Let’s say I, a middle aged cis man went to my doctor, wanting gender affirming care, and my doctor wanted to provide - what, if anything, would the treatment/care consist of? Just making sure my testosterone level was up to Hegseth-approved standards?
I have a testosterone gel I apply daily and get regular blood tests to monitor my hormones.
Gave me chest hair, thicker facial hair, and decent erections.
I thought those gels were a scam. Do you apply it where you want (more) hair growth?
I’m sure the internet is full of scam gels. In the US, I’m pretty sure you need a doctor’s prescription for the real thing.
Just a heads up so you’re sure you’re both talking about the same thing here.
Possibly, my impression is 100% based on internet advertising and what I’ve seen for sale at US gas stations. I’m thankful I don’t need it, I just wasn’t aware that non-scam versions of creams like that existed.
I rub it into my underarms where the skin is thinnest. It just increases your T levels so more body hair starts growing, it’s not like rogain.
It definitely works, I go into a 3rd party lab for a blood test every three months so I can see exactly where my hormone levels are at, they also test liver, blood numbers, and look for any cancer signifiers.
These was perscribed to me by one of those online telehealth deals, they also do boner pills and hair loss stuff.
Glad it works for you. Remote tele health is an actual doctor, right? As in, all the credentials, just not in-person appointment? That makes it immediately more legit than the banner ads I saw on shad6 websites eons ago…
Yeah it’s a real doctor, but it’s definitely a bit of a pillmill. They’re very eager to give you whatever you want.
Erectile dysfunction medication, prostate care, testosterone suppliments and male hormone medications and treatments, and plenty of other things along those lines would certainly qualify as gender affirming care.
Yes it exists. It can be adjusting testosterone/estrogen if not at good level, hair transplant, etc But I only know the surface level, not really the details much
Would saving someone’s life technically be affirming their gender
That’s like asking if you can have an arm treated for being broken when it’s not actually broken.
Or like having your penis treated to become a penis when it’s already a penis.What’s wrong with you?
That’s just like, your opinion man
Testosterone and estrogen supplements, dick pills, breast augmentation.
Thats just off the top of my head. Trans people are demonized for things cis people do every day
Yes and no.
While a wide range of medical treatments could be called that with 100% real world accuracy and validity, that isn’t how the term “gender affirming care” is used by doctors on a regular basis at this point in time. That might change in the future, but you’re asking about now, and about asking a physician.
So, in the current world, that doctor is going to wonder what kind of fuckery you’re pulling, and likely find a way to avoid you in the future.
Gender affirming care has a narrow range of definitions medically currently. None of those definitions include treatments that are related to a person that has congruency with their assigned gender. Things like hormone supplementation for cis women or men just isn’t that. Gynecomastia treatments aren’t gender affirming care either.
Is it in the process of changing to where that is part of the medical usage of the term? Kinda, but it’s changing from the outside in, so I’m dubious it’ll be a dominant usage any time soon.
See, if you’re cis, all medical care is gender affirming to some degree. Some of that is stretching the concept to the breaking point, but the core of the term is about providing care that modifies the body from one’s assumed gender to that which matches the internal gender. In other words, if you aren’t trans or non binary, or some other flavor other than cis, the care isn’t transformative in the same way. It just isn’t. Hrt during menopause has a different goal and a different application than hrt for transition on a medical level.
No matter how we use the term colloquially, there is absolutely a difference between colloquial usage and in-jargon usage of any term. In this case, the colloquial usage is being shifted because it radically cruel and morally wrong to deny care to those in need of it for transition when the exact same meds and procedures are often covered by insurance for cis people. The difference between the application of modalities is irrelevant on a social level because no matter that the goal of the treatment is different, it is still a treatment that not only improves lives, it saves them.
But, again, that is not the same thing as current usages within medicine. It’ll take time and effort to change that.
Edit: the other part of your question is what would that care look like. The part about the doctor wondering what kind of fuckery you were pulling is the real answer.
That being said, if it wasn’t, and the terminology did change, then what you suggested is likely to be the first thing. Your hormone levels would be tested and, if not adequate for function, supplemented. Secondary to that, you would need to consult a cosmetic surgeon for any appearance related issues.
Vision correction isn’t gender affirming care. Diabetes treatment isn’t gender affirming care. Heart transplants aren’t gender affirming care. If the scope of what is commonly or medically termed gender affirming care is broadened, these will not be included, because they have nothing to do with gender.
And your point is?
Seriously, as a tangent it’s fine, but it’s rather badly formed. I don’t think anyone claimed that diabetes is gender affirming. And nobody with sense could read my comment and think that I’m claiming either that, or that a future definition of gender affirming care won’t involve things which are substantially similar to treatments currently grouped under that heading.
So, I’m not sure why you’re bringing heart transplants or diabetes up, it makes zero sense in this context.
See, if you’re cis, all medical care is gender affirming to some degree. Some of that is stretching the concept to the breaking point, but the core of the term is about providing care that modifies the body from one’s assumed gender to that which matches the internal gender.
That’s what you said. Not all care is about gender because not everything about being alive is about gender. That is irrespective of whether your cis or trans. That isn’t stretching the concept to the breaking point, but well beyond it.
Oh, ffs I have no clue how you read that and got some kind of direct link to unrelated shit, but whatever.
I had breast cancer. The chemo and mastectomy were cancer care. The reconstruction of my breast is not cancer care, it is gender affirming care, having two breasts affirms my gender as a cis woman.
Reconstruction is not necessary at all for cancer care and in fact causes more surgeries than if I was to just have the cancer removed and go on the rest of my life with one boob.
They just don’t call it “gender affirming” care if you are cis, they just call it healthcare.
I have some many questions… feel free to answer as many as you want, if any at all:
- Where does the breast tissue come from?
- How does one sculpt a nipple?
- Are they as sensitive as before? I mean, on the receiving end of stimuli, does it feel like an organically grown whole grain breast, or is it more like… uh… elbow skin? I have no idea how the neuroplastics would work…
- Does having breast cancer on one side automatically increase the chances of cancer on the other side? I would think symmetry isn’t a given?
- Were you able or allowed to choose size and shape? (If so, did you go for the tried and true original?)
- Hope you’re doing well today. Not a question, I just wanted to say (write) it. Live long and prosper.
Sorry for the stupid questions, but of all places I feel this is a safe space for them…
Not the OP, but knowing someone who’s been through something similar I can answer a few of your questions. She had this surgery nearly two decades ago, so modern procedures may be completely different:
- Adipose tissue and skin from the belly was moved to the breast. The tissue was left completely intact, including nerves and blood vessels.
- A nipple was tattooed onto her skin, no tissue sculpting, etc.
- Since all the nerves and vascular system was intact, any sensation on her new ‘breast’ was still mapped to her belly.
- Her new breast was sculpted to be the same size and shape as the healthy one.
- Since her new breast was made with belly tissue, any weight gain/loss may be uneven compared to her other breast.
There is a lot of different answers to these questions, I’ll give you the jist, then my specific answer.
Where does the breast tissue come from?
There is two main ways to do reconstruction - the most comment is breast implant. In this case they remove all of the breast tissue and leave just the skin. The remaining space is filled with a implant and the size of the implant is determined by how much skin you have. The second way it can be done is to transplant tissue from another part of your body to the breast area, it is usually from either the belly area (DEIP Flap) or from the back area (TRAM Flap). This type of surgery requires the surgery match up the tissue transplant on a vascular level (vein by vein) to make sure the transplanted tissue does not die.
I had a DEIP flap reconstruction - it requires almost a week hospital stay due to how complex the surgery is and recovery is 6-8 weeks, but honestly its been just about a two years and I am still recovering and also I have an additional revision surgery that I still need because - no I am not even close to being even.
How does one sculpt a nipple?
They typically do not. Normally the nipple is removed entirely. In the reconstruction I have heard of the nipple being rebuild but, its not nipple tissue, so its not the right color and it cannot react to environmental stimuli and from what I’ve seen, gets stuck sort of “hard”. When the nipple is removed most people will opt for a tattoo replacement. They look very very real and you don’t have the issue permanently smuggling raisins around. I was able to keep my nipple, visually it looks like a nipple, but I can no longer feel it.
Are they as sensitive as before?
No they lose all sensation, can’t even feel the skin, so not even like elbow skin, totally numb. They had to rebuild my stomach and belly button, so I also cannot feel anything across my lower abdomen either.
Does having breast cancer on one side automatically increase the chances of cancer on the other side? I would think symmetry isn’t a given?
No, the risk of recurrence is the same. If I was to have the same type of cancer in my other breast it would be a recurrence, not new cancer and after treatment my risk of recurrence is lower than my chance of getting a totally new type of cancer.
Were you able or allowed to choose size and shape? (If so, did you go for the tried and true original?)
Short answer no, long answer I was not very well endowed to begin with and my reconstruction was limited by the amount of tissue I could use for transplanting. So, again no and also they aren’t both the same size anymore, the reconstructed one is quite a bit smaller and not really the right shape, which is what I am going back in for more surgery to fix. If you had way more breast tissue than I did, there is more options for reconstruction, but from the woman I have talked to, most people end up going smaller or staying the same. Going up larger brings in a lot of complication and can only happen if you get a implant reconstruction and not a transplant.
Hope you’re doing well today. Not a question, I just wanted to say (write) it. Live long and prosper.
Thanks I plan on it 🖖
Just want to also point out for readers that this entire comment is only about gender affirming care and has nothing to do with medically treating cancer, but because we are affirming my breasts for my gender as a cis woman, its just healthcare.
Thank you for this. I still have many questions but at least they’re fewer now.
Also, “smuggling raisins around” is a new favorite term of mine
breast implants to rectify the disfigurement from breast cancer is pretty valid. most of the time, its for “i need bigger boobs, is because men like it”
Hey so, I get you are trying to sound supportive, but let me offer some constructive feed back. (1) referring to someone’s reconstruction as correcting “disfigurement” is tone deaf at best and out right rude at worst. Read the room. (2) You don’t get to decide if a surgery is valid, be it cosmetic or otherwise. Only the person being operated on gets to make that call. You are looking from the outside in with 1% of the information the patient is working with. Your judgement on other peoples medical care is not needed or appreciated.
i dont see how you think breast cancer isnt causing some disfigurement issues? how else would describe it, and you are condescending asf yourself.
Guys who take testosterone supplements from the gas station becsuse they don’t feel manly.
Guys who have reconstructive surgery to their penis after it gets mangled by whatever they stuck it in because not having a working dick makes them not feel manly.
Taking steroids to cheat at getting bigger muscles because it would make them feel more manly.
well I worked at a job where a trans person was asking if electrolysis would be covered and I can only assume a woman wanting to be more womanly would want that to. Heck breast augmentation is kinda popular. I do feel stuff like that should not be limited.
electrolysis
Autocorrect with skynet aspirations, or is this a medical procedure I’ve never heard of?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrology
Hair removal by electrolysis
maybe I messed it up but whatever the getting rid of leg hair thing is.
Laser hair removal?
yeah. actually. that sounds more right.
Not exactly. Electrolysis is a needle inserted into a hair follicle’s surrounding skin pore, and electricity is passed into the root bulb of the hair to kill the hair root. It’s permanent. Has to be done during the hair’s growth phase. It’s one hair specific and a slow process but when it works the results are permanent.
Laser hair removal is a laser light shown on patch of skin that burns an active hair bulb to kill and or stunt a hair’s growth. This is more a shotgun approach compared to electrolysis. Works better on pale skin.
Viagra/cialis/etc and testosterone supplements if your numbers are “low” are the most common for men.
What about Truck Nutz?
That sounds more like gender affirming self care
Yes. Viagra, breast implants, breast reduction, hair transplants, laser hair removal, cosmetic surgery, even Musk’s botched penis job are all forms of gender affirming surgery
In fact, the US military has been pushing it for soldiers via testosterone supplements
Well, yeah. I’m a cis woman who takes oestrogen because they removed my ovaries; I do so for gendered reasons, there’s a reason why I don’t take testosterone instead which would be an equally valid way of replacing my missing hormones from a physiological perspective. I also shave my face for gendered reasons, because people are a lot more judgemental about women having facial hair than men. Cis men who are born with penises but lose them get phalloplasty. And so on.
yes. from as small as hair transplants to blue chews. heck even the mil will give low t soldiers shots.
