Chapter 4Questions About Medical Transition
We, as a people, appear to have a collective fascination with medical experiences – so much so that there are television shows, radio shows, podcasts, and websites dedicated exclusively to that very topic. We want to understand the medical experiences that might directly apply to ourselves or our loved ones, but we also have a broader curiosity about the human condition in general. Many individuals have questions about the medical transition of individuals in the transgender community, and this chapter will seek to answer some of those questions.
What Percentage of Transgender People Transition Medically?
According to the United States Transgender Survey, 78% of transgender individuals desire hormone therapy related to gender transition. Having said that, only 49% of transgender individuals have ever actually received hormone therapy. For individuals who have undergone some form of transition‐related surgery, the number is even smaller: 25%. Additionally, it is important to note that transgender men are more likely than transgender women to have transition‐related surgery. Not surprisingly, individuals who live in poverty, have a low income, or are uninsured are less likely to have transition‐related surgery. Mastectomy is the most common surgical intervention, with the least common surgical intervention being phalloplasty.
Why Do Some Transgender People Not Do Every Possible Medical Transition?
There are many reasons that a person ...