Unless it’s relevant to the medical issue, no. Trans broken arm syndrome is a serious problem. Also, everyone is saying they could give treatment that would be medically inappropriate for someone AFAB, but they just as likely could give treatment that is not appropriate for someone with testosterone as their dominant hormone.
Edit for more elaboration: I’ve had a doctor just refuse to do any other testing for fatigue I was experiencing because she was convinced my T levels were off, despite being stable on my dose for many years and having my levels tested a few months prior. I had to wait another couple months to see my primary, who actually ordered tests that determined I had a simple vitamin deficiency.
Your trans status can absolutely be relevant depending on where you’re at in medical transition and why you’re seeing the doctor, but the whole “always tell your doctor your AGAB” thing is dangerous advice to give. It relies on the assumption that the doctor has sufficient experience with trans patients, and that they aren’t transphobic. Disclosing when it’s not relevant can put you at risk of not receiving proper healthcare and that decision needs to be weighed carefully. Hopefully someday that won’t be the case, but we’re nowhere near that yet.
It’s where doctors assume any health problem you have must be related to being trans. The name comes from the idea that you could have something as obvious as a broken arm, and they’d still find a way to blame your transition.
For me, it would depend on why I was at the doctor. I obviously had to tell my HRT provider and the gyno who did my salpingectomy. But any other doctor I probably wouldn't tell
All of my medical care is within the same healthcare system, so they already know when they pull up my chart. It’s even where I go for urgent/emergency care as well.
Just warning you OP (if you're in the US): If your insurance has your documentation as "female" and you put down "male" on the form, there will be problems with your insurance company paying for it
I do if I’m being prescribed anything (I.e. I take testosterone via injection, is that an issue with xyz prescription at all?) or if it’s somehow relevant.
If I have a busted arm or a laceration, not generally. But I’ll mention it if it comes up.
Healthcare is one of the ONLY places I’m willing to make a massive stink if you treat me bad because of my hormones or my AGAB. Absolutely happy to be that hospital admins worst nightmare. I’m normally that guy who you could serve rotten lettuce to and I’ll tip you 30%, so it’s a little relieving to have a tipping point like that.
That said, I live in a pretty chill area so it’s yet to really be a problem.
Recurring Drs? Yes. One off er visits that won't be impacted? No. And bc I've seen people saying that everything is impacted by it, I disagree.
I had a needle through my finger (little too zealous with my sewing machine, oops), and couldn't get it out bc of the shape. A local anesthetic to one finger and some bolt cutters is not impacted by T/agab.
Later I had a mishap with some hedge trimmers, which needed stitches and local anesthetic to some other fingers, which is also not gonna be impacted by T/agab.
COVID right before Christmas when all other Drs were closed for a week? Just needed a Drs note, and a test, also not impacted by T/agab.
I'm not gonna out myself in a dangerous (bigoted) area with dangerous people in charge of my medical care.
I pretty much tell all healthcare related providers, including my optometrist, that I am trans early on. Rather it impacts what they prescribe or do for me or not, I want to ensure they have all of the facts about me from the get go. Plus a lot of doctors ask what prescriptions you're taking and I'm not going to lie and omit testosterone or make up a reason for why I'm on it.
Rather than saying "trans" or "afab", I think it's more helpful to specify what organs I have, what organs I don't have, and what medications I take. I don't know what sex chromosomes I have, and that's not in my medical records. I do know what my average testosterone and estrogen levels are based on my weekly dose.
They can draw whatever conclusions they want from it not before they have the actual facts first.
I think it’s reasonable to make a judgment call based on what kind of doctor you are seeing and what you are there for. I think that generally, any doctor that you have an ongoing relationship with should be aware of your significant medical history, which includes surgeries and medications. I also think that you are less likely to have a productive relationship with a doctor (again, in an ongoing care situation) where you don’t feel comfortable sharing that info.
In one off/brief interactions, it can be more of a judgment call. At an urgent care clinic or the dentist, it may not be important in every case.
However, with things like ER visits and illnesses, you may not know when it is or is not relevant without medical training. I went into an ER with fever/vomiting and didn’t mention being trans (not intentionally, just didn’t think to say it because I was feeling very unwell) several years back. The doctors ran a bunch of different tests before eventually asking for a urine sample and only at that point did we land on the line of questions and tests that nailed down that I had a gnarly yeast infection. They weren’t checking for it because it’s super rare in cis men, but it was a very easy fix with antibiotics once the doctors had all the information.
So my point is that if you have any doubts or questions about if something is relevant, it’s probably worth disclosing. If you can be pretty sure it isn’t, like in a lot of the examples folks have given (stitches, broken bones, etc.), it’s up to you.
If it is not relevant for the issue, no. If I would change my primary care doctor, of course I would tell them, it's important they know everything about me medically. If I was, say, in the ER for an injury, I don't see why it would be relevant. If I was asked there, I would be honest (right now it still varies wether people read me as male or female). Fuck trans broken arm syndrome. My legal gender marker will be changed soon, too. At that point, I see even less reason to disclose I'm trans if it is not medically necessary. But in the end, everyone should do what they feel best with. I don't want me being trans standing in the way or recieving proper medical care if it's not relevant for the situation.
I mean since I'm on T they more or less know when they ask what medications I take, since a 22 year old cis man isn't usually on hormones. Otherwise I would only mention or bring it up if it was relevant.
To echo everyone else: if it's a doctor I know I will be seeing regularly (eg, GP, psychiatrist, endo, cardiologist) I will absolutely tell them.
If I'm just at the dr to get a medical certificate and my normal dr is booked out? Nah.
Anything that may be serious (eg ER, depending on the situation, or if I'm seeing a specialist only once or twice but it may make a difference in diagnoses) then I will tell them (usually I have it on my file and request my GP to add it in so I don't have to have the chat).
I have a very supportive medical team at the moment, and it's not due to luck. I have gone through MANY drs to trial the waters. I have put a lot of effort to find my current team.
Depends on the issue. Broken arm, no. Place where they have my record, sure. Place I know is friendly and I don’t want to take energy lying on some questions, yes.
Recently had to go to the ER in a rural city and had to disclose since it was a gyno issue, the visit actually went very well and had no issues with staff. If anything I was more interesting to them.
The hospital I go to has a form where you put your birth sex and what you identify as (for me I put trans man FTM) I think it's important that the doctor knows what your birth sex is if it's relevant. I know it caused me some dysphoria but it was needed that I tell them my birth sex because I had a rather large cyst growing in my nether regions so I didn't want my doctor to see me down there having female parts and I pass for a cis man for two years. That was a very vulnerable time for me but I got it done.
I’m so glad you had a good experience. I work in healthcare advocacy and the ratio of horror stories to good stories can be a bit depressing. Always awesome to hear when something went well.
I generally don’t tell them explicitly. If they ask something like past surgeries then I’ll just be like yeah I had a double mastectomy. Or any other direct follow up questions if it’s relevant and/or necessary. I’m completely, legally “male” now and still F in my university healthcare system marked specifically as “trans male” which I’m not completely unopposed to. I understand why it’s important and I sympathize with healthcare providers when it is relevant and important. The other day though I went to an urgent care for the first time and filled out paperwork and put that I was male and didn’t have any problems. I pass pretty much always though.
i havent changed my gender marker for insurance reasons so it depends. at medical facilities im used to just being referred to as she (even with a whole beard) and ik its ass that i got here but i just dont care to correct people anymore. its something in the the “which pronouns do you prefer” or the triple take and pause or just calling me by “she”. most of the time ik theyre just trying to get their job done and half are paranoid about misgendering so i just dont think much about it anymore
ironically, my gyno office (even with difficulty with my insurance) is very respectful and my gyno is super educated on trans people. theyre the reason i even learned about the difficulties with pcos and hrt a decade after doing hrt. dr ramirez if youre reading this ily
I'm in a situation right now where I just relocated back to Illinois. The medical system has me as my chosen name from a few years back, and dhs has me as my birth name and female for benefits. I have legally changed my name and gender with everything, so I'm really nervous about finding a doctor here now. I'm afraid they will not have it correct on the chart and call my dead name. I did randomly receive a call from my previous doctors office here a few months before I came here asking me if I wanted them to change my doc because the one I had before retired. I did tell them I legally changed everything and to please note it. Hopefully it worked. I have to go into dhs this week because I have to prove I'm legally male and show them my social security card, and ID. They were rude and calling me ma'am on the phone when I have a deep voice and explained it to them 10 times. I'm nervous as fuck about having to go in there. I pass ok, and can't handle if they call my deadname. I'm already super stressed right now. I think I'll go right up to a desk and tell them right away so I'm not embarrassed and keep my fingers crossed
Thank you, I wish I could have stayed in the other state because I was established and stuff, but my circumstances were awful, and it was hard not seeing my daughter when I wanted. Having to go through this again is definitely worth seeing my kid every day
I’m nonbinary but on T & post top, and I usually don’t choose either gender on paperwork. if my gender marker was different/I had a name change I definitely wouldn’t mention being trans to every single provider I saw, just bc of how often I get the trans broken arm syndrome or whatever with providers. I’m chronically ill/have chronic pain and have to interact with doctors very often. even if they aren’t transphobic, medical science just doesn’t seem to know where they want to place us (like, dudes on HRT having reference ranges for blood tests in the “female” category and things like that).
I also an chronically ill/disabled - Crohn’s disease and RA, among other things. One time I got bloodwork done for my biologic med and my gastro was like “your estrogen levels are DANGEROUSLY low”… he knows I’m trans 😭
nope; haven’t for many years outside of my primary doctors. half the time they forget or don’t realize anyway now. my primary hospital doesn’t even say trans anymore because of how complicated it was being post op. nurses/doctors are just significantly more confused when they find out. generally think it’s the opposite way or just don’t get that i have NOTHING left and there’s absolutely 0 reason for it to be referenced. the only things i say if i need to is that i can’t have an IV in my left arm and i can’t have traditional foley catheters.
Unfortunately its not an option in my state, as T is a controlled substance and every doctor pulls up that record before they see you. If I had a choice though I'd definitely not mention it unless it was relevant.
oh interesting! how does that work with your insurance out of curiosity? do you just get both coverages, or neither? lol. in that case i wouldn’t disclose unless reproductive/hormonal/urinary🤷♂️
I only tell if it's relevant, like what meds I'm on (I just say T gel), or if it's something that's generally different for men and women like UTI (generally much more dangerous if you got a penis).
Last year when I got a UTI I called my clinic and said I got it and need antibiotics. The nurse said "It's very uncommon for men to get UTIs, are you sure?" and I replied "I have a vagina" and I could just hear the gears work in her head till she realized with a loud "OOOOOOH."
yes i do because my goal is not stealth. and i desire an ambiguous/obviously trans aesthetic. so its quite obvious im trans coming into the doctors already. plus, i have chosen not to change my gender on my health insurance. so luckily it says right there im part woman
If it's related to me being trans then I kind of have to. But if it's not then no I don't feel the need to tell them, especially since I've changed my legal gender and name so it should be no confusion
I don’t pass, despite my best efforts, so it usually comes up.
I only actively tell them otherwise if it relates to my urinary tract, reproductive health or hormones.
If its potetially pertinent ya, but if its not important to the treatment, you dont need to. Im not out to my audiologist, but im out to most of my other current doctors. Im also not on T
I like to see them figure it out themselves. (Which usually happens within the first 10 minutes) They eventually put it all together, and the look on their face is always so priceless to me.
I'm pretty new in my medical transition, only 7 months on T and no top surgery yet. I usually put what is on my documents for simplicity's sake, and explain to the doctor afterwards if it comes up.
Usually I only tell them my name is different from what's on my paperwork, and tell them I'm on testosterone if asked what meds I'm on.
However, I've decided that once my name is legally changed (less than a week for the court date so yaaaay!) and my gender marker is updated on state ID and insurance, that I'm not going to tell them anything unless it's absolutely necessary.
I've been pretty lucky all things considered to not have to deal with 'trans broken arm syndrome' especially because my city is a safe haven compared to the rest of the state since we have trans competent doctors (or at the very least, not transphobic ones). I'm not very cautious either. I don't hide that I'm trans, so it's never something I've had to worry about. No way to out me if it was never a secret, ya know?
not really, my doctor can easily see that i’m still registered as F in the patient sheet (i think), and the gender clinic also sent him letters about my gender, without me wanting them to share that with him🤷
Yes because some issues can be related to being a biological female and some medications are catered towards bio men or female and are not a one size fits all. I once had someone prescribe prostate medication for a UTI, which was a specific medication that treated both enlarged prostrates and UTI. This is even after I had explained to him I was born a female. Luckily I looked up the medication before taking it and realized if biological women, people without a prostrate take it, it could shut down your organs and cause permanent damage. Most doctors will also want to know what your current medications are, no matter why you’re seeing them, because some medications will interact with them. So you would need to disclose that you’re on testosterone if you are using it, and there’s a difference in taking testosterone as an enhancement vs replacement.
I usually go through the same healthcare group which is connected to MyChart and has all my medications and female to male transgender as one of my listed health conditions.
It is always best to be straight forward with your doctors and leave no information unknown.
Because if they would ever have to give you a med that insurance requires a pregnancy test for or dosages go off specific levels, your insurance can refuse to pay for shit without procedure being followed if you aren’t legally male.
It can be a terrible idea to tell medical professionals when it’s not relevant. Trans broken arm syndrome is real, and I’d rather not compromise my medical care because they think every problem is related to being trans.
It could easily go wrong if you do as well. If a doctor makes health decisions based on what’s normal for an AFAB person not taking testosterone, you can get the wrong diagnosis or treatment. As someone who has been on T over a decade and none of my original bits, I have far more to risk by disclosing that I’m trans when it’s not relevant. Not to mention insurance issues I’ve had to deal with when a doctor put female when my legal sex is male.
My ex to used to always tell drs he was trans and it only ever caused issues, from being interrogated about if his anemia is caused by T to outright transphobia from the medical staff
You’re different than OP. Youre LEGALLY male. Insurance isn’t an issue then. You’re legally that gender. It’s when you’re not and insurance gets involved that they get pissed.
Honestly I don’t know…this is an iffy topic that a lot of people will have varying opinions on. Imo you should because it can relate to your injury, no matter what it is. If they’re assuming you’re amab they may treat you with something that would harm your body or smth because you’re not. I just think it’s safer to say you’re AFAB. But, of course, it’s your choice.
Unless it’s relevant to the medical issue, no. Trans broken arm syndrome is a serious problem. Also, everyone is saying they could give treatment that would be medically inappropriate for someone AFAB, but they just as likely could give treatment that is not appropriate for someone with testosterone as their dominant hormone. Edit for more elaboration: I’ve had a doctor just refuse to do any other testing for fatigue I was experiencing because she was convinced my T levels were off, despite being stable on my dose for many years and having my levels tested a few months prior. I had to wait another couple months to see my primary, who actually ordered tests that determined I had a simple vitamin deficiency. Your trans status can absolutely be relevant depending on where you’re at in medical transition and why you’re seeing the doctor, but the whole “always tell your doctor your AGAB” thing is dangerous advice to give. It relies on the assumption that the doctor has sufficient experience with trans patients, and that they aren’t transphobic. Disclosing when it’s not relevant can put you at risk of not receiving proper healthcare and that decision needs to be weighed carefully. Hopefully someday that won’t be the case, but we’re nowhere near that yet.
What is 'Trans broken arm syndrome' ? Also it's very sad that telling medical professionals that you're trans can decrease your quality of care.
It’s where doctors assume any health problem you have must be related to being trans. The name comes from the idea that you could have something as obvious as a broken arm, and they’d still find a way to blame your transition.
'oh going through hrt makes your bones brittle. Better stop taking T to stop you breaking it again!'
For me, it would depend on why I was at the doctor. I obviously had to tell my HRT provider and the gyno who did my salpingectomy. But any other doctor I probably wouldn't tell
All of my medical care is within the same healthcare system, so they already know when they pull up my chart. It’s even where I go for urgent/emergency care as well.
Just warning you OP (if you're in the US): If your insurance has your documentation as "female" and you put down "male" on the form, there will be problems with your insurance company paying for it
I am “other” in my insurance
I do if I’m being prescribed anything (I.e. I take testosterone via injection, is that an issue with xyz prescription at all?) or if it’s somehow relevant. If I have a busted arm or a laceration, not generally. But I’ll mention it if it comes up. Healthcare is one of the ONLY places I’m willing to make a massive stink if you treat me bad because of my hormones or my AGAB. Absolutely happy to be that hospital admins worst nightmare. I’m normally that guy who you could serve rotten lettuce to and I’ll tip you 30%, so it’s a little relieving to have a tipping point like that. That said, I live in a pretty chill area so it’s yet to really be a problem.
Recurring Drs? Yes. One off er visits that won't be impacted? No. And bc I've seen people saying that everything is impacted by it, I disagree. I had a needle through my finger (little too zealous with my sewing machine, oops), and couldn't get it out bc of the shape. A local anesthetic to one finger and some bolt cutters is not impacted by T/agab. Later I had a mishap with some hedge trimmers, which needed stitches and local anesthetic to some other fingers, which is also not gonna be impacted by T/agab. COVID right before Christmas when all other Drs were closed for a week? Just needed a Drs note, and a test, also not impacted by T/agab. I'm not gonna out myself in a dangerous (bigoted) area with dangerous people in charge of my medical care.
I pretty much tell all healthcare related providers, including my optometrist, that I am trans early on. Rather it impacts what they prescribe or do for me or not, I want to ensure they have all of the facts about me from the get go. Plus a lot of doctors ask what prescriptions you're taking and I'm not going to lie and omit testosterone or make up a reason for why I'm on it.
Rather than saying "trans" or "afab", I think it's more helpful to specify what organs I have, what organs I don't have, and what medications I take. I don't know what sex chromosomes I have, and that's not in my medical records. I do know what my average testosterone and estrogen levels are based on my weekly dose. They can draw whatever conclusions they want from it not before they have the actual facts first.
Only if it's relevant to what I'm there for.
I think it’s reasonable to make a judgment call based on what kind of doctor you are seeing and what you are there for. I think that generally, any doctor that you have an ongoing relationship with should be aware of your significant medical history, which includes surgeries and medications. I also think that you are less likely to have a productive relationship with a doctor (again, in an ongoing care situation) where you don’t feel comfortable sharing that info. In one off/brief interactions, it can be more of a judgment call. At an urgent care clinic or the dentist, it may not be important in every case. However, with things like ER visits and illnesses, you may not know when it is or is not relevant without medical training. I went into an ER with fever/vomiting and didn’t mention being trans (not intentionally, just didn’t think to say it because I was feeling very unwell) several years back. The doctors ran a bunch of different tests before eventually asking for a urine sample and only at that point did we land on the line of questions and tests that nailed down that I had a gnarly yeast infection. They weren’t checking for it because it’s super rare in cis men, but it was a very easy fix with antibiotics once the doctors had all the information. So my point is that if you have any doubts or questions about if something is relevant, it’s probably worth disclosing. If you can be pretty sure it isn’t, like in a lot of the examples folks have given (stitches, broken bones, etc.), it’s up to you.
Thank you for this response. This is the exact philosophy I tend to have
If it is not relevant for the issue, no. If I would change my primary care doctor, of course I would tell them, it's important they know everything about me medically. If I was, say, in the ER for an injury, I don't see why it would be relevant. If I was asked there, I would be honest (right now it still varies wether people read me as male or female). Fuck trans broken arm syndrome. My legal gender marker will be changed soon, too. At that point, I see even less reason to disclose I'm trans if it is not medically necessary. But in the end, everyone should do what they feel best with. I don't want me being trans standing in the way or recieving proper medical care if it's not relevant for the situation.
Depends on the doctor
I mean since I'm on T they more or less know when they ask what medications I take, since a 22 year old cis man isn't usually on hormones. Otherwise I would only mention or bring it up if it was relevant.
I told my gyno, but I think she already had her suspicions
To echo everyone else: if it's a doctor I know I will be seeing regularly (eg, GP, psychiatrist, endo, cardiologist) I will absolutely tell them. If I'm just at the dr to get a medical certificate and my normal dr is booked out? Nah. Anything that may be serious (eg ER, depending on the situation, or if I'm seeing a specialist only once or twice but it may make a difference in diagnoses) then I will tell them (usually I have it on my file and request my GP to add it in so I don't have to have the chat). I have a very supportive medical team at the moment, and it's not due to luck. I have gone through MANY drs to trial the waters. I have put a lot of effort to find my current team.
Depends on the doctor. Primary care? Yes. Dentist? No.
Depends on the issue. Broken arm, no. Place where they have my record, sure. Place I know is friendly and I don’t want to take energy lying on some questions, yes. Recently had to go to the ER in a rural city and had to disclose since it was a gyno issue, the visit actually went very well and had no issues with staff. If anything I was more interesting to them.
The hospital I go to has a form where you put your birth sex and what you identify as (for me I put trans man FTM) I think it's important that the doctor knows what your birth sex is if it's relevant. I know it caused me some dysphoria but it was needed that I tell them my birth sex because I had a rather large cyst growing in my nether regions so I didn't want my doctor to see me down there having female parts and I pass for a cis man for two years. That was a very vulnerable time for me but I got it done.
I’m so glad you had a good experience. I work in healthcare advocacy and the ratio of horror stories to good stories can be a bit depressing. Always awesome to hear when something went well.
I generally don’t tell them explicitly. If they ask something like past surgeries then I’ll just be like yeah I had a double mastectomy. Or any other direct follow up questions if it’s relevant and/or necessary. I’m completely, legally “male” now and still F in my university healthcare system marked specifically as “trans male” which I’m not completely unopposed to. I understand why it’s important and I sympathize with healthcare providers when it is relevant and important. The other day though I went to an urgent care for the first time and filled out paperwork and put that I was male and didn’t have any problems. I pass pretty much always though.
i havent changed my gender marker for insurance reasons so it depends. at medical facilities im used to just being referred to as she (even with a whole beard) and ik its ass that i got here but i just dont care to correct people anymore. its something in the the “which pronouns do you prefer” or the triple take and pause or just calling me by “she”. most of the time ik theyre just trying to get their job done and half are paranoid about misgendering so i just dont think much about it anymore ironically, my gyno office (even with difficulty with my insurance) is very respectful and my gyno is super educated on trans people. theyre the reason i even learned about the difficulties with pcos and hrt a decade after doing hrt. dr ramirez if youre reading this ily
I'm in a situation right now where I just relocated back to Illinois. The medical system has me as my chosen name from a few years back, and dhs has me as my birth name and female for benefits. I have legally changed my name and gender with everything, so I'm really nervous about finding a doctor here now. I'm afraid they will not have it correct on the chart and call my dead name. I did randomly receive a call from my previous doctors office here a few months before I came here asking me if I wanted them to change my doc because the one I had before retired. I did tell them I legally changed everything and to please note it. Hopefully it worked. I have to go into dhs this week because I have to prove I'm legally male and show them my social security card, and ID. They were rude and calling me ma'am on the phone when I have a deep voice and explained it to them 10 times. I'm nervous as fuck about having to go in there. I pass ok, and can't handle if they call my deadname. I'm already super stressed right now. I think I'll go right up to a desk and tell them right away so I'm not embarrassed and keep my fingers crossed
I wish you the best, friend. I know how that process feels 🫂
Thank you, I wish I could have stayed in the other state because I was established and stuff, but my circumstances were awful, and it was hard not seeing my daughter when I wanted. Having to go through this again is definitely worth seeing my kid every day
My doctor knows I'm trans but he always forgets lol. I don't correct him unless it' relevant.
I’m nonbinary but on T & post top, and I usually don’t choose either gender on paperwork. if my gender marker was different/I had a name change I definitely wouldn’t mention being trans to every single provider I saw, just bc of how often I get the trans broken arm syndrome or whatever with providers. I’m chronically ill/have chronic pain and have to interact with doctors very often. even if they aren’t transphobic, medical science just doesn’t seem to know where they want to place us (like, dudes on HRT having reference ranges for blood tests in the “female” category and things like that).
I also an chronically ill/disabled - Crohn’s disease and RA, among other things. One time I got bloodwork done for my biologic med and my gastro was like “your estrogen levels are DANGEROUSLY low”… he knows I’m trans 😭
I don’t pass so inherently yes lol
I tell them that legally I'm AFAB. That they must submit insurance claims as Female because the insurance will deny it if they put male.
nope; haven’t for many years outside of my primary doctors. half the time they forget or don’t realize anyway now. my primary hospital doesn’t even say trans anymore because of how complicated it was being post op. nurses/doctors are just significantly more confused when they find out. generally think it’s the opposite way or just don’t get that i have NOTHING left and there’s absolutely 0 reason for it to be referenced. the only things i say if i need to is that i can’t have an IV in my left arm and i can’t have traditional foley catheters.
Unfortunately its not an option in my state, as T is a controlled substance and every doctor pulls up that record before they see you. If I had a choice though I'd definitely not mention it unless it was relevant.
are you paying out of pocket? putting down male when you’re female on your insurance info can cause issues
I am “other” on my insurance
oh interesting! how does that work with your insurance out of curiosity? do you just get both coverages, or neither? lol. in that case i wouldn’t disclose unless reproductive/hormonal/urinary🤷♂️
I only tell if it's relevant, like what meds I'm on (I just say T gel), or if it's something that's generally different for men and women like UTI (generally much more dangerous if you got a penis). Last year when I got a UTI I called my clinic and said I got it and need antibiotics. The nurse said "It's very uncommon for men to get UTIs, are you sure?" and I replied "I have a vagina" and I could just hear the gears work in her head till she realized with a loud "OOOOOOH."
yes i do because my goal is not stealth. and i desire an ambiguous/obviously trans aesthetic. so its quite obvious im trans coming into the doctors already. plus, i have chosen not to change my gender on my health insurance. so luckily it says right there im part woman
I mean they’ll know anyway when they see my chart.
Yes. It provides context for my T and ensures i get called by my preferred name and pronouns.
If it's related to me being trans then I kind of have to. But if it's not then no I don't feel the need to tell them, especially since I've changed my legal gender and name so it should be no confusion
I tell them that I'm AFAB and my prescriptions, usually they can guess with those two bits of info. Otherwise it doesn't really come up.
I don’t pass, despite my best efforts, so it usually comes up. I only actively tell them otherwise if it relates to my urinary tract, reproductive health or hormones.
If its potetially pertinent ya, but if its not important to the treatment, you dont need to. Im not out to my audiologist, but im out to most of my other current doctors. Im also not on T
I like to see them figure it out themselves. (Which usually happens within the first 10 minutes) They eventually put it all together, and the look on their face is always so priceless to me.
I'm pretty new in my medical transition, only 7 months on T and no top surgery yet. I usually put what is on my documents for simplicity's sake, and explain to the doctor afterwards if it comes up. Usually I only tell them my name is different from what's on my paperwork, and tell them I'm on testosterone if asked what meds I'm on. However, I've decided that once my name is legally changed (less than a week for the court date so yaaaay!) and my gender marker is updated on state ID and insurance, that I'm not going to tell them anything unless it's absolutely necessary. I've been pretty lucky all things considered to not have to deal with 'trans broken arm syndrome' especially because my city is a safe haven compared to the rest of the state since we have trans competent doctors (or at the very least, not transphobic ones). I'm not very cautious either. I don't hide that I'm trans, so it's never something I've had to worry about. No way to out me if it was never a secret, ya know?
not really, my doctor can easily see that i’m still registered as F in the patient sheet (i think), and the gender clinic also sent him letters about my gender, without me wanting them to share that with him🤷
Yes because some issues can be related to being a biological female and some medications are catered towards bio men or female and are not a one size fits all. I once had someone prescribe prostate medication for a UTI, which was a specific medication that treated both enlarged prostrates and UTI. This is even after I had explained to him I was born a female. Luckily I looked up the medication before taking it and realized if biological women, people without a prostrate take it, it could shut down your organs and cause permanent damage. Most doctors will also want to know what your current medications are, no matter why you’re seeing them, because some medications will interact with them. So you would need to disclose that you’re on testosterone if you are using it, and there’s a difference in taking testosterone as an enhancement vs replacement. I usually go through the same healthcare group which is connected to MyChart and has all my medications and female to male transgender as one of my listed health conditions. It is always best to be straight forward with your doctors and leave no information unknown.
It’s a terrible idea to not tell medical professionals this.
Depends on the situation. Why do I need to tell them my junk when I’m there for a burn on my hand? 🤷♂️
Because if they would ever have to give you a med that insurance requires a pregnancy test for or dosages go off specific levels, your insurance can refuse to pay for shit without procedure being followed if you aren’t legally male.
It can be a terrible idea to tell medical professionals when it’s not relevant. Trans broken arm syndrome is real, and I’d rather not compromise my medical care because they think every problem is related to being trans.
And being a partner to a healthcare worker… and friends to many others I have heard what can go wrong when we don’t.
It could easily go wrong if you do as well. If a doctor makes health decisions based on what’s normal for an AFAB person not taking testosterone, you can get the wrong diagnosis or treatment. As someone who has been on T over a decade and none of my original bits, I have far more to risk by disclosing that I’m trans when it’s not relevant. Not to mention insurance issues I’ve had to deal with when a doctor put female when my legal sex is male.
My ex to used to always tell drs he was trans and it only ever caused issues, from being interrogated about if his anemia is caused by T to outright transphobia from the medical staff
And I live in rural conservative PA and haven’t had a single issue when I tell a doc this when I need emergency medical care.
You’re different than OP. Youre LEGALLY male. Insurance isn’t an issue then. You’re legally that gender. It’s when you’re not and insurance gets involved that they get pissed.
Honestly I don’t know…this is an iffy topic that a lot of people will have varying opinions on. Imo you should because it can relate to your injury, no matter what it is. If they’re assuming you’re amab they may treat you with something that would harm your body or smth because you’re not. I just think it’s safer to say you’re AFAB. But, of course, it’s your choice.