Kiley Crossland 10/06/17 World Digital Assistant Editor: Reports on Marriage, Family, Sexuality
In an interview with The Telegraph of London Professor Miroslav Djordjevic lamented the lack of research on transgender people changing their minds and undergoing surgery reversal. He splits his time between New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital and his clinic in Belgrade, Serbia. Doctor Djordjevic is a world leading genital reconstructionist surgeon. He is an Assistant Professor of Urology at the University of Belgrade, Serbia (wikipedia)
“The number of reversal patients has continued to grow” In 2012, Dr. Djordjevic had “two patients completing reversals” and six prospective patients”
According to Djordjevic, some patients report crippling depression and suicidal ideation after their reassignment surgery.”
So far, all of his reversal patients have been adult transgender people who want to restore their male genitalia.
Djordjevic said he fears one major problem is that some clinics are just out for financial gain.
“I have heard stories of people visiting [clinics] who only checked on whether or not they had the money to pay. We have to stop this” he said.
Another problem, according to Djordjevic, is growing pressure to treat patients at younger ages. In the last 20 years, the average age of his patients has dropped from 45 to 21. He does not do surgery on anyone younger than 18, but fears the World Professional Association for Transgender Health will soon reduce their guidelines for gender reassignment surgeries to include minors.
The rates of minors seeking treatment for gender dysphoria (dysphoria: a state of unease or generalized dissatisfaction with ones life: google) continues to rise.
In April, (10/06/17), the only clinic in England that sees minors for gender identity development services reported that it saw 2,016 referrals in the previous 12 months, a 42 percent increase from the year before, on top of a 104 percent increase from the year before that. The number of children being treated for gender identity disorder at Scotland’s Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow quadrupled in the past three years, according to an article published this week in the Glasgow newspaper The Herald, from under 50 in 2013 to more than 200 cases last year.
Walt Heyer, a former transgender person who says his life was “devestated” by gender transition,” has been writing about the increasing problem of gender change regret for 10 years. He praised Djordjevic for speaking out:
“The well respected surgeon Dr. Miroslav Djordjevic, and, Psychotherapist James Caspian are discovering what I have known all along: regret and detransitions are on the rise because too many ‘gender affirming’ surgeries are performed on people who don’t need them.” Walt Heyer
Walt Heyer is a former transgender who regrets his chang deeply, and travels extensively to share his story at conferences, churches and universities. He has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows. His many books and on line help are welcome resources.
Visit:
haurietisaquas 