Transgender and medicine

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 51. Chapters: Sex reassignment surgery, Gender identity disorder, Hormone replacement therapy, Blanchard's transsexualism etiology, Sex reassignment therapy, The Man Who Would Be Queen, John Money, LGBT topics in healthcare, Phalloplasty, Causes of transsexualism, Feminine essence concept of transsexuality, Gender identity disorder in children, Vaginoplasty, Ray Blanchard, Baptist Medical Center sex reassignment surgery controversy, Richard Green, Standards of care for gender identity disorders, Lori Brotto, Russell Reid, Metoidioplasty, Susan Bradley, Buttock augmentation, Sexual relationship disorder, LGBTI Health Summit, Clitoroplasty, Sexual maturation disorder, Breast prostheses, Cleavage Tops, Genital reconstructive surgery, World Professional Association for Transgender Health, Sex Change: Him to Her. Excerpt: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for transgender and transsexual people changes the balance of sex hormones in their bodies. Some intersex people also receive HRT, either starting in childhood to confirm the gender they were assigned, or later, if this assignment has proven to be incorrect. Some cisgendered men may use HRT to have a hair-free body, as a result of less testosterone in their body. Its purpose is to cause the development of the secondary sex characteristics of the desired gender. It can not undo the changes produced by the first natural occurring puberty, which necessitates sexual reassignment surgery and epilation by either electrolysis and/or laser hair removal. This is due to being easier to produce secondary male sexual characteristics with androgens than it is to rid trans women of established characteristics. The requirements for hormone replacement therapy vary immensely, often at least a certain time of psychological counseling is required. Some organizations still require a period of time living as the desired gender role. This period is sometimes called the Real Life Experience (RLE). People from the transgender community say that RLE is psychologically harmful and is a form of "gatekeeping" - barring the person from transitioning for as long as possible, if not permanently. See also Standards of care for gender identity disorders. Some individuals choose to self-administer their medication ("do-it-yourself"), often because available doctors have too little experience in this matter, or no doctor is available in the first place. Sometimes, trans persons choose to self-administer because their doctor will not prescribe hormones without a letter from the patient's therapist stating that the patient meets the diagnostic criteria for GID and is making an informed decision to transition. Many therapists require at least three months of continuous psychotherapy and/or a real life test in order to write such a letter as is suggested in the HBIGDA S