Gender identity is the internal personal sense of being a man, woman, or outside the binary gender identity. For transgender people, this identity differs from the gender they were assigned at birth. While gender identity differs from sexual orientation, it is no easier to change. For this reason, transgender individuals seek to align their bodies with their gender identity. Consequently, certain transgender health issues frequently arise within this population.
There are different degrees of transgender identity. Transvestites like to cross-dress as members of the opposite sex but do not wish to become the other sex. Drag queens and drag kings are somewhat intermediate, appearing neither feminine nor masculine. Then there are those who feel they either do not belong to either the male or female gender, or they feel a little bit of each.
Transexuals are those who believe they were assigned the wrong gender to fit their own gender identity. These people have an overwhelming drive to live and be accepted as a member of the opposite gender to which they were assigned at birth. They may opt for gender reassignment to make themselves look like the gender with which they identify. Gender reassignment treatment involves a combination of surgery, hormone therapy and psychological counselling.
From a surprisingly young age, children may begin expressing behavior that may indicate they have been born with the "wrong" gender. Take the case of Nick, whose mother noticed that he started playing conventionally girly games from the age of two. By the age of four, he told her God had made a mistake when he made him a boy. By the age of six, he expressed the desire to change his gender.
Fortunately, sympathetic doctors exist who will offer to administer hormone injections to block the child going through a psychologically distressing puberty until they have made a thorough decision as to which gender feels right for them. Some of these teens follow through with a full gender reassignment. Many of these people may have otherwise been driven to commit suicide.
Exposed to social disapproval and often open hostility, transgender individuals have a higher likelihood than the general population to experience severe mental distress. They are on the receiving end of harassment and violent behavior, to which they respond by becoming depressed, often leading them to self-harm or commit suicide. They will avoid seeking medical attention.
Many providers of medical care lack the necessary grasp of transgender issues. Feeling inadequate, they may turn patients away. It is also true that many gender-associated problems are not covered by health insurance. This puts up another barrier to the transgender population to receive access to medical care. This is a serious problem, because occasionally people who have undergone gender reassignment develop cancer in their "old" sexual organs.
Fortunately, there are a number of helpful organizations that offer help. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is one such organization. Among its missions are to promote evidence based care and respect for trans patients. The Mermaids charity exists to support children, teens and families with gender identity issues. The Center of Excellence for Transgender Health focuses on HIV prevention, routine care, mental wellness and cultural competency.
There are different degrees of transgender identity. Transvestites like to cross-dress as members of the opposite sex but do not wish to become the other sex. Drag queens and drag kings are somewhat intermediate, appearing neither feminine nor masculine. Then there are those who feel they either do not belong to either the male or female gender, or they feel a little bit of each.
Transexuals are those who believe they were assigned the wrong gender to fit their own gender identity. These people have an overwhelming drive to live and be accepted as a member of the opposite gender to which they were assigned at birth. They may opt for gender reassignment to make themselves look like the gender with which they identify. Gender reassignment treatment involves a combination of surgery, hormone therapy and psychological counselling.
From a surprisingly young age, children may begin expressing behavior that may indicate they have been born with the "wrong" gender. Take the case of Nick, whose mother noticed that he started playing conventionally girly games from the age of two. By the age of four, he told her God had made a mistake when he made him a boy. By the age of six, he expressed the desire to change his gender.
Fortunately, sympathetic doctors exist who will offer to administer hormone injections to block the child going through a psychologically distressing puberty until they have made a thorough decision as to which gender feels right for them. Some of these teens follow through with a full gender reassignment. Many of these people may have otherwise been driven to commit suicide.
Exposed to social disapproval and often open hostility, transgender individuals have a higher likelihood than the general population to experience severe mental distress. They are on the receiving end of harassment and violent behavior, to which they respond by becoming depressed, often leading them to self-harm or commit suicide. They will avoid seeking medical attention.
Many providers of medical care lack the necessary grasp of transgender issues. Feeling inadequate, they may turn patients away. It is also true that many gender-associated problems are not covered by health insurance. This puts up another barrier to the transgender population to receive access to medical care. This is a serious problem, because occasionally people who have undergone gender reassignment develop cancer in their "old" sexual organs.
Fortunately, there are a number of helpful organizations that offer help. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is one such organization. Among its missions are to promote evidence based care and respect for trans patients. The Mermaids charity exists to support children, teens and families with gender identity issues. The Center of Excellence for Transgender Health focuses on HIV prevention, routine care, mental wellness and cultural competency.
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