sense of congruency within
themselves.
The good news about transsexualism is
that treatments are very effective (97%;
Green and Fleming, 1990) and the more men
know about the condition, the more they
can do to live authentically, stay healthy
and avoid known health problems.
Further Reading
In our own words -
Difference
treatment has made to me
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Medical Treatment
