Some little titbits and facts about transgenderism and gender dysphoria.

Anal treet in manchester is usually pretty chilled out.

Lyranne wrote:

One would assume that it is the deactivation of the male gene that would create the male-to-female partial sex-change, though it's anyone's guess. One also wonders if the activation of testosterone might also be a way to have a permanent 'fix' for certain male arousal issues, as if there's any link, it could well d away with viagra. The potential to prevent menopause also seems to be there, as with any potential falterings in that department for both genders. Considering mans increasing longevity, who can say how long we'll be expecting to live for in five hundred years time. If the birth rate ever declined in any species, it could well aid in preventing extinction (though toying with the natural order and preventing an animal in natural decline from dying out could well be detrimental to the surrounding eco system). Of course, this is a mere theoretical stretch, and I could well be way off the mark with it ^^

From this article, one who's not familiar with biology would assume that there is such thing as the female gene and the male gene. Genetics, and especially genetics behind gender, is in fact far more complex than simply as that. There are many genes regulating the development of the male and female body, and because one gene was found that prevents females from developing testicles, does not mean that there is another gene that does it the other way (although there might be, but it is yet to be discovered). Oppressing the Sox9, which is mentioned in the article, might as well just result in infertility and lack of testosterone, but will not necessarily turn someone into a female. One can only find that out through experiment.

Quote :

It could also be a trult humane way to deal with certain vermin man has unintentionally introduced to ecosystems, like the cane toad and so forth. Certainly more humane to make an animal infertile than smack it over the head with a baseball bat.

New genetic discoveries can be used for many things, and that one is certainly a good idea.

Snicka wrote:

From this article, one who's not familiar with biology would assume that there is such thing as the female gene and the male gene. Genetics, and especially genetics behind gender, is in fact far more complex than simply as that. There are many genes regulating the development of the male and female body, and because one gene was found that prevents females from developing testicles, does not mean that there is another gene that does it the other way (although there might be, but it is yet to be discovered). Oppressing the Sox9, which is mentioned in the article, might as well just result in infertility and lack of testosterone, but will not necessarily turn someone into a female. One can only find that out through experiment.

Indeed, I am aware of such things, and that's why I only mentioned it being an assumption on my part. It's still an incredible breakthrough though, simply because of all the potential that's there ^^. I'm not exactly a huge fan of animal testing, but I still find the results fascinating.

Opathu wrote:

Crikey, what's more surprising to me is that Sarah and Julie can survive a night-out with the knuckle-draggers! White British males + alcohol = Mordoor.

Julie's just that awesome. If I'd been alone, I'd not have stood a chance (though ?I'd also not have been in Manchester to begin with). Next time, we'll have to get the whole of lfrp to see it ^^

So, I went to London today regarding my situation, and to find out what the results of my hormone blood tests were, and if I'd be on them, thus starting my new life officially. I get to the Gender Identity Clinic, and when I approach the desk, the woman seems quite surprised by the time of my appointment (December 16th, at 13:30). I am asked to sit down, and so I wait for a fair while. After a brief error on my part (where I couldn't remember the specific area of the department I was last seen), I am called back to the desk, where they inform me they have no reocrds of me. I go through the various pieces of information, and after a while they find me in the system, and realise, much to my chagrin, that they double-booked my appointment. My new one if now in July next year, a whole seven months on from this one, and 14 months on from my prelimenary appointment. At the time of my new appointment, it'll mark two years since I first went to my GP about all of this, and even if I'm placed on hormones that very day, will mean a total of about four years from start to finish.

All this after I was told the system had improved and wouldn't take so long.

Update from Spain:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/12/spanish-teenager-transsexual-operation

Quote :

Sixteen-year-old becomes Spain's youngest transsexual
• Teenager required court ruling for operation in Barcelona
• Judge granted permission after request by parents
Buzz up!
Digg it
Giles Tremlett in Madrid
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 12 January 2010 20.25 GMT
Article history
A Spanish clinic today revealed it had performed a male-to-female sex-change operation on a 16-year-old, making her the youngest patient to undergo the operation in the country's history.

The unnamed teenager had been taking hormones to change her body since she was 15, according to doctors who treated her at Barcelona's hospital clínico, and she had been seeing doctors and psychiatrists for even longer. "The patient has been in treatment for nearly three years," said the surgeon who carried out the operation, Dr Iván Mañero.

A sex-change operation on a minor requires the approval of a Spanish court to override a law that sets the minimum age for such operations as 18.

That permission was given in November by a judge after the the child's parents had themselves made the request. The operation was carried out in December, though news of it was only released on Monday.

The teenager had reportedly tried to commit suicide on several occasions. As a child she was convinced that she was really female, but had been born in the wrong body.

"The judge consulted many medical experts and doctors, all of whom have recommended that he be operated on … she is very happy," Mañero told El País.

Gina Serra, president of the Catalan Association of Transsexuals, said it was possible from an early age for a child to be conscious that they were in the wrong body.

"An eight-year-old child knows already what they want to be and what they do not want to be," she said.

"In the end, everything depends on the support that they find within their own family."

"It is a condition that one is born with but which you cannot operate for until they are 18 years old," said Mañero.

"That, for a doctor, is something of a shock. No one could imagine that if your child was born with, say, leukaemia, we would say we must wait until 18 before operating."

He said the question of whether children under 18 should be operated on was more an ethical and social debate than a medical one. "The younger the patient is, the simpler the operation generally is," he said.

"To deny people transsexuality until they become grown-ups only lengthens the suffering of young transsexuals," Mar Cambrollé of the Spanish Federation of Gays, Lesbians, Transsexuals and Bisexuals, said.

However, others believe that it was better to wait until someone was 18 to have an operation.

"We are not against it, but it is a life-changing decision," said Monica Martín of the Spanish Association of Transsexuals. "It is a good idea to wait until the person has achieved maturity, legal and otherwise."

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health also says the threshold age should be 18.

Sweden, which pioneered sex-change legislation, sets the limit for operations at 18, though, like some other countries, it helps young transsexuals to start reversible hormone treatment well before that.

Mañero said transsexuals were now being taken seriously by the Spanish health service.

"Not so long ago they were not even considered to be patients. They were thought of as being capricious," he said. "As doctors, we are confronted by a condition which, as such, is covered by the health service."

The socialist government of prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero passed a law two years ago allowing transsexuals, with or without surgery, to formally change their gender of birth.

• This article was amended on Wednesday 13 January 2010 to change the gender of some pronouns referring to the patient in this case.

Good for her, is all I can say. Though the whole suicidal aspect is pretty common (I've not tried, per se, but it's a pervading thought since I was very young). Nice to read an article with so many supporters, too.

Excluding the fact I really should re-read my posts to correct grammar and spelling, I'm pretty glad with how this thread's gone. That's not to say I expected anything less, just happy to be reassured that there are some wonderful people out there. In regards to my new meeting, it's now that little bit closer, and though my depression's about the same, I am trying to be more proactive. Firstly, I asked my doctor about CBT, and he's put my name forward, though I was told it's not offered locally, so I'm probably in for more journeys. That aside, what with my planned trips to Scotland and Sweden this year, things are at least looking up.