Transgender Healthcare: Where Do I Go From Here? from Serenity's blog

After attaining a certain age, every child can differentiate between simple details like telling a boy from a girl. A transgender child may not be able to. A Transwoman is a woman who was assigned male at birth. The term ‘assigned’ means the person did not have a chance to choose. Someone chose for them. In fact, in other settings transgender people are required to undergo genital surgery before their gender is legally accepted.

According to statistics done by the USA National library of medicine 2017, trans people contributed approximately 0·3–0·5% of the world population but it is hard to find an accurate database for Trans today. Trans community has tried to raise its voice in the recent years but far fewer are open about it making them a highly unidentifiable group within population datasets. This has led to trans having low rates of access to health services or getting in contact with medical services. They experience poor health services than cis (non-trans people). While seeking medical assistance, a transgender person suffers a range of issues including violence, legal barriers, stigma and discrimination. Some few countries globally now recognize them as a “third gender”. In a 2011 report from the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 78% of transgender who opened up had experienced verbal harassment and 35% had experienced physical assault. By one survey, 28% of transgender individuals reported having experienced harassment in a medical setting and 19% having been denied medical services due to their gender identity. In many parts of the world, trans people continue to face discrimination at work and when seeking medical services. Ironically, trans people have equal legal right to access medical assistance but who else will ensure this happens apart from themselves?

Understanding the Medical Needs of a Transgender Person

Like any other human being, trans people also get sick and require professional medical assistance. One common issue among the transgender people is gender identity disorder also known as Gender dysphoria (GD). It’s a condition that makes the person feel like they are trapped in the wrong body. They feel a strong desire to ‘correct the wrong’ A transgender needs to know that there is nothing wrong with being different. There are so many people out there who are the same. At transgender dating site, you will find people who are like you and ready to have a relationship regardless. It is the only place where you meet all in one inclusive environment.

The term Gender Dysphoria is however, not fit since GD is not a mental illness. The anxiety, depression and stress that go along with it is the only thing that needs addressing. Gender dysphoria causes distress, restlessness, anxiety, and depression. Extreme cases can affect normal life in school, work or social activities. Treating this disorder is very important. The best part is, these cases are all treatable. Mostly, they affect the emotional part so start from there.

While treating, the goal is not to change how one feels about who they are but to deal with the distress that comes from those feelings.

Gender Nonconformity (GNC) is a broader name that can be used instead. It describes people who feel neither male nor female (genderqueer). GD is not homosexuality. The gender you are attracted to is different from your inner sense of gender.

Human Rights Watch World Report 2016 say, they are as much 50 times more likely to be infected by HIV than the total population. Other medical issues may include aftermath of hormone use like heart diseases, silicone injections to enhance their appearance and hormonal therapy used to enhance gender traits.

Understanding your partner’s health status is the basis of a healthy relationship. You will relate easily with a transgender person and successfully support your partner when they seek medical help.

Estimates say 71% of people with GD will have mental issues in their lifetime. That may include, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, depression, eating disorder, suicide attempts and drug abuse. Seek treatment from a professional medic or a therapist. They advise which method better suites you or your partner. Going to therapy with a partner who loves and cares like the one you find on our transgender dating app, can be more effective and comfortable.

Treatment Methods

Transgender health and treatment is an expensive medical process involve medical professionals like psychiatrists, endocrinologists, gynecologists and surgeons. It therefore includes;

  Puberty Blockers

In the early stages of puberty, prescribed hormones like estrogen or testosterone may be prescribed to suppress physical changes. A professional should be involved to advice on pros and cons mostly the young ones.

  Hormones

Estrogen hormones in adults and teens, may be used to develop the physical traits of the gender they identify with.

  Surgery

It helps the transition. It is a sex realignment surgery. Some people do the entire process and others choose to have some procedures done to align the look with their feelings. Surgery can bring relief and resolve feelings of gender dysphoria.

In conclusion, significant knowledge gaps are evident and there is lack of representation of transgender data in the medical journals. More research is needed to bridge the gap that exists and improve the care of transgender community. Procedures like opt-in consent should be carefully considered to ensure the individual right to privacy is not breached. There is a need to engage the transgender community to allow them participate and air their voices, concerns to enhancing their medical care. If the public health and the wider community do not act, trans people’s health might continue to be compromised while the rest of the population continue to reap from the benefits of big data.

The transgender people need to love themselves first and exercise their legal right to public health. Come out and seek medical services. Don’t die in silence for diseases that are treatable and manageable. The best therapy is having a true friend and someone who cares and at TransSingle, you will find one.