curlicuecal:

jumpingjacktrash:

aftselakhis-shaladin:

As it turned out, the testosterone had atrophied my reproductive system—a condition that could have been prevented by the use of estrogen cream. The atrophy fused my uterus and my cervix together, along with my ovaries and everything else, creating an infection that burst and became septic. The gynecologists who kept sending me home and telling me nothing was wrong could have prevented this from happening if they knew anything about trans men and testosterone. They could have administered estrogen cream for my vagina. They could have done an ultrasound instead of just a pap smear. They could have tried to figure it out. Basic understanding of hormones could tell you that adding testosterone to a genetically female body will remove estrogen, and estrogen is what makes a vagina function properly. These two simple steps could have prevented a situation like mine.

Many trans men have been reaching out to me with the same symptoms that I had, so I’ve begun developing a concrete list of tips on how to get the best care from your gynecologist if you’re trans:

1. First and foremost, before you make an appointment with a new doctor, be sure to ask if they’re versed in trans male healthcare. You need to have a gynecologist who understands and cares about our bodies.

2. During your visit, be sure to tell them that you’re using testosterone and ask when you should start to use an estrogen supplement. If you’ve been using testosterone for more than a year or so, you can ask for an ultrasound in addition to your pap smear for additional information on the health of your reproductive system.

3. Be upfront about your sexual activity and any abnormal pain you’re feeling.

4. And last but not least, if you don’t like your doctor for any reason or feel like they don’t understand or care about the best way to treat you, find a new one! Comprehensive healthcare is your right.

https://bust.com/sex/195055-trans-man-gyneologist-advice-buck-angel.html

this is the kind of sex ed we need. instead of a two-week unit on “what are the usual body parts and how do you put a condom on a banana” and then pretending it isn’t a thing ever after, schools need to teach an actual biology class around gender, sex, reproductive health, and medicine. including topics like “things that can go disastrously wrong with your uterus and how to convince a doctor to actually check for them,” because goddamn i’ve seen so many awful examples online and irl.

In Texas the only information about birth control we got was memorizing their percentage failure rates, and emphasizing that they don’t prevent STDs. (<—?)

We def did not get the rich, intensive kind of education that goes so far as to include a 2 minute banana demonstration.