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 Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 4:17 am
Boring, optional disclaimer:I try not to be branded a "copycat" with things, but when Nate posted his progress thread, I thought the idea was awesome and really wanted to set one up of my own. Its taken me this long to get around to it because my progress has been quite significantly slower than his, so I didn't see a whole lot of point in posting it. But, something new did happen last week that I would like to share with you guys and get your thoughts on, and I was talking to Nate the other day and he said it would be good to set up my own thread like this, so here goes...
The real story:
I'd like to begin this thread with a quick re-cap of current progress on my path to transition for those who have either forgotten, or simply don't know. I started seeing a psychiartrist about 9 months ago to discuss my "gender confusion". For several months the progress was very slow, we spent most of the time talking about trivial other aspects of my life than the actual issue at hand, because there was little that could be done at that point. Then, back in around May, a double appointment was made by the psychiartrist, for myself, him and a gender specialist from a SR program run by a local hospital. He asked me all the standard questions and was fairly convinced by the end of the session that I was quite serious about who I was and where I wanted to go. Unfortunately, because of my age and the fact that I'm currently in my last year of high school and that must be a priority at the moment, there was little I was able to do other than just continue to talk. However, the discussion did turn to which aspects of of my situation were causing the most grief, and whether anything could be done about these. I, of course, raised the two most feminine aspects of my body; my breasts and my periods. Sure, no one else may know that I have my period, but the very fact that it happens is enough to cause me quite a significant amount of distress because of my belief that it is simply not right. The specialist gave me the name of a doctor who could help out with this, and in a following session with my normal psychiatrist, we drafted a letter to the doctor outlining the situation and asking for his assistance.
History lesson over. The new news is that last week I finally went to see that doctor. It took ages to get an appointment because he seems to be a rather busy man and I had to work it around my practice exams and other school committments. Anyway, last Thursday afternoon, my girlfriend and I made the trek over to the doctor. It took us a good 5 minutes to actually work out where it was, because it was not immediately obvious from the street. I finally noticed a sign on a building that had an arrow indicating the carpark. We walked around, and found the entrance to the clinic in a carpark, up a very dodgy looking metal staircase. At this point I was feeling extremely nervous about what I had got myself into. When we went inside we realised why it seemed so back-alley; it was a gay & lesbian clinic, originally for men infected with HIV. The receptionist and poster depicting two men and explaining STDs was a dead giveaway. xp
After our initial shock, the place seemed pretty alright, quite relaxed and friendly. The receptionist was very nice, asking me to fill out some forms and explaining the privacy policy and various process in a very kind manner, without, (ike some receptionists in my experience tend to do) biting my head off. I felt a little strange sitting there in my school uniform, not really the kind of place you'd expect to find a student from a prestigious, well-known private school.
I only had to wait a few minutes before the doctor came to see me. We went to his office and I nervously gave him the letter I'd held onto for over 2 months. He read over it, asked a few questions and then explained to me my options. Option 1 was obviously T, but that was out of the question due to my underage status and the lack of support from one of my parents, as well as the fact I'm still stuck in a school. Option 2 was the contraceptive pill, which, while I do feel strange taking because it is intended for females, and I like to believe I'm not under that category, it would do the job I desired it for. So after much discussing, he wrote me a prescription for the contraceptive pill. He also gave me some information about local support groups and a website set up by some other patients of his for information for transmen in Australia, which was really cool. And, the best part, was that he said when the time came for me to get a prescription for T, as long as I presented the relevent documentation from a psychiatrist, he would be more than willing to provide it. All in all, that apppointment was definitely worth the trouble.
The question I have for you guys who have bothered to read that horrible wall of text (or if not I'm sure you can answer anyway), is, what do you think about the use of the contraceptive pill to stop your period before you're able to get on T, and if you had the chance, would you do it?
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Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:32 am
Interesting, because I had the solution proposed to me, I mean using the pill to stop periods until I can start T.
I think it would be worth it - Heck, you could wear boxers without having to worry about.. you know. surprised
But then again, it's embarassing for a guy to buy a pill. You can't give the "it's for my girlfriend" excuse, either..
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Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:15 am
Depending on your age, you can do the Depo shot too. You only have to get an appointment for the shot every three months instead of taking a pill every day, and for many it has stopped their periods for the most part. There's still a chance of getting them, but you don't get them every month. I didn't have one for four or so months while on it, but it affects everyone differently. Tends to be cheaper too.
And yeah, it is embarassing for a guy to buy the pills, but you can also have your girlfriend pick them up for you, or another female friend. Even your mother if you're young.
I would do it, personally. It feels strange at first because it feels unnatural for a guy to use such methods, but personally I'd rather take a pill every day than have an accident at work. I've felt more comfortable on the shot because I don't get my period nearly as often, and I've just generally been a happier person.
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Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:07 am
I have a friend who uses the shot. She's really female, tho. And apparently, it really stops. Sounds like a convenient thing.. and it can initiate us to the T shots. 3nodding
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Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 3:35 pm
Hmm... I hope your doctor already discussed the side effects with you, but having seen guys talk about using the pill to stop periods before, a lot report unwanted feminising effects, such as mood swings, breast enlargement and other stuff. That's something you should definitely be aware of - the pill sends your estrogen levels wacky. Depo-provera also has side effects (I believe possible weight gain is among them) but not primarily feminising ones, so transguys usually opt for that over the pill. I'm no expert, since I've never considered these options for myself - menstruation never bothered me much. Just an FYI on the things I've heard other guys say.
Good luck with it, anyway. smile
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Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:55 am
Eridu Hmm... I hope your doctor already discussed the side effects with you, but having seen guys talk about using the pill to stop periods before, a lot report unwanted feminising effects, such as mood swings, breast enlargement and other stuff. That's something you should definitely be aware of - the pill sends your estrogen levels wacky. Depo-provera also has side effects (I believe possible weight gain is among them) but not primarily feminising ones, so transguys usually opt for that over the pill. I'm no expert, since I've never considered these options for myself - menstruation never bothered me much. Just an FYI on the things I've heard other guys say. Good luck with it, anyway. smile
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Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 5:44 am
The last thing I want in me is more damn female hormones, personally. I can remember wanting to get some pills to put off menstruation, a few years ago when I was going on an adventure camp, and my mother flipped out just thinking about those. I'd never be allowed on the mainstream pill; not that I particularly want to, really. My periods are unpleasant and hardly something I welcome, but they don't hurt very much. And I'm unlikely to get laid in the foreseeable future. I'm also very forgetful, which'd c**k things up, not to mention the fact that I would feel kind of weird using them. I get easily hung up on whether doing something makes me appear feminine.
Still, it's a matter of personal choice. If that's what you want to do, then go ahead.
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Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 7:41 pm
Those pills and treatments are estrogen based. Huge blasts of estrogen actually. That's why weight gain is usually a side effect. I don't think that's a healthy choice if you want T at all. The hormonal imbalance puts a big strain on our bodies without any extra estrogen already. That's why they monitor your counts so closely.
Unfortunately, there are some parts of nature we will have to deal with in order to not put ourselves at risk in this. Is it really worth ******** yourself up? Exchanging one set of problems that is heavy emotionally for a set that's damaging physically AND emotionally (possibly fatal) doesn't really seem like something that's worth doing. Please Please PLEASE don't hurt yourself just for something as petty as a biological function. Your body will NEVER function as a biological male's does. Please be patient. If you know you will go on T soon anyway, please just bear it. Perahps I'm overreacting just a bit, but I honestly don't see any good coming from loading yourself up with female hormones and then doing a 180 on your body like that. (Besides, I'm sure they'll have to give you weaker doses of T for much longer to regulate you which will start your periods back anyway because while you're waiting for the T to stop the cycle, you can't be on the estrogen based hormone. Or something. I'm no doctor. Just concerned.
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Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:16 am
SilentReaper Those pills and treatments are estrogen based. Huge blasts of estrogen actually. That's why weight gain is usually a side effect. I don't think that's a healthy choice if you want T at all. The hormonal imbalance puts a big strain on our bodies without any extra estrogen already. That's why they monitor your counts so closely. Unfortunately, there are some parts of nature we will have to deal with in order to not put ourselves at risk in this. Is it really worth ******** yourself up? Exchanging one set of problems that is heavy emotionally for a set that's damaging physically AND emotionally (possibly fatal) doesn't really seem like something that's worth doing. Please Please PLEASE don't hurt yourself just for something as petty as a biological function. Your body will NEVER function as a biological male's does. Please be patient. If you know you will go on T soon anyway, please just bear it. Perahps I'm overreacting just a bit, but I honestly don't see any good coming from loading yourself up with female hormones and then doing a 180 on your body like that. (Besides, I'm sure they'll have to give you weaker doses of T for much longer to regulate you which will start your periods back anyway because while you're waiting for the T to stop the cycle, you can't be on the estrogen based hormone. Or something. I'm no doctor. Just concerned.
Look, I appreciate the concern, thanks very much for voicing it, cause I didn't think about it and the doctor hasn't mentioned anything. I have an appointment with him in a few weeks so I'll bring it up with him then. I just don't think I could take having to put up with that thing anymore, especially during my final exams, cause it makes me all wacky. Sure, its female hormones, which are oh so wrong, but as long as it can keep me sane I'll deal with it. I hadn't thought about what to do later with T though... can't just switch straight over? Bugger...
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Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 5:30 am
Update time! (Yes I have given away the horribly small font, bad eyes)
I saw the doctor again who gave me the prescription for the contraceptive pill. Besides some spotting, its been going pretty well. I asked him about going from one hormone to another, the problem that Reap suggested earlier, and he said there is no risk at all in it. I could even start T while still on the pill.
Also, I was discussing with my psychiartrist about where I'm going at the end of the year when I'm more independent, and he said he'll set me up an appointment with the head of er... I'm not sure of its exact name, but the gender reassignment clinic at Monash Medical Centre. Sounds really good to me!
Well, there's my update. I hope everything is going alright for everyone else.
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Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 5:55 pm
Uhm.. I don't know if anyone still cares about this, but my doctor prescribed me a pill that doesn't have estrogen yet works anyway.
So basically, none of the side effects, no hormonal un-balance!
It's something called the N.. n something. A complicated name. But yeah, it's good for those who are gonna do T.
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:01 am
[Envy v.4] Uhm.. I don't know if anyone still cares about this, but my doctor prescribed me a pill that doesn't have estrogen yet works anyway. So basically, none of the side effects, no hormonal un-balance! It's something called the N.. n something. A complicated name. But yeah, it's good for those who are gonna do T. That would be awesome. Its not the mood swings that get me with this pill, its the breast size increase. gonk Another update: I saw my psychiatrist last week and he is setting me up with a gender clinic run at a local medical centre. Hopefully the ball will start rolling from there.
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:19 pm
PsychoTeddy [Envy v.4] Uhm.. I don't know if anyone still cares about this, but my doctor prescribed me a pill that doesn't have estrogen yet works anyway. So basically, none of the side effects, no hormonal un-balance! It's something called the N.. n something. A complicated name. But yeah, it's good for those who are gonna do T. That would be awesome. Its not the mood swings that get me with this pill, its the breast size increase. gonk Another update: I saw my psychiatrist last week and he is setting me up with a gender clinic run at a local medical centre. Hopefully the ball will start rolling from there. Wait, what? They do breast increase?! Oh dear. Well, I don't think it worked on me. Take -that- body! -Is still 34A- Ah, and I stopped them a week ago. I'm on T -Dances- Wewt! You go, man.
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Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 2:53 pm
I haven't been here in a while as I have been busy working/getting ready to start uni, but I'll be around every now and then to say hi and post stuff!
I have a bit of an update for you all. I am currently living part-time as a male. I have chosen Teddy (Theodore for formal occasions) as my name, and that has been going pretty well so far. I got myself a binder from Underworks (thanks for the info Bas!) and cut my hair short. I am now passing as a 12 year old boy, which, while that isn't my actual age, is better than an any age girl. Unfortunately, at work and at home I still have to be my female self, so I can't get a legal name change until I move out of home.
As for the gender clinic, this too has been put on hold until I can move out of home due to my mother's belief that I am "too young" to be making such a decision. Just a little longer I guess...
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![[Envy v.4]'s avatar](https://a1cdn.gaiaonline.com/dress-up/avatar/ava/c5/56/4a0a4e6e1556c5_flip.png?t=1299705103_6.00_11)
