Transsexual Dilemma? (hell, suicide, sex)

[Lilin Ex Nihilo]

From what I understand, the suicide rate for those who have had sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) is very high. So my question is this: is it better on a person's mentality and emotions to remain the sex that they don't want to be, or to undergo SRS and deal with the constant stares, questions, and ridicule?

[wizanda]

Whole lot confuses the hell out of me, fair enough people can be born with more genes then another, so why not adapt and find a more harmonious life style first.....

[Lilin Ex Nihilo]

Originally Posted by wizanda

...so why not adapt and find a more harmonious life style first.....

You mean before going through something like SRS?

[Guitar's Cry]

Originally Posted by Lilin Ex Nihilo

From what I understand, the suicide rate for those who have had sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) is very high. So my question is this: is it better on a person's mentality and emotions to remain the sex that they don't want to be, or to undergo SRS and deal with the constant stares, questions, and ridicule?

I wonder if it is not because of SRS that the suicide rate is high, but because it is dealing with a group of people who have had to struggle with Gender Identity Disorder (GID) for so long. Before a person can even undergo SRS, GID has to be diagnosed with a high degree of distress concerning their gender identity.

Kind of like how suicide rates were found to be high among those who take anti-depressants. The study was focusing on a group with a high suicide rate anyway. Was it the drugs or the depression?

But this is a good thing to check out and question before going through SRS!

[Trey of Diamonds]

I question whether the suicide rate is actually high.

From Surgical Sex Modification

Serious postoperative incidents include request for reversal, hospitalisation and suicide. Case series in Appendix 5 give some indication on the frequency of these events, although there is great variation in the figures presented (e.g. attempted suicide rates range from 0% to 18%). This data should be interpreted with extreme caution, as figures are derived from small studies in which there are no control groups, incomplete follow up and the possibility for bias in reporting.

[jamaesi]

Originally Posted by Lilin Ex Nihilo

From what I understand, the suicide rate for those who have had sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) is very high. So my question is this: is it better on a person's mentality and emotions to remain the sex that they don't want to be, or to undergo SRS and deal with the constant stares, questions, and ridicule?

I'm afraid you've misunderstood, untreated transsexuals have a much higher suicide rate than transsexuals who have had treatment .

[Lilin Ex Nihilo]

Originally Posted by Guitar's Cry

I wonder if it is not because of SRS that the suicide rate is high, but because it is dealing with a group of people who have had to struggle with Gender Identity Disorder (GID) for so long. Before a person can even undergo SRS, GID has to be diagnosed with a high degree of distress concerning their gender identity.

Kind of like how suicide rates were found to be high among those who take anti-depressants. The study was focusing on a group with a high suicide rate anyway. Was it the drugs or the depression?

But this is a good thing to check out and question before going through SRS!

I see your point. And it makes a lot of sense. But I wonder if a sufficient amount of research is done to each individual before they are diagnosed with such a GID as to be placed under the knife.

Originally Posted by Trey of Diamonds

I question whether the suicide rate is actually high.

Serious postoperative incidents include request for reversal, hospitalisation and suicide. Case series in Appendix 5 give some indication on the frequency of these events, although there is great variation in the figures presented (e.g. attempted suicide rates range from 0% to 18%). This data should be interpreted with extreme caution, as figures are derived from small studies in which there are no control groups, incomplete follow up and the possibility for bias in reporting.

From what you quoted, there is no telling what the suicide rate could be. Perhaps when I have more time I can check out the website and others to do a little more research.

Originally Posted by Khalila

I'm afraid you've misunderstood, untreated transsexuals have a much higher suicide rate than transsexuals who have had treatment .

Can you clarify what exactly you mean by treatment?

[Mike182]

Originally Posted by Lilin Ex Nihilo

Can you clarify what exactly you mean by treatment?

by treatment she means the SRS.

[jamaesi]

Originally Posted by Mike182

by treatment she means the SRS.

No, by treatment I mean anything from therapy, hormone therapy, different corrective surgeries (top surgeries like chest enhancement/reduction, facial surgeries...), to the SRS. Not all trans* people get the full SRS, some don't even want genital surgeries done but do things the other things I've listed.

Only one percent of transmen and two percent of transwomen regret having SRS surgery in 1991. That has gone down since then because of improvements in the treatments.

Trans* people do have higher rates of mental illnesses BEFORE they transition. After beginning transition their mental health improves dramatically- this is why THEY NEED TO DO THIS.


Lilin, I'm afraid you are uninformed about trans* issues. The only reason there is mental illness and suicide is because they are literally trapped in the wrong body and that's a miserable way to live. Once a person begins to transition and live as the sex/gender they really are then the mental illness and sucide risks lessen or completely disappear. Most trans* people I know who have started treatment can pass as their sex/gender flawlessly and without the "stares and ridicule" and respectful questions only serve as an educational opportunity. To say they should just "live with it" without seeking treatment is a death sentence.

I have so many wonderful trans* friends and it just... sickens me when people say they should just "live with it" instead of seeking treatment. It's just as disgusting as telling someone who has just broken a leg or has a genetic disease to just "live with it" instead of getting treatment. I know if they don't transition, there's an overwhelming chance that they will kill themselves.

To those of you who don't believe that trans* people should transition, would you tell me that I shouldn't be having treatments and surgeries for my back problems, that I should just "live with it"? I am a suicide risk, I have many suicidal thoughts, have attempted suicide many times because I am trapped in a body with a back that won't let me do the things I used to do and forces me to live in constant pain. If you wouldn't try to tell me to just "live with it" then why would you dare tell that to a trans* person?

Above all, I hope everyone at this board remembers we have many trans* members at this forum and what hurts them more than "stares" is that fact that the fellow people of this community think they should just "live with it" and not seek treatment.