What if there’s worries

[Jackson Max]

My parents don’t support my transition because of family issues and my personal safety. They think the medication and technology is all too new and they’re worried about it harming my body. What really are the risks and how do I talk them into helping me through it?

[killjoyaiden]

This is what my parents think. Hormones are still experimental, and I've heard that they can harm your kidneys or liver... I don't quite remember, though. The best thing to do is to get a gender therapist to talk with them about why it's more important for you to start HRT and why the risks are higher if you don't start it.

[VickySGV]

@Jackson Max

 

During your teens, they will not as a rule give you actual hormones, but they will give you puberty blocking  drugs, that have been in use nearly 40 years by now, which could be longer than your parents have been alive, so no, they are not new.  What the drugs do is to keep you from developing secondary sex characteristics such as large breasts and can keep your period from happening.  Since you are FtM, they will not make your voice deepen, or  let you grow a beard, but they will put the two other items I mentioned on hold.  The puberty blockers will give you some freedom from thoughts about your Gender Dysphoria and what your developing hormones are doing, and as a result you will be calmer and better able to do your school work.

 

There is some reality to worries about your personal safety and social acceptance in many parts of your state right now and those need to be taken into account, but things are getting better. 

 

Once you are 18 years old, and in charge of your own life, and can begin taking Testosterone, it does become a little more dangerous, but while the danger, which is still relatively small, is present, the drugs are far from new and experimental, and with competent medical help and monitoring can give you the life you feel is yours.

 

Just now, killjoyaiden said:

I've heard that they can harm your kidneys or liver... I don't quite remember, though.

 

There is always going to be a CHANCE that this type of harm can be done. but the therapy is FAR from experimental by now, but some scientific study is still needed to be sure, and continued medical care is a must in terms of lab work and level monitoring and will help prevent this from being s serious risk.   I am afraid that in many cases though, even assurance by doctors that the procedures are nearly risk free and have been for years that some parents will still claim it is too big a risk for their child though. 

[killjoyaiden]

Just now, VickySGV said:

I am afraid that in many cases though, even assurance by doctors that the procedures are nearly risk free and have been for years that some parents will still claim it is too big a risk for their child though. 

Yeah, but it doesn't hurt to try. Who knows, maybe it will be enough

[VickySGV]

Just now, killjoyaiden said:

Yeah, but it doesn't hurt to try. Who knows, maybe it will be enough

 

I am the grandparent of a teen, a tween. and a pre-teen whose parents and aunts are in their 40's.  That was a mandatory comment from a Trans Granny. and I hope Jack's parents will listen and consider the benefits of a happier and more free child and not be roadblocks who could do harm.  I try to prevent that harm here and IRL and would probably answer a parent on the very real terrible risks of not taking the small risks.  I can get away with it , children cannot. 

[killjoyaiden]

The reality of it is, it's a higher risk to NOT take them than to take them.