Because transgenderism is the radical chic cause du jour, the media and Democrat politicians are failing to ask important medical questions. For instance, are there health hazards associated with "transitioning"? Not just the preparations or surgery, but maintenance.
Male breast cancer is rare. If, however, a male is receiving estrogen treatment as part of his "gender-reassignment" therapy (including maintenance), does that raise his risk of developing breast cancer?
Likewise, it's my understanding that men are naturally less susceptible to osteoporosis than women because men naturally have greater bone density. If, however, a boy is given hormone blockers to postpost the onset of puberty, to facilitate his "transition," doesn't that raise his risk of developing osteoporosis?
And presumably, this would work in reverse for females who receive androgen treatment as part of their "gender-reassignment" therapy (including maintenance). Doesn't that raise her susceptibility to some typically male medical conditions?
In fact, I assume men and women who undergo those hormone treatments end up combining the medical liabilities of their actual sex with additional liabilities of the opposite sex due to hormone therapy.
I'm no expert, but these are questions that need to be ask before laws are passed.
I believe there can be all kinds of complications as well as mental health issues, from what I've seen quickly searching online, the suicide rate is quite high.
ReplyDeleteGood post! I agree.
ReplyDeleteAt least based on my understanding at this point, I'd like to add:
1. MTFs are more susceptible to breast cancer due to long-term exposure to estrogen. There are several case studies available. Controlled trials and systematic reviews seem to be rarer, but that's probably due to the fact that MTFs are rare, breast cancers are rare until after a certain age, and so forth. In any case, MTFs are advised to have regular mammography.
2. As for osteoporosis. It's true men in general have a higher peak bone density than women so it might not be a problem for MTFs unless MTFs have undergone sexual reassignment in their adolescence or earlier.
3. However, osteoporosis can be a serious risk for pre-pubescents who wish to undertake make the transition. That's due to pubertal suppression.
For starters, it depends in part on which hormones are used for pubertal suppression. Usually pubertal suppression is achieved by gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs. But anti-androgens, anti-estrogens, and medroxyprogesterone acetate can likewise be used.
However, since GnRH analogs are usually what's used, I'll focus on the use of GnRH analogs for pubertal suppression and their potential adverse effects. I'll just list a few:
a. The single biggest problem is using GnRH analogs for pubertal suppression will make youth infertile in the vast majority of cases. They won't be able to develop sperm or eggs that will be viable to be used later.
b. Another problem is, since pre-pubescents are still growing and developing, using GnRH won't allow them to reach their peak bone mineral density, thereby putting them at serious risk of developing osteoporosis later on in life.
c. Also, their adult height is often affected since pubertal suppression delays the fusion of their growth plates.
4. I should note using GnRH analogs for pubertal suppression is different than using cross-gender hormones for MTFs or FTMs. Of course, the latter often follows on from the former in pre-pubescents. Adults jump straight to using cross-gender hormones.
5. In addition, we can make distinctions between what specific therapies or treatments or whatever are reversible, partially reversible, and irreversible.
We can also make distinctions between when specific therapies or treatments or whatever are reversible, partially reversible, and irreversible. For example, if using GnRH analogs for pubertal suppression is discontinued within a certain time frame, then the adolescent could develop normally again.
6. There are health risks in using cross-gender hormones as well. For example, if we give testosterone therapy to FTMs, then FTMs often get male pattern baldness. On the flipside, if we give estrogen therapy to MTFs, then MTFs tend to have an increased risk of breast cancer, increased risk of developing DVTs which often occurs in women due to estrogen and pregnancy, etc.
7. There are other significant health risks/issues for MTFs and FTMs we could list. Of course, LGBTs advocates and supporters tend to minimize the health risks or even argue against their existence.
If they can make laws with the pretext of improving health regarding things like smoking and school lunches, then that should be a high consideration here.
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