Transgenders express sex change regret...

[PrimeSuspect]

I'll ask again: is a person with AIS male or female?

Generally speaking, a complete AIS person would present as female, but she doesn't have a uterus or menstruate and has the genetic makeup of a male.

 

[Nova]

Or it could be that, as usual, psychiatrists are finding what they want to find. The problem is that our culture is steeped in gender bias and sees the "gender" differences it wants to see....

(Emphasis added.) I think we need to see some sort of proof for that comment. Statistics, maybe? Or are you just reading Scientology literature?

As for inadequacies in the existing research on sexual orientation and/or identity, I don't think anybody questions that more research must be done. In the meantime, people like mmmagique and her daughter have to make decisions based on the research that exists.

 

[Nova]

I never said anything about being natural. In situations like this I tend to think "what is the worst that could happen???"

In THIS case I would think "If we don't do anything now the decision CAN be made later with equally good results" vs. "If we do something now and later realize it was a mistake, the decision will have negative lifelong physical consequences".

Did you read my post when you quoted it? I was quite clear that I was not referring to anything you said when I spoke of "natural" inclinations in favor of the "status quo".

But then you seem to demonstrate exactly what I was talking about when you insist there will be no negative consequences of a delay.

 

[Nova]

Oh and Lauren Bacall actually learned how to drop her voice by an octave. A deep female voice is in fact very desirable, men find it very soothing (I have a fairly deep voice and have received many professional compliments on it, especially on conference calls).

A woman doesn't get THAT low a voice through mere practice. Having worked and, on one occasion, bar-hopped with Betty (her given name and the one she asked people to use in person), I suspect a lifetime of cigarettes and alcohol helped.

Neither of which ever affected her work onstage (other than helping to produce that unique voice), as far as I could tell. She was a great star and absolutely charismatic on stage.

 

[tiredblondy]

What a wonderful parent you are! I wish I could have done the same with my daughter earlier in her life. Her fear of disappointing me and losing my love caused her so much turmoil as she was growing up. She never shared with me how she really felt. I suspected because of the masculine characteristics. She hated dresses, walked like a guy and was very masculine from age 6 on. She played sports and was on a boys baseball team. Bless her heart she even found a beautiful dress and tolerated it for the prom and had a date. (I suspect to please me) She tells me now she was never attracted to guys except as buddies.

I'm so sorry I gave her the impression she would lose me or my love. It's been a long hard journey and she and I are closer than ever now. I've educated myself as much as possible and continue to do so. It's almost a happy ending but she did lose her Dad. He has refused to see her, talk to her, etc. That has really hurt her. It's so sad because it's his loss. (We have divorced.)

She is a vibrant, effervescent, irrepressible, bubbly beautiful adult. Anyone who knows her loves her.

Oh as far as transgender goes-even though she says she thinks like a male (has always thought like a male) and feels like one (trapped in her body) she has never had any desire to have any sex change surgery. We joke about it now between us because there are truly times she looks so so male.We have such wonderful conversations now and so open.

I'm so glad your daughter feels she can come to you. You have done so much right. I just wanted you to know my opinion because I did not and I could have lost her forever!

For those more knowledgeable than I am about transgender vs gay I'll be happy for you to correct me if I have stated anything wrong above.

I know I quoted my own post but I wanted to add some information. We adopted my daughter when she was 4 yrs old. She had been in foster homes for 2 years before. I had always told her I would help her meet her birth family when she was older, (8 brothers and sisters) After high school we arranged to meet her birth family. What I thought was so interesting was that she had two aunts that were gay. According to the family there had been at least one gay person born in every generation.

So here was my daughter, sitting with them, same mannerisms, very similar physical characteristics,yet she had never met them before. (according to the family) As far as I'm concerned, there is a definite genetic link. I will never be convinced otherwise.

 

[LaborDayRN]

I know I quoted my own post but I wanted to add some information. We adopted my daughter when she was 4 yrs old. She had been in foster homes for 2 years before. I had always told her I would help her meet her birth family when she was older, (8 brothers and sisters) After high school we arranged to meet her birth family. What I thought was so interesting was that she had two aunts that were gay. According to the family there had been at least one gay person born in every generation.

So here was my daughter, sitting with them, same mannerisms, very similar physical characteristics,yet she had never met them before. (according to the family) As far as I'm concerned, there is a definite genetic link. I will never be convinced otherwise.

I have to agree with you. Scientists are discovering more about our genetic makeup every day.

 

[K_Z]

I'll ask again: is a person with AIS male or female?

Generally speaking, a complete AIS person would present as female, but she doesn't have a uterus or menstruate and has the genetic makeup of a male.

AIS (Androgen insensitivity syndrome) and "Ambiguous Genitalia" are really separate medical issues, from what we might consider culturally "standard" transgender issues. Culturally standard, meaning, when a person is born with a definitive gender and definitive genitalia and reproductive organs. However, it's a relevant specialty area involved with how we medically "treat" what is termed "DSDs"-- disorders of sexual development. Some resources:

(This organization has been re-named and re-organized as the Accord Alliance, linked below, but included for reference purposes.)

http://www.isna.org/

The Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) was founded in 1993 in an effort to advocate for patients and families who felt they had been harmed by their experiences with the health care system.

The Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) is devoted to systemic change to end shame, secrecy, and unwanted genital surgeries for people born with an anatomy that someone decided is not standard for male or female.

•In August 2006 a new standard of care was published in Pediatrics. The Consensus Statement on Management of Intersex Disorders is an important inroad to resolving this crisis, and it incorporates many of the concepts and changes long advocated by ISNA.

Although it is far from perfect, some of the ground-breaking changes advocated in the Consensus Statement (CS) include:

•Progress in patient-centered care: The CS states that psychosocial support is integral to care, that ongoing open communication with patients and families is essential and that it helps with well-being; that genital exams and medical photography should be limited; and that care should be more focused on addressing stigma not solely gender assignment and genital appearance.

•More cautious approach to surgery: The CS recommends no vaginoplasty in children; clitoroplasty only in more “severe” cases”; and no vaginal dilation before puberty. It also states that the functional outcome of genital surgeries should be emphasized, not just cosmetic appearance. Perhaps most importantly it acknowledges there is no evidence that early surgery relieves parental distress.

•Getting rid of misleading language: By getting rid of a nomenclature based on “hermaphroditism,” our hope is that this shift will help clinicians move away from the almost exclusive focus on gender and genitals to the real medical problems people with DSD face. Improving care can now be framed as healthcare quality improvement, something medical professionals understand and find compelling.

And the new organization:

http://www.accordalliance.org/

In 2007, ISNA sponsored and convened a national group of health care and advocacy professionals to establish a nonprofit organization charged with making sure the new ideas about appropriate care are known and implemented across the country.

This organization, Accord Alliance, opened its doors in March, 2008, and will continue to lead national efforts to improve DSD-related health care and outcomes. Accord Alliance believes that improving the way health care is made available and delivered is essential to ensure that people receive the services and support they need to lead healthy, happy lives.

With Accord Alliance in place, ISNA can close its doors with the comfort and knowledge that its work will continue to have an impact.

More references:

CLINICAL GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF DISORDERS OF SEX DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDHOOD

http://www.accordalliance.org/dsdguidelines/htdocs/clinical/index.html

Handbook for Parents: Consortium on the Management of Disorders of Sex Development

http://www.accordalliance.org/dsdguidelines/htdocs/parents/index.html

 

[msmorgan69]

Gender dysphoria is an actual biological and psychological condition. And to have surgery one must be diagnosed with it first. (Speaking only for US only)