Can you answer a few questions about being trans?

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I am currently considering to biologically change my gender and my naturalist (vegitarian) grandfather gave me some reasonable doubts about it. The mayority of these questions are largely based on his doubts that, at the moment, I agree upon. But I can't help but suspect that he might also be somewhat biased (and maybe wrong) about it. (which is ironic since he considered my descision to change my gender to go too far into the extremes yet he himself has, in the past, gone too far with his naturalistic and vegitarian views by constantly shoving them down everyone's throats.) I know he might as well be wrong judging by the fact that he has naturalistic points of views but I do find the way he argues about it resobable, and I want to find out more information about the consequences of phisically changing your gender and its benefits and problems that might come with it, just for the sake of knowing more information and maybe to develop a good counter-argument for my grandfather.

I now know for a fact that I have gender dysphoria because of my experience; from my deep hatred for my penis to my sincere pleasure for being feminine, I have all the general traits of gender dysphoria.

So without further ado, here are the questions:

1. How much has the sex-changing technology changed since its use on Christine Jorgensen?

2. Will my life be shortened after I transition? if so, for how long to I live?

3. if I accumulated a lot of strength before transition because of my testosterone, will my strengh be halved or completely gone?

4. Will I likely get cancer? if so, what type(s)?

5. Do I always have to shove a tube-like object towards my artificial vagina after transition?

6. What would be the reccomended diet before/after transition?

7. Is it reccomendable to exercise after I transition?

8. Is the corruption (snake oil sellers) that is seen in the pharmaceutical industry common in estrogen therapies?

That's it for now. I hope I can get useful answers from this. Thank you all!

Hesitant to say as you really need to be asking these questions of a doctor.
Often, GPs at sexual health clinics or those that cater specifically to gay and trans patients can answer these questions with more of a factual basis. No harm in making an appointment and expressing your possible intention to transition and asking questions. We all do, I'd say. You're going MtF from memory, so from what I know -
1. Considering she had surgery in 1951, I'd say a fair bit! Like any branch of medicine, they're always improving things. Did you specifically mean vaginoplasty? Microsurgery has definitely improved the sensation results in this procedure, allowing women to retain much more of the nerve sensations in their vagina that they had in the pre-op penis. I believe the clitoral construction has also advanced in recent years. But again, I'm not a surgeon - these are the people you would need to ask questions about bottom surgery. You could look up profiles of surgeons that perform SRS and email them some questions, but often they require a consult to check you out and talk to you about your history and goals. A consult isn't binding - it's mostly for information purposes. Might be an idea.

2. Women typically live longer than men, and I believe the same is so for transwomen. I haven't heard of HRT significantly lessening lifespan if the person leads an otherwise healthy lifestyle like anyone else, and is aware of the increased risk factors associated with HRT and manages them properly - liver health is often one of these. People on HRT can be at higher risk of liver issues, so you must be sensible of this and attend to good liver health. As far as I know, lifespan isn't significantly altered by being trans in itself.

3. Yes, some of your muscle mass will decrease on HRT. If you were really keen on maintaining your muscle, you'd have to religiously stick to a gym program focusing on weights. Even so, and not getting into steroid discussions, women have a harder time maintaining muscle because of less testosterone. Of course transwomen still have testosterone in their bodies, but everyone I've known has noticed a decrease in muscle. There are female body builders of course who have impressive muscle, but there is a lot of steroid use going on, which would counteract the HRT. They also obviously put a lot of work into that body type. However many women like the loss of muscle, as they associate slender body types and less bulk with femininity and muscle mass with masculinity, so they were quite pleased with the loss!

4. I haven't heard of any reliable correlation between straight up HRT and cancer. Again, there's the minding your health, and being wise to the higher risk factors associated with being trans to keep an eye on. Again, this is a question to ask a GP and see if they have any research available.

5. As far as I'm aware having had no genital surgery (yet!) dilation - which you're referring to - is done during the healing process just after vaginoplasty, in order to keep the healing structure from collapsing and to help it heal with appropriate depth. As far as I'm aware, it's not done all the time or long term.

6. Again, a healthy balanced diet like anyone else would be fine. I'm not aware of any special dietary considerations specifically for transfolk - though dietary related risk factors like cholesterol can be higher in transfolk, so you just have to accommodate. But, again, that's the same for any cis person with a history of heart disease.

7. Again, this is just like anyone else. Good exercise is recommended for good health, trans or cis. For transwomen, the only thing I have heard is that many favour cardio and aerobic workouts, to get a slender body type. You would obviously need some recovery time after any major surgery, especially after something like vaginoplasty, and may feel some tiredness as you adjust to an oestrogen run system, but that's all. One common question to surgeons is how long before you can go back to work and so on, so they will be able to tell you when it's ok to start exercising again, depending on what you've had done.

8. I know black market HRT is definitely out there, but I'd say stay away from it. A qualified endocrinologist or sexual health GP will be able to supply you with the HRT medications and change these as you progress. This ensures you know what you're getting, you're monitored by a qualified professional, and your HRT regimen can change as your surgical status does. You shouldn't be snake oiled by authorised practitioners.

I wouldn't take your grandfather's opinion as fact. Transgender medicine is very specialised, and each person is individual based on their health, history, risk factors, age and so on. If you're really thinking about medical transition, beginning to get solid answers and advice from the right people (appropriately specialised GP, endocrinologist, SRS surgeon) is the necessary first step in this process. You can't progress on hearsay from others, even from other transfolk, because your body is different to everyone else's.

Hi, I just stopped in for a moment & saw you'd posted.

1. How much has the sex-changing technology changed since its use on Christine Jorgensen?
That's a pretty low bar. Within a well functioning health care system, with educated providers:
- Hormone management is far better understood and practiced. Even blood essays are far more accurate now.
- Surgery techniques have advanced considerably for trans women bottom surgery, somewhat for trans man bottom surgery (ovo-histo is the same, phallo is better but not good enough for many yet), top surgery for both is about the same (except that most tools, techniques and post-op management are better now for any type of surgery), if needed, appearance-based surgeries like FFS are also now available.

2. Will my life be shortened after I transition? if so, for how long to I live?
- From what data has been collected nothing stands out *if* no new risks are introduced compared to one's gender peers (ie for you, other women), and old or known risks are eliminated. That includes risky behaviors, not just biological risks.

3. if I accumulated a lot of strength before transition because of my testosterone, will my strengh be halved or completely gone?
- Testosterone-fueled muscle is gone after two years, maximum. Like any other woman, you'll have to work much harder to build muscle and keep it. If keeping your strength is very important to you you'll have to weigh that against deciding on hrt.

4. Will I likely get cancer? if so, what type(s)?
- If you smoke, yes. Smoking plus estrogen & progesterone = a much higher risk of breast and other cancers. Smoking alone = lung and other cancers, hrt or not. Estrogen only, with no smoking, has been shown to *not* increase the chance of cancer (or blood clots/thrombosis for that matter; that apparently happens with certain forms of progesterone). If you smoke and plan on transitioning and want to live and have an easier transition, stop smoking first.
- Your chance of getting most typically "male" cancers such as prostate, colon & testicular will be greatly reduced since they correlate with testosterone levels.

5. Do I always have to shove a tube-like object towards my artificial vagina after transition?
- First of all, it's not an artificial vagina any more than a medically-corrected body part, such as a cleft palate or harelip is artificial after correction. It's the same tissue it would have been, just reshaped. Second, yes; there is a long period of time post surgery during which you will need to dilate three times a day. And for most women, once a day thereafter if they want to retain depth and flexibility. Women who've had a hysterectomy have to do the same. Also, sex with either a living or artificial phallus fulfills the same function.

6. What would be the reccomended diet before/after transition?
- Same as for anyone else to be healthy. More plants, lean meat only, avoid processed/fast food as much as possible.

In my opinion only: avoid anything with fungicide or insecticide in the ingredient list even if they are "natural". They are there to increase shelf life not your health and have never been adequately tested for health effects on humans, only extrapolated from say, rat or mice studies (& if they didn't die in 30 days it was deemed "safe"). Again, just my opinion. There is so much good, healthy, *cheap* food that is unprocessed!

7. Is it reccomendable to exercise after I transition?
- Same as for anyone else, so; yes. Human bodies evolved to *move*!

8. Is the corruption (snake oil sellers) that is seen in the pharmaceutical industry common in estrogen therapies?
- The only valid estrogen for actually changing your body is medically prescribed estrogen, either taken orally or by injection. It takes a fair amount, equal to the levels in a woman who produces her own, to push a body through puberty and maintain secondary sex characteristics. Phytoestrogens from edible plants and externally applied oils and creams simply do not work, as the levels are slight in comparison. Ingested phytoestrogens such as in yams & soy, or external like from tea tree oil can induce very slight-but-measurable physiological changes. But it takes quantities large enough to potentially have negative side effects in order to induce even slight fat redistribution.

I'd highly recommend contacting local advocacy groups if you can find them to see what knowledgeable health care professionals are available in your area and then if you can, make an appointment to have a talk with them. If you are not sure medical transition either hormonal &/or surgical are for you, they can help you to figure it out. Usually though, it's been my experience that people *know* if their body feels wrong, and for thousands of years some trans people have lived socially as their identified gender - or gender blend - without surgery or hrt.

Only do what you are sure you need, once you are sure of it; these are life & body changing decisions. Don't try to convince yourself that anything is needed - you will know. And as always, remember that there is no "correct" way to be you other than being honest with yourself, and remember that humanity is an amazing & beautiful array of spectra of which you are a part!

Thanks for bringing this up.

I too am on the cusp of transition, still using a male profile though. I'm in more of a gender limbo.
Mainly because I have a bunch of little detailed concerns as well.

I wonder if there are info sources on where the current medical tech is. 3D printing in medicine has the potential to revolutionize gender re-assignment.

I actually worry more about the neck surgery. I have a fairly deep voice and I'm not good at voice trained things like singing. I have little control over the pitch and tone of my voice, it's connected to my emotions unconsciously. I wonder how difficult is voice coaching, how much do hormones change the voice. I hear current voice-box procedures are risky.

How about brow surgery? It can be really delicate around sinuses and face nerves, one mistake and half of facial expression is lost.

I'm glad to hear about muscle mass loss, hopefully my shoulders will soften a little.
I just hope the estrogen puts fat on my butt, where I need it, and not on my belly or shoulders, I want my shoulders softer, but The underlying bone is is bigger, so any extra mass will look more masculine. I suppose a good exercise routine will put the curves where I want them?

I also hear the growth hormones they put in meats pass on to people putting extra mass on all of us, so The low meat diet does sound preferable for an mtf.


I also have concerns about the pharmaceutical aspect. Really about the big companies themselves, not so much the shady little guys you are talking about. They have a weak reputation in many other areas of medicine.

What are the 'legit' hormones derived from? What sorts of processes do they use? What is their marketing dept up to? I believe big pharma needs to be much more transparent. I question their motives in everything, they are not the gods of all that is medicine, they are the snake oil salesmen who managed to pay off the right politicians. I have had family members work for and quit from big pharma, I have heard not so nice things.

needless to say, pharmaceuticals have saved a great many lives, but it is an industry that requires a greater level of scrutiny than it currently is under. I'm not all "noooo pills, all natural".

I'm just all for knowing all I can find out about what I put in my body.

BTW, You can also call me Laura.
I suppose there is a way to change things in my profile settings.

Unfortunately hormones don't affect the voice for transwomen at all as they can for transmen. Speech therapy can help transwomen with their voices greatly though. It is hard, and it's embarrassing, but the results can be good with practice. If indeed this is unsuccessful then a "lift" can be done. Again this has good results as far as I know. Like any surgery there are risks but minimal again as far as I know. You'd need to discuss more in detail with an ear/nose/throat specialist who performs the surgeries.
FFS is popular for some people - hormones will soften your features and skin, creating a more femme look, but for some it's needed to "pass" or just to feel comfortable with their transition. This is fairly safe, but very invasive and can be expensive with a rough recovery. I'd say just see how hormones and speech therapy goes before you start considering surgery.

Yeah, I am going to have to talk with specialists more about what specifically I can do about my voice.
Let's just say that I can do a really good James Earl Jones impression, a have a tough road on that front.

Thing is, I personally, see a voice as very important. We all talk to ourselves, we listen to our own voice all the time.
The deep tone of my voice is a constant reminder of what I DON'T want. No matter how good I can look in the mirror, my voice just pain doesn't fit. And I have little control over the pitch and tone of my voice. I can not do any kind of trained voice activity like sing or be a mimic or act. So coaching will be extremely frustrating.

I see the voice surgery to be almost the most important one. I wouldn't care so much about FFS if I knew the laser treatment will do what I'm looking for.

Medical science is always advancing though.

Not being able to fix my voice is kind of a deal breaker, one that leaves me in a depressed limbo awaiting an early death by way of a deliberately unhealthy lifestyle. I'm pretty much on the edge of giving up. Stuck with this unchangeably, very obviously deep male voice.