GenderLife Forum: The Information Exchange

I have recently been diagnosed as being Anemic. I must admit I know little to nothing about it, so I did some informal research. I have found limited evidence that Anemia does appear in trans women(please excuse my label)more often that the general public. I have found and been pointed towards lots of information about Anemia but have yet to find anything concrete about Anemia in trans women. I am looking for information or ideas about why this may occur in trans women and what can be done about it. I have consulted my regular Dr but not my hormones Dr yet. My regular Dr says that I am not lacking in Iron and really has no clue for why I am suddenly Anemic. So...Can anyone offer any clues??? Keep in mind, if you become too technical in your explanation, I will get lost...so please, laymans terms.

Hey, that's interesting, a year after I transitioned (pre-surgery) I became anemic and remained that way for about two years. Around twenty-five (post-surgery) I became anemic again for about a year. I don't believe I've been anemic since.

kat

Women in general are more prone to anemia than men. Some think it's because of the loss of blood during menstruation, but the fact that post-menopausal women still remain more prone to anemia than men their age belies that belief.

There is something more, that (probably) has to do with a person's hormones. Yes, that transwomen have a high incidence of anemia is well known. We have talked about it here a few times before.

The true reason, for now, remains a mystery. Also, some thyroid conditions are more prevalent among women. There may be a link, a common cause. So far I only see hypotheses, nothing solid.

Iron is not the only answer. To produce red blood cells you also need copper, vitamin B12 and folic acid. All those variables should be observed in case of persistent anemia.

Was your condition addressed by a DR??? If so, what did he say? Do you have any idea what brought it on?? Do you remember what you may have done that got you out of it??? Michelle

Doctor huh? In the end I doubt the integrity of the one man who started me down this path, the one man who I owe so much to. Perhaps I'm simply too hard on him. I don't believe he was too terribly interested in such things as anemia, rather I believe he was more interested in showcasing me and that was the deal I struck with him for the privilege to take hormones. In end game, he might have been interested in sex, I don't really know because I was gone.

I think I started hormones in 1979 and you can't use what exists in the world today, to describe yesterday's world. Things were very different. There were so few people like me and the first time I met another we were both having SRS.

Anemia:

It was probably poverty in the former and stress/overwork in the latter Michelle.

First time:

I was so very poor and lonely when I first transitioned Michelle. There was no one around me and I chose to spend my time between work and college. My diet was also terrible and I didn't know how to eat properly. I also desperately wanted to loose twenty pounds.

Second time:

My job had taken off (I was a scientist) and college was coming to a close. I weighed 115, was 5'8" and my social life was complicated too. I had stepped closer to learning how to eat properly though.

What about you Michelle, what do you think your truth is?


kat

I've had issues with anemia off and on my whole life. I just take a One-A-Day womans multi-vitamin with iron and calcium, eat as best I can and try not to over stress.

That works for me.

My issue has been b12 rather than iron with regards to this, this is due to my diet (strict vegetarian) - it's worth checking out all of the variables. it's not a straight forward thing, I would assume most doctors should know this.

Good thing I take that as a supliment. I am a vegan. I should take a full multi vitamin though. I would hope it could boost my energy.

Yeah, strict vegetarian is essentially the same thing as vegan I tend to say I'm vegan in most company.

This is just my opinion and experience. I'm not vegetarian, but I know several people who are. People who are/practice Vegan tend to know it. Vegan eschews all animal-based products. No milk, no cheese... nothing which could possibly be traced back to animal origin. More general "vegetarian" tends to come in shades, depending on why the person is vegetarian or their understanding of food origins.

Basic vegetarian may not eat meat because of the harm done to the animal, but will usually eat byproducts such as milk-based products. Eggs may or may not be allowed (since they're never fertilized, they aren't really an animal), and sometimes fish are allowed. I've never really understood why some vegetarians let themselves eat fish...

I've also rarely encountered people who are struggling with beginning a vegetarian lifestyle, and will consider themselves vegetarian while occasionally slipping in a bit of meat. Often accidentally in compound forms like fries at McDonalds (they use beef-based oil, you know).

"Strict" vegetarian is a fairly common term, but it's meaning isn't consistent. Usually I find it means people who won't eat eggs or fish, but still eat dairy products. But opinions vary...