Opt out of organ donation

[Wolfgirrl]

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/transgender-woman-should-allowed-womb-22270768.amp?__twitter_impression=true

I cannot be the only one to think the new opt-out organ donation scheme will result in a lot of wombs being stolen without permission, if this comes to pass?

I feel the argument that women should be treated equally because we're all human beings is more robust

Well yes of course. But that isnt how history has gone is it? I'm not saying these are my opinions, but how history has demonstrated women are viewed by males (and currently in some other countries).

But that isnt how history has gone is it?

I don't disagree that this was the way that women were viewed historically (and still are in too many countries). I think that it generally leads to poorer outcomes for women, though there are exceptions where it offered elevation of status or protection; usually at the cost of freedoms in the latter case.

@gronky I don't really understand the point you're making?

Obviously I and (I would hope) other women do not want our value to lie in our childbearing abilities. But it is the childbearing ability that makes us the more vulnerable sex. Therefore we are afforded protections based on that fact. If that fact was removed, and men were able to conceive and carry children without women, where would that leave us in a patriarchal world? The only need left for us would be a sexual one. I obviously like to think men would still treat us as human beings, but if you just glance at the news now, all men with a major public platform have sided with trans women, reaffirming that the rights of the male sex take precedence over ours.

I think my way round this is to leave clear instructions with my next of kin that I'm happy for any body parts of mine to be donated with the exception of my reproductive organs. I don't think anybody would want mine, anyway, as I'm postmenopausal and had decades of endometriosis, but just in case.

My reasoning is that the human population is already growing too fast and the ethical problems thrown up by all sorts of fertility interventions are immense. If I were ever in charge, I would ban surrogacy outright in all circumstances and I would also put an outright ban on womb transplants.

This may seem hypocritical to those suffering the awful pain of infertility, as I have two children. However, I think I would feel the same even if I hadn't been able to have children. Many fertility interventions represent a huge physical and mental health issue for the woman seeking to become pregnant and for the child that might be born if the treatment is successful.

Sorry, Wolfgirrl I just disagree with the idea that what protections are afforded to women are based largely on the ability to bear children. Thank you for taking the time to explore the idea.

I care, mine was home to my DCs for 9 months each. I don't want it to be cut out and used in this ridiculous social experiment. All this focus on getting wombs to work for men when natal women with painful conditions are not taken seriously. I have had blood transfusions so I suspect if my blood is no good to anyone now then my organs arent either.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g of course individuals have the agency to do this, my concern is more based around people whose next of kin are abusive and could pressure women into leaving their reproductive organs to trans women

Yes, that could be an issue. An even more pressing one is the burgeoning number of young women transitioning who even as transmen are expected to 'be kind' and put themselves and their interests behind those of males. They might be manipulated into feeling that the opportunity to donate the womb, which at 18 they believe they will never have any use for, to a transwoman, is an additional reason to go through with this life-changing surgery.

An even more pressing one is the burgeoning number of young women transitioning who even as transmen are expected to 'be kind' and put themselves and their interests behind those of males. They might be manipulated into feeling that the opportunity to donate the womb, which at 18 they believe they will never have any use for, to a transwoman, is an additional reason to go through with this life-changing surgery.

This is a very very real and horrifying potential future.

Or quid pro quos between transmen and transwomen.

This action will stop some people receiving other peoples living organs. They will continue to die.

But as the MRAs/TRAs/POLITICOs who brought this about say "Welcome to your erasure".

I opted out for this exact reason.

I don't want my body parts being used as some affirmation play thing, and I don't want to play any part in frankenstein experiments on fetuses.

I cant actually see a pregnancy working in a man. If it's so simple why haven't they done it on an animal yet. But what I can see is lots of eggs being fertilised (which is creating life in my eyes) to then be subjected to a dangerous and ultimately fatel environment.

Therefore we are afforded protections based on that fact. If that fact was removed, and men were able to conceive and carry children without women, where would that leave us in a patriarchal world? The only need left for us would be a sexual one.

The vast majority of straight men (or all true straight men) will pick a woman over a transwomen for a partner, whether thats for sex or procreation. They are not going to suddenly shack up with transwomen because they can have children, and they certainly arnt going to go through pregnancy and childbirth themselves.

So don't worry, our place as baby makers will be safe.

I'm not worried about men choosing trans women as sexual partners to the point where we are defunct. I am worried about the patriarchy growing stronger to the point where we are seen as chattel and sexual objects. This is far from impossible and is the case in many countries.

Do wombs have a sell by date?
I ask because as an menopausal woman my womb does fuck all apart from being a cancer risk.My ovaries aren't doing anything useful and my hormones are maintained chemically.
Could my womb be transplanted on its own?It is full of fibroids and polyps but I am happy to give it to any transwomen to give them and enriched experience of womanhood.
Unfortunately I cannot have a hysterectomy useless I become a transman as body dysphoria (ie I hate my womb)is not valid for a woman born a woman.

I'm not sure. Post menopausal women can conceive using donor eggs so I would assume not.

Do wombs have a sell by date?
I ask because as an menopausal woman my womb does fuck all apart from being a cancer risk.My ovaries aren't doing anything useful and my hormones are maintained chemically.
Could my womb be transplanted on its own?It is full of fibroids and polyps but I am happy to give it to any transwomen to give them and enriched experience of womanhood.

No I don't think age is an issue (unlike ovaries) but the fibroids and polyps might be.

Also they'd apparently need your cervix, some important blood vessels and as much of your vagina as possible, so I'd pass on it.

I feel uneasy about the opt-out system anyway. We should not presume consent from anyone. It's a little simpler if someone dies suddenly, but when you've got someone on their deathbed or in intensive care I do think it can cause vulnerabilities to misuse.

I had an response to my email

And here we go.

Four very young people here, all with she/her in their twitter bio.

Would it menstrate?

I doubt it. From my vague memories of what happens with womb transplants in women, it's implanted purely for the purposes of the pregnancy and removed afterwards, because in the long term the body would probably not tolerate it.

For me it's eggs. I would not want any embryos created after my death for any purpose eg experimental.

I don't think they would do this as it's an ethical minefield.

I think it would be better if they really specify what's in and what's out with a guarantee that those bits will never be used even if things change in the future.

Even if it is legislated against in the UK, it could be a serious worry for developing countries like Thailand