This week I had a routine Dr. appointment and tried to discuss chemical castration options with him. We talked in circles for a few minutes, he seemed to be totally confused by me even asking and in the end he wanted to refer me to a therapist. I like my Dr., but I guess I will need to find a different Dr. for this discussion. Very disappointed and frustrated, I was finally ready to get this started and now this.

rdfwtexas (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 28, 2023 10:52 am This week I had a routine Dr. appointment and tried to discuss chemical castration options with him. We talked in circles for a few minutes, he seemed to be totally confused by me even asking and in the end he wanted to refer me to a therapist. I like my Dr., but I guess I will need to find a different Dr. for this discussion. Very disappointed and frustrated, I was finally ready to get this started and now this.

Perhaps you complained about your lack of libido, and your doctor was going to prescribe testosterone for you?

rdfwtexas (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 28, 2023 10:52 am This week I had a routine Dr. appointment and tried to discuss chemical castration options with him. We talked in circles for a few minutes, he seemed to be totally confused by me even asking and in the end he wanted to refer me to a therapist. I like my Dr., but I guess I will need to find a different Dr. for this discussion. Very disappointed and frustrated, I was finally ready to get this started and now this.

You would do well to read the WPATH SOC 8 section related to eunuchs and non-binary people.

Understand, a doctor isn't going to give you the drugs necessary for chemical castration simply because you ask. The desire to send you to a therapist is actually a good reaction. Though you didn't see it in the moment, the doctor is trying to help you.

A therapist will work with you to identify the underlying need to have the chemical castration, should it exist. Then make recommendations to care providers who can assist you with the administration of the drugs needed to chemically castrate you.

Honestly, I don't see this as a setback. Look at it as an opportunity.

I totally second everything LT said above, with a couple of minor added thoughts / questions...

1. Was this a 'regular' doctor (i.e. your Primary Care Physician) or a doctor at a TG center?

2. Is the therapist referral to one he picked or that you picked?

I suspect that regular docs are likely to be more 'freaked' (for lack of a better term - any sort of reaction to unusual requests) by such a request than a doctor at a TG center who is going to get gender-changing questions on a daily basis, and be far better versed in how to handle them.

Similarly with therapists - I suspect that 'mainstream' therapists are far more used to dealing w/ patients that are having trouble getting it up and want to than they are with patients that want to not be getting it up... While SOC8 specifically advises AGAINST efforts to 'cure' the desire (other than being sure it's 'real') I don't know that non-TG familiar therapists would be up on that recommendation...

So while I agree with LT that this sounds like a potentially positive step, I'd suggest making sure that the therapist you end up with is used to dealing with TG / Non-binary patients. It might also be worth talking with your doctor and asking him if he would feel more comfortable if you took this part of your care to a doctor with more relevant experience....

I know that I have a PCP that does my general care, but I see a specialist at the TG center which is part of the hospital network that also includes my PCP and other specialists. This works well as each doc is working in the areas where they have the most experience.

WheelyCurious

You also need to keep in mind, that if you are indeed in Texas, most of the "doctors" there are probably not yet familiar with SOC1.

I'd suggest offering him some new varnish and paint for his beads and rattles.

Then again, that's pretty much my opinion of medical "professionals" everywhere.

World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s (WPATH) Standards of Care—Eighth Edition (SOC-8)

* * *

Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10 ... 22.2100644

rdfwtexas (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 28, 2023 10:52 am This week I had a routine Dr. appointment and tried to discuss chemical castration options with him. We talked in circles for a few minutes, he seemed to be totally confused by me even asking and in the end he wanted to refer me to a therapist. I like my Dr., but I guess I will need to find a different Dr. for this discussion. Very disappointed and frustrated, I was finally ready to get this started and now this.

First off (and not to be political), but you do live in Texas. It's not the greatest state when it comes to learning, understanding, or accepting anything LGBTQIA+. Second, Dr. Hanna, located in Frisco (https://hannagendercenter.com/contact/) and Dr. Crane, located in Austin (https://cranects.com/austin-office/) (and San Fran), both preform orchiectomies and I'd think would consider Chemical Castration options.

Third, and most importantly, don't get disappointed or frustrated. This is just a bump in the road. I had a nullification surgery scheduled for July of 2022. I had to cancel because life stuff that was conflicting. Now, it's a 2 year wait. But I'm not giving up. My point is, things can get derailed, and then get right back on track. You got this.

Losethem (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 28, 2023 2:59 pm You would do well to read the WPATH SOC 8 section related to eunuchs and non-binary people.

Understand, a doctor isn't going to give you the drugs necessary for chemical castration simply because you ask. The desire to send you to a therapist is actually a good reaction. Though you didn't see it in the moment, the doctor is trying to help you.

A therapist will work with you to identify the underlying need to have the chemical castration, should it exist. Then make recommendations to care providers who can assist you with the administration of the drugs needed to chemically castrate you.

Honestly, I don't see this as a setback. Look at it as an opportunity.

Basically everything LT said is totally on point (as always). For anything, chemical, surgical, whatever, you have to meet with a therapist, sometimes a psychiatrist or psychologist, depending on the surgeon's office's rules (some places require one letter, some two, some require one from a psychiatrist). But everything is through a therapist/psych referral for "medically necessary care". Plus, it never hurts to have someone to talk to. Look for an LGBTQIA+ friendly therapist and just open up. They've heard it ALL before and they aren't going to give you any grief (and if, by some small chance, they do, they aren't the therapist for you).

A little homework for you: Google "LGBTQIA+ therapists in DFW", find someone you think you can trust, call them on Monday and make an appointment. If your doctor was considering helping you, go back after your therapy appointment. If they weren't, call Dr. Hanna's office or Dr. Crane's office. You might want to become an established patient with one of them anyway if you are considering orchiectomy.

Regardless, like LT and I said, don't dispair, see this as an opportunity and take advantage of it, and no matter what, don't give up. You got this. Live your truth.

You have some knowledgeable answers here. My situation was, my urologist wouldn't even talk about it. Then I learned of a therapy group in my city and made appointment with them. They in turn directed me to a urologist in my (actually in same group of doctors as my urologist) that performs these type of operations. He has long waiting lists. The therapist after several interviews wrote me two letters and I was on my way. Finally castrated and happy. Of course my regular urologist, I can tell doesn't understand, but he is seeing me as usual. You just need to keep looking. It took me years. BYW I am in Kentucky nearly as bad as Texas except for my city Louisville which is like living in another state here, very liberal as opposed to the rest of KY.

Thank you all for the comments and advice, it is all very good. It was my general practice Dr. that I spoke with, he seemed to be taken totally off guard, it was like this was the fist he had ever had this conversation. At first he did seem to think I was wanting to get TRT and not chemical castration. He clearly did not understand why I would want to rid myself of libido all together. The bottom line is my wife has had her ovaries removed and an hysterectomy, even before this, she had no libido and I had very little. I think all the other medications like finasteride and metformin have killed my ability to get an erection and lowered my libido. At this point, I have A cup breast, my left testicle is the size of a peanut, the right is the size of a pecan and my penis has struck to about 3 inches. I just want to rid myself of the occasional urge. Hopefully this make sense.