A trans woman is a person who was assigned male at birth but identifies as female and may undergo social or medical transition to become a woman. They are also sometimes known as MTF, which stands for male-to-female.
Trans women often face discrimination from both racism and transphobia. They can experience depression symptoms at higher rates than cisgender women.
Identifying as a trans woman
If you were born male and identify as a woman, then you’re a transgender woman. You may also be called a FTM, MTF, tgirl or t woman. These terms are sometimes used in place of female-to-male or male-to-female transgender, which can be pejorative.
You might want gender confirmation surgery to change your chest, voice or body hair. You can also get gender-affirming hormone treatments. These interventions can help you feel more confident and comfortable. Whether you choose to live as your true gender all the time or just some of the time is up to you.
Gender identity is not a disease, although it has been pathologized for a long time. It’s important to be aware of the ways in which people are discriminated against because of their gender identity. In order to combat this, we must support transgender people. This will ensure that they’re able to live the lives they want and deserve. This is why it’s important to find a LGBTQIA+-friendly healthcare provider.
Getting gender-affirming hormone treatments
If you are a trans woman and would like to change your secondary sex, gender-affirming hormone therapy may be an option. This treatment involves a conversation with your doctor, lab testing, and taking prescription medications by mouth, patch, gel or injection. It is important to know that some of the physical changes caused by feminizing hormones cannot be reversed and you will need to be committed to lifelong medication management from an endocrinologist who understands transgender health.
Feminizing hormone therapy consists of estrogens and antiandrogens. For those who have had an orchiectomy (removal of the testicles) masculinizing hormone therapy will be necessary, which consists of testosterone and androgens. Regardless of the type of hormone therapy, it is important to discuss pregnancy prevention with your doctor. Thromboembolic conditions such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism can be exacerbated by estrogen, so the risk should be assessed and discussed. In addition, you should have regular blood tests to check your cholesterol, blood sugar, liver enzymes and electrolytes.
Getting medical care
Health care is essential for trans women. However, accessing it can be difficult. Many trans women must undergo medical transition to get the health care they need. This can involve feminizing hormone therapy or surgery to change their gender. In addition, they may need to attend therapy to deal with mental health issues.
Most health insurances exclude transgender people from coverage for certain types of health care procedures. These exclusions are based on discriminatory practices and violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. They also violate federal regulations that require marketplace health plans to cover a set of preventive services without regard to sex assigned at birth, gender identity, or gender transition.
National research priorities should include rigorous determination of the capacity of the health care system to provide adequate care for transgender people. This includes determining gaps in provider knowledge and evaluating other barriers that are independent of the level of knowledge. These barriers include societal stigma for providers and patients, mental health issues, and socioeconomic barriers to accessing care.
Getting legal help
Despite recent legal progress, transgender people continue to face numerous barriers to justice. They are frequently discriminated against, denied services or excluded from public programs due to their gender identity or sexual orientation. They are also at higher risk of violence and incarceration.
SRLP’s work includes a comprehensive Transgender Legal Aid Program, an ID Project to help TGNC individuals obtain and update identification documents, and other advocacy services. The organization offers sliding scale and pro bono legal help for a variety of issues, including employment discrimination, immigration, family law, and violence.
LSNYC provides advice and direct legal representation to low-income transgender New Yorkers with civil legal problems, such as source of income discrimination in housing placements, discrimination in access to healthcare and benefits, and obtaining accurate name changes and gender markers. LSNYC also conducts monthly legal clinics for low-income transgender New Yorkers at the Callen-Lorde Health Center in Brooklyn. LSNYC has also conducted policy advocacy to combat discrimination and improve access to HIV-related legal services for TGNC people.