Transgender Discrimination

What to do when a transgender man needs his pap smear?

Transgendered men have been in a limbo of sorts for years, identifying with males and looking like them, but having the sexual organs of - and needing treatment for - the female reproductive system.

Transgendered female-to-male patients fear being discriminated against and being the 'subject of belittling, unprofessional conduct from both doctors and nurses, and in two per cent of cases, violence and physical harassment from staff.'

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, doctors generally should to be more sensitive to the specific needs of female-to-male and male-to-female individuals, cross-dressers, the bi-gendered, and intersexuals.

Offhand, I'd suggest the pap smear problem is likely not the only difficulty female-to-male transgenders experience. For example, television commercials regularly promote products which address the problem of female "freshness." It's presumed that female-to-male transgenders also need to fix their freshness.