Transgender persons are the subject of widespread misconceptions. This is a modest effort to increase knowledge of the terms. We made contact with a doctor who discussed the difficulties that local residents face.
The adjective “different” follows the word “transgender” in conversations quite frequently. Ignorance and misunderstandings are widespread, so let’s take a closer look at this.
The term “transgender” is general. “Their anatomy is the same as that of a heterosexual guy or woman. Transgender persons are those who identify as a different gender after being born as either a boy or a girl. Transgender people are referred to as trans-sexuals if they choose to modify their sex to match the gender they identify with. However, these terminology and similar ones are frequently used interchangeably, according to the experts.
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Who Are Transgender Men and Women?
A trans woman is someone who has a male physique from birth yet identifies as female. Those who are born feminine yet identify as men are referred to as transmen. Sex-change surgery is an option for transgender people.
Regardless of their decision, though, their identity is based on the gender they identify with. Due to this, sex and gender are distinct. Therefore, it is usually a wise decision to inquire about someone’s preferred pronouns rather than making assumptions based just on appearance.
Most transgender people are aware of their identity at a very young age, according to medical professionals. As early as six or eight could be the time.
By adolescence, the majority of them have an understanding of who they are or have learned to relate to the sex they were not born into.
The Sex-Change Operation
She explained sex-change procedures in detail, claiming that the transition from male to female is generally simpler than that from female to male. The procedure takes two to five years if someone wants to convert their physique into a woman’s. It takes 6–8 years to transition from a woman to a man in terms of sexual identification.
Psychological testing is the first step in both situations. Since changing your body is a significant step, a psychologist makes sure the person is aware of the difficulties. A individual receives hormonal pills for a year after confirmation.
Anti-testosterone pills would be administered to a transgender person in order to tone down other male characteristics, remove facial hair, and start developing a chest.
In the instance of a transgender person, testosterone pills would be prescribed so that the individual might develop a beard, have a smaller chest, and start losing their exterior female traits.
Doctors frequently check on patients throughout this period to see if they are consistent with using medications and attending scheduled appointments. Around the time of routine checkups, a psychologist, psychiatrist, and group of medical professionals who would perform the sex-change surgery become involved.
In order to live in a location where they may create their new identity, many people who decide to alter their identity leave their families, friends, and cities. They don’t want to be harassed or subjected to insults.
The cost of the surgery alone may range from 2-4 lakh rupees, but the total expense of the years-long process, which includes hormone injections, medications, and doctor visits both before and after the transition, may range from 8-10 lakh rupees.
Teenagers who identify as transgender struggle with puberty
Any adolescent child who experiences puberty struggles. Teens who identify as trans experience both internal and external struggles. For instance, if a person is born a boy but identifies as a female, they may become mindful of their facial hair, male genitalia, flat chest, and other physical characteristics that boys begin to develop as soon as they reach puberty. And someone else would experience the opposite.
A person must be 18 years old before they can alter their sex. Parents and guardians have the authority to make decisions for children under that age. As a result, a lot of people struggle with the problem that their appearance does not reflect who they are. According to a research by the National Institutes of Health, the average age of persons having sex exchanges is 30 in the US.
Transgender People Can Experience Mental Health Issues
A transgender person wants to be friends with people who share their gender identity. But they suffer because of the way their body is different.
Children also begin acting in accordance with the gender they identify with. For instance, a transgender person might begin dressing like a lady or using pronouns that are exclusive to women in foreign languages while the rest of the world sees them as a boy or man.
In these situations, the youngsters are frequently picked on, bullied, made fun of, and other things. Speaking about how transgender persons are treated by medical professionals in India, experts claimed that most doctors treat all patients equally and without prejudice. The course of treatment, however, may also be influenced by a doctor’s perspective and degree of familiarity with the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
Children who identify as transgender frequently begin to isolate themselves and experience melancholy, anxiety, and rage (How To Help Someone Struggling With melancholy). More and more individuals are still not coming out in India. Many transgender persons struggle because society lacks information, especially in rural areas. As a result, they do not feel safe expressing their identity.