I am astonished by how specialized transgender care seems to be. I was utterly shocked a few months ago when my psychiatrist who administers my medication – who is an EXPERT psychopharmacologist – was totally clueless about testosterone (at least its use by transmen.) When I told him I was transitioning, he told me he was not surprised, as he’d always seen me as “more male.” He told me to “have fun with it,” and recommended I use the gel, telling me I could “just apply it to the places you want to change.” I laughed and said, “I don’t think it works that way!”, half thinking he was joking, but he got a deer in the headlights look on his face and I realized he was serious.
I was further surprised when I visited the gynecologist today week (hopefully for the last time!) and asked her several questions regarding the effects of T on women. I figured she would be very familiar with the subject since she prescribed it regularly to women to treat low sex drive, etc. However, the information she gave me conflicted with everything I’ve read, including that in the WPATH Standards of Care. Furthermore, she admitted she’d never heard of metoidioplasty nor of FTM top surgery. She was surprised to learn there are options other than phalloplasty, and that in addition to traditional mastectomies, there are procedures to specifically create a male chest.
The realization that most doctors are so unfamiliar with treatment for transgendered individuals despite the increasing awareness of gender issues concerns me and has made me grateful for the growing number of resources available in Atlanta.