Delaying puberty
I occasionally dip in and out of the New Scientist podcasts, which are generally very good. This week features a interesting interview on new research into treating transsexuals, particularly by delaying puberty in teenagers suffering from GID.
I'm not going to get deep into the ethics of it all, but it generally does sound like a positive step, if the right checks and balances are carried out.
The medical practitioners working with young people with GID have very difficult decisions to make, but the overriding concern should be to do the least amount of harm to an individual. If early (and, if necessary, reversible) steps can prevent a person from long-term psychological and physical damage, then that's got to be a good thing.
You can download the MP3 directly here, the interview itself starts 7 minutes in. Apparently the interview also features as an article in this week's magazine.
I'm not going to get deep into the ethics of it all, but it generally does sound like a positive step, if the right checks and balances are carried out.
The medical practitioners working with young people with GID have very difficult decisions to make, but the overriding concern should be to do the least amount of harm to an individual. If early (and, if necessary, reversible) steps can prevent a person from long-term psychological and physical damage, then that's got to be a good thing.
You can download the MP3 directly here, the interview itself starts 7 minutes in. Apparently the interview also features as an article in this week's magazine.
My default mode is to be a little sceptical about the motives of the researchers - is this research entirely for the benefit of 'people like me' (I was diagnosed as being gender dysphoric last year) - or is it simply the basis of a postgrad's academic thesis? Is this 'treatment' in pursuit of a 'cure' - can the condition be 'cured'? - or is the aim simply to help alleviate some of the more distressing aspects of the condition? Should we seek to celebrate our diversity or is this research trying to make us all identikit 'normal' people? What is their view on the 'gender binary' (is there really only 'male' and 'female' and nothing in between)? As you suggest, there are some big ethical questions that need consideration.
And, as an aside, over 6 months into my transition, I'm decidedly uncomfortable with the acronym GID - I know precisely what my gender identity is, and I certainly don't consider myself to be 'suffering' from a 'disorder', as implied by the label...
Ooh, I am a moody cow tonight...
As I move around a lot I have to change doctors on a quite regular basis and they insist on putting down that I am post op trans as a problem.
There is NO problem I am fit, health and very happy.
Their medical database is a pick and choose your ailments type and has no option for a post op with no problems.
I do not need to be "cured" - yes I may need HRT for the rest of my life but there is nothing wrong with me!!
Paula
I haven't listened to the pod-cast, but I have watched several, recent, documentaries on 'GID' (or whatever this weeks label is). It would appear that open-minded / sympathetic / enlightened medical practitioners are prescribing drugs to delay the onset of puberty in patients diagnosed as GID. As far as I am aware, the sole reasons for doing this are (a) to buy time for the patient to consider their options and reach an age where they are legally able to make the necessary decisions and (b) if the patient decides to transition, it is generally accepted that a 'better' outcome is achieved if treatment starts before the onset of puberty; therefore...
This is great news! I'm so happy for you! Yay you! ^_^
Hxxx
Allison who forgot her password!
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