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Gender identity is the internal personal sense of being a man, woman, or outside the binary gender identity. For transgender people, this identity differs from the gender they were assigned at birth. While gender identity differs from sexual orientation, it is no easier to change.
For this reason, transgender individuals seek to align their bodies with their gender identity. Consequently, certain transgender health issues frequently arise within this population.
There are different levels of trans identity. Transvestites like to wear clothing that is traditionally associated with the opposite sex but they are not interested in changing their gender assignment on a full-time basis. Drag kings and queens are individuals who do not appear to be either traditionally feminine or masculine. Others feel they are either a little of both or neither one.
Transexuals are people who have a strong desire to live as a member of the opposite sex to which they were assigned at birth. Often they will undergo gender reassignment to formalize the transition to become recognized and accepted as the other sex. Treatment involves a combination of psychological counselling, hormone treatment and surgical intervention.
Children who experience this feeling of gender misalignment feel it at a surprisingly young age. When little Nick started playing with female-oriented toys and games at the age of two, his mother noticed this but did not feel particularly concerned. By the age of four, he announced to her that God had made him a boy by mistake. When he reached the age of six years old, he told her he wanted to change his assigned gender.
Fortunately, Nick's mother found a sensitive doctor who, by injecting hormones, was able to postpone Nick's puberty until he had made a firm choice to change his gender. Without the hormones, she would have progressed through male puberty, which would have been psychologically agonizing for her. Had that happened, she told her mother, she would have killed herself. Nick eventually proceeded to go through the complete change to Nicki.
Trans people are more likely than the general population to feel mentally distressed because of the levels of social disapproval and discrimination that they often face. They experience higher levels of harassment and violence and are therefore at an increased risk of depression, self-harm and suicide. They will often avoid seeking medical care because they are afraid of being rejected.
Many providers of medical care lack the necessary grasp of transgender issues. Feeling inadequate, they may turn patients away. It is also true that many gender-associated problems are not covered by health insurance. This puts up another barrier to the transgender population to receive access to medical care. This is a serious problem, because occasionally people who have undergone gender reassignment develop cancer in their "old" sexual organs.
Fortunately, there are a number of helpful organizations that offer help. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is one such organization. Among its missions are to promote evidence based care and respect for trans patients. The Mermaids charity exists to support children, teens and families with gender identity issues. The Center of Excellence for Transgender Health focuses on HIV prevention, routine care, mental wellness and cultural competency.
There are different levels of trans identity. Transvestites like to wear clothing that is traditionally associated with the opposite sex but they are not interested in changing their gender assignment on a full-time basis. Drag kings and queens are individuals who do not appear to be either traditionally feminine or masculine. Others feel they are either a little of both or neither one.
Transexuals are people who have a strong desire to live as a member of the opposite sex to which they were assigned at birth. Often they will undergo gender reassignment to formalize the transition to become recognized and accepted as the other sex. Treatment involves a combination of psychological counselling, hormone treatment and surgical intervention.
Children who experience this feeling of gender misalignment feel it at a surprisingly young age. When little Nick started playing with female-oriented toys and games at the age of two, his mother noticed this but did not feel particularly concerned. By the age of four, he announced to her that God had made him a boy by mistake. When he reached the age of six years old, he told her he wanted to change his assigned gender.
Fortunately, Nick's mother found a sensitive doctor who, by injecting hormones, was able to postpone Nick's puberty until he had made a firm choice to change his gender. Without the hormones, she would have progressed through male puberty, which would have been psychologically agonizing for her. Had that happened, she told her mother, she would have killed herself. Nick eventually proceeded to go through the complete change to Nicki.
Trans people are more likely than the general population to feel mentally distressed because of the levels of social disapproval and discrimination that they often face. They experience higher levels of harassment and violence and are therefore at an increased risk of depression, self-harm and suicide. They will often avoid seeking medical care because they are afraid of being rejected.
Many providers of medical care lack the necessary grasp of transgender issues. Feeling inadequate, they may turn patients away. It is also true that many gender-associated problems are not covered by health insurance. This puts up another barrier to the transgender population to receive access to medical care. This is a serious problem, because occasionally people who have undergone gender reassignment develop cancer in their "old" sexual organs.
Fortunately, there are a number of helpful organizations that offer help. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is one such organization. Among its missions are to promote evidence based care and respect for trans patients. The Mermaids charity exists to support children, teens and families with gender identity issues. The Center of Excellence for Transgender Health focuses on HIV prevention, routine care, mental wellness and cultural competency.
About the Author:
You can visit the website www.transgendertransitions.com for more helpful information about Key Issues In Transgender Health
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