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Transgender Counselling By Renowned Sex Therapist In Sydney And Australia-Wide Online
Transgenderism is NOT sexual addiction. However, transgender people may be at risk of developing sexual addiction like everybody else.
Transgender refers to male-to-female (MtF), or female-to-male (FtM), and is a term applied to persons who may loosely identify as Non Binary and vary from traditional gender norms. Transgenderism means differing from one’s gender assigned at birth, and is a natural dimension of human sexuality throughout life.
At birth, gender is exclusively identified by genitalia. For a majority population gender will not change throughout their entire life span. However, in some cases foetal brain development can shift to the opposite gender direction. A transgender person may be male bodied but is a psycho-emotional female, and verse visa, a transgender person may be born with female genitalia but the brain determines a psycho-emotional male.
TRANSSEXUAL
The term transsexual originates from the medical and psychological profession, and was first defined by Harry Benjamin, who invented the ‘Benjamin scale’, measuring intensities of transsexualism.
TRANSITIONING
Many transgender or transsexual persons desire to transition from their birth assigned gender. Sexual reassignment surgery (SRS), and hormone therapies are available to assist with their decisions. Careful consideration should be given as health risks may apply.
RESEARCH
Brain based research has repeatedly shown that female-to-male transsexuals present several male-like characteristics in their neuroanatomy. Research conducted in 2010, using MRI techniques, revealed a shift of white matter structures in the brains of the female-to-male transsexual samples in the direction of biological males, even prior to starting hormone therapy.
Genetic studies, undertaken in 2008 are attempting to explain transsexualism and suggesting that a decrease in testosterone levels during foetal development might result in incomplete masculinisation of the brain in male-to-female transsexuals.
INTERSEX
Intersex in humans is understood to be congenital, and involving non-typical chromosomal, genital, gonadal, and morphological characteristics. Intersex is a condition with atypical combinations of physical male and female reproductive features in the same person. Intersex persons may be born with ambiguous genitalia. Some individuals may have difficulty with identifying themselves as exclusively male, or as exclusively female, and may be referred to as ‘Androgyny’.
PREVALENCE
Researchers differ in opinion and estimate 0.1% – 1.7% (Fausto-Sterling) of alive birth being intersex.
Dr. Milton Diamond, a university professor and researcher with the University Of Hawaii, and the Director Of The Pacific Center For Sex And Society is a distinguished leading authority in the field of gender and sexuality studies. He strongly cautions against early surgery for intersex children. He emphasises the importance of postponing sex reassignment surgery for intersex persons until they are at an age of giving informed consent to choose the gender they are most likely to adapt to. Dr. Diamond describes in his famous book ‘The “John/Joan” Case’ the devastating consequences sex reassignment surgery was having on the life of a patient who was under the age of giving informed consent, although the surgery itself was a success.
COUNSELLING FOR NON BINARY, TRANSGENDER, THEIR PARTNERS, AND FAMILIES
Non binary and transgender people may face serious risks of rejection by family, friends and community, even physical violence, when coming out. Some TS experience discrimination in the workforce and legal systems. In addition, there may be confusion over sexual orientation and sexuality in the new gender, or difficulty navigating through boundaries of relationship, sexual consent, and health.
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