Also known as WPATH (http://www.wpath.org) has been producing the "Standards for Care" for transgender health for medical use for a number of years. Chances are your doctor or therapist/psychotherapist has read one of the many version and use it's guidelines in treating you.

The reason I wanted to bring it up is that I recently found out that in I believe October of 2011 they realized a new Standards of Care. Much of the information I have known is outdated. The Standards of Care goes over use of hormones, expected amount of how long changes will continue, risks, requirements, mental health concern, surgery requirements, and the list goes on.

One thing that came to light for me was there are options to have genital surgery for people who do not wish or cannot go on hormone replacement therapy. It lists out more details under the surgery section. Some of you may be interested in this option and could be worth talking with your medical professional about. Another thing is that you only have to wait 1 year now to be eligible for surgery (I have no idea when this changed but I know 7 years ago it was still 2 year waiting period on hormones and living as the desired gender) which I think is great news.

Now please be aware that a lot of insurance companies are still following outdated versions of the Standards of Care, and so could your doctor or therapist. I encourage all who are considering seeking medical or mental health to read up on this. It will help you learn the terminology they use as well as have good questions for them as to where you are at with your transition.

Standards of Care for Transgender Health 7th version located here.

So what did you find in there that relates to you that you didn't know or that has changed from what you have been told or last knew?

 fiwi