I understand the secondary characteristics being an issue when you are genuinely suffering with dysmorphia. However, to the original commenter’s point, there are absolutely reports of people on all sides of transition who wish they hadn’t messed so much with formative biology.
This is not to suggest I don’t accept that some people know from birth they are inhabiting the wrong body, but there are some basic human physiological developments that puberty enables besides secondary sex characteristics. Messing with that has left a decent number of people with a body that now feels wrong on multiple levels. The characteristics one was biologically predisposed to are stunted, but the desired ones are also now incongruous because the body wasn’t given a chance to properly develop. I will admit I have seen far fewer of these cases than I have of people successfully and happily transitioning, but having a child’s voice in a rather androgynous and sad not-quite-adult body isn’t something I think most people would actually pine for regardless of current dysmorphia.
I don’t have any skin in the game myself, but I also don’t want people to suffer. HRT does need to be more readily accessible than it currently is in most of the world, but I also don’t think it should be in vending machines for the reasons I and the top commenter made.
However, to the original commenter’s point, there are absolutely reports of people on all sides of transition who wish they hadn’t messed so much with formative biology.
I genuinely didn’t read beyond this because it’s so disgustingly close to anti-trans rhetoric. However, I will operate under the assumption that was not your intent.
Anecdotally, I have never met a single person who thought they went “too far” and most are in the same boat I am, wanting more but unable to do anything due to prohibitive costs. That’s not “severe body altering” stuff it’s literally just estrogen. I am spending about 50% of my pay just so get the bare minimum. Most of the trans people I know who aren’t able to get anything else done are men trying to get top surgery.
Non-anecdotally, the only studies I’ve ever seen (which an argument could be made I don’t see these because I’m not looking) are studies showing the exact opposite- the overwhelming majority are satisfied with the progression of their transition, or wish to do more, with less than 1% of trans people having regrets.
I did admit that the proportion of people with regrets is significantly lower than those who are satisfied. I also don’t want to make anything more restrictive than it currently is, as there is a very real crisis in the US among trans people and their access to adequate compassionate care.
I apologize for having echoed sentiments that I am decidedly against personally and which are upsetting to the community at large. This is something in which I am truly supportive of the individual and their choice, but playing with body chemistry in any way is absolutely taking risks. From benadryl to testosterone and progesterone, they all come with risks and side effects.
I will also admit I don’t look for any studies on this topic as it largely doesn’t have any effect on me, so I am certain my data is skewed somewhat from reality. However even still as a person who genuinely believes people should be free to live comfortably and happily, the medically inclined part of me does balk somewhat at altering the body chemistry of any developing human; puberty sucks for basically everyone. I agree that growing bits you feel genuinely truly absolutely and in all ways do not belong to you adds an extra layer of suck on top of an already sucky time, and transitioning thereafter is a more arduous process because of that. However, messing with the actual development of the growing body is what worries me for literally any human and their continued well-being - and I couldn’t give any shits about what you’ve got in your pants or what you wish it was. Health and happiness are what I wish for all, and a fully functional body that doesn’t require constant maintenance forever after because of a decision made in your youth that could just as easily have been put off two or three more years for a better outcome is part of that wish.
This reply turned out longer than I anticipated, but I hope it is understood I truly meant no ill will.
I hope it is understood I truly meant no ill will.
I assumed that from the start, most people truly are just ignorant on the subject and only hear the loudest voices, which sadly in this case tends to be conservatives.
Cishet-ally with a genuine concern;
I understand the secondary characteristics being an issue when you are genuinely suffering with dysmorphia. However, to the original commenter’s point, there are absolutely reports of people on all sides of transition who wish they hadn’t messed so much with formative biology.
This is not to suggest I don’t accept that some people know from birth they are inhabiting the wrong body, but there are some basic human physiological developments that puberty enables besides secondary sex characteristics. Messing with that has left a decent number of people with a body that now feels wrong on multiple levels. The characteristics one was biologically predisposed to are stunted, but the desired ones are also now incongruous because the body wasn’t given a chance to properly develop. I will admit I have seen far fewer of these cases than I have of people successfully and happily transitioning, but having a child’s voice in a rather androgynous and sad not-quite-adult body isn’t something I think most people would actually pine for regardless of current dysmorphia.
I don’t have any skin in the game myself, but I also don’t want people to suffer. HRT does need to be more readily accessible than it currently is in most of the world, but I also don’t think it should be in vending machines for the reasons I and the top commenter made.
Lmao at ‘in vending machines’ it’s not like it’s being given out like candy, what world do you think we live in?
it’s not like they take puberty blockers their entire lives, either. The point would be to give time.
I genuinely didn’t read beyond this because it’s so disgustingly close to anti-trans rhetoric. However, I will operate under the assumption that was not your intent.
Anecdotally, I have never met a single person who thought they went “too far” and most are in the same boat I am, wanting more but unable to do anything due to prohibitive costs. That’s not “severe body altering” stuff it’s literally just estrogen. I am spending about 50% of my pay just so get the bare minimum. Most of the trans people I know who aren’t able to get anything else done are men trying to get top surgery.
Non-anecdotally, the only studies I’ve ever seen (which an argument could be made I don’t see these because I’m not looking) are studies showing the exact opposite- the overwhelming majority are satisfied with the progression of their transition, or wish to do more, with less than 1% of trans people having regrets.
I did admit that the proportion of people with regrets is significantly lower than those who are satisfied. I also don’t want to make anything more restrictive than it currently is, as there is a very real crisis in the US among trans people and their access to adequate compassionate care.
I apologize for having echoed sentiments that I am decidedly against personally and which are upsetting to the community at large. This is something in which I am truly supportive of the individual and their choice, but playing with body chemistry in any way is absolutely taking risks. From benadryl to testosterone and progesterone, they all come with risks and side effects.
I will also admit I don’t look for any studies on this topic as it largely doesn’t have any effect on me, so I am certain my data is skewed somewhat from reality. However even still as a person who genuinely believes people should be free to live comfortably and happily, the medically inclined part of me does balk somewhat at altering the body chemistry of any developing human; puberty sucks for basically everyone. I agree that growing bits you feel genuinely truly absolutely and in all ways do not belong to you adds an extra layer of suck on top of an already sucky time, and transitioning thereafter is a more arduous process because of that. However, messing with the actual development of the growing body is what worries me for literally any human and their continued well-being - and I couldn’t give any shits about what you’ve got in your pants or what you wish it was. Health and happiness are what I wish for all, and a fully functional body that doesn’t require constant maintenance forever after because of a decision made in your youth that could just as easily have been put off two or three more years for a better outcome is part of that wish.
This reply turned out longer than I anticipated, but I hope it is understood I truly meant no ill will.
I assumed that from the start, most people truly are just ignorant on the subject and only hear the loudest voices, which sadly in this case tends to be conservatives.