< Auslan Translation

Medical affirmation

Voiceover text

Medical Affirmation

Medical affirmation is consulting with medical professional to get support to change your body. If and when you make changes to your body is your decision. Trans Hub firmly believes in informed consent. Doctors, nurses and surgeons are not the expert of your body- YOU are. Doctors should always respect you, and listen to what you tell them about what you want for your body, and you want your body to change. Your health care professional should work with you in partnership to achieve your goals.

Hormones can be taken to change your body. For example, this might include the shape of your body and face changing, and changes to your body hair. There are some physical changes however that may involve surgery. What hormones, if any, you choose to take is up to you, because everyone is different.

If you visit your GP or attend an appointment in hospital you should feel safe and respected. You should not be ignored. Your questions should be answered, and the health care professionals should not delay in providing the support and medical care you need. It is important to find a doctor you feel safe and comfortable with who will help you achieve your goals.

Some trans people decide to stop taking hormones and that’s okay. You do not have to continue taking hormones if you don’t want to. The decision is yours to make. There is no right or wrong way of being trans.  

It is also up to you whether you want surgery or not. Some trans people have top surgery, or facial surgery. You can choose which parts of your body you will change with surgery, if any.  

Gatekeeping is a term that refers to how some trans people have been treated by medical professionals. They may have been disrespected, forced to undergo invasive medical treatments, have been blocked from receiving medical care, or had their questions ignored. Some doctors ask trans patients to attend multiple specialist appointments where they have to prove again and again who they are. For example, being forced to needlessly see a psychiatrist. This is called gatekeeping.

It is important to find the right medical professionals who respect you and will help you change your body in the way you want. This is vital for your physical health and your mental wellbeing.

If you are under 18, there is further information on the TransHub website specifically for you.

This video was produced by ACON for TransHub. For more information in Auslan you can check out the rest of our translations.

If you have questions feel free to get in touch at the email address on screen.