From surgical expertise to post-operative care, and from complications to personal style, a great many factors go into the transsexual's choice of a surgeon.

Frequently transgender persons in the coming out process are uncertain how to discuss gender issues and their needs with physicians. This can include requesting hormones as well as discussing general medical concerns.

Many individuals who seek gender-specialized counseling arrive with questions and some uncertainty whether taking hormones is appropriate for their situation. Others arrive with the feeling that they are ready to begin hormones or even have the expectation they will receive instant "approval" and a referral letter.

Several summers ago I authored an article titled; Transgenderists: When Self-Identification Challenges Transgender Stereotypes. It introduced transgenderists as those persons who had the need to maintain their original gender identification as well as a build on a new one. Although they are not interested in genital reassignment surgery...

One of my most favorite questions I hear circulating among people in groups throughout the gender community goes as follows. Should I lie to my therapist?

Occasionally I write a column and then, for your reading ease, run the piece past editors who also are therapists. With the vast majority of my writing, everything comes back just fine. The article will have a couple misspelled words, or a point that needs clarification. However, over time, I have also noticed a trend. Articles that criticize therapists, even when written by those within the field, get scathing reviews.

As many of my readers are aware, some of the most heated arguments in our community revolve around the "Standards of Care." Specifically, those standards written and formally promoted by the membership organization called the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association.(HBIGDA)

My caller, Dr. Mildred Brown, author of the book True Selves, said it is "outrageous and tragic that in the year 2000, transsexuals often are forced to live in poverty to pay for medically necessary procedures." She then went on to recount "during 1979, when I attended the first HBIGDA conference at Lake Tahoe, Dr. Pomeroy and I had the same battle with insurance companies."

I am not surprised at all to hear of the responses of physicians and nurses who flee examination rooms when a transgender person asks for hormones. However before confusing you with this statement, I will share my reflections and approach to first-time hormone requests.

What is it about the subject of AIDS which compels readers to turn the page? How come people become uncomfortable when they hear that someone is HIV-virus infected?