[bryony]

I realize though that I'll never be able to sufficiently prove my points to you, since I cannot back them up with hard facts since no one wants to pay for hard facts to be provided. I've provided what hard facts I can that INDICATE what I'm talking about, but don't DIRECTLY state and prove them. I've seen too much evidence though for you to convince me otherwise.

Well I don't want to end on a sour note... I'd just like to make a few points so you can see my heart is in the right place:

1) I am totally for transition for classic transsexuals, particularly young ones who are free to make decisions without harming others.

2) To achieve this, pharmaceutical drugs will be necessary, and I understand this, but they require careful monitoring and blood work etc.

3) Where someone is middle-age/late middle-age, has struggled all their life with GD, and just can't take any more, then unless they have a very understanding family and have particularly feminine features (and/or lots of money) I would do my best to discourage transition, because I believe that either they, their family or all of them will suffer. That's where I'm particularly interested in PM, because my experience is that it is safe and reduces the worst symptoms of GD for such people. I would be concerned to think that such people were tempted to exeriment with more powerful, pharm-grade hormones, as it could start them down a path where they might think they want to go, but live to regret it.
I've seen a number of these cases reported, and this article attempts to explain it: testosterone toxicity


4) I want to discourage a cavalier attitude to self-medication with pharmaceuticals, as I mentioned before, because I don't want new members to get the opinion that it is relatively risk-free. I know you think that the risks are low enough for you to try, but you've done your research, read the warnings and want to go ahead. I'd just like to see some kind of health warning at the start of any thread discussing illegitimate self-medications with regulated drugs.

This isn't meant to be any kind of put-down, just erring on the side of safety.

This isn't a moderated forum with 'stickies' and 'faqs' that can hold those warnings, so it is incumbent on us to make sure that newbies aren't led astray.

All the best,

Bryony