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April 22, 2015 -- As many as hundreds of thousands of Americans don’t feel they fit the gender they were born with, and some take steps to change that.
People who wish to live their lives as the opposite sex are known as transgender. A report from The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law estimates that about 700,000 Americans identify this way. But it’s unclear exactly how large the transgender population might be.
We do know, though, that physically changing your sex is a complex process, and not everyone follows the same path. Some people choose hormone therapy alone. Others go further, getting major surgeries to make the transition. Here are the steps involved.
Many doctors require that you first talk to a psychologist or other mental health professional who specializes in gender issues.
First, the therapist will confirm you have gender dysphoria, which used to be caused “gender identity disorder.” People with this condition feel they should be the opposite sex, which causes them distress.
After that, the therapist will gauge your understanding of what’s involved, including the risks and limitations of gender reassignment surgery, and your ability to give informed consent for hormone treatment and, potentially, surgery.
“They also can evaluate whether their patients have a social network that is going to support them or determine that they have enough internal strength to manage on their own,” says Jamison Green, PhD, president of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).
Green says most people have two to three visits. If all goes well, the therapist then refers you to an endocrinologist or hormone specialist.
Hormones control what doctors call secondary sexual characteristics, such as body hair, muscle mass, and breast size.?
Women making the transition to men take male hormones, or androgens. These hormones make them appear more masculine. The treatment:
Female hormones can make men appear more feminine. This treatment: