Talk:Sex change operation

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is a choice individuals make to their bodies both physically and mentally. ... The mental component can be as simple as dressing as a member of the opposite sex.

1. I don't see how dressing a certain way has anything to do with surgery
2. Why call it a choice? Is this a code word for "proposed legal right", or what?

I won't even comment about changing one's body mentally. --Ed Poor ^Talk 15:30, 21 March 2008 (EDT)

The dressing has to do with the person's lifestyle, that which might lead up to the person making such a decision. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Kektklik (talk)

Hi Ed, to address your two points in order:

1. Dressing as a member of the opposite sex is usually prescribed (as far as I know) by doctors to "ease" the change, but also so that a person begins to "live" as that other sex. It is meant to give them time to back out, I think.
2. I only used the word choice because you, say, could "choose" to do it tomorrow, but I don't think there is anything in a society that compels someone to make that change (outside of some obscure medical condition of which I'm not aware.)

Hope it helps--good questions! RedRiverLib 15:38, 21 March 2008 (EDT)

Right. In the United States, you are required to live as the opposite sex for over a year (real life therapy) before being perscribed hormones. Maestro 21:33, 27 March 2008 (EDT)

Transsexuals

Are transsexuals considered this without any surgery? Pardon my ignorance. -DrSandstone 17:52, 27 August 2008 (EDT)

There are two converging issues here, that maybe should be separated. 1) The desire to look like and act as if you were the other sex (transvestites, cross dressers, etc) - these people do not want nor need surgery, and 2) the desire to BE a member of the other sex. Transsexuals who have not had surgery (pre-op) are still considered as persons with a disorder who want to be the other sex. but the term "sex change operation" is poorly applied here, since someone who has not had, or does not want an operation doesn't' fit into the "categories of people seeking the operation". --MHayes 17:57, 27 August 2008 (EDT)