So far the best tests I've been able to afford is a simple sonogramme, and a homone test. As I said, this is a tentative not conclusive. I appear to have ovaries and a uterous, but sonogrammes are not the most conclusive of tests. My estrogen levels are rather high, but not as high as a womans normally would be. My testosterone levels are also a lot lower than normal, but not as low as would be expected with a woman. I do have breast growth, but certainly nothing very big, and a feminine fat distribution. I do have a monthly cycle which is very similar to a womans (though very eratic), but not menstration because firstly, I don't have anywhere for the menses to come out and secondly, I do not seem to be developing any significant amount of uterine lining (I hope that's the right term) each month.

As for mixed genitalia, I do not have any. Not all true hermaphs have mixtures. There is certainly a growing body of information that many transgenders are actually hermaphs. Typically, they have little more than a pair of ovaries or streaks of ovarian tissue. But this means that they are not transexuals as there is a major physical componant to their need to be female.

I known and understand any skeptisism that may arise from my claims and pronouncements. I hope that what I've said helps put some of that to rest. I am not 100% convinced of this myself. I do not live in a very medically rich place, so getting someplace where I can get full confirmation is rather time and money consuming and until recently, I had a lot of debt and no job. My job does not have benifits, but I hope to have enough money in hand soon enough to be able to finnish out the testing. I've also made contact with someone locally who can tell me where I might find someone who might actually know what they are doing. Then, as always, the problem is getting them to listen and do something.

RavenWings: If I may be curious... what are you hoping to accomplish by having these tests done, etc.?

happousai,

There are two things I hope to gain from the testing. One is simply that I'm not bloody well bonkers, and the second is that the doctors will know better how to treat me as I go through SRS. There are differences in treating a hermaph or IS during that time then someone who is simply MTF.

Hope that answers your question

RavenWings (imported) wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2002 9:59 am There are two things I hope to gain from the testing. One is simply that I'm not bloody well bonkers, and the second is that the doctors will know better how to treat me as I go through SRS. There are differences in treating a hermaph or IS during that time then someone who is simply MTF.

Ahh, interesting. So you're planning to become a woman? I guess if you're a hermaphrodite have an advantage over normal M2F transsexuals in that you have an ovary that naturally produces estrogen.

yes, to a certain extent. Most of the times the ovaries don't produce enough estrogen to fully supply the body. However, given that there are certain problems with the HRT suppliments, it is certainly helpful to not have to take quite as much of them as would be normal.

Still, thanks