Added "eunuch" to my doctors form

[Hash (imported)]

I went to see my doctor for a check-up yesterday and the female desk clerk wanted me to check over a form that had all my information on it, date of birth, address, phone #, etc. It listed my sex as "M" so while reviewing it I added "eunuch" after it and told the woman at the desk that I wanted to include this in my description. She was a little shocked but she said o.k. I sat down and waited for my appointment. The woman at the desk left the glass window partially open and after a few minutes I saw her whisper to another woman in the office. The woman said, "Really, which one." Then she identified me. I could have gotten angry, but I felt good about it, I wanted her to know that I was a eunuch. This was a brave new day for me and then I was called in to see my doctor. Nothing to report, my female doctor knows that I'm a eunuch, she examined me months before. She's very compassionate and understanding. I'll never see another male doctor as long as I live. She wanted me to get an EKG, but the machine was broken. I told her I've been under a lot of stress, and that was all it took. We did talk about my hormones and she's monitoring mine. That's about it.

[Riven (imported)]

Good for you Hash,

I think you are very brave. It benefits us all if people out there get used to the idea that some of us aren't fully male, and don't want to feel ashamed about it.

[plix (imported)]

I don't suppose I'll ever understand why my experiences with doctors and gender seem to be the opposite of what most people on this board report. For me female doctors have been cold and distant upon learning of my eunuch/TS desires. Male doctors, however, have been understanding and compassionate.

The only thing I can think of is that either consciously or subconsciously the female doctors knew that I was not TS and/or eunuch, that I was just a man pretending to be, and that somehow this was off-putting. Of course, that theory doesn't explain why male doctors have been so willing to help.

An alternative and perhaps simpler explanation is that I just happened to choose a few conservative female doctors and a few liberal male doctors.

[kennath7 (imported)]

Hash

Congrats

That was brave step keep up the good work

And never be ashamed of who you are

[Kangan (imported)]

My family doctor (male) was surprised but congratulatory when I told him of my surgery and why I had it done. The female staff in his office know of my status since it is in my medical records. I'm going in for a routine exam next week. It will be interesting to see what anyone says (if anything).

[chilliwilli (imported)]

Hash,

Your so damn PIMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

But seriously, you are the man and good for you for pointing out the unacceptable mistake on their medical form.

chilli-

[JesusA]

Hash definitely is on the right track here. We ALL need to remind our care givers that there should be TWO open-ended questions on such forms:

SEX - What your body was at the time of birth. There are more than two possibilities.

GENDER - There are vastly more than two possibilities.

Both of these have significant implications for health care and any medical personnel serving you need to be aware of this important part of your medical history and background.

I'm trying to persuade my physician, who was formerly the director of the local office (more than 30 physicians) of a state-wide medical group, that all of their forms need to give these choices. I think I'm making progress.

[Beau Geste (imported)]

This calls to mind the passage in the Bible about "eunuchs from their mothers' wombs." I think this is sometimes considered to be a reference to individuals with undescended testes, but I would think that a small percentage of people are in fact born with a penis but no testes, and so could be considered persons whose medical records, from birth, ought to list them as eunuchs--simply because their medical status is different than that of the two genders usually recognized in medical records, and that could affect what kind of medical services and care they should receive.

[JesusA]

This calls to mind the passage in the Bible about "eunuchs from their mothers' wombs." I think this is sometimes considered to be a reference to individuals with undescended testes, but I would think that a small percentage of people are in fact born with a penis but no testes, and so could be considered persons whose medical records, from birth, ought to list them as eunuchs--simply because their medical status is different than that of the two genders usually recognized in medical records, and that could affect what kind of medical services and care they should receive.

Would that it were that simple. There are various estimates of the percentage of babies who are born other than the heteronormative "male" and "female."

Just for the external plumbing that is generally used to make the initial determination that "it's a boy," or "it's a girl," there are about one in 1,500 births where "it's indeterminate." For this was developed the Prader Scale, a seven-point scale ranging from clearly "female" external genitals at one end of the scale to clearly "male" external genitals at the other. Undescended testes do not count against clearly "male." There is a great size range of the part that is considered "clitoris" at one end and "penis" at the other. The urinary opening can be anywhere from well below it to at its tip. The labial folds that are present in all fetuses can open into something resembling a "vagina" or be fused into something appearing to be a "scrotum." There is a range for all of these.

The next consideration if the external plumbing is ambiguous is the chromosomal status. It's generally thought that XX chromosomes mean "female" and XY mean "male," but there are other variants as well (and XX and XY are not so simple either). About one in 500 births is "other." The most common of these other types are XXY, XYY, XXYY, XXX and XO (where there is only a single sex chromosome). There are also conditions, such as Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia or Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, where the external plumbing is a perfect match for either "male" or "female" and the chromosomes are the other common sex. There are "mosaics" where some cells in the body have one set of sex chromosomes and other cells have a different set.

And there are many other possibilities and complexities before we even get to the gender complexity that's inside the brain. A person can be born with matching chromosomes and external plumbing in either the XX/female or XY/male flavor and genetic and/or prenatal (in utero) influences that can produce a brain that is of a different gender. This leads to our MtF, FtM, and MtE varieties, as well as many other variants.

This is just an over-simplified introduction to the very real complexity of human sex and gender variants. There are thousands of academic papers trying to make sense of all of it. We still don't understand far too much. In the only class on human sexuality that I ever took, the professor described the TWENTY-ONE discrete axes of sex and gender that had been discerned. Chromosomes were one. External plumbing was another. And there were 19 more. If there were only two possibilities on each axis, that would mean that there were two-to-the-twenty-first-power possible combinations of sex and gender - more than the number of humans who have ever lived!

An open-ended question, "What is your sex?" allows most people to put a simple "M" or "F," but also allows that one in 500 or more to write in what they really are. "What is your gender?" allows for an even wider range of responses beyond "male" or "female."

It's about time that we all learned to delight in the entire diversity of humanity! It's much more than just the race and ethnicity that's generally considered in diversity studies.

[incuse (imported)]

I don't suppose I'll ever understand why my experiences with doctors and gender seem to be the opposite of what most people on this board report. For me female doctors have been cold and distant upon learning of my eunuch/TS desires. Male doctors, however, have been understanding and compassionate.

My experience has been mixed. I've told every doctor I've had. I don't want them to flaw a decision they make because I'm holding back information. Though, on forms I fill out, I mark M on them. I mention I'm a eunuch during the history taking doctors and nurses do. I figure that information is a bit more protected by HIPPA. I don't need a receptionist snickering over a form.

I've told 2 male GP's about my status as eunuch. One had no reaction, but did set me up a bone density test at my request, and the other asked if I wanted referral to a endocrinologist, only to back track and say I probably wouldn't want that since I was voluntary.

A female nurse taking history for me to see my male neurosurgeon ran out of the room after telling her I was a eunuch. Not sure what happened outside, not too concerned with it. The male neurosurgeon danced around the subject when it came time for us to talk. I could see he was definitely uncomfortable.

In summary: Male GP's ok. Neurosurgeons are just outright uncomfortable.

So far I've not had a situation where I needed my junk checked out, I suppose that will be my next big moment. Telling someone Im eunuch vs a doctor working on my junk are two different things.

It's probably several years down the road before I can survive a surgery of any kind that would have me being cath'd without dying of embarrassment.

[tugon (imported)]

Told my new doc I was a eunuch. In the past he has ordered along with my routine bloodwork a PSA screen for prostate cancer. He has now done that for three series of lab works. Each time I was at the lowest end of the scale. What part of eunuch does he not understand? I have my new doctor picked out. Like my dentist I hate to have that first conversation about things in my past that make receiving care difficult. My dentist has been the most caring and supportive person in healthcare for me I have yet met. Now I have to tell my new doc I have been diagnosed with PTSD and I am a eunuch. As much fun as their reaction might be I do not relish telling the tale.

[kristoff]

Told my new doc I was a eunuch. In the past he has ordered along with my routine bloodwork a PSA screen for prostate cancer. He has now done that for three series of lab works. Each time I was at the lowest end of the scale. What part of eunuch does he not understand? I have my new doctor picked out. Like my dentist I hate to have that first conversation about things in my past that make receiving care difficult. My dentist has been the most caring and supportive person in healthcare for me I have yet met. Now I have to tell my new doc I have been diagnosed with PTSD and I am a eunuch. As much fun as their reaction might be I do not relish telling the tale.

I don't care what my doc thinks about me being an eunuch. I am what I am - deal with me. If he can't, then I can't deal with him. End of story. When I had major surgery 18 months ago, half the hospital was up my cock, and then a garden hose for three weeks after. Never a word, look, smirk, whatever from a single soul, either at hospital or clinic. Didn't seem to phase a soul. I suspect many of us are our own worst critics - we embarrass ourselves by our own self-consciousness and/or shame (our culture derides and dismisses us, and we internalize it). Guilty, but working past it. Hell, I stood in front of 125 people last fall and told them my story, including being an eunuch. Not a single adverse comment (at least that I heard); besides, who cares - what someone else thinks of me is none of my business (a hard thing to live, but essential to a better self-acceptance). Perhaps my skin is thicker, but some things work a bit better as a result.

BTW, keep doing the annual PSA. You can still get prostate cancer, just less likely without the cahunas.

[tugon (imported)]

I don't care what my doc thinks about me being an eunuch. I am what I am - deal with me. If he can't, then I can't deal with him. End of story. When I had major surgery 18 months ago, half the hospital was up my cock, and then a garden hose for three weeks after. Never a word, look, smirk, whatever from a single soul, either at hospital or clinic. Didn't seem to phase a soul. I suspect many of us are our own worst critics - we embarrass ourselves by our own self-consciousness and/or shame (our culture derides and dismisses us, and we internalize it). Guilty, but working past it. Hell, I stood in front of 125 people last fall and told them my story, including being an eunuch. Not a single adverse comment (at least that I heard); besides, who cares - what someone else thinks of me is none of my business (a hard thing to live, but essential to a better self-acceptance). Perhaps my skin is thicker, but some things work a bit better as a result.

BTW, keep doing the annual PSA. You can still get prostate cancer, just less likely without the cahunas.

The PSA has been quarterly or I would not complain. In a small town of 42,000 with only one hospital and limited choices of doctors it is not always easy to switch. Having worked in healthcare for the past 19 years I know most of the healthcare providers in town. Many of my issues with doctors have more to do with my being physically and sexually abused for so long. I had to create safe words with my dentist if I would begin to panic. So much was done to my face in those times that having anything done around my face makes me anxious. Last time my eyes were examined I thought I was going blind because everything got dark and hazy. I was so nervous I had fogged the lenses completely. One doc came in with a glove and a tube of lube and told me to drop my pants. Sadly I was almost like a scared cat hanging from the ceiling. I hope one day to react in a normal way but that day is not here yet. I am still recovering.

[kristoff]

The PSA has been quarterly or I would not complain. In a small town of 42,000 with only one hospital and limited choices of doctors it is not always easy to switch. Having worked in healthcare for the past 19 years I know most of the healthcare providers in town. Many of my issues with doctors have more to do with my being physically and sexually abused for so long. I had to create safe words with my dentist if I would begin to panic. So much was done to my face in those times that having anything done around my face makes me anxious. Last time my eyes were examined I thought I was going blind because everything got dark and hazy. I was so nervous I had fogged the lenses completely. One doc came in with a glove and a tube of lube and told me to drop my pants. Sadly I was almost like a scared cat hanging from the ceiling. I hope one day to react in a normal way but that day is not here yet. I am still recovering.

My apology - I sometimes forget to remember and think about such things with people I do know, and understand why they feel and act as they do.

[jeff9000 (imported)]

may be there should be a special title for eunuchs instead of mr. like Euc. J Doe?

[kristoff]

may be there should be a special title for eunuchs instead of mr. like Euc. J Doe?

Eu. is the actual abbreviation used in lieu of Mr. or Dr. - at least at one time.

[Hash (imported)]

I thought about using EU but I knew the inevitable questions would be, what does it stand for, so I put eunuch on the form. I doubt that there will be any consequences for using it and perhaps more positives. It is strange for me to hear that some eunuch men have not had positive experiences with female physicians, though I will say that I have had at least two female GP's and one female endocrinologist who seemed cold and clinical, all of these were relatively young. But I've had another 7 female GP's/Endo's/Urologists who were very compassionate & curious, all of these were older females. My current GP is a female who's age I estimate is between 55-60. Here's an excerpt from my initial visit back in April 2008.

"My previous doctor was a young female and even when I told her I was castrated, she never did examine me to find out if I was telling the truth. Instead she took blood tests which proved my testosterone was low. My endocrinologist never examined me either and I have not seen her for several months and she is also young. I thought that perhaps these two young female physicians may have been afraid to examine me or perhaps they were disgusted, I don't know, but I made sure that my new physician was an older female, she's in her late 50's, and practicing in mid-New Jersey near Princeton.

At my appointment I told her my history and desire to be castrated. She asked a few questions and I told her how I was castrated. Then she said she'd like to take a look. She told me she had seen just about everything, but she didn't say that she had ever seen a castrated man or eunuch. Instead of leaving the room, she told me to unbutton my shirt and then she put the stethoscope on me and asked me to take some deep breaths, I complied. Then she asked me to stand up and undo my pants and pull down my underwear. She sat in front of me and examined my remains. She didn't say much, but squeezed the cord endings. She then asked me how I felt about being castrated and I told her "great." She asked, "Are you troubled by it," and I told her, "Not at all." I told her if more men were castrated the world would be a safer place. She said, "You're probably right about that!" Then she told me that she wanted me to get some blood tests and I went in this morning and had them take my blood. The nurse had trouble finding my veins, which may be a result of less testosterone. Before castration, finding my veins was easy. Well, I must say I like this new doctor a lot and hope to remain her patient for a long time. She was compassionate, understanding, and non-judgemental, but she also was interested in my condition." Hash

[jeff9000 (imported)]

I meant "EUC." as a title instead of "MR." or"MS.",I guess from the blog I thought if you are proud to o genderless why not be open about it?

[JesusA]

At least two of the voluntary eunuchs whom I know use the title "Eu." on their business cards. Others may use it in correspondence.

"Andrew," who was once the most prolific poster on the Archive, has long used a business card that lists his name as

Eu. Andrew Hxxxxxx

and then gives his address and telephone number.

[Danya (imported)]

My employer asked for my input on gender categories, knowing that I am 'gender variant' (i.e., transsexual). I convinced them to include 'eunuch' as a recongized gender.

[Hash (imported)]

I went back to my doctors office to get the EKG they couldn't give me last week. It was normal, thankfully. However, when I went to the desk, a different female clerk said that I had to check over another personal history form. I said o.k. and again, "eunuch" was missing. When I handed it back to her she said, "Why are you adding this to the form?" I told her, "Because that's what I am." She tilted her head and looked at me strangely. Then she said, "Well, there's only room on the other forms for a single letter." I said, put "E" but she balked at that. Finally she said she'd have to check. I sat down and waited. Finally she called me back and said it was o.k. Then I handed her a letter addressed to my doctor.

I wrote a letter to my female doctor referencing Dr. Richard Wasserug's article, "Mastering Emasculation" (see the post by Jesus). Dr. Wasserug emailed me the complete article and said I could give a copy to my doctor, which is what I did. I sealed the envelop and addressed it to my doctor, but the female clerk at the desk said, "You know, we open all the personal info that's handed to us, it's standard policy. I said fine." I actually wrote some very personal things in it, somethings that might be risky for me personally. I'm letting the cat out of the bag, revealing things about me. I'll let you know.

[Eunic JHD (imported)]

I may sound like a broken record, but I have used the prefix or title "Eu." rather than the usual "Mr." for about fifteen years now and have never had a problem. I also use it or "Eu. & Mrs." on return address labels etc.. Any reactions that I may have received have been positive ones, but I really don't think people pay that much attention to those things these days. As far as Doctors records are concerned, I have long been listed as "Eunuch" and have had no issues from the "desk jockeys" who do the paperwork. My one desire though, is to one day find either a blank box or "other" when gender is requested instead of the choice of just M or F. I have sometimes made an "E" out of the "F" and checked that. Works for me. Does anyone like the term "Eumale" for Eunuchs?

[JesusA]

I suspect most of the members here would have no problem with using "eumale," especially given use of the Greek root "eu-".

eu-

prefix from the Greek eu-, combining form of Greek eús good, well, beneficial, pleasant, brave, when used in noun form, or eũ as the adverb 'well'. Greek words with eu- are predominantly adjectives of the form euphonious of good sound, pleasant-sounding, or nouns, such as eurhythmics harmony of bodily movement as a beneficial object of education.

Some other "eu-" words include:

Eulogy (eu- + 'logos'/'word') A public speech or written tribute extolling the virtues or achievements of a person or thing.

Euphoria (eu- + 'pherein'/'to endure') A feeling of great happiness or well-being, bliss

Eucharist (eu- + 'kharis'/favor, grace) Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper

Evangelism (eu- + 'angel'/'messenger') spreading the good message