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.

I am so sorry for the hard things you have had to cope with. Have you heard about Jamie Reed? She is an American whistle blower on issues that happened at a transgender clinic. One of the things you mentioned made me think of an incident in her report. A 17 year old female on testosterone got atrophy causing a deep tear of the whole vaginal canal when first having sex. That required surgery to fix also. I do understand your case is different than consensual sex but it just made me wonder as injuries so bad are rare even in assault. In case you didn’t know it can be treated with oestrogen cream and because it is local it has no effect on other body parts or blood hormone levels. Just thought I’d mention it so if you ever have pain or issues then you know you don’t have to suffer in silence! Some of your experiences with female healthcare are harrowing but I think people are better informed now so I hope it would be easier for you these days.

Oh and just to add I also have an adult daughter and agree with people here that I’d be very happy if she brought you round for dinner. The young woman on your university course sounds promising… maybe it’s worth keeping an open mind? Sometimes things end up working out in ways we never expected. Of course trust your gut and stay safe but most people studying medicine are kind and will understand why confidentiality is paramount. If you start to feel something blossom then I hope you being trans won’t be a complete barrier to finding a bit of joy. All the best x

A 17 year old female on testosterone got atrophy causing a deep tear of the whole vaginal canal when first having sex. That required surgery to fix also.

That is horrendous, the poor child. I hope proper treatment was given after the surgery to prevent it ever happening again. I don’t understand why they don’t prescribe oestrogen pessaries prophylactically when they first agree to prescribe testosterone. Atrophy is guaranteed to develop it’s just a matter of when, but it is often very early on. It can also lead to pelvic floor dysfunction and incontinence in very young females so they should be managing these issues assertively. Do you have a link to the testimony @MiddleAgedAndBloodyTired? I googled but couldn’t see that incident discussed.

@TicklishLemur
https://www.thefp.com/p/i-thought-i-was-saving-trans-kids

Hope you don’t mind @MAW1993 I don’t want to take your thread off track by posting links. I only remembered Jamie Reed due to similarities between her patients and your health issue.

To be honest the possibility never occurred to me. I have always had pain there and general pelvic pain since those events so I never had reason to think any other factor could be involved. It was debilitating in the past but much less so since undergoing hysterectomy. I was warned at the time that it was unlikely to ever be cured entirely due to scar tissue and adhesions.

I'm accustomed to it and 90% of the time it's just in the background. I know things to avoid that worsen it. It isn't really disruptive enough that I would want to go to a doctor and be examined. People probably are better now but I just avoid it as much as I can even if it isn't the wisest choice. I wouldn't be that keen on a treatment that has to be inserted either as I prefer not to interact with my genitals as far as possible. Thank you for the thoughtful advice all the same though.

Thank you that's very kind. I normally close it off in my mind immediately but can't deny that I have struggled to do so in this case. It has been a long time since I have felt as strongly about someone. However, I think for now I will just keep enjoying the friendship and see how things develop (or not) in the future. I don't really know what her opinions are on trans or general LGBT issues so I would need to explore that without personal reference before contemplating any kind of disclosure.

I’m crossing my fingers for you OP with your friend. Agree, hopefully people on a healthcare course are thoughtful about these things and if she knows you already as a friend, all the more reason to view your situation with sensitivity. Hopefully it will bring you good companionship if nothing else x

Sounds like a sensible way to go about it. I hope it works out for you ♥️

Thank you for an amazing thread @MAW1993

On mumsnet you rarely hear the voices of FTM and yours is truly worth listening to.
My DD has walked a socially transituoned life for nearly eight years but her journey and reasons have been totally different to you. I use daughter due to her presentation. Funnily enough she too is a med student in a different sphere.

The biggest thing for us was the pressure to be an activist (we are involved in politics as a family). It was a hell no from her. She is very angry about the way people twist this deeply private situation and turn it into ideology.
I'm sorry your thread got hijacked by a couple of well known trans badgers (one has had a pop at me in the past!).
However if it helps I don't care what biological sex my medic is as I am usually too ill (I'm disabled). You've seen it all before.
Good luck and remain a voice in this forum. Your intellect speaks volumes

Thank you so much for the kind comment. I hope your daughter is well and that social transition has provided her more happiness. I don't know massive amounts of trans people, but of the ones I do, most are upset by the direction taken by TRAs. Most of us couldn't care less about self ID, for example, as a birth certificate has little impact on your life and it is easy to get the evidence required if you do need to change it. Yet that seems to be one of the biggest things focused on at the moment, despite the lack of priority for most trans people and the risk it poses to sex based rights.

Timely and more empathetic health care is far more important for many of us, but is of no interest to people without sex dysphoria, and unsurprisingly it wasn't raised in any of the party manifestos during the election. I could understand trans issues not being featured at all, considering the need to focus on universal matters. However, they were discussed widely and yet without any consideration for what most of us consider to be a key concern.