Changes

==Alleged medical treatment==

==Alleged medical treatment==

It has been embraced primarily by advocates of the 1960s [[sexual revolution]] such as [[homosexual rights]] activists, but rejected by the [[Roman Catholic Church]].<ref>"The key point is that the (transsexual) surgical operation is so superficial and external that it does not change the personality. If the person was male, he remains male. If she was female, she remains female." [http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/CatholicTSDecision.html]</ref>

Although some people affected by gender confusion are content merely with transvestism or "cross-dressing" (that is, wearing the clothing of the opposite sex), many seek to also have their physical appearance altered, so that their bodies will more closely resemble that of their desired gender. The ultimate goal among such persons is to be accepted not simply as someone who likes dressing as a member of their desired gender, but as someone who truly ''is'' that gender. Today, this process is popularly referred to as "transitioning" (a man, for example, would be said to be "transitioning to female," and vice versa).  

[[Transgender|Gender-confused]] patients seek to undergo surgical [[sex change operation]]s (also known as [[gender reassignment surgery]], or what amounts to surgical mutilation) to change their external appearance to that of the gender with which they claim to [[identify]].  Patients often undergo [[psychotherapy]], [[hormone treatment]], and facial surgery as well. In the United States, a patient must undergo counseling before being approved for the surgery. Patients in the US are also required to have two letters of recommendation from certified psychiatrists, and must have lived a year acting as the gender that they claim to identify with.<ref>http://www.wpath.org/publications_standards.cfm</ref>  Patients sometimes choose to have the surgery done abroad in places like [[Thailand]] for three reasons: 1. It is often less expensive for the patient, 2. The patient may be able to bypass some legal restrictions, 3. The surgeons in Thailand have a reputation of being particularly skilled in this area.<ref>http://www.bangkokcompanies.com/Surgery/thailandsurgery_sex_change_surgery.htm</ref>

 

[[Transgender|Gender-confused]] patients seek to undergo surgical [[sex change operation]]s (also known as [[gender reassignment surgery]], or what amounts to surgical mutilation) to change their external appearance to that of the gender with which they claim to [[identify]].  Patients often undergo [[psychotherapy]], [[hormone treatment]], and facial surgery as well. A man, for example, will be prescribed artificial female hormones such as estrogen, which would cause him to develop larger breasts and other female physical characteristics; conversely, a woman would be given artificial male hormones such as testosterone, which would cause her to develop a deeper voice, more facial and body hair, and other male physical characteristics. What is often not disclosed, however, is that these hormones are by their nature highly disruptive of the body's normal processes and often have serious long-term side effects. Women who take testosterone for long periods, for example, are at increased risk for heart disease, and may have their reproductive ability seriously damaged.

 

In the United States, according to traditional practices, a patient must undergo counseling before being approved for the surgery. Patients in the US are also required to have two letters of recommendation from certified psychiatrists, and must have lived a year acting as the gender that they claim to identify with.<ref>http://www.wpath.org/publications_standards.cfm</ref>  Patients sometimes choose to have the surgery done abroad in places like [[Thailand]] for three reasons: 1. It is often less expensive for the patient, 2. The patient may be able to bypass some legal restrictions, 3. The surgeons in Thailand have a reputation of being particularly skilled in this area.<ref>http://www.bangkokcompanies.com/Surgery/thailandsurgery_sex_change_surgery.htm</ref> However, even such "safeguards" as exist are frequently not observed in practice. Many individuals begin hormone therapy within a few months or even weeks of "coming out" as transgender, and many of the psychiatric evaluations are cursory only.

It should be noted that hormone therapy and removing and adding body parts does not change the genetic makeup of an individual.  On the genetic level, individuals who started as men are still men no matter what appearance they choose, and women who started as women are still women after surgery as well.

It should be noted that hormone therapy and removing and adding body parts does not change the genetic makeup of an individual.  On the genetic level, individuals who started as men are still men no matter what appearance they choose, and women who started as women are still women after surgery as well.