I went to the Tavistock as a young person - AMA

[MAW1993]

I attended the Tavistock from 2008 to 2011, beginning when I was about 15. I made this post because I saw the many questions people asked on a previous AMA. Unfortunately, the OP was uncomfortable answering some of them, and I felt there may be a need for an AMA with someone who can be more open.

From the NHS:

Other causes of PID
In many cases, the cause of the infection that leads to PID is unknown.
Sometimes, the usually harmless bacteria found in the vagina can get past the cervix and into the reproductive organs.
Although harmless in the vagina, these types of bacteria can cause infection in other parts of the body.
This is most likely to happen if:

• you have had PID before
• there's been damage to the cervix following childbirth or a miscarriage
• you have a procedure that involves opening the cervix (such as an abortion, inspection of the womb, or insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD)

I think damage to the cervix is a pretty plausible consequence of a violent sexual assault, don't you? The OP did not say the PID was a direct follow on to the assault, but a consequence. She mentioned a surgical repair. I think it is very prurient to probe into the detail like this, and incredibly unnecessary and borderline abusive to make totally fabricated in your own head insinuations about the OP having an STI, making up their assault for sympathy, or having sex with men.

If you want to go and have fantasies about the sex lives of trans men, do it in your own head rather than on this AMA. I mean I don't know about you but the fundamental approach of believing the victims of sexual assault doesn't disappear for me just because the victim is a trans man.

Sorry @MAW1993 for the rogue "she" in there - too late for me to edit now but unintentional.

Don't be nasty. Also your second post doesn't make sense.

@CoralPanda

Which injuries and surgery did you have OP and what kind of infection was it?

Are you serious?? Listen to yourself!!!! That is none of your bloody business! It's the internet - the OP could be a 12 year old alien in rural China for all we know. So trying to pick their story apart to "prove" it's true is pointless beyond belief. To get any value from the AMA at all you have to accept the OP is telling the truth as they perceive it. And if they ARE, you are being incredibly rude,hurtful and potentially triggering to a rape victim. For what?

@CoralPanda you are out of order.

Sometimes it’s good to think through the consequences of a course of action.

If you’re right, and say nothing, someone on the internet who doesn’t care about your words remains unaffected.

If you’re wrong, you’ve gaslighted a rape victim, accused them of lying and added to trauma.

Don’t you think it might be best not to say anything?

I see I've missed more fireworks, thanks to those replying for having my back

The things I mentioned - working with other groups who at least have the honesty to state their true objectives, connections with researchers who have inflicted harm on trans people, and then the smoking gun is the leaked discord comments from the vice director. People may try and question the legitimacy of that leaked content, but both he and Genspect have refused to provide comment, which is telling IMO.

And I'm sure there are plenty more of us who are also fully supportive of you but hesitant to join in (just in case it gives them the attention they possibly crave).
You'll meet plenty of such people in your career and have to try to treat them with as much compassion as you do everyone else. I suppose this is good practice in some ways... but I wish you didn't have to experience it. X

Ok I’m sorry about the way I said it. I will rephrase:

1. OP can you tell us more about the care you received after the rape such as if they did tests for STIs or pregnancy
2. Can you tell us more about the injuries and surgery, and how they related to your development of pelvic inflammatory disease?
3. Can you tell us more about your romantic life, such as if you engage in penetrative vaginal sex?

Thank you

(1) Yes they checked for STIs and provided emergency contraception. I had not contracted an STI fortunately.

(2) The first surgery was to repair a rectovaginal fistula, but was followed by infection and wound breakdown. I became very ill as a result. I had a second surgical procedure at a later date to remove necrotic tissue and they performed a diverting colostomy to allow it to heal. My third surgery was to repair a small remaining defect, and after that had healed I had the colostomy reversed. Several years later I had a hysterectomy and oophorectomy due to ongoing pelvic pain and infection.

(3) I am only attracted to women and have not had sex due to my dysphoria. Some people do have sex with their original genitalia, but I don't believe the sex lives of consenting adults is any of my business.

As others have said, there is no way for anyone to know if I am being honest or not. However, the event and ongoing issues were some of the most traumatic in my life, and particularly so in light of my sex dysphoria. I don't know why someone so distressed about their genitalia would want to make up a history of prolonged gynaecological treatment. I also would have thought that the degree of information I have about the topics I have discussed would be reasonable evidence of them being real world experiences.

I think it is notable that I have both been accused of lying about not having experienced more sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse, and equally of lying about that which I have faced. It shows to me the extent that people will go to in order to deny the existence of experiences that do not align with their beliefs.

It is most commonly associated with STIs, which isn't that surprising for a disease characterised by infection of the reproductive organs. It can occur as a complication of any infection of the lower genital tract, however. @NCprivatelife quoted NHS literature on the condition, which goes through the possible causes.

If you read my comments going back I think I have been pretty clear about my feelings on some trans activism, particularly in recent years. As a victim of sexual violence I also have absolutely no interest in trying to protect abusers or grant them easier access to victims.

If you think that assaults featuring that degree of violence are exceedingly rare, then you are sadly mistaken. However, it was reported but with some details held back on request. I am not going to provide more details as it would reveal my location and occupation at the time, and I feel that this information combined with the other things I have revealed could be enough for someone I know to identify me. It is unlikely that anyone I know would come across this thread, but regardless that is not a risk I am willing to take.

I also think it is unfair to imply I am unwilling to respond to comments questioning my ethics or decisions. I have replied to every question here, barring ones that were deleted before I had a chance to respond. I am more than happy to continue doing so, and don't believe that anything in my history makes me beyond reproach.

Ok thank you for clarifying I do not want to see anyone raped no matter their life choices, I just had some doubts until you provided the extra details. I do think you need to be honest with people about being a transsexual though. It’s not fair to lie to everyone

Stop being so disingenuous and trollhunting. Also 'surprised such an attack wasn't all over the news'? What nonsense is that?

He isn't lying to anyone.

You don’t think that a hate crime rape of a transsexual that caused internal injuries would be on the news? 🤔They never stop reporting on mistreated transsexuals

Just stop. You are being really unpleasant and inappropriate.

@CoralPanda Your posts are among the most unpleasant I have ever come across on Mumsnet. I really hope you get banned.

So do I.

As I said, there was some reporting but they abided by the request to not include specific details. I'm not willing to go into that any further.