Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand is the surgical destination of choice for many Women Born Transsexual.

Although Thai surgical skills, quality control, and post-operative patient care can vary drastically, many choose to have their sex reassignment surgery (SRS) done in Thailand because the overall cost, even with the associated travel costs, is significantly less than in Western Nations.

Add in the shorter queue time until a surgery and an oft times more relaxed attitude towards patient suitability for SRS and you have a surgical Mecca to which thousands of Women Born Transsexual make their pilgrimage.

The downside, of course, is that once you are back in your home country (the United States, perhaps), you can’t easily complain to your surgeon about the quality of his work or obtain satisfaction by corrective surgery without resorting to a more local surgeon familiar with vaginoplasty and labiaplasty (e.g., Doctors Toby Meltzer in the U. S. or Pierre Brassard in Canada).

Thailand Travel Advisory

In addition to the normal health warnings for Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, avian flu, and possible quarantine measures, a typical government travel advisory for Thailand addresses

• The political instability of Thailand and the high threat of terrorism
  
  
• The possibility of quickly developing demonstrations turning violent
  
  
• The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia
  
  
• The ongoing violence along in the southern provinces along the Malaysian border (more than 3400 people have been reported killed and many more injured since 2004)
  
  
• The need for personal security.

Case Example: The Airport Scams. European tourists report having been falsely accused of shoplifting at Thailand’s main airport. They recount being taken to run down motels and being shaken down for thousands of dollars by questionable middlemen. A British couple paid the equivalent of $11,000 to secure their release five days after being accused of stealing a Givenchy wallet that was never found. A Danish woman was accused of stealing an item worth about 1,500 baht ($45) after she unknowingly crossed from one shop to another. Her allegations mirror those made by the British couple: She was taken to a police station, contacted by Tony The Translator, released on bail and then "taken to a bad hotel in the vicinity for almost a week," until she reportedly paid Tony 250,000 baht ($7,400) - for an offense that normally results in a 3,000 baht ($90) fine.

The Potential for Sexual Assault

A woman, of course, must always be concerned for her personal safety, a Woman Born Transsexual still adjusting to their new life, even more so. A woman alone may find herself the target of a sexual assault. Sexual assault can traumatize the victim, especially if they are traveling overseas.

Sexual assault is an act of violence, never an act of love or affection. Drugs, threats, power, force, and manipulation are the weapons of choice and control. Although perpetrators of sexual assault on a woman is in her homeland are often someone known and trusted by the victim, this is obviously not the case overseas where the perpetrator is normally a stranger.

Case Example: Sexual Assault. A young traveler had gone into a local bar to sample the night life. They bought a drink and left it on the bar while they went to the toilet. They woke up the next morning lying underneath an ATM machine in the street. They had been drugged, sexually assaulted and robbed.i[cf. Note]

If You Are Sexually Assaulted:

If you are sexually assaulted, go to a safe location. If possible, find someone you know and trust to support you. Being sexually assaulted can cause women to feel powerless: you need to be in control of the decisions that relate to the assault. You need to be in control of the response.

Contact the nearest sexual assault service or telephone a sexual assault crisis line if one exists. Contact your nearest embassy or consulate for assistance and seek information and advice about your safety, medical issues, legal concerns, and the steps associated with reporting an assault in your location.

Get immediate medical assistance. You may have injuries. Women must consider sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy. Ask about post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV/AIDS.

Decide whether you want to report the assault to the police. If you are considering making a report of a rape or sexual assault, forensic evidence is best if medical samples are taken within 72 hours (the sooner the better, preferably directly after an assault). Do not bathe until the forensic evidence is gathered.

Consider counseling with a supportive and experienced counselor. Embassy and consular staff can normally provide referrals.

Case Example: Robbery & Sexual Assault. A young Australian woman was attending a conference in a foreign city and went shopping downtown for the afternoon. A young man approached her, greeted her by name and explained he was from the hotel where she was staying and would look after her. He took her to meet friends at another hotel and bought her a drink. When she woke in the morning she had been assaulted and robbed. She discovered she was still wearing her conference name tag - which was how the man had known her name.

Avoid Becoming A Victim of Sexual Assault

• Be aware of your surroundings. If you feel uncomfortable leave.
  
  
• Do not walk alone at night. Avoid poorly lit streets.
  
  
• In bars, do not leave your drink unattended.
  
  
• Avoid going into the back rooms of shops where you cannot see the street.
  
  
• Be aware that single woman travelers can attract unwelcome attention.
  
  
• If attacked, scream to draw attention.

Case Example: Drink Spiking. Two young women holidaying in South-East Asia were taken with other travelers to a full moon party on a nearby island. On the boat ride over, the women sampled some of the local coconut liquor. The women didn't remember much after that and when they woke up on the beach the next morning, both had been robbed. Worse still, a local hospital confirmed one of the women had been raped. Drink spiking followed by sexual assault is all too common in parts of South-East Asia. Foreign women are regularly targeted.

Sexual assault is never the victim’s fault. The perpetrator is the only one responsible for the assault but we all need to be alert and not make it easier for the perpetrator. Be cautious. Be careful.

An Extra Word of Caution for Women Born Transsexual

Women Born Transsexual need to remember this: if you have been taking hormones for over two years, you no longer have the musculature you had before you started hormones. You will have to learn to fight in a woman’s body with a commensurate lower center of gravity and lesser overall muscle strength. You aren’t a guy and defensive moves that may work for a guy must be adapted to your female physique.

The TS-Si News Service is a collaborative effort by TS-Si.org editors, contributors, and corresponding institutions. The sources can include the cited individuals and organizations, as well as TS-Si.org staff contributions. Articles and news reports do not necessarily convey official positions of TS-Si, its partners, or affiliates.

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TS-Si is dedicated to the acceptance, medical treatment, and legal protection of individuals correcting the misalignment of their brains and their anatomical sex, while supporting their transition into society as hormonally reconstituted and surgically corrected citizens.