Special collaboration: Alex Simon is an American-born and Montreal-based student interested in LGBTQ+ and trans realities. They themselves being non-binary, they proposed the idea to GrS Montreal of writing articles on their blog TransAvenue.

For those looking into possible steps for starting or continuing their transition, hormone replacement therapy (commonly known as HRT) might be a possible puzzle piece that will help alleviate your gender dysphoria. However, not everyone necessarily knows the effects that HRT might have on your body both temporarily and permanently.

Science-lover that I am, I would like to take the time to introduce the hormones typically involved in HRT (testosterone and estrogen) in two separate articles. And while I have a degree in biotechnology, I am in no way a medical specialist, so please contact your doctor or endocrinologist to validate any questions or concerns you may have.

Testosterone is a steroid hormone derived from cholesterol and is composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. In the case of HRT, it is responsible for enabling certain secondary sexual characteristics in AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth) and intersex individuals. It also increases blood cell production. It is given either as an injection or as a gel or patch applied to the skin. Testosterone (or T, for short) varies in dosage, so it’s best to talk with your doctor about the changes you wish to achieve, your current health status and certain risk factors like cardiovascular disease.

The changes that testosterone induces can be either temporary or permanent and the timeline in which these changes can occur vary from person to person. Some individuals might experience all of the changes typically associated with testosterone, while some might experience very few. Some people might notice these changes right away, while for others it may take longer.

The first changes to appear include an oiler complexion and acne, which typically appear within the first month to six months. Afterward, within two to six months your period will cease. These two changes are temporary, meaning they will revert to their initial state when treatment is stopped. Other changes that are considered temporary include facial and body hair growth (three to six months), body fat redistribution (three to six months; less fat will be distributed around your hips and will instead tend to accumulate around the waist), and increased muscle mass (six to twelve months).

Other changes induced by testosterone take much longer to reverse course, or are even irreversible. These include your voice deepening (three to twelve months), clitoral enlargement (three to six months), and possible scalp hair loss (within twelve months).

There are other risks and complications with regards to testosterone. These include weight gain, sleep apnea, cardiovascular problems (if the risk is already present within your family or personal health status), and possible increased risk of psychiatric effects if you already have an underlying condition that involves manic or psychotic symptoms.

In most cases, obtaining HRT requires an assessment from a qualified health professional. In alignment with WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) Standards of Care, the person must have well documented, persistent gender dysphoria, must be able to fully consent and make an informed decision regarding HRT, be the age of majority, and have any pre-existing health conditions under control. If the person is under the age of majority, WPATH also has a Standards of Care section for minors and must be followed by the health professional, given that at a younger age such hormones are considered “puberty suppressants”. Once the request for HRT is validated by the health professional in question, both adults and minors should regularly be followed by a medical practitioner or endocrinologist to ensure the health and well-being of the patient.

L’article What is testosterone? est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

This organization was founded in 2007 with the goal of connecting a network of healthcare providers willing to meet annually to discuss and advance trans health issues and research. CPATH is therefore interested in people who self-identify as trans, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, in transition, non-binary, queer, and men and women with transitional medical histories. For the remainder of this text, we will use the term trans to encompass the entire spectrum outlined above.

Trans people are increasingly visible in society. They represent between 0.5% and 1% of the Canadian population . Also, the number of people requiring transition-related care doubles every five or six years. Although great progress has been made over the years, access to satisfactory healthcare for trans people remains a challenge. Not all healthcare professionals are personally or professionally aware of the issues faced by trans people or the complexities of care.

An american study found that 19% of trans people have experienced a denial of care, 28% have experienced harassment in a medical setting, and 50% report that they have had to educate their doctors about trans care. CPATH works mainly to improve access to health services in a positive way, end stigma, contribute to the development of skills for professionals working with trans people, and generally disseminate information to broaden the inclusion of trans people.

In a two-year process, CPATH also worked towards generating ethical guidelines for research involving trans people and communities. These ethical guidelines list six overarching principles for trans research:

• Attentiveness to Issues of Legitimacy and Impact on Communities;
• Engagement with Communities;
• Consent and Confidentiality;
• Consideration of Diversity, Power, Marginalization and Representation;
• Accountability to Participants and Trans Communities;
• Reflexivity on the Part of Researchers and Research Teams.

These Ethical guidelines were developed by a team of trans people and professionals and are the result of workshops and consultations held at the CPATH conference in Halifax in 2015, at the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) conference in Amsterdam in 2016, and at the Two Spirit and Queer People of Colour Call to Conversation with LGBT & Allies conference in Winnipeg in 2017.

L’article What is the CPATH? est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

Clandestinely performed for the first time in 1946 on Michael Dillon (a man with an impressive career), science has come a long way since, but what is it all about exactly?

What is a Phalloplasty?

Phalloplasty is the construction of a phallus, a scrotum, and a glans. The procedure is complex: it usually takes three surgeries spread over one or two years. In the end, the patient should be able to urinate from a standing position and have penetrative sex as well as orgasms. Phalloplasty consists of creating functional and aesthetic male genitals.

Phalloplasty: The Surgery

At the GrS Montreal Clinic, which specializes in trans care, the method chosen consists in first taking a skin flap from the forearm. This skin flap is then replaced by a thinner graft of skin that is harvested from the thigh. This technique is call “Radial Forearm Free-flap” (RFF). This technique allows for the penis to look more realistic and more sensitive to touch due to the thin skin and the nerve endings of the forearm. Other techniques could be considered in the case where RFF could not be performed.

Thus, the removed skin will be used to construct the phallus. The glans is then built, and the urethra is lengthened so that the patient can urinate from a standing position after the second surgery. The scrotum is created from the labia majora, and the vaginal cavity is closed. A cavity is created for the clitoris at the base of the phallus and the nerve endings are connected to create a sensitive organ with erogenous zones.

During the second surgery, the end of the new urethra is connected to the end of existing urethra and the patient will be able to urinate from a standing position.

A third surgical procedure will be performed to insert testicular implants, which will give shape to the testicles, and a penile implant, which will allow erection. This intervention will conclude the masculinization of the genitals.

Phalloplasty: How to Prepare?

The patient must fulfill several conditions before accessing a phalloplasty. GrS Montreal follows the recommendations of the WPATH.

At least six months beforehand, the patient must undergo a hysterectomy. If smoking cigarettes, the patient must stop completely at least six months before the operation because nicotine impairs healing. They must also make sure to depilate completely and permanently (i.e. by laser) the area where the skin will be retrieved from the arm.

In general, patients who take good care of their health recover better from these major surgeries.

 In Conclusion

The most recent studies show that 95% of patients are satisfied with their phalloplasty. It is recommended that you inquire thoroughly before starting the process, given the complexity of the process. In North America, the GrS Montreal Clinic is at the cutting edge of surgical advances in phalloplasty.

L’article What is a phalloplasty? est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.