Transgender - How old is too young ?

If only all of society had this view... It can be difficult to live as a woman without starting hormone replacement therapy, much less having sexual reasignment surgery done. Of course, it's not like it can't be done; it's just very painful and stressful...

I could care less about HRT (well... I'd really like it) if it wasn't such a big deal in society to appear either masculine or feminine. I'd live out my life without altering my body at all.

 

I think it's mostly a medical question as far as hormones go. Imho, people should be allowed to dress as they choose and play with whatever toys they choose at any age. It's better to figure out who you are and what you want to do at as young an age as possible.

Surgery is another matter. If I'm wrong, please gently correct me, but my impression is that sex reassignment surgery is expensive and irreversible. I also believe that some counseling is required, and I think this is a good thing. My bias is against *unnecessary* surgery.

 

So my questions are
Would you let your kid play with toys or the opposite sex; or live as the opposite sex ? Sure, fine with me.
At what age should one be allowed to take hormonal treatments or get a sex change ?- I am not sure, but probably 21 or before pueberty, I am not really sure and it depends on if they should do it before they grow or after, or during even.

 

Expensive? In the United States, very (usually $10,000 to $20,000). Outside? moderately ($5,000 to $15,000). Irreversible? As far as medical technology is concerned at this time, yes. Counseling is required to an extent, but isn't all that necessary.

I am not biased when it comes to the concept of SRS; I don't even know where to stand. I see why I want it; I even understand why I feel a necessity for it. But, that doesn't mean that I should, much less truly need to go through it. Of course, that is subject to change; it depends on how I find myself functioning and feeling. It's not something I will just jump into; I deeply desire it, but don't see a true need for it right now. I would approach such a decision with the utmost caution if it does become a concern.

 

Upon immense personal reflection, I have realized that I wanted to start hormone therapy at the age of 12; when I first read of such medical treatments. I can recollect admitting to myself that I was a girl several times prior to that... So, I stand by what I said... 13. Only after meeting so many trans people and sharing similar backgrounds do I finally realize that kids know what the fuck they're talking about.

As a matter of fact, it was the same doubt that has been installed in this very topic that led me to live in denial for 3 years. Oh, it's just the hormones... that, are making me exceptionally uncomfortable, confused and leave me feeling as though I am not in control of myself... No age, is too early to come out as being trans... Hormones, however, should wait until a more appropiate time, biologically.

 

Tis true that some kids honestly do know what they're on about. Years ago when I was still at school, there was a prog on TV which I wasn't allowed to watch, about a girl who knew she was a guy inside. she was 8. I didn't see the prog but it seed that by the time she was permitted through courts or something, it was harder to do the change op because she was starting to go through puberty. Apparently, more so with female to males - It is harder to change the gender, once puberty has occurred because of many things that occur within the body. As someone said on page 2 I think, ther are subtle problems such as softness, bodyshape and voice. Tis a problem!

I just wish I'd been born a guy like I have always believed I should have been. I make the most of just being 'me' now - I wear what suits me in my opinion and that's mostly baggy mens shirts which I can pretend in, when there's no mirror present.

I feel for everyone who is in my situation and envy those who are having/have had the op, specially from female to male - but I have reasons for not doing it myself.

 

Unfortunately, FtM surgery usually does not yield results like MtF surgery. I go beyond envying post-ops; I envy genetic girls... But, I don't let it get in the way of how I interact... It's just a constant: "If only I'd been born without a birth defect..."

 

I chose 13 [or, onset of puberty] because it makes the most sense physically. For a child to artificially begin puberty via hormones before their peers would make no sense and add a different sort of social awkwardness. But I definitely think this option should be availible to families at the onset of puberty- why force a child to go through the social and mental trauma of developing as the *wrong* gender, if they are mature enough to realize that they are transgendered at that age?

Also,

I hope I'm misinterpreting that. But if not, we don't exist for your fetishes, and will go on hormones and get surgery [or opt not to] for our own peace of mind and comfort, not for your fantasies.

 

Dear God; what I would give to have been able to avoid a male puberty... The thing I miss most is my voice.

 

I would say that I would want my child to receive therapy from someone in this field. I would want them to be sure.....before anything permanent happens. (like avoiding puberty....that's permanent, too)

Also, on the subject of age...ATM, my son's friend is 4 years old, he plays with dolls, LOVE My Little Ponies and unicorns.....sings show tunes ("I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair..") and dresses up in dresses. He tells his mother that he wants to have babies, and grow up to be a pretty girl. His mother is concerned....(a church-going Catholic) I hope this poor kid can grow up to be himself.....man, woman, gay...whatever.

 

If the kids four, "he" obviously has an idea of what's going on... That's said to be the age when gender identity is really concrete. My heart goes out to kids like that; I hope they get to pursue what they want. That child would get the upbringing she wanted if I were her parent.

I know I wish I'd spoken out about my confusion when I was 7...

 

What does being a TV or TG have to do with being gay?

 

Absolutely nothing. Does that really have anything to do with why this topic is here? I don't see a transgender discussion board anywhere...

 

I turn transexual when i was 3 and half, and i blame David Bowie 10 years later.

 

Lack of real school education this day a PC is actually enough.

 

this thread is about transgender not transvestites, most t.v's are straight and most t.s are highly offended to be confused with them.
the gay scene can be a haven for t.s to come to and be accepted most of the time for who they are without fear of violence and prejudice.
in western society t.s are going through very similar prejudice and unacceptance and confusion from society, that gay people went through twenty or so years ago, so its not surprising that a feeling of kindred spirit developes.
over here its known as the gay, lesbain and transexual community
S

 

<-- Transsexual

I don't usually watch Oprah, but for some reason I did actually see that episode.

Well before puberty, it should not be an option. Basically what hormones do is they put you through puberty again, but of the opposite sex. It would make no sense to put them through puberty early.

I really don't like the idea of undergoing hormones too early, but I am Female-to-Male (FtM). Going through puberty as a woman, the only thing I need to worry about is breasts and some other figure issues, because testosterone shots will change pretty much everything else (facial hair growth, deeper voice, etc.). In the case of a Male-to-Female (MtF), estrogen doesn't stop facial hair growth or deepen the voice. If you ever see MtFs who live in countries where they can purchase birth control over the counter and start hormones early, and in places where they can get castrated, they look and sound a lot more feminine than somebody who starts it after puberty. So I can see why somebody would want to start it before puberty, but it's still a scary concept to me.

In the case of the FtMs on the Oprah show, I know at least one was going on birth control to stop him from menstruating. That seems odd to me, but then again it's been noted that transgendered people have a high suicide rate, and I'd rather have a slightly hormonally imbalanced kid than a dead one. Maybe it's because I waited and am fine that I feel this way, but early teens just seems too young. The actual sex reassignment surgery (which is not the same as hormones, mind you) should definitely wait until later, because a surgically created penis or vagina does not develop the same way as a natural one. I know a lot of MtFs who complain about having to "dilate" (widen the vaginal canal) and how uncomfortable it is, I can't imagine having to do that as a child, and then growing up and probably having to mess around even more. FtM phalloplasty surgery is just downright expensive, and I don't think it's reliable. Most adult FtMs don't get it, let alone letting a child get it.

As far as playing with toys of the opposite sex... my brothers and I both played with a huge variety of toys. We all played with trucks and we all played with dolls. Both of them experimented with dresses. I turned out transgendered, and they turned out straight males. If I had kids, I'd let them play with and wear whatever the hell they wanted, because it doesn't make any difference. And if it did, I'd like to think it wouldn't matter to me anyway.

 

I think the child should be able to live as whichever gender they feel more compatible with, but when it comes to hormone treatment well I'd say 25, because that is when mental maturity is obtained, correct.

However I could see my 18 year old, when I'm 45 or so(haha) being pretty upset about not doing it then. I think at 18 it is his/her choice, but I think it'd be more appropriate to wait until 25. Maybe very difficult with the way one feels inside though.

 

well i think its a balancing act leave it to later and the person has already fully developed into the body they are going to have as their birth sex, have someone on hormones before then, and it would probably stop a lot of the unwanted developments, i.e deep voice beard growth or in female to male, breast growth.
all these things would have happened by 25 as they have by 18.
I think its a dilemma really, because some people would argue that maybe a person wouldn't know for sure until they have fully developed into thier birth sex body.
that all being said the transexuals people I know never wanted to be born into the sex they are in the first place, and would certainly therefore not want to fully develope into their birth sex before they have any treatments.
very tricky debate
S

 

Yeah, I agree. In some ways I think, someone that young may not deal with the mental/emotional affects very well, but at the same time that person has already been dealing with very mental/emotional effects of not feeling comfortable in their own body.