Endocrinologist Exam

[Guest jakoboi.]

Hi guys,

I went to see an endocrinologist yesterday, the one who, with my gender psych's permission, would be giving me hormones and she said that when, and if, i start hormones, she'd have to give me an external examination... down there. And this is kind of awkward, but I think that that scared me more than anything else involved in this process. I don't really know why it scared me, but I'm kind of dreading that time, which has me dreading the time I'll be starting hormones, which I really don't want to be doing. Basically, I was just wondering if anyone has any advice on how to get through that and to stop worrying so much about it. I feel like after seeing her, I've been set back in my confidence. Now I'm just scared again. Sorry for going on so long, but I really need advice.

Thanks.

[Guest harvester52]

I know how you feel. I've never had a "down there" exam, and I really don't want to. I had to witness my sister have one, and I'm scarred for life. However, I know that I have to do it to get T, so I guess it's worth it to me.

[Guest Jack Solomon]

I had a gyn exam because I was having pain below the stomach area (outside of the time of month) and a host of other problems. Basically we were just ruling out cysts or other problems with the organs in the area.

Before the exam starts your doctor will probably request you 'drop your trousers and underwear'. My doctor actually left the room while I did it and that helped somewhat. If you start to feel like you're having panic attack or like you absolutely can't take off your pants while she's in the room, ask her if she could possibly leave the room while you do this step. I don't know if endo exams work with the same equipment (they probably do) but for my exam I had to be laying down on one of those medical exam tables with my feet in metal stirrups. The actual exam was humiliating but the doctor was very nice about it. However, if it's any consolation I don't think your exam will be as bad as mine was because mine was internal. She actually stuck her hand up there (its part of the manual internal exam) as well as a speculum. I hope never to go through that again. Or if I do have to get one more exam I hope to keep it to once and once only before I get my total hysterectomy and am done with the entire area.

If she's just going to check the outer area on you it should be over very quickly (like a few minutes), I'd reccomend taking a Valium if your parents have it or something similar beforehand to calm your nerves down. A lot of the problem with me was that I was extremely tense and that made the exam even more uncomfortable.

Solomon

[Guest Ryles_D]

Oy... ouch. Um, you know that stuff you put on your teeth to make it numb, the gel not the novacaine, could you lather it down there so you at lesat don't feel anything? Gynecologists terrify me. I could not stand having anyone touch me down there for any reason.

And... their HAND? Like, the whole thing? A finger hurts. O_O how the heck could you deal with a hand?!

Hnn.... gynecologist exam for T? That'd traumatise me more than every single traumatic event in my life combined. And then another one for the surgeries? Are you serious? I don't want hte one.

[Guest GoldenKirbichu]

I've had my genitals examined before because I have PCOS. Oddly enough, it doesn't bother me very much. I just don't like the movements, as they're not very gentle.

I've never had a pap smear or anything though. I reeeeaaally hope I don't need one, ever. I've only had external/semi-internal exams.

I would get a pap smear if it meant that I got T though. I won't like it, however.

[Guest jakoboi.]

Haha. Thanks for all the advice guys, Solomon especially. Calmed me down. And yeah, it will be worth it I imagine, still a little terrifying though. Thanks again, so much, you have no idea.

G.

[Guest Shaun.Olsen]

Thats just so strange.... i never got to have an internal or external phsical exam done for my testosterone script!!! i just walked in the gender specialist said you look too male to be a ftm, and then asked me how my health was and gave me a script and talked about chest surgery and name change,

I guess though maybe just lay back and think of england... the sad thing is i think that you will be needing alot of internal exams right up until you have your hysterectomy as testosterone increases the chace of cervical cancer....(so i have been led to believe) so i guess all that you can do is just let it happen, think of better times to come , its just a nessessary evil i am afraid

[Guest Orpheus]

I also had my genitals examined before because my mother thaught I had some kind of an anomaly down there,and I ddin`t,but she wa sthere which added to the inconvenience about it.

My chest was examine don the first day I go to see the doctor and got prescribed T.I don`t know if I`ll be examine din the future but there sure won`t be my mum looking on so anything`sbetter than that.

I think they do check because lumps or fibroids as they`re called tend to form inside because of T,so whatever the doctor`s doing is for your benefit,man.Jut sty to calm down and go ahead with it.

[Guest Chris_421]

I've had 2 pap smears done, the first one was easy since it was way before I thought about transitioning, but the 2nd one, I think my mind was screwing with me, so I was extremely uncomfortable, it burned but I think I was really tense. So relax, it'd be over in a few minutes and just stare at something. Try to turn your brain off or think about something awesome. What they do (what I've experienced) is using a speculum, and at most I think a finger, theres a small swab involved (you may feel or not) and if they're doing a test, you may feel a little pinch. But thats internal stuff, I've never heard of an external exam.

[Guest JayJaye]

I'll be going to a gyn as soon as I get my new insurance. I want those parts OUT before I start T. Last time I saw my gyn he said it was optional to take them out, but now I want them out.

Yeah, just relax and think of something else. Those exams straw inhaler.

Jay

[Guest Raging Shadow]

i had to have a 'down there' exam when I was 11. I still have nightmares. i get the shakes just thinking about it. i found its helpful however to think about a place you really want to visit (for me space) and just completly forget about whats happening. good luck!!

[Guest CharlieRose]

i had to have a 'down there' exam when I was 11. I still have nightmares. i get the shakes just thinking about it. i found its helpful however to think about a place you really want to visit (for me space) and just completly forget about whats happening. good luck!!

Or maybe listen to music. I've never had a pelvic exam but I listened to music when I had to go to the orthodontic surgeon, which wasn't a picnic either.

I'm not sure how I'd be with a pelvic exam... As long as they're gentle, 'cause as RDels pointed out, that place is freakin' sensitive! I tried tampons once, oh my god it was awful. It was like "Brace yourself!" and like, wincing horribly whenever I had to put one in or take it out.

[Guest leo]

im totally dreading it

i dont like anything down there

[xanyx]

man... this is something i can't deal with.

my advice for everyone to think about it in purely functional terms: like if you're a car and you need maintenance, a

mechanical thing. Like if it's not your body even, but as if it's something thats not a part of you and has to be examined for

practical reasons, totally distance youself and think it'll all change after your treatment, and make jokes about it that you're a guy with girls stuff by mistake and how funny riduculous it is, to take the edge off, even though it might be not funny at all, but humor helps.

[Guest CharlieRose]

man... this is something i can't deal with.

my advice for everyone to think about it in purely functional terms: like if you're a car and you need maintenance, a

mechanical thing. Like if it's not your body even, but as if it's something thats not a part of you and has to be examined for

practical reasons, totally distance youself and think it'll all change after your treatment, and make jokes about it that you're a guy with girls stuff by mistake and how funny riduculous it is, to take the edge off, even though it might be not funny at all, but humor helps.

As Amanda Palmer says: "When you cannot joke about the darkness of life, that's when the darkness takes over."

[Guest Crossroads]

I didn't even read what others said.

If you want the truth, read this:

I had to do it recently. It's probably the worst thing that's ever happened in my life. I made it lighthearted in my mind beforehand and then forced myself to forget about it afterwards. I do this with any type of dysphoria (I just figured this out).

If you want to feel good, read this:

Half the world goes through it, you'll be fine! It's quick and you only have to do it once a year until you get some kind of surgery!

I'm sorry I don't have any better advice.

[Guest Little Sara]

I didn't even read what others said.

If you want the truth, read this:

I had to do it recently. It's probably the worst thing that's ever happened in my life. I made it lighthearted in my mind beforehand and then forced myself to forget about it afterwards. I do this with any type of dysphoria (I just figured this out).

If you want to feel good, read this:

Half the world goes through it, you'll be fine! It's quick and you only have to do it once a year until you get some kind of surgery!

I'm sorry I don't have any better advice.

I haven't had a prostate exam and never will. Force me if you want.