Understanding Transgender Journey: Hormones, Surgeries and Dysphoria
This article is general information only and is not medical advice. Experiences vary from person to person, and decisions about hormones or surgery are personal. Talk to a qualified clinician about your own situation.
Mathilda Hogberg, a transgender YouTuber, shares that she realized she was transgender around the age of 15 after watching a TV show about transgender people. She felt that something had always seemed "not quite right" in terms of her gender identity, but seeing the show helped her recognize that she was transgender and wanted to transition.
Though some people believe being transgender is a choice, Hogberg explains that she was born transgender - her gender identity as a woman did not align with her male biological sex at birth. This caused significant distress, known as gender dysphoria. For her, transitioning was the way to alleviate this discomfort and live authentically as her true self.
In this article, we explore the topic of understanding transgender journey: hormones, surgeries and dysphoria.
Starting Hormone Replacement Therapy
After coming out to her mother, Hogberg met with psychologists and eventually began hormone replacement therapy (HRT). As an MTF (male-to-female) transgender person, she took anti-androgens to block testosterone and estrogen to feminize her body.
The hormones caused changes like decreased body hair, breast growth, redistribution of fat to hips/thighs, and a rounder, more feminine face shape.
Hogberg emphasizes that many physical changes are possible without surgery, just from HRT. However, she will need to continue HRT for life since her body does not produce estrogen naturally.
Undergoing Gender-Affirming Surgeries
After a year and a half on HRT, Hogberg had breast augmentation surgery and later a vaginoplasty - the construction of a vagina. She considers these medically necessary due to her gender dysphoria, not elective cosmetic procedures.
She says the surgeries were covered by Sweden's publicly funded healthcare system. Hogberg also had a minor revision surgery but has not had any facial feminization procedures, crediting the changes to HRT.
Explaining Gender Dysphoria
Hogberg details the intense distress of gender dysphoria - the mismatch between one's gender identity and biological sex. For her, the way forward was to transition socially and often physically to align one's body and expression with their identity.
She emphasizes that being transgender and needing to transition is not a choice or cosmetic vanity, but rather a medically necessary path to alleviate dysphoria and live authentically. Hogberg says she found no other way to ease her dysphoria aside from transitioning.
Overall, the article aims to explain key aspects of a transgender person's transition, highlighting the realities of dysphoria, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries. It provides perspective on the complex transgender experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the article highlights the journey of a transgender individual, Mathilda Hogberg, who realized her gender identity as a woman did not align with her male biological sex at birth. This caused significant distress known as gender dysphoria, which, for her, could only be alleviated through transitioning.
Hogberg started hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and underwent gender-affirming surgeries to align her body and expression with her identity. The article emphasizes that transitioning is not a choice or cosmetic vanity, but rather a medically necessary path to alleviate dysphoria and live authentically.
The article also provides perspective on the complex transgender experience, highlighting the realities of dysphoria, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries. It is important to recognize and respect the experiences of transgender individuals and to provide them with the necessary resources and support to live their authentic selves.